In the Rise

Chapter 7: The Change

The revolution is happy to have you.

I had never once thought of open rebellion. Never.

Like any other wolf, I had my opinions of the system in place and the inner workings of it. Like any other, I thought some things cruel, some things unjust - the Inspection for one, or the fact that Alpha Laurent would make executive decisions over everyone, and carry out what he wanted. What he thought best, instead of what the pack thought best.

I thought the system of rank was something that would be the end for me.

How only the greatest of shifters were high and exalted - and the rest of the world cast down and looked upon.

I thought of the flaws as anyone would do.

But I never thought of changing it.

And that's it, isn't it? That when life is given, one's first thought is not of the way it should be. It's of the way it is.

Not father though.

I stare at Alpha Kyros, taking in his look of concentration as he read whatever paper was before him. I had stayed the night, curled tightly within my ball.

He offered me breakfast, to which I refused. Stupidly.

I still was thinking through his words, piecing it all together.

Father rebelled.

For how long?

How long did Mother know? And how much did she know?

I stare at Alpha Kyros, wondering if he knew father. If he had been the one to be in contact with the Beta of the South.

And the reasoning for why father had turned to such a cause in the first place...I had ignored mother's words but now they came back to me.

You, she had whispered.

Me.

The words "why me?" were not running through my head. It was obvious now. Clear why a member of the pack- who loved and respected his Alpha- would look at such a system and choose to change it. Choose to rebel against it.

Because the system that he loved and had pledged to uphold was crushing his daughter.

It was pushing her out, opening his eyes to the unfairness and cruelty of the inner workings.

I close my eyes and sigh, thinking of all the Inspections I had failed.

My very first Inspection. I had failed my very first one.

The look on father's face now makes sense to me. I had thought he was conflicted because I was supposed to do more. I was supposed to be better than the rest as the Beta's daughter.

But eventually I realized...

Maybe it was because I was young. And had been called weak when at that time, I felt anything but.

Had he thought that too? Had he looked at the Alpha that he respected and seen the trust in him shatter? Looked at me and realized that if I were to grow up within this system - I would fail.

And then Jer- him. Being mated to him.

What revolution? I thought, as I opened my eyes to stare at Alpha Kyros. I saw no revolution.

Only fools wanting to dream.

Alpha Kyros stands then, interrupting my thoughts. He turns to stare at me. His gaze makes me uneasy. I move away from it, pressing my face into the wall to avoid him.