"I might!" Malak grins at me.
"You weren't even there!" I yell.
"No, but it's a great story! I mean a werewolf caught by a dog warden! Priceless!" He laughs.
I'm glad to see him smile... but I also want to knock his teeth out.
"Come on, I thought we were friends!" I give him a pleading smile with big eyes.
"Playing the friend card... fine, but you can't use that again for at least a month!" He says, rolling his eyes.
"I need an answer, Alaric... otherwise, we may have to combine packs and give it to Malak." Alpha says. Since Malak hasn't taken Red Rivers Alpha title yet, we still have a mind link, so I look at him.
"What do you want?" I link him.
"Take it, man... I never wanted to be Alpha, let alone of two packs... Dad's right, the king will need a large pack." He responds.
"I guess I'm gonna be Alpha of Midnight Moon." I say, and Alpha Aaron smiles.
"Glad to hear it!" Alpha stands up and walks over to me with an outstretched hand. I take it and shake. "I'll announce you at the Alpha banquet next week... I'm going to invite all the Alphas worldwide... they will want to meet the king."
I gulp. ALL the Alphas! To meet ME! In a WEEK! I think I'm gonna pass out!
"Ummm... mind if I escort Malak home... I think I need to run." I say having a near full-blown panic attack.
"Go... process... I'm gonna start Trent's training that you so happily volunteered me for... come back when you're ready and you can join us." Alpha says.
I turn to Malak and nod. We go straight outside and into the woods. Once we are alone, Malak turns to me.
"Before we shift, I need to talk to you." He says, putting a hand on my chest to stop me. He lowers his hand and looks away.
"I don't want to be Alpha... that was Ti's dream... us doing it together made the idea bearable but without him... Would you accept me as your Beta?" He asks. My jaw drops. Can he do that? I mean, he IS an Alpha.
"How would that even work?" I ask.
"I found a copy of the original True Beta story... I know the words. I can give you my Alpha and become a true Beta... I'll get a sick grey coat! Plus, you could take Ruby and me as your Betas so she can keep her True Beta status. If I become Alpha, she will be Luna and will no longer be a true Beta... I think she likes the grey coat... it ties her to her family." He explains.
"So we'd still combine packs." I say... that seems like a hassle.
"We could run it like mom and dad did... but we'd have training in the clearing between packs so both can train together. People can choose where to live and all... it won't have to change much, but Yeah, we'd be combining the packs." He says.
"What will your parents think of this? You will be ending their Alpha  bloodline... are you sure you want to do that?" I ask.
"I'm sure I don't want to be Alpha... I'm sure I'd do better helping you... I'm sure my wife would be safer without a target on her back or the pressure to produce an heir for me... I'm sure I don't want my kids worried about who will be Alpha! I don't know about my parents but I've never been more sure of a decision in my life... will you accept me as your Beta?" He rants.
"Yes... when do you want to do it?" I ask. It's not that I want to take the pack but he's my friend and I want to help him.
"Now... before anyone else finds out." He answers.