"I am there waiting, watching in the shadows. But when you need me I'll step out and protect what's mine." -Unknown
"It is my time, why won't you let me take over the pack father. I swear to you that I am ready." Maximus bared his carnies at his father in immense anger.
"You aren't ready, you have yet to find a mate. Not only that but you are too soft to be the Alpha male of this pack. The Ookami pack is one of the strongest packs left I can not have you tarnish its good name." Valdus responded simply with a hint of his Alpha lacing through.
"I am ready, mate or no mate. I have trained my whole life to become the packs' Alpha. I was made for this father." Maximus felt a lump forming in the back of his throat, he hating having this conversation with his father. Despite him being over the age of eighteen he had not found his mate, not only that but he was twenty-three and still had yet to become the leader of Ookami. Most wolves when they turn eighteen they are finally allowed to find the person they would spend the rest of their life with, in other words their mate.
"Maximus for the last time you are not ready, you know that an Alpha is nothing without his Luna. You are far too timid to be the packs' leader, you aren't man enough, actually scratch that, you aren't a man at all." Valdus huffed out with his teeth out showing his clear dominance over his son.
Maximus's eyes glossed over at his father's reaction, for him to say something so malicious was uncalled for. He could feel Lowell, his wolf trying to come to the surface. Lowell's presence could be seen by others from his eyes, whenever he was in that state his eyes change color. They turn from a light green to a intense shade of gray. Unlike his human side his wolf was extraordinarily callous, the only thing that stopped his wolf from taking over was the bond that they shared. Lowell didn't want to cause even an ounce of harm to Maximus, he loved him like family. Maximus felt the same way, when times got hard and he felt as if he couldn't count on anyone he knew he could always count on his wolf. His best friend.
"Why don't you run off to your mother like you always do when you can't handle the responsibilities of being a real man. I've tried to be lenient with you but no more, you don't even deserve to bare the Ookami name."
Father you say I am not a real man but allow me to ask you a question. What is a real man?" Maximus asked curtly, he could feel his wolf want to break free but he fought the urge.
Valdus gasped at his son's question, he could feel rage seething out of him.
"Go to your damn room before I knock you there!" Valdus bellowed in a authoritative tone, it was clear to Maximus his father was losing control of his wolf. Maximus could feel beads of sweat start to form on his forehead and his breath become caught in his throat. Suddenly paralyzed by fear he was frozen in place, through their shared mental bond Lowell tried to tell Maximus to move and do as his father had asked but it was too late. Valdus had lost control and lunged toward his son slamming him to the ground.
"Father stop, clam down! Please don't hurt me this isn't you, I'll do whatever you want me to do! I'll find a mate!"
At the sound of these words Valdus was able to snap back to himself, he found himself on top of his son with his claws out. He could feel his wolf becoming angier with each passing moment, he forced himself away from his son despite the storm within himself. Valdus stood up looming over Maximus, he looked him in his eyes and spoke in a way that could send fear into even the toughest of the tough.
"We will hold a mating festival with the neighboring packs, hopefully you can find your Luna this way and mate right after. We can't waste time go to your room and get ready, wear your best clothes."
Not wanting to anger his father anymore than he already was he went to his room without another word, onece in his room he could hear the wimpers of Lowell in his head. He could tell Lowell was worried about him.
"Lowell stop it, I'm fine. He didn't hurt me I swear."
"Your father has one more time, one more time to cause you any harm before I kill him myself!" Lowell growled while pacing back and forth in Maximus's head. , once in his room he could feel Lowell whimpering and pacing back and forth in his head.
"Lowell please calm down, he means well and you know it. Father is getting older, he wants to make sure when he dies this pack will be strong enough to go on. This is all he has to show for being alive, it is his legacy. It is my job to protect this pack with my life, if I have to find a mate and go through the mating process all in one night just to be enough for this pack then so be it."