Wolf Stray (On Hold)

Take Council

Torak, the pack leader, ran a clawed hand threw his hair.
"Batraz you have a good heart and I know you want the best for the boy. But I cannot name the boy a stray if his father is alive."
"You can if his father has been kicked from the pack!"
"And I can't do that without just cause!"
"Without cause?" Batraz slammed his hand down in the table that sat between them. "Asher howled and his father did not answer! I carried the wolfing back to the den in my own arms! His father was not present as he was treated for an Anguis bite. The boy was dying and his father did not appear! In fever the boy called for his dead brother to help him because he knew his living father would be of no help to him! How could you say that we are without cause? A wolf who refuses to take care of his own has no place among us!"

Torak seemed to think for a moment.
Torak was a Beta.
Not the first beta to lead a pack but it was certainly unusual. But he was a good leader. Not so impulsive as alphas usually are nor as timid as omegas are prone to be.
Finally he steepled his hands and peered at Batraz over his claws.
"I will call for a council. You will plead your case and Asher's father will plead his. Then they can make a decision. But if they side with the wolfling's father that decision is final and I'll hear no more of it. Do you understand?"
Batraz nodded stiffly.
"I do. Thank you Torak."
He bowed slightly from the waist and exited.

Torak sighed heavily.
This could get messy.

∆∆∆∆

The Council Hall was filled with wolves.
This was an unusual case to say the least.
Werewolves usually had a natural instinct that made them very protective of their own. Even an omega would face off with anyone who threatened their child. In such circumstances it wasn't unheard of for an omega to beat an alpha out of pure rage and fury.
To call a council because of a neglectful father was almost unheard of.

The council committee sat in a semi circle at the front of the room. Torak sat in the direct center with 8 wolves on either side of him. Batraz and Asher's father Marcov stood before the them.
The attendees sat and stood behind them wherever there was room.
"We are gathered here," Torak started. "To decide the fate of Marcov Swift. And in doing so to decide the fate of his last living son, Asher Swift. This council has been called by the request of Batraz Gosheven. Batraz. What is your accusation?"

Batraz stepped forward a pace to address the council.
"Today as many know Asher Swift fell victim to a horrible act of cowardice. The wolfling, being only 14 years, was attacked by a pack of Sicut Anguis and was bitten. We all heard his howl didn't we? We all heard the wolfling's cry for help. Many of us formed a search party and went out to find him. Many of us who went to search for him didn't even know him. But his father was not among us! Marcov Swift was not there to save his son. I carried Asher back to the den because Marcov was not there to do so himself! I stayed with the wolfling as our Healer attended him because Marcov was not there and I didn't wish for the child to be alone in such a desperate state. If Marcov couldn't be bothered to answer his son's howl how can he be trusted to raise up the boy? How can you trust him around your own children? My accusation is that Marcov Swift is not fit to be called a Wolf and so should be kicked from the pack."

A murmur went up among the attendees.
To be kicked from the pack was not a matter to be taken lightly. Most packs wouldn't except a wolf who had been kicked from another so you would be a lone wolf.
Lone wolves often died.

Torak held up a hand to silence them.
When the hall quieted he addressed Marcov.
"Marcov. What would you say in your own defence?"
Marcov stepped forward shyly.
"Torak. Sir..." He hesitated. "I- I won't make excuses for my behavior and I'll say it plain and honest. I didn't answer Asher's howl because I didn't hear it. I didn't hear it because I was passed out... Drunk. And I know- I know how that sounds and I'll admit it's a horrible thing that I'm very sorry for. You see when my Wife Anatu and my son Bran died I lost myself in grief. I took to the bottle and I'm afraid I lost track of many things that are important. But this... What has happened today... Well it shook me up. I see now the kind of father I've been to Asher. I haven't hardly been one at all. But I want a chance to change that. So I'll not make excuses for my behavior. I'll simply beg you for another chance."