Howling at the Moons

CH 5: Letting the Wolf out of the Bag

NARRATOR'S POV

The pack protected Wayo's secret as long as they could, but the time for his father to reveal it came faster than he expected or wanted.

About a month before Wayo's 11th birthday his father called him into his office to let him know he was going to make an announcement to the 5 neighboring packs they had alliances with about Wayo's Omega status. There was a lot of pressure coming from their aligned packs about him making the traditional pack visits to their lands with Wayo, so he could get to know them and their packs better. However, there was no way his father was willing to do that. Wayo was not leaving pack grounds anytime soon.

His father felt they were as prepared as they could be for whatever response might come from their allies, so he felt the time was finally right to tell them. An invitation went out to the 5 Pack Alphas and their heirs for lunch and a meeting on the upcoming weekend, the meeting agenda was not disclosed. All the Alphas were intrigued by their friend's silence about the reason for the meeting and accepted so they could find out what was going on.

On the meeting day, everything was prepared. As the Alphas and their sons arrived, they were led into the dining hall to partake in the lavish food and drinks Wayo's pack had prepared. After about an hour of polite conversation over the wonderful meal, Wayo's father glanced at him and they both stood up together. He invited all 10 visitors up to the conference room next to his office to begin the meeting. Wayo's father looked around the group of men and boys he was about to trust with his son's life and sent a silent prayer to the Moon Goddess that this meeting went well.

FLASHBACK – WAYO'S POV

As everyone was entering the conference room, Forth leaned over and whispered quietly to me, "What's this all about N'Yo?"

I stopped and looked Forth in the eyes and said, "Me, P'Forth." I noticed my father waving me over to his side at the front of the table and excused myself from Forth with a quick wai.

Everyone took a seat around the large conference room table and my father and I stood at the front of the room looking them over. As my father and I had already discussed, I quickly scanned everyone in the room for their intentions and current feelings.

Alpha Jamornhun, spoke up while I was scanning the room, saying, "Alright Alpha Panitchayasawad why have you called us all here?" My father's reply was, "Just one second Alpha Jamornhun, and I will appease everyone's curiosity."

My father looked to me and I nodded my head letting him know I found nothing out of the ordinary and that it was ok to move forward with the meeting.

"Ok, I've called all of you here, because you're my most trusted friends and allies," my father started out saying. "We've known each other since we were children. We've shared meals and laughter, anger and sadness, war and peace. I've held your secrets and you've held mine. Currently our pack has a secret I feel I can no longer conceal from you, so I've brought you, my most trusted friends and your heirs, here to share it with you. I can only hope this secret will bond our packs closer together and not tear them apart."

During my father's speech, I'm looking around the room scanning everyone for their reactions, but I still only find curiosity now tinged with a little nervous energy brought about by my father's words.

"As you all know, Wayo had his 1st shift about 10 months ago. That picture on the wall was taken right after Wayo's 1st shift to commemorate the moment. He was such a small, white ball of fur. I don't believe any of you have personally seen his wolf form yet, but I'd like to show it to you now, if you are interested to see it."