The Righteous Never Falter

[Conor Soul]

[html]

sswm 1352

It felt as much had changed since the last time the two men had gazed into eyes of different hues and ages and soul. Saluce could be considered his opposite of sorts, though he had always held the man in some regards because of his mature opinions and loyal companionship. Now doubt had been inserted into this relationship, and his respect for his man was on unstable ground. He needed to surround himself with individuals he could trust, and he had expected Saluce to become one of the pillar stoles that he could lean to when times grew tough and he needed to seek out guidance from someone holding more experience than he. Saluce ways would never be Conor’s ways, but they seemed to have shared a common interest for Dahlia de Mai, and the young leader appreciated it whenever the dark furred male conjured his opinions and different point of views to the matters that were discussed. And now all seemed to be jeopardized, and the young male sometimes named as the child king of Dahlia de Mai did not enjoy this.

Hard purple in darkening hues watched and waited for a reply, and the male did not keep him waiting, lifting his muzzle to answer his alpha’s stern and unkind words. As usual, the words were plentiful, but Conor would never hesitate to listen intently to a pack member’s words, even if he was deeply unsatisfied with them. New information was revealed. The Soul male was not aware of the breakup between the two Dahlian wolves. In the start the pair had surprised him with the quickened pace they had moved when it came to that mateship. However, Conor’s ways of dealing with things were not their way of dealing, so he had of course had no judging thoughts about the matter. The relationship with Bris was still progressing, though he knew by now that there were several individuals lurking and waiting for something to become official. Truth was that Conor did not hide his romantic relationship with the beautiful Stormbringer woman, but the step into mateship was the same as marriage, and he still liked to take things slow and not to rush into things. If she could not handle this, it meant that they were not meant as the perfect match after all. Bris remained extremely considerate, and he knew that she would one day be a lovely mate.

Thoughts could have travelled further into the lines of family and love, but this was not a scene dedicated to lovely dovely talk and thoughts of love and happiness. The male found that these words Saluce brought him were quick to anger him, for there seemed to be glowing embers in the pit of the alpha’s stomach, and they burned with heated intensity. Conor knew that he had issues with his rage, but it was usually slow to build up and it was first after he was pushed over a certain line that he felt the dark tainted wrath that had belonged to his madman of a father ripple forth and try to rip apart his pale cream chest. It was unfair to let rage fuel certain opinions though, and the male let his figure remain stable, with only dissatisfaction be revealed through his pose. Saluce’s words were probably true and all, made mighty by impressive twists of words, but it made his choice to leave sound no better in the alpha’s mind. Words become nothing but insufficient excuses for his abandonment of Dahlia de Mai, no matter how temporary it had been. It was the lack of notice that bothered him the most, because it meant that the larger male had to underestimate him, and it mattered little if that part had been unintentional. The damage had been done, and that was basically it.

The yearling appreciated the honesty though, but this was not revealed in unchanging gaze of tainted lavender. They thought him to be too soft? Very well. He waited, and more words in response appeared with the cold air slowly sneaking into the hallway of the house. Yet the male was hesitant to invite the other inside, nor did he wish to step out into the full chill of the early morning. When his loyalty was mentioned, orbs darkened further, for it seemed that the two males had different opinions of what respect meant. Certainty, the male had come back to stand before his leader and apologize, but the lengthy excuse and explanation did not soothe any part of him. Pride was still wounded. Not his as an individual, but as a leader that had depended on a high standing pack member for being there, but that had been let down without warning. The thought of demoting the other had been on his mind, but the male would remain a hunter for now, though would not be granted the opportunity to rise swiftly in ranks as long as the discontentment remained strong in Dahlia de Mai’s leader. How could the man honour a promise bearing cracks like this?

They had lost eye contact for now, and a more instinctual part of the young wolf was satisfied, at least temporarily. They were supposed to be equals here, but apparently that was not a perfect system. No rule was without its flaws, but Conor had learned this in an unfortunate way, in an evening where the entire pack should have come together to call out to the full moon. Did their traditions mean so little? Were they not a family here? Had he really been so blind—so mistaken? ”You and I are of different opinions here,” he spoke, eyes continuing to express discontentment, though his voice was at level and without the immerse aggression he wished to unleash. He was not sure whether or not he should bother to try to explain to the other his opinion on what had happened. ”I am certain that you had your reasons, but you did not come to me first. Now why is that?” Yes, he wanted a concrete answer on this. A more filling one than he had received.

Saluce said that he had not wished to add more to the heavy burden resting on his shoulders? Perhaps that choice had been made to make things easier for his young alpha, but it did not make it a right one just because his intention had been a good one. To Conor, this suggested that the other thought him incapable of fulfilling his duties as a leader of the back, and that was not a display of loyalty and consideration. Conor had not been completely aware of the responsibilities and burdens that followed a leader in the start, but he meant that he had settled in well, taken into full consideration. There had been no other protégée available to take the heavy load the day that Haku Soul was banished from Dahlia de Mai forever. Had the majority judged him insufficient for the position, he would have gladly resigned, but this had not happened. If he was not a capable leader as he had believed himself to be by now, it was the pack’s fault for failing to let him know that this system he had implemented and the way he did things were not good enough for them. He required response from the individuals that made up the pack, and the least thing he wanted was that they went elsewhere and chose to do things differently merely because “it could be too much of a burden upon his shoulders.”

So, was that what Saluce was saying? That he did not think that Conor could handle such things as well as he should? He had always done his best to announce to everything and everyone that they should be open to him and seek him out about matters, however feeble they were. Saluce had disappeared fully, and had been a fool not to notify his leader of this. Or perhaps Conor was the fool? Which one was it?