Becoming Beta

Chapter 38

A/N: I couldn't wait until Friday night! So bonus surprise! You get the final two chapters 2 days earlier than planned! Yay!

The largest of thanks to brownlark42 for making this chapter what it was. Her suggestions really turned this chapter around and I cannot thank her enough.

I'm always delighted to hear what you think, so drop me a line!

I make a manip for every chapter, find me on Tumblr at crochetawayhpff.

In the weeks since Rand's death, Draco had spent a lot of time with the pack. Greyback had been acting secretive and strange. He seemed to be pulling away from Draco and attempting to consolidate power with some of the other members of the pack. Perhaps most surprisingly, he seemed to have stopped drinking. Draco reached out to Greyback a few times, but he was consistently rebuffed.

Draco focused on the pack, hoping that he made a better impression than Greyback. Draco capitalized on Greyback's recent erratic behavior by showing the other wolves that he was reliable. He was always there for them.

Draco now wondered if the drinking problem that Greyback seemed to have developed over the last several months was a ruse. Had Greyback been pretending to be a drunkard so that Draco would let his guard down? He worried that Greyback would succeed in splintering the collective. It was true that Draco planned to become Alpha, but he wanted to do it for the good of the pack. He wanted to fight against the Dark Lord and bring a better life for everyone. Draco knew that wasn't necessarily Greyback's intention. What would happen if the pack did splinter? What would become of the collective?

It was the last full moon of the year, only a week before New Year's Eve. Draco had spent the day with the pack in the dueling court. He truly enjoyed being close to them. Each wolf brought something special and unique, and Draco could feel his bond to the collective strengthen as he spent more time with them. Draco spent time meditating while most of the pack slept in the afternoon. He wanted to explore and understand the collective better. He wondered if he could feel individuals? He'd never tried before; he'd only ever felt the collective as a whole, listening to it hum in the back of his mind.

He sat on the floor of his tent, closed his eyes, and searched for Reule for what seemed like the first time in months. They met during the full moons, and Draco was gaining more awareness and self-control during these times, but he otherwise kept Reule separate from himself. He knew he needed to merge with Reule to fully become one with his werewolf nature, but he also hadn't pushed himself. Maybe today was a good day to try.

Reule?

I'm here. Reule sounded weaker than he ever had before.

I need to understand the collective, Draco thought to Reule.

We're becoming one. You've almost totally accepted your werewolf nature. Draco could practically feel the laughter. Come toward the back of your mind. The collective feels warm and yellow.

Draco concentrated on what Reule was telling him. Near the back of his mind were two warm areas, like amorphous orbs. One was warm and yellow and seemed larger than the other. The second was red and blisteringly hot.

That one's your Mate bond, Reule explained, clearly meaning the hot, red one.

What's wrong with it? Draco asked. It didn't seem like his Mate bond should resemble a childhood fever.

Reule chuckled, Nothing. Mate bonds are like that. Hot, red, reeking of sex, passion, and love.

Draco nodded. He supposed that made sense. He put the Mate bond out of his mind for now and turned to the collective.