In the silvery waterfall of moonlight, Jonathan Aztec, my second in command, holding rank as Beta of the Northridge pack, was something to behold. His powerful shoulders seemed to carry the waning gibbous, and the shadows that devoured the vast grounds of Battleridge manor granted him a wide berth.
He was a superior specimen. He was a male worthy of the ranking he'd been bestowed. But like all creatures, he wasn't born perfect, and his character flaw was a fault that bled out into the night like a severed artery: Concern.
It charged the air between us, a thick blanket that settled against the lungs like a boa-constrictor's loving embrace.
"What did you find?" I asked. The perverse silence that had entombed the dilapidated courtyard, screaming so loud it rang through my ears like a twisted lullaby, was shattered upon his approach. His boots smacked against the waterlogged ground, echoing in a way that spoke of his failures before he'd even opened his mouth. 
"Nothing,"
.......
"Until I can figure out what's going on, nobody finds out about the boy. Understand?"
"Understood."
"You're not going to ..." The pause that followed dragged out. "He's just a baby, Sterling."
"You're dismissed."

The Littlest Light

<p>The pack meeting had been at noon, and whilst five hours didn't seem all that long, it had a way of seeming like it was days ago. After discovering that Clarke had a brother and sister, both who were under ten, Lumen had become very jealous. The reaction towards Demetrio had been similar to Lumen's first reaction towards Clarke: spiteful and worried. He had seen the small boy hanging onto his friend's arm and had instantly feared that he was being replaced.</p>

<p>He had whined for the boy to go far away. To get lost in the trees. Clarke had defused the situation masterfully. With the patience of the saint and the skill of a God, he had filled Lumen with reassurance, and he quickly had the two boys interacting and giggling over their shared love of pink milkshake. Lumen had gained a new friend, and Clarke had become an even bigger hero in his eyes.</p>

Chapter76