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"So do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."

― J.R.R Tolkien

(Zander)

Zander followed a winding tunnel to the meeting location, where he seen Damon looking at a stack of papers, fuck he had completely forgotten about helping sort out the more prominent looking candidates for this year's senior class. Every year they looked over each Wolf's records, how they were doing in school, their social environment, and how they scored in their basic training classes, along with their herbology classes, and scouting ventures. As future Alpha of the pack, his Father entrusted Zander with the responsibility of making sure that after the Rite of Passage Ceremony, each wolf would have a designated area to be assigned after graduating school. Damon Malcom was a Beta, the man that Zander had graduated school with, and chose to be his second in command. As Zander pulled up a chair and sat down at the table, Damon looked up to survey him with weary eyes. "The potential with this class is the highest I have seen in the last five years; we might be able to fill some of the gaps here." He stated sliding over a few documents. "Take a look at these profiles and tell me what you think."

Zander looked at the picture of the first person in the pile, "Christian Folts, scored nearly perfect in her scouting missions, bringing in enough food to last through the first few weeks of winter." He read out loud. Flipping to the next document, "Samantha Day- "Zander paused for a moment, little Sammy, Freya's best friend had made the list. "The most commanding in basic training, beat every male on the field at hand-to-hand combat and her IQ test was off the charts." Alright Zander had to admit that was impressive. The thought that pretty blonde Sam, with her makeup and peppy can-do attitude, showed so much promise in combat, was amusing. Flipping the next page his blood froze in his veins, "Freya Summers?" he asked looking at Damon. "Is this a joke?"

Damon shook his head throwing his hands up, "Nope, just look at her profile." He pointed to the paper.

Zander cleared his throat looking back at his Stepsisters statistics. "Basic combat is weak, social skills weak, scouting skill average…what am I supposed to be seeing here?" he asked impatiently.

"Keep reading, jeez." Damon rolled his eyes.

Scanning the page, Zander's eyes widened slightly, "Freya's intelligence test is even higher than Samantha's was, which is almost impossible." He stated, "Her Herbology Sigma has rated her the highest when identifying plants and other natural resources needed when healing others."

"Yep, your little sister could be the next Theta of the pack. You know Mark is getting older and needs a Lota to train to take over for him when he retires. Freya is the only one that has shown this much promise in many years, Mark personally wants to take her on." Damon smiled at Zander with excitement.

This was an exciting thing, it really was, so then why was he filled with a sense of dread? The people that they are looking at right now, they need to fill the vacant spots that have been missing in the Pack Den, Zander's small little circle. The people that he chose would be the people with him for the rest of his life or theirs. It needed to be people that he trusted, people that he knew would fill the roles, and bring the best attributes to his team. It also meant that those people would be moving into the Pack Den, and Freya Summers was the reason that Zander had moved in here to begin with. A pressure settled on his chest, so heavy that he had to fight to breath, there was no way that he could live under the same roof as her again. Zander drummed his fingers against the table in irritation. He could not take this opportunity away from her though, Freya was actually good at something, and probably have the potential to be great at it. How could he stand in the way of his Stepsisters happiness and not feel like shit about it?

Zander's reasoning for not even wanting to consider her apart of his circle were purely selfish. To be The Alpha that the Crescent Moon Pack deserved, he would need to be able to put his personal issues aside, and not let it affect that progress of one of his pack members. That did not mean that he had to be happy about it, for some unknown reason, his body reacted strange to Freya. It always had, so he would just need to find a way to ignore the feeling, maybe if he forced himself to deal with her, then it would go away. Wishful thinking but that would be the only way he would be able to willingly put himself in the same proximity as Freya.

"So, is there a reason that all the profiles you have shown me are all women?" Zander asked after a moment, collecting his thoughts.

Damon laughed a little, "I think the women are gunning for all our spots Zan." He joked but then grew serious, "There is one other profile I have not shown you yet."

This could not be good, "Let me see it," he held his hand out for the last profile, when Damon reluctantly handed it to him, Zander looked at the name. "Tyler Barns shows dominant Alpha traits. Broke a boy's spin in a sparing class. Social standing is the highest out of every other student in attendance, has the most influence over his peers."

Damon sighed, "If tonight he is indeed classified as an Alpha as the statistics are showing is a high probability, then you know as well as I, that your Father would have no choice but to let him join the ranks. Tyler Barns would then have the option to challenge you for your spot as Alpha over the pack."

Zander took a deep breath, "Damon are you really worried that a little eighteen-year-old punk could take me on?" he tried making light of the situation.

"Of course not," Damon stated quickly, "Though you know that once you have been challenged, it opens up the door for the other more submissive Alpha's to think that they might have a shot. If Tyler challenges you and wounds you, even if you win, another Alpha can challenge you right after that battle while you are still injured. Even if they are not the strongest warrior…there is still the chance you could lose your position."

Zander knew that everything Damon was saying was the truth, "I guess I will just have to make sure that Tyler Barns turns into a submissive little bitch and stays in his lane."

"From your lips to our Ancestors ears." He pressed a finger to his lips and then rose it to the sky.

"So, Samantha Day will be under your lead, her skills in combat would be most beneficial to our circle and Christian Folts can train with Lucas, wherever he is."

Damon shook his head, "You never know with Lucas, dude is a lone wolf, though he is the best damn Scouter we have every had in the pack."

Zander nodded in agreement, "Alright if that is all, I really need to get this camera to Molly, if I am late and she misses her chance to document this night…well lets just say that Tyler Barns will be the least of my problems."

"Zan." Damon said as Zander stood to leave, he looked at his friend, "You know that if one of these females end up being an Alpha…you will be expected to Mate with her."

Ah, a sore subject that they had discussed only a hand full of times before, "I am aware of what is expected of me Damon. Thankfully there has not been an Alpha female in the pack in quite some time. I do not see that changing in the near future, though if it does, I will worry about it then." In saying that he made his way to the Ceremony.

When Wolves mate, they mate for life, though for Alpha's the circumstances of mating were a little different. As the Alpha over the entire pack, it was customary for him to take an Alpha female as his breeding partner, even if she was not his true mate. Being Alpha was all about politics and what was best for the entire pack, not just the leader. Breeding with an Alpha female would ensure a strong blood line for future pups. If later in life he did stumble upon his true soul mate, he would then have to reject her, severing that connection forever. It was not an uncommon thing, many Alpha's have had to do it in the past, Zander had just always hoped that he would not be one of them.