Divided

Chapter One

"Gray! Gray!" Came a call from the trapdoor in the roof. My ears pricked at the mention of my name. I glanced round to see a familiar face appear from the hole in the roof.

"Gray! How did I know I'd find you up here! You spend too much time on the roof." Cannis sighed, shaking his head softly.

"Good evening Beta." I muttered. Cannis was my father's Beta, despite only being 19 years of age. He had gained his title at the age of 15 after his parents were killed by humans during the division. Although he was still young he had quite a mature body and his wisdom surpassed that of the Elders on occasion. He was a tall, athletic looking young man with thick, dusty brown hair and pale grey eyes. The colour of his eyes seemed almost translucent and had a very captivating effect on people. Certainly I found them to be very entrancing.

"The alpha would like to speak with you." Cannis said. "He is down in his drawing room. He is expecting you."

"You're his Beta, not his slave, shouldn't he have gotten one of the nanny wolves to get me or something?" I asked.

Cannis opened his mouth to speak as I stood up but he hesitated. He seemed to roll the words around his mouth before answering.

"Well... He believes it is better if only a few people should know of this meeting, he is worried about spy's in the pack..." He said finally. I folded my arms and cocked my head to one side.

"To the extent that his beta becomes his errand boy?" I puzzled.

"Yes. Now come on, your father is waiting." Cannis said impatiently. I groaned and reluctantly followed. Despite there being only 3 years difference between us, I wasn't nearly as tall or broad shouldered as Cannis, nor any of the other pups my age for that matter. I was by far the shortest and leanest of the wolves. Image the odds of the alpha's son turning out to be the runt, how displeasing it must have been for him.

I followed Cannis Into the well lit and ornately decorated drawing room. At the table in the centre stood my father, the Elders and his second beta, Mycroft. Cannis took his place back by my father's side and they watched me through steely and serious eyes as I approached the table.

"I'll skip the formalities because we all know why we're here." My father said, addressing the Elders and betas.

"I don't..." I muttered.

"We're getting to that dear. " Said one of the three Elders, a red headed she wolf by the name of... Evelyn, I think?

My father sighed and rubbed his temple. He came from behind the table.

"As you know, our relations with the Craven pack to the north have been some what strained over the last few months..." He said. "They are known for their sly and Machiavellian attitude toward it's own people another packs. So much so that we fear for your safety."

I groaned and rolled my eyes. "What is it this time!" I exclaimed. "I'm already not aloud to participate in the hunt because our grounds are too close to theirs! What next! Will I not even be aloud to leave my room any more? !"

With the way things were going, they way that I was, I was pretty sure that as soon as I became alpha if be overthrown anyway. My father exchanged glances with his wolves.

"You can't be serious!" I groaned. My father turned his attention back to me. He placed his hands on my shoulders and looked me dead in the eye. Was it just me?... or had I seen a glimmer if sadness amongst the Gray?

"We are not confining you to your quarters son... you are being sent away."

Sent away? Sent away? Why would he be sending me away? That seemed a little too extreme just for a threat from another pack! I felt my heart immediately darken.

"Wha-what!? Where?..." I managed to splutter as I looked up at my father's expressionless face with wide eyes.

"You will be sent to live with the inner circle of the Benwell pack..." My father said. "There you will be safe, you will be trained and taught how to be a true alpha."

I shrugged his hands off my shoulders and staggered backwards. I scowled up at my father. This is all because I'm a runt... He doesn't think I can protect myself... He doesn't think I'm fit to be alpha...

"No... father... I-I belong with my own pack... I belong with the Bastiel pack!!" I exclaimed. "I don't want to go!"

"It is only temporary." My father stated. "I will also be sending Cannis with you to serve as your protector."

At that point I hadn't even noticed the tears now falling down my cheeks. Another pack? What was I, some kind if disgraced rouge? An Alpha must never show weakness but god damn it, I'm not alpha yet! I wiped the tears from my face with my sleeve but then we're soon replaced by fresh ones.

"It has been settled." Mycroft muttered. "They are expecting your arrival."

"We depart tomorrow at sun rise." Cannis said bluntly.

I kept my sleeve to my face, trying to hide ugliness of my crying face. After a moment of silence, I spoke.

"Can I go now..." I muttered, surprised that a comment intended to sound spiteful and cold had come out so weak and horse. My father nodded. I turned on my heels and slowly walked away, feeling the gaze if the wolf's burn into the back of me as I left. That was it, I'd been cast out 'for my own protection'. And being taught yo be an Alpha? I already have the blood of an Alpha! What more do I need then that! They were just making excuses... They just wanted me out of the way...

I walked towards my room, not really knowing what to do with myself... What was I suppose to do?just sit and wait until I'm dragged away by that god forsaken beta!... Though, truth be told, he will be my beta someday. I should probably learn to like him. Then again, I don't really like anyone. I rubbed my eyes as I walked down the hallway back to my chambers. Too deep in my own self pity to realise that there were footsteps behind me. I only realised someone was there when they fell into step with me and spoke.

"You know he's only doing this because he cares."

I looked up to see Cannis walking at my side.
Liar

"I know that" I said, trying to put on an air of arrogance and clearly failing.

"Well, I'll be with you, so you won't be alone." He smiled, showing his fangs. He was the only wolf I had ever met that still had his teeth in human form. He ruffled my hair, his skin cold to the touch. I managed to force a fake smile to my lips.

I don't want to go!