warning: there's a corpse mention in this chapter along some blood but not much and some fluff, you have been warned.
He could feel the weight of his fur vest, adorned with feathers and beads, pressing against his shoulders, a gift from his mother for his ascension to Beta. The air was filled with the excited chatter of their pack mates, anticipating the momentous event.
"You think dad would pick me up tonight?" Cedar asks nervously; he didn't know if it was a good idea to talk about it, but it was eating him up inside. Lily glances at him, her amber eyes softening. "Of course he will, Cedar. You've worked so hard, and you deserve this. Your father and I are so proud of you." She reaches over, giving his arm a gentle squeeze. Her touch sent warmth throughout his small frame, giving him strength.
The smell of meat hit his nose, and he dare not ask for some as his gaze Observes the spit in the corner, full of meat cooking for the ceremony. Music filled his ears; he wanted to join the dance with other wolves. He knew that's not a very prestigious thing to do, as the beta-in-waiting should maintain his composure. But he was just a young wolf, and this was his moment.
He watches from his highest rock as Luna and Jace dance to the music. Their bodies move in perfect harmony, and their eyes are locked on each other. He feels a twinge of envy, wishing he could have that kind of connection with someone. The night grows late, and the ceremony comes to an end. His father, Solar, steps forward, clapping his massive paws together to get everyone's attention.
"Tonight, we shall have a new beta to lead the clan!" His voice boomed across the clearing, echoing off the surrounding trees. Cedar's heart skipped a beat as he glanced at his mother, who was watching their father intently. She seemed confident that he would choose her son, but a flicker of uncertainty passed through Cedar's mind. He knew the competition was fierce, with both Jett and Shadow vying for the position.
If Solar had chosen Jett rather than Shadow or him, all hope for the pack's future would be lost. Cedar thinks to himself as he watches his father, Solar, carefully. Solar looks at each of them, one by one, before finally selecting Jett. His heart sinks as the reality of the situation hits him like a ton of bricks. Jett, who had always been more interested in power than the well-being of the pack, would now become the new Beta.
"Jett, you have been chosen to be beta in waiting." Solar announced the shocking news as it rippled through the pack. Cedar's face contorted into a mask of anger and disbelief. He knew Jett was ambitious, but he never thought his own father would choose him over him. The bitter taste of betrayal filled his mouth as he watched Jett step forward, his chest puffed up with pride. "About time, father," Jett sneered, his gaze flickering briefly to Cedar before moving on.
Jett walked up to the highest rock where Solar stood, his posture arrogant and self-assured. The other wolves in the pack murmured among themselves, some expressing their approval while others looked at Cedar with sympathy. He could feel their eyes on him, the weight of their judgment pressing down on his shoulders.
Artemis's moonlight shone upon Jett's fur as he stood before Solar, the newly appointed Beta-in-Waiting. Cedar's eyes narrowed, and his teeth gritted in anger. He felt a sharp pain in his chest, as if a dagger had been driven through it. The betrayal was too much to bear.
"Why did you pick him?! He will doom us all!" Cedar roared, his voice filled with anguish and rage. "You could have chosen Shadow or me; we would have been better betas! But no, you had to choose him!" His words echoed through the clearing, the other wolves exchanging uncomfortable glances as they listened to the outburst.
Solar gave the outraged wolf below a look of disappointment. "Cedar, you are my son and the future alpha of this pack. You need to control your emotions and act like the leader you are meant to be," he informed. His voice was stern but filled with love and concern. "Jett may not be my first choice, but he has proven himself capable and loyal to the pack. We must work together now for the greater good."
A sense of dread washed over Cedar as he remembered the deaths of Violet and Blossom. They died five winters ago from Jett's stupidity. It was an accident, but still, he was responsible for it. The pack had been in turmoil ever since, and now with Jett in charge, things would only get worse. He knew Solar was trying to make the best of a bad situation, but it felt like the pack was doomed.
"We all know he murdered Violet and Blossom winters ago!" He accused, his voice trembling with anger and pain. "He is not fit to lead this pack!" The other wolves in the pack exchanged uneasy glances at Cedar's outburst, some clearly uncomfortable with the accusation. Shadow, his closest friend and older half-brother, looked at him with a mixture of sympathy and concern. "Dude, you're digging your own grave," Shadow pointed out to Cedar, his amber eyes shining with concern and sympathy. Solar sighed heavily, his expression weary. "I know this is hard for you, Cedar, but we must move forward. Jett has served the pack well in the past, and I trust that he will continue to do so. We must find a way to work together, even if it means setting aside our personal feelings." The old alpha's voice was soft yet commanding.
With an angry huff, Cedar glared around the pack before he turned away, his shoulders slumping in defeat. He knew Solar was right; there was nothing he could do about it. but he couldn't shake the feeling that this was a mistake. Shadow placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, trying to offer whatever support he could. "It'll be alright, bro," he said softly. "We'll get through this together." Cedar looked at his older half-brother, feeling a mixture of gratitude and guilt for putting him in this position. He knew Shadow was loyal to him, but he also knew that Jett wouldn't hesitate to turn on them both if it meant maintaining his power.
"I know what you mean. but I need some time to think about it." Cedar lamented, his eyes swelling with tears. He didn't want to say anything that would make things worse between them. Shadow nodded understandingly and let his hand fall to his side. The rest of the pack continued to murmur among themselves, some expressing their approval for Jett while others looked at Cedar with pity.
Cedar walked towards the deep part of the forest, away from the others. He needed some time alone to process everything that had happened. The pain in his chest was still there, a dull ache that threatened to consume him. He couldn't believe that Solar had chosen Jett over him, over Shadow, and over the pack's best interests. It didn't make sense. As he hears the pack murmur among themselves, they disappear from his line of sight.
The sounds of crickets and the rustle of leaves filled the air as Cedar walked deeper into the forest. His thoughts were a whirlwind of confusion and anger. He knew he should accept Solar's decision and move on, but it felt like a betrayal. He couldn't help but wonder if there was something he could have done differently, some way to change his father's mind. The weight of responsibility as the future alpha pressed down on him was heavier than ever.
his ears perked up at the rustling of leaves nearby. His heart raced as he sniffed the air, picking up the scent of another wolf. Could it be Jett coming to gloat, or maybe even force him into submission? Cedar tensed, ready to defend himself if necessary. He crept silently through the underbrush, careful not to make a sound. As he drew closer, he recognized the scent as that of a young male wolf; it was Jett. He always smelled of strong musk and sunflowers, a strange combo to have.
"Jett?" he called out cautiously, his voice barely above a whisper. There was no response. Curious now, he stepped out from behind a large tree and into a small clearing. To his surprise, Jett was sitting on a large boulder, his head hung low and his tail between his legs. The young beta looked defeated, exhausted even. For a moment, Cedar hesitated, unsure of what to say or do. He had never seen the older male look like that; he always seemed so arrogant and full of himself.
"Dude, what's wrong?" Cedar asked, fearing to approach him. He had never seen Jett like this before—so vulnerable. Jett looked up at him, his eyes red and bloodshot. "I don't know, Cedar. It's like I'm drowning here. I don't want to take on this responsibility, but I can't just walk away from it either. Everyone's looking to me for answers, and I just... I don't have them." His voice cracked on the last word, and he looked away, unable to meet Cedar's gaze.
Cedar just doesn't know what to say about this from his angle. He saw some specks of blood on Jett's black fur. He didn't know if it was from a wound or something else. He slowly approached the older wolf, careful not to make any sudden movements. When he was close enough, he sat down next to Jett on the boulder, their sides touching. "Why do you have blood on you?" he questioned, his hazel gaze searching for wounds, but none were found, much to Cedar's shock and surprise.
Jett shrugged, his shoulders stiff. "I attacked your mother in a rage. I don't even remember doing it. I just snapped. I've been having these blackouts, these moments where I lose control. It's like there's this monster inside me, and I can't stop it from coming out," he mumbled. He looked away again, shame burning in his eyes. "I'm scared, Cedar. I don't want to hurt anyone else, but I feel like I'm losing myself."
Cedar felt the world collapse around him as Jett confessed to attacking his mother. His heart ached for both of them, but he couldn't help but feel a new sense of understanding and compassion for Jett. He reached out a paw and placed it on the older wolf's shoulder, offering what little comfort he could. "It's okay, Jett. You're not alone in this. We'll find a way to help you get through this. We'll figure it out together."
Jett feels him slowly let go of the tension and the breeze. Licked over his pelt as it brushes against his spine, it was not the usual feeling; it was as if he was getting a new sense of perspective. He turns his head and looks at Cedar, a sense of wonder in his eyes. "Thank you, Cedar," he whispers. "You have no idea how much that means to me." He leans in, his muzzle brushing against Cedar's neck, taking in his scent and letting it flow through his senses. It was reassuring; it was comforting. He feels the weight of the world lift from his shoulders, even if it is just for a moment. "Do you know where she is?" Cedar queried, his tone soft and gentle.
Jett tensed up at the thought of what he had done. He left her corpse to rot and be feasted on by scavengers. "No, I don't know where she is. I just remember attacking her and then waking up here, in the clearing. I don't remember anything in between." His voice was hoarse, filled with guilt and self-loathing. Cedar's heart ached for his mother, for Jett, for all of them. He wanted to help, but he wasn't sure how. He didn't want to lose Jett either, not after everything they'd been through together. "Hey," he cooed softly, nuzzling Jett's neck. "We'll find her, okay? We'll find her, and we'll make this right."
Jett gave him a weak but defeated smirk. "Yeah...okay, Cedar. We'll find her." He sighed, the air rushing past his muzzle, and then he leaned his head against Cedar's. "I don't want to lose you too, you know." He felt a lump form in his throat as he spoke, and he couldn't quite meet Cedar's gaze. "You're the only one who's ever really understood me, the only one who's ever really cared. I don't want to be alone anymore." Cedar had loved and hated Jett for years, always challenging for their father's love and attention. Jett had always been arrogant and self-assured all of his life, ever since he was a young pup.
"I'm not going anywhere, Jetty. I promise." Cedar cooed softly, his voice filled with sincerity. He leaned in closer, their bodies pressed against each other, and nuzzled his friend and older half-brother's neck. "We'll get through this together. We always have."