The bonfires were just as it sounded. It was not in the middle of two or in the village though, rather it had been set up in the clearing closer to the mountains and woods. The village was just in sight, but not to far away. Small bone fires had been created throughout the clearing with sticks and stones placed around them. A torch wooden torch held varies materials that burned the tip. It was placed in a stand, so each person could light their own fire. The wood had been treated in order to prevent it from burning. All the bonfires had fruits, veggies, and meat placed on leaves to eat. Freya and Alec had walked there together, after they got cleaned up. Although, they had simply worn the same clothing. When one had to make clothing, they did not often have many choices.Freya's only difference was she had let her hair down, and now it laid like silk along her shoulders. She had wrapped herself in a thick bear pelt that Alec had brought for himself.
Much to her dislike, Alec was assigned at seat in the most conspicuous place. His rank had placed him at the front with largest of the fires, the largest and freshest meat, but also the best view. Everyone was circled around a clearing where entertainment would be placed. At the moment, it was just a few individuals playing drums. Night had just fallen, which meant the only light was the fires that bloomed. The stars and moon were dark tonight. It was cloudy... and there was talk of rain coming soon. Freya just hoped it would hold out a bit longer. It had not been long when they came to the fires did Alec disappear.
She did not mind though as she clenched the bear fur closer to her shivering form. She had lived in the mountains, but she still did not handle the cold well. Shaking the thoughts away, she remained standing where she was as golden eyes searched for where her escort had gone. Freya did not know many outside of the three men, mostly because of the fear of causing conflict. She was not completely blind on how the others saw her, and she knew it was partly his presence that kept the others away. Biting on her bottom lip, she turned back to the spot she had told to remain. Sighing, she decided to sit down for the moment. She understood Alec was a beta. He most likely went to greet someone or to check on the activities. His father was unable to do his duties, his delta was still recovering, and neither had any mates. Although, Freya had questioned why Justin and Alec were... alone. It was not like they could not have a partnership.
Freya thoughts were broken though as she glanced up at the sight of Alec moving into the middle. His back was to her, but that matter little. She did not need to see his face to hear him or to know the face he made. In such a short time, she had come to know him well enough. With his approach, the area fell quiet. All eyes turned to him and him alone. "Thousands of years ago, three Beast Gods were born and then killed. This threw our land... our people into chaos that now centuries later the aftermath is still being felt. It has claimed our mothers, fathers, friends, sisters and brothers. It has claimed our hopes, dreams, and stripped us. However, my brothers... my sisters... This will not crush us!"
Alec held his head high as he smirked. His hands crossing over his chest as his people watched him in awe. "I lost my mother to war. In her last dying breath, she told me to love the life I was given. She told me to find a light in this darkness. Those we have lost knew that there is a light at the end of this journey. They were brave, loyal, and they believed in a better future for us all! They believed in a future of peace... mercy... a world without bloodshed. So tonight, my people, I., Alec Fenrir, wish to pledge to you again. You chose to kneel and call me sir, thus I pledge to you to be your strength. I pledge to protect you from harm, even from myself. I pledge to encourage and guide you. If you stand behind me, I will protect you. If you stand beside me, I will respect you, and if you stand against me... I will defeat you. Because, that is what our fallen kin fought for!"
The roars of voices took flight among the crowd. Hands threw themselves up, others shifted and threw their heads in song for their beta. With a singular step forward, Alec removed his clothing and allowed the wolf to overtake the human form. His jaw parted and his head fell back as he breathed the song of his people. His eyes closed as the night filled with the sound. It vibrated against the land... shook the heavens and earth as one by one the voices of his people joined him. Each and every single one promised that they too would the horrors each and everyone of them had to endure. It was a night where the one became the whole. Under the glow of the fire, a new fighting spirit and hope was born.
Gently, the singing came to an end. The black wolf lowered his head to pick up his clothing before turning back to her. Flickering his tail, Alec started her way. Once in front of her, he watched her for a moment before allowing his wolf to slip away. Freya blushed red as she snapped her eyes away. "Alec!" Covering her eyes, she heard him chuckle low under his breath as the shuffle of cloths sounded in her ears. It was only when it stopped she was brave enough to glance past her fingers. She was thankful to find him clothed while he tore at a piece of meat to place between his lips. It was only then, she noticed the movement of others as they began to eat.
"Beautiful speech." She mumbled softly.
Alec said nothing as he popped a berry into his mouth from the pile of fruits. She watched him from the corner of her eye in confusion of why he ignored her. Something about it... it made her wonder if he meant everything he had said. Maybe it was the idea of war or maybe the thought of his mother. Either way, she let the subject drop. Instead, they begun to watch the group ladies that had taken Alec's place in the middle of the gathering. They swirled and moved about to the sound of drums while attracting attention from many of the males. Although, Freya had long noticed that all of the fires held at least one female. While there was sometimes one male or more, there were no males sitting alone at a fire.
"Each bonfire is required to have a female." Alec explained.
"Why?" Freya questioned as she glanced at him from the corner of her eye. While, she did not care much, she decided this may be a safer topic than his speech.
Alec had taken a bite of an apple as he debated on an answer. The juice dripped slowly along his chin before his hand came up to wipe it away. There, he licked the juice from his hand. "Mostly protection, but it also allows males to gain the chance of gaining a mate."
"Is it important for males to have a mate?" In truth, she understood the concept, but still she wished to confirm her thoughts.
"For everyone one female, there are five men. The more children, the better. However, mostly it is about protection and placement. Normally, females are to chose their mate before sixteen of age."
"So, they don't have a choice? They have to... or.."
"Or they are put up for Win. In other words, males can compete to win them, but I chose to place the practice to rest when I took over for my father." Alec explained before glancing back at her. He had pulled a knee to his chest and moved to lay his arm against it. The apple laid still half eaten in his hand.
Freya frowned at the notion. She understood how the animal world worked, but hated the idea. Males courted females to reproduce, but she had thought they had developed a greater... intelligence, but then again... Shaking her thoughts away, she picked up one of the apples on the ground. She reached back to pluck a knife from her belt to cut the apple in half. Then into quarters before beginning to peel the skin away.
"You don't like it." Alec observed.
"No, I don't. The idea that someone has to... have a relationship just for the sole purpose of making children bothers me. Why can't someone do it for love?" The male smirked slightly at that notion.
"Because not everyone has that choice." She glanced at him again, but turned her eyes to the fire after a moment. Saying nothing to that, she placed the apple against her lips and bit down. The juice gushed onto her tongue. She groaned at the sweetness of it. It was a taste like no other, and she loved it. It could not have been from a farm. It was to fresh and sweet. It had to be wild.
"But, we do." Alec whispered softly, almost quietly enough she had not thought she heard him correctly. Smiling, he leaned down and nuzzled against her cheek. Freya turned her eyes to him before frowning again. He seemed to not notice as he picked up the meat and took her knife away. He begun to cut away along it. Once doing so, he took the stakes given to tangle the meat onto it to then place into the fire to cook. Freya was glad that at least they cooked their meat instead of eating it raw. That idea made her sick.
Leaning back, she fell and stretched out her arms. Her golden eyes finding the stars and the moon above as the clouds started to part. "I, for one, would bite anyone that tried to force me to do anything." She laughed making Alec snort beside her. Freya could not help the smile on her lips. She was happy to see Alec was settling some, although she could still see the distance in his eyes... as if he was thinking of something else.
Noticing Freya was watching him, Alec rolled to lean down. A hand placed itself beside her side as he hovered over her. His mane of hair fell from his shoulders to veil them both. "What?" He whispered softly.
For a moment, she did not know what to say. She simply stared up at him... speechless and unsure. There were a million things she wanted to say, and there were a million questions she had. They just stuck in her throat though as she reached up to brush her thumb along his jawline. Alec's green eyes softened at the touch as he leaned against it. He did not understand why it calmed him... why it drove away the darkness, but it did. "I'm sorry about your mother, Alec." Freya whispered softly. Alec's eyes hardened at that and the darkness return. Yet, he did not pull away. Instead, he slowly leaned down. Gently, he leaned his forehead against hers before brushing his lips along her brow... her jaw and her neck to leave behind a burn as the only reminder they were just there. Her hand moved from his cheek to brush along the black strands... along his shoulder and down his chest.
"Stop thinking of such things and eat." Was all Alec said on the matter as he sat up and pulled the meat from the fire. Freya sighed and followed him by sitting up. Grabbing the apple she had cut, she begun to nibble on the end of it.