"Gilneas" echoed through the hall, and Varian murmured, "That city has been destroyed, left in ruins. How can you prove you are from Gilneas? Even if you can prove it, why have you come alone? Where is King Genn? Did he fall in battle?" Alpha smiled and said, "Proving I am of Gilnean descent is quite simple, Your Majesty. Allow me to demonstrate." Slowly, Alpha rose and unfastened his cloak.
Anduin would remember the sight vividly for the rest of his days. As the black leather armor was revealed, the oval pauldrons bore numerous claw marks, the wrist guards' studs were polished smooth from wear, and the half-finger deerskin gloves were tinged with a dark red hue. The same black leather greaves were adorned with small vials, and on his feet were a pair of wolf-skin boots caked with mud.
The orange tabard was emblazoned with the mark of three claws. Alpha, the man from Gilneas, grew taller, his body covered in black and grey fur. His feet burst through the boots, revealing sharp claws, his legs bent backward like a beast's, and his robust torso stretched the once-fitting armor, highlighting the contours of his muscles. His arms elongated, yet were corded with strength, his hands ending in long, sharp nails. The mane that spread from his face covered his neck, and what was once a human face was now replaced by a wolf's head, with erect ears twitching, catching every sound. His sharp teeth were interlaced, and his eyes remained a light blue, but now brimming with a feral intensity.
"Allow me to reintroduce myself. I am Alpha of the Wolftotem, a worgen from Gilneas, bearing the utmost respect from King Genn Greymane to the leader of the Alliance, King Varian Wrynn of Stormwind, and seeking permission for the worgen of Gilneas to join the Alliance." Alpha knelt on one knee again, but the impact of his revelation was far from over.
After the initial shock, Varian settled back into his seat, though the languor he had previously displayed was gone. He gazed at Alpha, deep in contemplation. Once everyone had recovered their wits, Varian spoke: "The people of Gilneas, or should I say the worgen, where is your leader? Does Greymane not intend to continue hiding behind the laughable walls of his city, living a life of self-deception? Hmm? Answer me, worgen!" Varian suddenly raised his voice, questioning Alpha.
The atmosphere instantly became grave. Sally frowned, ready to step forward, but Alpha shook his head at her. He looked up, enduring Varian's wrath alone, and said calmly, "I am aware, Your Majesty, of your dissatisfaction and even resentment towards our previous actions. We withdrew from the Alliance when it needed us most, nearly causing its downfall. For this, the gods have already unleashed their fury. Gilneas has suffered a catastrophic blow, and the worgen's curse will haunt us for life. We will forever struggle against our own sanity, paying the price for our desires."
Alpha's body trembled as he continued: "King Greymane lost his son, our prince, in that battle. Had it not been for the aid of the Night Elves, we might have lost our sanity and become beasts. The king has reflected on his actions and decided to join the Alliance once more, to contribute his strength."
"Why should I trust you, why should I trust Greymane, a man who turned his back on his own people and now has become a beast? Am I to invite betrayal once again, to be stabbed in the back by you?" Varian stood up and approached Alpha, his gaze hostile, his right hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
Alpha suddenly stood and drew the dagger from his waist, an action that alarmed the surrounding guards. Swords were unsheathed, all pointed at Alpha, as if he would be torn apart at the slightest movement. "Now, we cannot beg for Your Majesty's forgiveness, but we ask for the opportunity to prove that we can contribute to the Alliance's strength, not by stabbing in the back, but by being on the front lines for the Alliance, by withstanding all attacks for the Alliance." With that, he slashed his left palm with the dagger, clenched his fist, and let his blood drip down, "Hereby, I, Alpha of the Wolftotem, swear a blood oath to Elune - I shall be the Alliance's sharp sword, cutting through all obstacles. Should I break this vow, may I be consumed by the void." Green light flared, and the pledge was sealed.
Sally rushed forward and began to chant the incantation: "Great Cenarius, I am your faithful follower, once again invoking your power to heal the wounded—Rejuvenation." Another green light enveloped Alpha, but this one was more tender, radiating a healing glow. The deep, bone-exposing wound slowly closed at a visible rate.
Varian observed Alpha before him and fell silent once more. Anduin, noting his father's silence, approached Varian and said, "Father, grant them another chance. The Light bears witness to all of this; war solves nothing. Mentor Velen has prophesied that our true battle is not against the creatures of Azeroth, but against the darkness from the cosmos. We need the support of all living beings."
Varian turned to look at Anduin, then glanced at the worgen still surrounded by soldiers, and slowly said, "I can give you this chance, but first, I must ascertain if you possess the strength to tear through obstacles." After a pause, Varian continued, "To the west of Elwynn Forest lies a wilderness where several mysterious incidents have occurred. I command you to investigate this wilderness; I require answers. Once prepared, seek Captain Harron; he will inform you of the details. For now, you are dismissed." With that, he left the hall with Anduin.
As Sally exited Stormwind Keep, she was still lost in thought. "Come back to your senses, Captain Sally; if you don't, you're going to walk into a wall," Alpha said, waving his right hand, now bearing a faint scar, in front of Sally. Suddenly, she turned and embraced Alpha tightly.
"Uh," Alpha stammered, his hands hovering awkwardly, unsure where to place them as he looked down at Captain Sally in his arms and couldn't help but offer a wry smile. "Captain, if your admirers saw you hugging me like this, I'd be a dead man. I'd like to live a few more years yet."
In a flash, Sally was standing several feet away, her face flushed. Alpha stared in surprise, muttering to himself, 'That was faster than a blink of an eye; I hadn't even had my fill of the embrace.' But seeing the slight redness in Sally's eyes, he wisely kept silent, hanging his head. "Do you have any idea how dangerous that was? Do you know how much King Varian hates Gilneas? Do you realize that if it weren't for Anduin speaking up, you might not have left the hall alive?" As she spoke, tears welled up in Sally's eyes.
"Ah, Captain Sally, don't cry. I know I'm wrong. Please, look at me as someone who wouldn't squander a life that didn't come easily. I promise," Alpha hurriedly said upon seeing Sally's tears, standing there completely unsure of what to do to stop the captain's crying.
Hearing these words, Sally gradually stopped crying and slowly lifted her head to look at the young man before her, who was at a loss and didn't know what to do. She let out a snicker and laughed. To be honest, Alpha never understood why the captain, who was crying just a moment ago, could laugh now, but in his heart, he thought women were terrifying and to be kept at a distance. "Let me see your hand. I want to check how effective the Rejuvenation spell was," she said, taking Alpha's right hand and examining it. "My spellwork is still the best; I bet there won't even be a trace by tomorrow morning."
"Yes, yes, Captain Sally's Rejuvenation is truly formidable," Alpha agreed, their voices trailing off into the distance...
Returning to the Wrynn father and son who had left the hall, Varian asked, "Do you truly believe the words of this man from Gilneas? Even with the constraints of his oath, I still cannot trust him." Why not? Just because Gilneas once abandoned the Alliance and turned a blind eye to those seeking help? I always believe there is the Light within King Genn's heart. I am confident that Mentor Velen would agree with my perspective, and I have a premonition that Alpha of the Wolftotem will change the current situation." Anduin once again voiced his thoughts. Varian looked at Anduin with satisfaction and said, "If he can seize this opportunity, I will give Gilneas fair treatment, but for now, I cannot change my opinion of Greymane."