Dannick stepped out of his room after a rushed shower, no thanks to Nikolai's incessant complaints. Everyone stood up and bowed their heads to address him.
"Moon goddess bless you this morning Alpha Dannick. We were waiting for you to break our fast and continue our conversation from last night."
Talyn stood erect and pound his right fist three times on the left side of his chest then bow his head respectfully before speaking, Tabia and the others follow suit. It was the traditional morning greeting for the alpha of their pack, one of many traditions Dannick had to get used to.
"Please stop. You don't have to do all that, saying Good morning is more than enough. You also didn't have to wait for me in order to have breakfast, it's almost eleven thirty in the morning."
Dannick shifted uncomfortably and was about to walk into the kitchen when Talyn cleared his throat with furrowed brows.
"My Alpha, forgive my bold words but it seems that you might not want to comply with our traditions? Our pack history goes back hundreds of years and our traditions are what keeps us apart from most packs out there. Respecting our Alpha is our absolute law because without him, our pack would perish. We do not eat until the Alpha joins us, unless he is physically away from the pack. I realize this is all strange and new for you and we will give you time to get accustomed to it all, however part of accepting your destiny is learning, practicing and respecting our pack traditions. Do you understand, Alpha?"
Dannick smiled tightly then nodding spoke firmly. "I understand and will do better, thank you sir."
"Call me Talyn, I am not your superior or beta. Because of current circumstances, I am the beta of the pack until the day comes for you to take your rightful place and choose your own beta."
Dannick was intrigued by what he heard. "I have the option to choose my own beta, isn't your son my beta? At least that's what I've read in the books about wolf pack hierarchy?"
Talyn let out a dejected sigh then walked over to the window and stared blankly at the oblivious humans below.
"You are correct, Thayne was born to be your beta. You were both supposed to be trained as you got older for your respectable positions and also develop a bond with each other. Your beta is the one you trust above everyone else other than your mate and Luna. All that changed the day Shaakim invaded our territory and killed our beloved Alpha and Luna. The only reason he spared my wife and son was because I accepted his offer to remain his beta and serve him as long as I cut all ties with them."
Talyn turned to face everyone in the room looking directly at Dannick with eyes glossed with tears.
"So, to answer your question, I don't know if my son is qualified to become your beta. I don't know what kind of man he has become or what training he's undergone if any. I don't even know if he's attended college, all I know is that he's twenty-three years old and living away from the pack these past four years."
Dannick felt pity for Talyn, it was clear he was suffering much more than his pride was allowing him to show. Looking at how powerful and commanding Talyn's presence was, he couldn't imagine such a man cowering before anyone and leaving his family behind. It made Dannick wonder even more about the power Shaakim has or if he could ever have enough strength to beat such a powerful being.
Talyn walked up to Dannick and rested a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"I can see the worry in your eyes and I understand your fear. All this information must be a bit overwhelming but believe me, you will not be doing this alone. You have more of us in your corner than you know and as time goes by and plans put in place, you will meet the ones loyal to you and our cause. Ask us anything you want to know and we will tell you and train you. This journey will not be easy my young Alpha but it will be the most worthwhile thing you ever do, saving the pack and reuniting our people will be a dream come true."
Dannick starred at the proud man with great respect and a small smile. He remembered how inseparable Beta Talyn and his father were, never one without the other like two teenage boys in high school. They would spar with each other, race each other and bicker most times but when it came to protecting each other and the pack, no one stood a chance against either of them. Dannick also remembered Beta Talyn's son, Thayne, they were best friends. He and Thayne always made a competition out of everything and tried to outdo each other. He remembered their plans to travel the world and visit other packs to learn different traditions and build relationships for future business summits, and of course they hoped to find their mates along the way. Facing Talyn and the others with his future in the balance, those memories seemed like such a lifetime ago.
Dannick stuck his hands in his front jean pockets and let out a sigh looking from Talyn to the others in the room.
"Im sorry for what you're all going through, really I am. But I'm just not sure I'm the guy to do this, are you sure there isn't someone else? What proof do you even have that says im the only one who can save everyone?" Dannick paused and looked to the group for an answer hoping to they tell him what he wanted to hear but it was all silence. He continued determined to prove his point.
"Shaakim sounds like pure evil and a tough guy to beat, even you couldn't beat him uncle Talyn. What makes you all think a scrawny, untrained kid like myself could win against him? I didn't even know I was a werewolf until yesterday and have no idea how all this even works."
Talyn's eyes widen in surprise when he heard the familiar endearment, he thought for sure he'd never hear Dannick call him that again.
"You remember calling me that, it's been so long?"
"I remember everything. I remember my parents, the pack celebrations, your wife's venison patties and I remember Thayne. We were best friends. You really don't know where he is or how to find him?"
Dannick's pleading eyes dug into Talyn's, he would have loved to find Thayne and bring him home.
Talyn looked to the others in the room as if asking them to brace themselves then turned back to Dannick.
"I really don't know anything about my family Dannick, I tried to secretly keep in touch with my wife in the beginning by leaving letters tucked in a tree where we used to have picnics together at the park near the lake. I didn't know at the time Shaakim had people watching her and I and reporting our every move."
Talyn unbuttoned his shirt carefully as he spoke to Dannick then lay it on the arm of the lazyboy where he sat before. He then lifted his white t-shirt over his head and turned to reveal his back. The sharp gasps spread throughout the room followed by Tabia's painful sobs.
"Shaakim gathered the pack members both young and old, including my wife and son, and with a silver chain around my neck lead us all to that tree. He tied me to the trunk ripping off my clothes leaving only my briefs then whipped me mercilessly until the crimson of my blood soaked the ground. As I slumped against the tree barely breathing, in more pain than my mind could understand, I wanted to give up and die. The sound of my wife's cries pleading for my life and my wolf Saber was what kept me alive, I couldn't leave her and my son at the mercy of such a wicked man. So, I vowed to keep my distance but knowing she would be safe was all I needed to live on."
Talyn furtively wiped away a single tear from the corner of his eye then grabbed his t-shirt and pulled it over his head. The room was still silent with grief when he continued speaking.
"Shaakim made a declaration that day, if anyone else disobeyed his rules or tries to go against him, my beating would seem like a pat on the back compare to what he would do. He also stated that he wouldn't care what age or sex the offender was, he said those last words while looking directly at my family."
Dannick shook with anger. He couldn't wrap his mind around it, how could a man be so terribly cruel? He suddenly felt the urge to fight, to punch and to draw blood. Nikolai was growling impatiently and pacing back and forth after seeing Talyn's back, he was ready to sink his teeth deep into Shaakim's jugular until the last hiss of his breath leaves his miserable body, even then he'd bite down harder.
"I'm ready, I want to end him for all he's done to our people. We can do this Nick, together!"
Nikolai growled into Dannick's head making his skin quiver and hairs stand on end but Dannick did not his sentiment. In fact, it he was scared to death.
"I want to help, I really do but I don't think I'm ready to go against someone so ruthless. If Shaakim learns that I've been alive all this time and you're responsible for that, he would kill you and your family for sure. I don't want to be responsible for all your deaths, I just got you back. You're the only father figure I have left, and I need you here to teach me and guide me and perhaps one day, I will be ready. It just can't be right now, there is no way."
Talyn stood with his back erect and jaw clenched staring disappointingly at Dannick then stalked angrily towards him with fists squeezing tighter with each step.
"You don't think you're strong enough, is that what your problem is? You're afraid of a challenge; of your destiny? Well guess what boy, there is no more time to waste waiting for you to get it together, the time to act is now!"
Dannick fists tightened at his side then he leaned forward in his fighting stance.
"No!"