Lately Aram hated the visit of his uncle, in fact, he hated any visit that came to interrupt his successful and satisfactory ordeal of pain and self-pity. Yasmina had left for life beyond life and he deserved all that suffering for he had not protected her. The Moon Goddess had blessed him when she placed her in his destiny and he was not worthy of that grace, sometimes choosing to stay alive was much harder than dying.
Now he would have to live the rest of his days under the weight of having been indirectly responsible for her death and the pain of no longer having his Luna destined. To live his ordeal, he only needed to be alone, which was very difficult, since he was still the Alpha of that clan, despite coming for months neglecting his duties. He did not care to hear the many laments of his uncle, who came to bring news from the council of elders. The man told Aram that the elders were about to give up on him and they were already looking for a way out of that situation.
— Aram, you need to react, the future of the clan is not a game. I understand you’ve been through a very bad situation, but you need to take back the command. You haven't been interested in anything in months other than a bottle of booze, everyone is commenting that the Alpha has succumbed to alcohol and tries to kill himself slowly. The people have many problems, they need guidance. Soon the winter will come and we will all starve. You know well what measures need to be taken to ensure that everyone has a way to stay in the colder months.
Aram listened to his uncle quietly, he kept satting at the kitchen table with a glass of cheap whiskey in his hands. The beard was grown and his hygiene was not the best, he was the opposite of the Alpha that one day was. He spent most of the day drunk, unable to advise anyone, even less to settle the strife of his guardians. He would need help from the Moon Goddess if he had to engage in some melee combat or become
a beast cause, since he wiped out almost the entire damn Boram clan, he had never transmuted or fought.
- They don’t need me, uncle, they need another Alpha. One who can protect them, one who can protect his wife.
He spoke with a voice full of bitterness.
— You’re their Alpha by blood’s right, everyone respects that. It’s been a long time and no one wanted to challenge you for leadership, but the situation is becoming untenable, you need to react my son. There are already rumors of people wanting to leave, whole families. Is that what you want? Women and children traveling during the winter, with few supplies and at the mercy of attacks on the roads? Can you handle that guilt behind your back?
The truth is, Aram couldn’t. Despite everything he still felt responsible for those people, he couldn’t lose anyone else. Especially after his revenge on the pack, in which all the werewolves in the region were just waiting for an opportunity to attack a Lycan, or an entire village of them. When the winter was over he would decide what to do, but until then the uncle was right, he needed to react.
— I have something else to tell you. - Said the elder approaching him more, and putting a hand on his shoulder. - You know you must support the clan to deal with the harsh winter to regain your morale with them. I know a way for you to achieve that. A female member of the pack you’re chasing was found wandering in the woods a few days ago, she said she was the only one left. A group of werewolves are in her possession, they would like to give her to you in exchange for a truce between the clans.
I advise you to take her as your wife, you need an heir, and a hybrid would eventually become a very powerful Alpha. The council approves this decision and thinks it is the best to do, your revenge was bloody Aram, If something does not end it, much innocent blood will be shed.