Chapter IV: Spirit Pack

Finn looked down at his feet. “What?” He gasped. “ WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME?!” Finn shouted. 

“Calm down,” Soul said, “You're just half wolf. A werewolf.” 

“A WHAT?” Finn shouted. Calm down, Finn, he thought to himself. “Okay,” he said, a little more calm.

“So, you are going to have to learn how to speak like a wolf,” Soul said, nodding his head.

“Can I teach him? Can I teach him?” Dream said enthusiastically. 

“Yes, yes, calm down, Dream. You may teach him,” Soul said calmly. “But on one condition.”

“What?” Dream asked with a head tilt. 

“You must show him the Pack, and help him with his name,” Soul replied.

“Okay,” Dream said excitedly. “Let's go, Finn!”

“So… where are we going?” Finn asked, confused.

“You're going to meet your Pack!” Dream replied, practically bouncing around.

“What do you mean my Pack?” Finn asked, still confused.

“You’re our new Alpha, and also you need to have a wolf name!” Dream said. “How do you like the name… Shadow?” she asked, smiling. Finn was shocked.

“It’s… perfect!” he said with glee.

“We lost our Alpha and Luna a moon ago,” Soul said grimly and looked at his paws. “I’ve been leading the Pack since then. But now, you will be our new Alpha!” he said, smiling warmly at Shadow.

***

As they entered the clearing, the wolves turned to look at Shadow. Will they accept me? He thought nervously. The wolves howled happy greetings to Shadow. Phew, he thought and followed Soul and Dream. “Spirit Pack,” Soul addressed the Pack as he hopped up to a mossy tree stump and sat down. “We have found the sacred Purple Eyed Wolf. He is of our ancestors, who also had purple eyes. This wolf is going to be called Shadow, in memory of one of our ancestors. He is going to be our new Alpha.” Soul deliberately avoided saying that Shadow was a werewolf, and not a wolf. The Pack howled their approval. Shadow looked at the Pack shyly and howled back.

“Shadow will be sleeping in the Alpha’s Den, instead of me. Shadow, at midnight tonight, you will be choosing a Beta wolf, or a second in command wolf to you,” Soul finished warmly. As the wolves went to hunt or guard the territory, Soul and Dream led Shadow to his den. When he saw it, he was amazed. It was so big! 

“Who made this?” Shadow asked with wonder.

“Our ancestors!” Dream replied happily.

“What do you mean our ancestors?” Shadow asked, still confused.

“The ancestors I told you about during the Pack meeting,” Soul said. “The ones with the purple eyes.”

“Oh,” Shadow said. “Okay.” He looked around the den. It was a hollow room inside a thicket of brambles. The ground was dusty, from where many paws had been across the years. There was a nest made of moss, the perfect size for a wolf to sleep on.

“We’ll leave you be for now. Come to us if you have any questions!” Soul said as he and Dream left the den.

“And don’t forget about choosing a Beta wolf!” Dream called over her shoulder.

Wow, Shadow thought. This is a lot to take in. He curled up on his moss bed. Do I just sit here and wait for someone to come in and ask me for help with something, or should I decide on who will be the Beta? Shadow wondered as he rested his head on his paws. I don’t even know everybody in the Pack yet… This is all so overwhelming. At once, he knew who was going to be the Beta. He walked out of his den and found the tree stump that Soul had addressed the Pack on. He stepped up onto the tree stump and began to speak.

“Wolves of Spirit Pack,” Shadow began, trying to sound as bold and confident as Soul did. “I have decided who the Beta wolf is going to be.” The wolves turned to face Shadow with curious faces. “Soul, you are going to be the Beta wolf.” The Pack howled and barked with agreement. Soul walked up to stand beside Shadow, his eyes filled with pride. Even Dream, the previous Beta wolf, didn’t show a hint of jealousy about Soul being the new Beta wolf. Her eyes looked happy, and she howled along with the rest of the wolves. Shadow stepped down from the tree stump and the wolves all gathered around their new Alpha and Beta.

“Thank you, Shadow,” Soul said warmly. “I’m so excited to be the Beta wolf!”

“Yay! I’m so happy for both of you!” A voice said. It was Dream, trotting over happily. The rest of the wolves were beginning to split up into small clusters around the clearing. “I’m so happy that we convinced Shadow to join our Pack!” Dream said, touching noses with both Shadow and Soul.

“I have one question. Are we the only Pack?” Shadow asked. Soul and Dream hesitated.

 “No, there are other Packs, we are one of five.” Soul said with a nervous glance at Dream.

“Wow, that’s a lot of wolves. I’ve never even seen one before now,” Shadow replied with wonder.

“Shhh…” Soul said in a hushed tone. “You can’t say anything about your pawless owners. You must say you’ve been a wolf all your life.”

“Okay,” Shadow said, copying Soul’s whispered voice.

“About those other wolf Packs,” Dream whispered, her voice lacking her normal enthusiasm. “We are at war with Earth Pack and River Pack.”