Kusal poured all his strength into his wrist and arms, but he could not break Arek's hold. He glared. "Don't you dare touch those pups! I don't care if you're Alpha."

Arek raised his eyebrows.

Kusal let out a course laugh. "I don't care if you kill me either. But someday I swear someone is going to see you for the monster you are."

"I have no doubt someone will succeed in killing me."

Kusal stopped struggling. "What?"

"I said, you're right." Arek let Kusal go, who was in such shock that he didn't even reach for the fallen knife. "And if you did not try to kill someone who would wanted to treat innocent children like cattle, I would have no reason to trust you."

Kusal shook his head. He's toying with me, isn't he? "I don't know what kind of game you're playing-"

"This isn't a game." All the fake calmness and smiles were gone from Arek's face. "We better catch up before they suspect anything." He turned and ran parallel to the footprints in the snow towards the village.

Was I wrong? Kusal felt a wave of relief, but was struggling to accept it. Did Arek really have no intention of using the orphans for his own purposes? If so, he's way keener than I thought. It was the part that scared him. Did he really make all that up just to test me? Or is there something else to it?

Kusal blinked, realizing he was behind. He ran in the snow, fighting to control his urges to take the easy way to the village by shifting. It may be as he said. Maybe he needs to know whom he can trust. Kusal was still uneasy. He hated that he couldn't see the situation clearly. He hated that his usual skills of reading people felt useless against Arek. But something is different about him. He doesn't see us the same way the Conclave does.

Kusal didn't know if Arek could make things better, but he knew that Arek could have made things worse for his own benefit. But he chose not to. Is it worth giving a chance? Either way, killing him is going to be way harder should I decide to try again. I'll need to watch him closely and out-smart him. But how could he do that? Kusal suddenly stopped in his tracks, realizing that he caught up with the group, and that Arek was already facing a red-faced Carion.

"What do you mean you're having a house built for the orphaned runts? You said you'd separate them for training!" Carion balled his fist.

"You know what? Maybe I'm not so fond of you making assumptions on my behalf. And maybe it's necessary for this decision to show you and the village who is really in charge of the East clan. There will be no collections of the younglings. Not ever. When they come of age they may decide to train and join, but not until after they've lived out their childhood."

"You have gone too far." Carion's voice shook with rage as he pointed his finger.

"I'm afraid he is right." Dhruv agreed. "You may be alpha, but that rank has not been known to this clan for nearly fifty years. You also must consider that the village continues to obey the Conclave."

"You lack organization, Arek. And you haven't any established ranks," Machar added.

Arek looked at each of them. He turned his head. "Kusal!"

Kusal ran over to his side. He saw the smirk return to Arek's face: the same one that said, "You idiots don't get it, do?" and "Pay attention!" at the same time.

"I don't believe I've officially declared it yet, so count yourselves fortunate to be the first to know." The was a storm in Arek's eyes. It was enjoying every flicker of confusion across the Conclave members' faces. "This is the Beta of the East Clan."

Silence.

Then, Carion, Dhruv, and Machar all spoke at once. Carion with indignance, Dhruv with bitterness, and Machar as a condemning sage. Kusal would have said something too if he wasn't so shocked. Because of his silence, everyone, including Kusal, believed what Arek said: that Kusal had agreed to become Beta, the Alpha's second-in-command.

*****

"Did you hear about the head of the Arm being chosen as Beta?"

Inessa dropped the blanket she just folded. "I'm sorry, what?" She bent down and picked it up, refolding it.

Enaë repeated it patiently. "Arek appointed Kusal as Beta."

"Oh." Inessa barely knew Kusal, other than the fact that he saved her life while re-capturing her. I'm still not sure whether to thank him or curse him because of it. "No, I didn't know. Honestly," she lowered her voice, speaking more to herself, "I don't even know if I care who is or who isn't."

"You seem out of it lately. Are you sure you're feeling alright?"

Alright? Inessa had barely slept since Arek's proposition, which was basically either to join the East clan and abide by their rules, ensuring her safety from other clans, or leave the East clan its protection while trying to fend for herself. Apparently, keeping house in the mansion – mainly in the younglings' rooms downstairs – was a small taste of what it would mean for her to be a part of the clan. Inessa sighed. Cleaning, picking up messes, babysitting, and cooking were exhausting. All she wanted to do for the past twenty-four hours was break away and run off into the forest to have a moment to herself. Or a whole year to myself. I've done enough 'helping' other people to last me a lifetime.

Life followed the same pattern as long as she could remember. You find this for me, I'll find that for you. You do this for me, and I'll do that for you. It was all about an exchange. Nothing was free.

Even my life. Her safety had a price. I could get used to the work if I had to, but I can't stay here, not with Arek as alpha. Inessa noticed Enaë staring at her with concern. "Oh, sorry. Yes, I'm fine." She folded another blanket. "Thank you for asking. Actually, thank you for saying anything at all. I know I shouldn't be surprised, but I haven't gotten along well with anyone here. I've only met Sian and Ennow, but Sian looked like she wanted me skinned when I last saw her at the...the banquet, and Ennow never speaks even when I say something to her."

"I suppose it's...Oh," Enaë rose and bowed towards the front of the door. "Alpha."

Arek walked in. "A moment with Inessa, please."

"Of course." Enaë walked out of the wolf pups' room. "Inessa, in case you need me, I'll be with Mullin and the other guardians with the younglings outside." She closed the door.

"So," Arek crossed his arms. "Three days. What have you decided?"

Inessa had not moved from her spot. "You're a monster."

Arek swallowed. Why does it sound so different when she says it? He didn't like it. He needed to play it off. "You'd think someone who was supposedly my betrothed would be a little more understanding." His voice turned more serious. "Or at least a little more concerned with her own situation. Like I said before, not everyone is as lucky as you to have a choice."

"Killing those wolves from the North, that was nothing to you! You tore them apart like they were rag dolls."

"You've got me all figured out, don't you?"

"I saw your eyes. I know you wanted their blood. Maybe even more than saving us, you wanted to kill them. You're-"

Arek banged the wall with his fist.

Inessa jumped.

Arek's face was red. "If that is what you call a monster, then yes, that is what I am. It's what I was bred to be since I was four! You complain about people not understanding you, but you judge people who've survived hell. Oh yes, believe it or not I know much more about loneliness and pain that you ever could've. My mother and I were omegas, the lowest of the low of the East clan. We were used as scapegoats and punished like traitors for petty crimes we never committed. We were outlets for the frustrations of the Conclave and everyone else in high rank. We were nothing but trash to them. I was too young to understand the injustice of it all, but mother wouldn't stand for it. She helped me, made sure that I became who I am today." He let his fist drop to his side.

"Why?" Inessa's voice was hoarse. "Why all of it?"

"I've worked too long and too hard for this. Mother did too, so this isn't just about me." There was a spark in his eyes. "I'm going to change this clan."

Inessa watched the rise and fall of his chest slow. "What are you planning to do?"

"Make it better." He looked at the wall, the ground, and finally, at her. "What I do with this clan makes a difference to you, doesn't it?"

"Of course it does," Inessa snapped, though she never felt so until that moment.

"Then I'm curious. Are you leaving?"

                                                                                         __________

Should Inessa stay or leave?

Here's a quick character banner I threw together for you all. (It's temporary, ok?!)