What Has Befallen Dakota

One

Bo ^

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I was already on edge and very overwhelmed by the sheer amount of werewolves that surrounded me - the entire population of the Riverdale Pack, five-hundred and eighty-nine strong, was gathered on the field as dusk spread its wings. Everyone was talking, and the fact that my younger sister just would not stop her gossiping for one second had me strung like Christmas lights.

Having to deal with the stress of my true initiation into the pack was difficult enough. Having to sweat over my coming of age and the fact that pine trees were the new favorite plant made me feel like I was facing my death (I swear, I was so horrified that the Luna loved pine trees that I was about to hit my knees and pray to the great Queen Elizabeth II for salvation).

I had already been sitting in the chilled January air for at least an hour, listening to enough of Lilith's talking that it could drive any man insane. I was practically on the precipice of loosing my sanity myself. After all, some of the things the girl could say could really mess with one's head.

"Oh, I really wonder if Cesar will challenge Alpha," Lilith babbled in my ear, her voice so sudden it broke me from my internal rant. She spoke so quickly that it was almost impossible to keep up with her. "He's turning fourteen this year, right? Oh, you two are getting older together! But seriously, he'll be old enough to take over tonight..."

"Lilith," I began, "Cesar is too proud to risk his popularity among the teens by challenging Onyx. He'll just wait until he steps down or dies. It's not like he has any competition, being the Alpha's son."

"That's true," Lilith agreed. "Oh, what if his Luna turns out to be someone ridiculous? What if he doesn't have a Luna?"

"That probably won't happen," I said. "It's very unlikely his mate won't show up within two years. As for her being someone ridiculous, well, who knows?"

There was a pause in which my sister sat thinking, and I couldn't be more grateful for the momentary silence. I cracked my knuckles and leaned back in my seat, watching some wolves trot across the mostly vacant stage. Most held binders in their jaws - last-minute scripts to be delivered to Alpha Onyx, according to Dakota. Speaking of Dakota...where is she?

My eyes drifted to the massive crowd. I sat on the front right with my sister and mother, as my dad was off talking to people. He always seemed to wander off when there was any sort of gathering.

Just then, I saw a familiar blonde talking with my father just meters away from me. Speak of the devil...I thought to myself. I saw Dakota glance over at me.

"Ah," Lilith said, snapping me back to my present position. I jumped at the sudden loudness of her voice. "I guess that's true. But what if his Luna is a rogue?"

I shrugged, trying to pretend like my little jolt was nothing more than a simple twitch. "Three rogues are getting initiated with me tonight. Most of them are just normal wolves who have unfortunate pasts, or were wrongly blamed for some crime. Very few are actually dangerous."

"Then why is nobody who hasn't gone through this ceremony allowed into the woods alone? Mom always said it was because of rogues."

"It's partly because of the small fraction of rogues that are dangerous, but mostly due to factors like getting lost, natural disaster, wild animals, or other packs," I explained.

Each time I responded to my sister, it was getting harder and harder not to tell her to leave me alone and let me read my imaginary book. My voice was actually shaking slightly, but that was from pure nerves. At least, I told myself she wasn't affecting me that badly.

"Huh," Lilith said thoughtfully. "I wonder what it would be like to be a rogue. No pack, no home, and so much danger."

"Not fun," I grumbled.

I stared over at Dakota, mentally begging her to hurry up and save me from the torture that was my nine-year-old sister. I could have called her over the link, but interrupting someone's conversation via telepathy was considered rude, so I decided against it. Instead, I just watched her blonde hair bob up and down along with her head as she had what appeared to be a very exciting conversation with my father.

I heard Lilith start yammering again, but I did my best to block her out.

Just then, Dakota gave a little wave and started jogging in my direction.

Oh, thank god, I though as she approached. I heard Lilith say something along the lines of, "Hey, it's Kota!" before the very bubbly girl sat down next to me, her lavender scent overpowering (as usual).

"Hey, Bo!" Dakota exclaimed, slinging a bare arm around my shoulders for a friendly half-hug. How she was wearing a literal spaghetti strap undershirt in the cold of January was absolutely beyond me, but she'd always been an odd person, so I tried not to think much of it.

"Hello, Kota," I responded, greeting her back with my signature shoulder pat.

"So, fourteen, huh?" Dakota asked me. "Once Alpha declares you an old man, imagine how much your life is going to change."

"I mean, you got 'declared an old man' last year, so I don't see why I'd have to imagine," I told her.

"Yeah, little pup," Dakota said. "It's really just the normal life, but with stuff like training and lonely runs."

"'Little pup'?" I question. "Kota, I hope you realize I'm not a little pup anymore."

"Not until tonight," she rebutted, countering my statement. "But you'll always be a little pup to me."

"Wow, I feel so honored," I said in a playfully sarcastic way. I mean, it was always my life dream to be considered a 'little pup' by my best friend of nine years, so I was thrilled. Absolutely trilled.

"Don't be like that," Dakota told me, laughing at my comment. "I mean, all I can think about when I see you is how little and stupid you were when I met you for the first time."

"Please, I'm not in the mood for a sappy love story," Lilith broke in.

"And I'm not in the mood for a traumatic flashback," I said.

Dakota sighed. "Oh, whatever," she said, smirking at me. "I'm sorry, but I have to get going. I promised Alpha Onyx that I would help out."

"Aw," I complained. "But you just saved me from the devil's gossip!" I gestured to my sister. Lilith smacked my arm.

"Sucks to be you, man," Dakota said. "But the ceremony is going to start soon, so she'll shut up."

"Good. See you tomorrow?"

Dakota nodded. "See you tomorrow, little pup."

With that, she stood and slunk back into the crowd.

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