DRUNK ON POWER

Boo had been doing that a lot lately, and it was beginning to feel very natural, and it wasn't like I leaked alpha dominance or anything, so I don't know how Dad knew she had surfaced. Maybe my Dad just had very keen instincts, but the moment Boo took over, he grabbed me by the arm as if to stop me from getting into trouble.

I only took half a step forward.

When Dad had assured himself that I was really just going to stand next to him, he nodded to our guest, "Please go on."

Grand Elder Horio bowed again, "We have come by means of His Highness Prince Gareth's power. His Highness Prince Gareth is the last Blade Wolf, the hero of his generation, and the master of the Crescent Valley which runs from the Tail of the Forest, through the Blood Lake Pack Ancestral Lands, to the tip of Idonia. He has come to the plains with his princess, the Lady Anna, to seek acceptance from his rightful alpha, the last remaining Blade Wolf Alpha."

To which Gareth had to bow lowly and add, "I am only the lowest of omegas of the Blade Wolves and with my blade I slaughtered my own brethren."

Which wasn't exactly the best way to say, "Hi, may I join your pack?"

Gareth didn't seem to notice, either that or he didn't seem to care about first impressions. He continued in the usual lycan legend flair and drama, "Now I am the only one left in the Mountains, but what I have, everything in my name and hands, my very life, I pledge to the Blue Alpha. Let your wolves be my wolves, your pack be my pack, your battles my battles, your enemies my enemies. Make me as your sword and shield. For every suffering you bear, let me suffer more."

And even though this wasn't a lycan legend, and I would normally only marvel at the lengthiness of the speech, my wolf was stirred to speak, "Since you will run with me in my suffering, so you will stand by me in my victory. From this day forth, you will no longer be called the Omega but the Alpha's Vanguard. For the blood of the Blade Wolves you have spilled, you will repay with the blood of my enemies."

Gareth bowed again, "I Gareth, the Alpha's Vanguard, hear and obey."

This had to be the third time Gareth had pledged his allegiance to me, but I think we finally got it right. Thrice the charm, isn't it? Or perhaps we got the words right this time. I'm not sure what spell we had weaved but it worked.

The power surge was heady and nearly knocked me off my feet. Gareth was that OP.

This was when it came to my realization that whoever said stuff like power was addictive, power gets in your head, and too much power can drive you insane... Whoever said stuff like that was very wise.

And also at the same time I became acutely aware that Boo was not immune in the slightest.

Oh, immediately I craved the next boost. Oh my goddess… so that was the taste of the true power within a lycan legend hero! How did Gareth stay so down to earth? My hair flared in pure pleasure and the adrenaline rush.

{More.}

I wasn't even sure if that was Boo or me talking. I'd like to blame Boo, but if I were to be very honest, I liked it too. It made all my previous power surges pale in comparison.

Gareth stepped back and ushered Anna before us. Anna curtseyed and Grand Elder Horio went on with the introductions, "This is Lady Anna, his Highness, Prince Gareth's princess. Born of the Haku House, she was the longest serving Guest Healer of the First Order in the Courts of His Higher Highness, Prince Jin. She follows her soul mate, His Highness Prince Gareth, and seeks to serve the Blue Alpha alongside His Highness, the newly appointed Alpha's Vanguard."

I waited to see when Grand Elder Horio would have to stop and catch his breath. He had easily won the most long winded wolf award hands down. Sorry, Teacher S.O. It turned our that all of us puppies wronged you. We had no idea how high the mountains were, how deep the seas were, or how long winded a wolf could be.

And then it was Anna's turn to speak, she took her turn to bow deeply, "If I may speak directly to Alphas."

Dad and I both nodded. Neither of us expected to be asked for permission to speak. Was it because Anna was a she-wolf?

Anyway, Anna the she-wolf was very eloquent, "For more than half a century, I've lived as a guest healer and had not considered any of the packs I've lived among my home. But now that my soul mate has found his true alpha and set his heart to follow her, I too would like to follow alongside him. This is my heart's only desire, to run alongside my mate and build a new life with him. To you Blue Alpha, I pledge my allegiance. May goddess bless you with long life and great beauty."

I guess it was my turn to speak. Luckily, Boo seemed to know all the right words, "I accept your allegiance. Although the magic here is thin, and my pack is simple, I welcome you to run freely among us."

{And I hope you find your happily ever after here with us too.}

I felt Anna mindlink light up the moment the thought went through…oh the power rush was sweet!

"Thank you, Blue Alpha." Anna made another deep curtsey.

I looked and realized it would be Hayao's turn next. I don't know if I could take another dose of this like of allegiance. It was like the feeling of eating too much candy - that sugar rush even though I knew I was this close to becoming very sick in a while.

{I'm going to be drunk on power.}

The moment the words "drunk on power" popped up, I took pause. I didn't know where those words came from. They weren't words I would normally use, but then again, I hadn't been saying anything I would normally say.

But this line was followed by a sobering thought - wasn't being "drunk on power" usually used to describe bad guys? No matter how hard I thought, I couldn't quite think of anyone who got drunk on power and came to a good end.

Why was I so weak? I passed out from a single alcoholic beverage, I get drunk on the pledge of two wolves… Not even the underground army's allegiance had shaken me so much. WTH.

{Sam?} It was Dad. He sounded concerned, {Are you alright?}

What?

{Your ears…} Dad put a large hand on top of my head. Oh, my wolf ears had just popped out. WTH. I was malfunctioning again. What was wrong with my wolf? I could only feel the buzz of power.

{More.} I told Dad, {I'm okay. Just one more.}

{More what?} Dad asked. He was looking at me concerned now.