Intuition

The Beta was on his way to his seat, deep in thought. He didn’t want to watch his father die, but he had no choice. He had to know what happened next, at least for his own sanity. As he rounded a corner in the hall, he saw that Johnny and Joshua were waiting for him. He approached them, steeling himself.

“Beta. I’ve come to inform you about the arrangements.” Joshua began.

“Alright.” Graham nodded pensively.

“Your father’s body will be released to you tomorrow. As you know, he is not to be buried on the mountain. Your mother is scheduled to be taken to the valley in the evening.” He explained.

“I’m aware.” He acknowledged.

“Also, you should take some time away from StarLight.” Joshua added.

“Excuse me?” Graham raised his eyebrows.

“You’re the Beta of this pack and your family has put you in a difficult spot. Even if you’re innocent, which is what is currently believed, the backlash from the pack has to be contained if you ever plan to retake a leadership position.” The elder clarified.

“Damage control...” He sighed.

“Exactly.” Joshua agreed.

“Can my father’s remains be held until my mother’s transport. I’ll take his body with us and bury him in the valley. Then I’ll help my mother get set up with one of the rogue resource foundations there.” Graham thought aloud.

“Yes. I’ll arrange that.” The old man nodded.

“Alright.” The Beta left without saying another word or looking back.

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The pack was teeming with anxious excitement and nervousness. They had clamored to their seats and spoke in hushed tones, as if they would disturb the solemn atmosphere of the occasion with raised voices. Duncan and the elders were all on the stage that had been built beside the tree cluster on the arena’s field.

Elijah was beside Joshua, watching the Beta carefully. Graham was standing to the side of the platform with no expression on his face. His link was still closed, masking his emotions.

“Silence on the field.” The announcers voice boomed over the speakers. “There is to be no outbursts or chatter during the execution. I repeat, silence on the field. There is to be no chatter or outbursts during the execution.”

By the time the intercom crackled and shut off, one could have heard a pin drop in the stands. Flint walked out of the door and to the stage. Johnny had put on a black suit with a skinny tie, and had combed his hair out of his face, before leading Clark in chains out behind their leader.

Johnny lead the ex-elder to center of the arena, several yards in front of the stage. Flint stepped up to the podium on the platform and the elders rose to their feet, along with Duncan. Joshua sat proudly, all the while glaring at the back of Clark’s head.

“StarLight, you’ve all come today to witness justice being served. Clark Monroe has been a pillar of our community. He has served our pack for forty three years and his name has been in your households for just as long. I understand that his sentence seems harsh, but there is no other choice for his crimes.”

Flint addressed the crowd calmly, though his wolf was getting antsy. The Alpha beast was anxiously awaiting the relief that violence seemed to give him. Flint’s human half, on the other hand, simply wanted to get through the occasion without losing control.

“Clark Monroe has admitted his guilt to charges of treason against StarLight, aiding and abetting rogue activity, and planning the assassination of StarLight’s Alpha. For this, the elders have unanimously sentenced him to death. As Alpha of StarLight, it is my responsibility to enact this sentence.”

He took the microphone and stepped off the platform. Flint nodded to Johnny, who unchained the prisoner as he approached.

“Clark Monroe, do you have any last words for StarLight?” He asked.

The old man stood and Flint held the microphone out to him. His expression told Clark not to even attempt to touch it.

“My actions were in hopes of preserving order in StarLight. I never wished to harm our people. I wanted to protect the pack from a threat, and I inadvertently made possible the losses we’ve suffered. For that, and only that, I apologize.”

He eluded to his vendetta against the Alpha, but he knew better than to openly state it. Flint took off his jacket and handed it to Johnny, along with the microphone. The young warrior walked over to where Graham stood to watch the following events.

Flint rolled up his sleeves and took a deep breath. He had killed before. Many times. But he had never done this with an audience of judging pack members. He glanced at the stage and his father caught his eyes.

Calm. Swift. Clean as possible. That’s the way, son. The only way. Elijah’s wolf breached his mind.

Flint nodded stiffly and looked back into the brown eyes of the condemned man. He repeated his father’s words in his mind, hoping to drown out his wolf’s growling.

“May the goddess damn your soul.” He stated quietly.

Clark didn’t respond. He simply glared back at his Alpha. Flint’s next movements were fast and abrupt. He grabbed the old man’s head and twisted it sharply. The cracking of his spine rang out just before his body shook. Clark suffered a single spasm before his knees gave way.

Flint controlled his body’s fall and landed him back in his seat. His head hung down awkwardly and the sight was shocking to the pack. Some gasped in the moment he died, others froze when faced with the lifeless corpse of someone they knew.

Graham felt the death. Not in the way Flint did as Alpha or he would have as Beta, he felt it like son. Like his neck was broken alongside his father’s. He nearly fell onto one knee but Johnny grasped his arm. To fall in front of StarLight would be a show weakness, and the young warrior decided to prevent this.

The event was over. Flint never returned to the stage. He saw no purpose. He turned to leave the arena when he felt a kind of elation flow through him.

It was came on fast and felt supremely powerful. It came from the heart beating alongside his. From the link in his mind that had been bricked up, closed off away from his reach. It was Eve. He could feel finally her.

She was tired but content. Nervous. She missed him but she was still strong. Her inner resolve was still there, beneath the layers of pain, power, and fear. He began striping his clothes as he made his way back outside. It felt like his suit was suffocating.

Flint burst into his wolf form as soon as he made it to the parking lot. The open air demanded he do so. He couldn’t stop his wolf from taking control any longer. Perhaps he didn’t want to.

Little thing! We can feel you! Hear us! The large, white wolf was reaching out in his mind but he couldn’t quiet feel her connect with him.

Little thing! Hear us! Hear us! The Alpha was screaming in his mind as he ran through the forest.