Bab 44: Chapter 44: A Beta's Burden
Kyon POV
After Tulaska's chilling words, Kyon sat frozen.
Fenrir's guts! Dane had never been the adventuring-outside-shifter-lands type. Neither had Jiro. They'd both left it to Kyon, Patch, and Dirge. Until Dane mated with a witch and Jiro became the Crimsontail Alpha.
He wished Dane would just stay at home the way he used to. But with the way the world was changing and the Dark Goddess wreaking havoc, none of them had that luxury anymore.
And wasn't he a hypocrite? Three years ago, he'd accompanied Azandra on a quest to Brighmere as an act of self-sacrifice to win her heart. That adventure led to stronger ties with the wood elves, and to Thessi joining their family recently.
"What do you mean, Tulaska?" He tried to rein in his impatience as his wolf grew restless.
"Exactly what I said–and you, as beta in charge of the pack in Dane's absence, should decide who goes on this mission," she said, her gray eyes mysterious like the moon.
"Jiro's an Alpha in his own right–"
"Not here," Jiro interrupted. "Here, you and Dane have the authority. You know that."
Traitor! Kyon ground his teeth hard. "I don't need a lecture–"
Jiro continued, cool and calm. "I've already spoken to our council, and they approved Garnet and me going–if you approve as well."
Cyran pushed in front of his brother-in-law like a true Cresta and Alpha. "Naomi and I are the logical choice. If Hades is involved–"
"He's probably still obsessed with you," Garnet argued, struggling to be the level-headed Luna. "Because he failed in his original intention. He'll want revenge on both of you for that. He blamed everyone else around him for everything that went wrong."
"He always did," Naomi said, steel in her voice. "That's no surprise to us. We know what we're signing up for."
Cyran tried another tack. "It's bad enough that two of the strongest Alphas and their Lunas are surrounded by a wildfire. Now we're going to add more fuel? That's irresponsible."
"Dane, Jude, and I made the decision together," Jiro said, and his voice trembled for the first time–a sign Cyran was getting to him. "As Regent Alpha, you should understand our duty–"
"Your duty, and your Luna's, is to rule the pack for the next hundred years," Cyran snarled, his eyes blazing golden.
"I think our children might want their turn sooner," Garnet said dryly. "Tiberius and Mekito are little kings already."
The entire council just sat back in fascination, watching the Sinsworth-Cresta shouting match.
Cyran's hands shook. "And what good will being Alphas or future Alphas do for them without both of you?"
Kyon felt Cyran's pain over the loss of his parents, because he and his brothers lived with the sorrow of their parents' death. How much more biting was Cyran's pain, when his former "master" Hades had arranged for their deaths to break Cyran so he could swoop in and control him!
Jiro and Garnet both paled at the reminder. Jiro put a hand on his brother's shoulder, and Patch and Dirge attached themselves to Cyran, supporting him. The man they once hated was now another big brother that they looked up to. Thessi and Anneliese also surrounded Cyran, and Tulaska beamed as proudly as if he were her own son.
Jiro spoke gently. "Cyran, you have already destroyed Hades twice. You defeated him in every possible way–especially by thriving. Success is the best revenge. You don't have anything more to prove by facing him. You too, Naomi."
"But we know how he thinks," Naomi argued.
"So do we," Garnet shot back. "Let us do this. We need both of you to be safe–and your pups need you, and ours are going to when we're traveling."
Anneliese backed Jiro and Garnet, "Ravyn would agree. I know she would. She knows more about how dark wizards operate than we'll ever know–even Cyran and Naomi. And she also hasn't been marked by them. That changes everything."
Kyon's heart ached for Cyran. Absalom had set out to destroy his life and to create the perfect pawn. It was a testament to his strength and to the family's strength that Cyran's life had been transformed. He had every right to refuse to have anything more to do with Absalom and the Dark Goddess.
"Mother Ravyn protected me and fought for me when so many people hated me," Cyran said softly. "She helped Naomi. We owe her. And Alpha Jude, too."
"He's family now, besides," Naomi pointed out, standing proudly with her mate.
"He wouldn't want you to risk your hide," Jiro shot back.
Patch, predictably, weighed in. "You can tell Cyran's been redeemed because he's even more stubborn about walking into danger than the average Cresta. But you're all forgetting one thing. Cyran and Naomi may know Old Dark-Face, but Jiro is scarier. Garnet, too."
Azandra looked at Kyon with love and sorrow in her eyes. He felt a wave of understanding from her. "It's a weighty decision, Kyon. No easy choice here. Either way, it's a risk."
All eyes were on him, expecting an immediate decision. The air was thick with expectation, even perfumed with it. His gaze flicked toward Tulaska, who shrugged and smiled cryptically. "It's your decision, Beta Kyon."
He tried not to think nasty thoughts about her for putting him in this position. Because she hadn't. And Dane hadn't, either. His being the second-born Cresta brother and his ability to balance Dane's fiery nature made him the perfect beta.
A beta's first job was to support his Alpha, to be loyal and faithful, and defer to him in public and in all official business.--and especially in war. If an Alpha was lucky, like Dane and Jiro and Jude were, then that beta was a loyal friend who wouldn't hesitate to tell off his Alpha in private for the good of the pack.
But a beta was also supposed to take command when the Alpha was away. Kyon had done that many times. Now, though, it was different. The stakes were higher. Dane was in trouble, and so was Lilia. The Dark Goddess, far from being pushed back, was on the march.
That weight on his shoulders suddenly felt like it would squash him.
He looked into Azandra's green eyes and found a cool, calming oasis. He looked at his other sisters-in-law. Naomi's eyes were bright, Thessi's hopeful, and Anneliese's warm. Patch smirked, looking like he was about to mouth off, and Dirge just gazed at him with hero worship. Jiro's expression was quiet and thoughtful, but Kyon smelled the calm of a spring morning on his brother and Garnet. Cyran looked wary, but Kyon saw respect in his eyes.
He searched his heart and his mind and prayed to the Moon Goddess. He wrestled with the decision, weighing both sides, which were equal. Then, he let his intuition and his wolf have the final say.
The choice was clear, and although it might seem safer, it still terrified him, which probably meant it was the right decision.
He cleared his throat. "Cyran, you're a wild card, and it's too dangerous to send you. Naomi, that goes for you, too. Patch is right. Jiro is the scariest Alpha in the Shifter Federation, and Garnet is so powerful as a shifter witch that the Dark Goddess is afraid of her. Jiro and Garnet, kiss your pups goodbye and pack your things. You're leaving as soon as possible with Patch and Anneliese."
Cyran bowed his head and so did Naomi. "As you wish," they chorused, sounding disappointed–and with a hint of gratitude.
He understood. If he'd been in Hades' grip and died at his hands, then been resurrected, he wouldn't be eager to repeat that experience. And they both had children to think of now.
Garnet coughed and turned to Cyran and Naomi. "You're in charge of our pack and our pups until we return from the Heartless Isles."
Patch scowled. "The name is reportedly just to frighten away visitors because those islands are a haven for pirates. Add dark magic to the list."
"All the more reason to send a search party now." Kyon turned to the council. "Do you approve the plan?"
The howls were unanimous, with Tulaska's the loudest. That crafty Wise Woman! One day he'd understand her thinking. Maybe.
"Very well. It's agreed," he said, thinking Dane or Jiro would have something cleverer to say. "As acting head of this pack, those are my orders."
Bram Faolan's bold, strong voice rang out in the chamber. "If you don't bring my father back, you'll be an acting Alpha with a pack war on your hands. You too, Crimsontail."
Mali Faolan Silber sounded like she'd caught her brother's hotheadedness. "And as much as I've disagreed with my brother lately, what he says goes double for me."
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
AmandaMadden
AmandaMadden Kyon channels his inner Alpha! Will it be enough to calm down Bram and Mali?
Creation is hard, cheer me up!
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone