42

“Hear, hear,” the alpha of the Bone Marrow Clan, Graham, spoke.

“I do not wish for us to be divided any longer. I do not want that our future generations know us by different names. What does it accomplish when we identify ourselves as the Howls or the Creed or the Grays? It only harbors enmity, alienates us from our own kith and kin,” I said. “I have known many successful marriages among you lot where one wolf is from one pack while the other one belongs to a rival pack. My own family is living proof of that!”

“Then what do you suggest we do about this land, boy?” Mathias growled. “Give it back to the government so they may do more experiments on us? Kidnap us? Kill us?”

“I never said anything of the sort. Why does this land have to belong to just one of us? Look around,” I said, waving my arm. “This place is humungous. Acres of land. Acres! Are we base beasts who fight over territories or noble creatures who have upheld the traditions of our ancestors?”

In their eyes, I could see the truth. They agreed with me. All of them. They were just too afraid to say it out loud. Having my near-death experience had given me a sense of clarity that allowed me to say what I truly wanted instead of cowering behind pretense.

“Brothers, sisters. Why should we fight among ourselves when the real threat is out there? This won’t be the only group to attack us. You can count on that. In a year, a decade, or maybe even after a century, someone is going to rise and think to themselves that the world is better off without us in it. What are we going to do then? Let them divide and conquer?” I stood up, even though straining my muscles was a painful chore. I winced and staggered to my feet.

To my surprise, Trevor, of all people, came forward and supported me, helping me get to my feet.

“Thanks,” I said.

“Don’t mention it,” he said, going back into the crowd.

“Let me sanction this land for all of us. The Brethren, the Grays, the Howls, the Creed, and everyone else—we can all live here in peace with each other. This can be our community. We can grow here, form relationships with each other, boost each other, nourish each other, help ourselves.

“I wish for a future where I do not have to fight my fellow wolves. I want to celebrate them. I do not want to hunt my own kind. I want to hunt with them. Does that not sound like a future that you want? So many fated mates waiting to happen if we could only just let go of our differences,” I said. “So many families ready to be rejoined.”

“We would still need a leader!” Trevor said. “You suggest that we form this tribe. But who will lead us?”

“How about the man who plunged himself into the chasm of death to ensure our safety?” Mathias rose from the crowd.

“Aye!” Albert said. “The man who braved the flame and fury, risked his life, all for our cause?”

What was happening? I had only suggested that we come together. Why were they already picking up a new leader? Why were they suggesting me?

“I hereby claim that I would serve under the banner of Brandon Caufield, finest wolf among us, champion of our people, savior of the wolves!” Graham roared. From behind him, his pack cheered in response.

“I agree!” Mathias said. “If there is someone that I can trust to make the right decisions for me, my family, and all the rest of the wolves, it is Brandon.”

I could not believe what was happening. Was this a dream or were they all agreeing on something finally?

“On behalf of my pack,” Albert said, “I agree with this decision.”

“The Bone Marrows agree!”

“As do the Howls!” Trevor came up to me and thrust my hand into the air. “We elect this man as our alpha!”

The wolves all cheered and lifted me up in the air before they gave me so much as a chance to speak. Once I was passed around the entire crowd, they set me back up on the pile of rubble.

I hurriedly got back to my feet and stood atop the pile, addressing everyone. “A true leader does not elect himself. He gets elected. If this is what you wish of me, then I humbly accept and promise that I shall protect each and every one of you. Not just my own. From this moment hence, you are all my own. Each of you my brother and sister. I devote my life to you. I shall honor our ancestors. I shall honor our creed. I will look over you with everything I have got!”

Another round of applause rang through the wild crowd as more fireworks flew into the air, crackling the white sky with brilliant red, golden, and blue. I climbed down and began walking through the crowds, meeting and greeting everyone with smiles, handshakes, and hugs.

I had only dreamed of such harmony between us. It went to show that sometimes even our wildest dreams become a reality.

I had to tell Alice about this. She wouldn’t believe what had just happened. Where was she?

I met with more of my people, thanking them for their service, appreciating their kind wishes, and promising them that I would help them as much as I could. Once the crowd thinned out a bit, heading into the numerous buildings of the facility, I turned to my elders, Father Ernest and Thomas.

“Did either of you expect this to happen?” I asked.

Father Thomas shook his head slowly. “I had come here to avert war. We thought that the wolves would turn on each other. Never in a million years would I have expected them to unite. And you did that! The wolf spirit would be proud of you.”

“I guess we should head back to the reservation,” Father Ernest said. “Tell them that there are no packs anymore. That it’s all just one big happy family.”

“You don’t sound too happy about it,” I said as we got in the truck.

“I’m fine. It’s you I am worried about. You’ve been elected the de facto leader of the packs. How are you going to lead them?”

“Well,” I said, thinking of Alice. “I won’t be alone.”