OLDER AND WISER

TIMELINE 3, 7 MARCH, SUNDAY, CONTINUED

"What is it?" Dad asked, even though he probably knew it was going to be negative feedback. The Alpha's word was law, so it was not uncommon for his beta or advisors to raise their hands to intercept a possibly detrimental new "law" before it was passed through their Alpha's mouth.

In Lycan legends, this was the classic move of wolves so loyal, they would rather risk their lives and their Alpha's displeasure than see their Alpha make a regrettable mistake. It was also a classic move by the villains posing as loyal wolves, who were trying to manipulate the Alpha to fall for their evil schemes.

The actions and words were the same, the difference lay in their motives... and if they were in a Lycan drama, also their facial expressions towards the camera.

Basically, they would raise their hand and if the Alpha allowed it, they would fall all over themselves and say, "Oh Alpha, since I have gained your favor, I beseech you to forgive this old beta/advisor/servant of yours, but my wolf is troubled and I cannot help but speak out!

If it pleases the Alpha to hear my words, I will speak with fear and trembling, but even if it does not, I will also speak!

Only hear me out my Alpha, for the many years I have run with you, neither turning to the left or to the right. I had always loyally guarded you zealously in my heart.

And after I have said my words, please punish me as I deserve. Only do not be angry and hear these words of your humble beta/advisor/servant!"

But we weren't in a Lycan legend, and it's not like my Dad was going to yell, "Off with his head!"

It used to be much easier to lose your head in Lycan Legendary times. 

Even so, the three owners of the show of hands were suddenly hesitant. They looked at each other as if willing someone else to speak first.

"Can somebody just say it?" Ben, who wasn't one of the hands, snapped because his patience was about only the length of a rubber band.

Wolfgang, who WAS the owner of one of the hands that was raised cleared his throat, "If I may be so bold to speak, Alpha."

Sir Wolfgang in his Prof Hotstuff mode was as Lycan Legend as it could get around here.

Dad nodded, "Please do, Sir Wolfgang. I would appreciate it."

Which was pretty fancy talk coming from my Dad, but I imagine Dad did have the vocabulary to interact with other alphas… now that I thought about it, wasn't Dad the previous heir to Night Forest aka arguably the oldest pack in our continent? ("Arguably", because it was TECHNICALLY the oldest pack - as in it had to play ALL the technical rules to disqualify the other old packs in our continent to win this argument.)

It had come to my attention that there were many things I had not noticed in my first life, but now that I had lived thrice (Original Timeline + Alternate Timeline + Current Timeline 3), all to the ripe old age of 15, I was a little older and wiser.

Maybe this was what it was like to be 45 years old.

Anyway, when Dad addressed Fluffy as Kaius, some of my wolves immediately realized that my Alpha Dad might still be looking upon our beautiful blond Fluffy as his son from the previous timeline. This alarmed my wolves somewhat - and not because Fluffy was a troublemaker, which he was… in all three timelines, but because… well, I'll let them explain it themselves... in summary, because such raised hands were owned by quite long-winded wolves.

Wolfgang wanted to make clear that he would never dream of telling the Alpha what to do, but since Dad had said he was counting on him for advice earlier, Wolfgang felt obliged to remind Dad to consider the legal implications, specifically with regards to the Alpha inheritance. Since Fluffy-Kaius was an older male alpha wolf, any legal adoption as Dad had done in the previous timeline would effectively transfer all my rights to the future Alpha of Night Leaf to Fluffy. At least according to Lycan tradition and the prevailing governing laws in our continent, and the Green Packlands.

Harvey, the other hand that was raised, was meaning to caution the same. He would also like to point out that while it was not impossible to draft legal papers to reserve the Alpha inheritance for me, it could also be contested later on. Especially since I was a she-wolf.

"What about you, Kaius?" Dad asked, because the third raised hand had belonged to Fluffy, "Were you also worried about Sam's inheritance?"

Fluffy shook his head, his smiling mask perfectly in place, "Not really, I have no interest in being the Alpha - I'm told my last 34 attempts in our previous timeline were terrible failures."

I shook my head because I felt very wronged on Fluffy's behalf, "That's not true!"

And then I remembered that he gave me away and crossed my arms, "But you were a failure at being a soul mate."

"It was hardly your fault, Fluff." Wolfgang said because while he was a stern and exacting teacher, he was also a fair one. And then he must have remembered the ride to Night Leaf, "But you should've failed your driving test."

"I told you, I didn't take one." Fluffy smiled.

"And…" Harvey coughed in his hand, because he remembered something of the previous timeline too, "Although I appreciate the complexities of the circumstances, it would be prudent to not overlook the territorial and reporting administration... among other minor legal obligations."

"Like basic traffic laws." Wolfgang grumbled with his arms crossed.

"Hooboy, our young alpha was a true troublemaker." Beta Lucas was suddenly remembering too.

Fluffy beamed like it was high praise.

"Yeah, you sucked as Alpha." Ben shrugged with all his usual bad attitude. But then Ben must have grown up a bit too, because he remembered, "But not too much."

Now THAT was high praise.

Dad looked like it was his first time hearing anything negative about his first choice for Night Leaf's future alpha. Like did nobody tell him any of this in our previous timeline?

No, of course not. Dad was the Alpha, his word was law, and our wolves were loyal to a fault. And I mean this very literally.

Fluffy shrugged, "I don't want to be adopted into the Kingsley family, not that Alpha said he wanted to adopt me, but if he did, wouldn't it be legally incest if Pretty Alpha chose me to be her mate?"

WAIT WHAT? And why were we still shocked at things like that when it was coming out of Fluffy's mouth?

He got a few hard whacks from the guys around him, without any apologies because he wasn't the Young Alpha anymore.

"Impudent." Wolfgang remained cross-armed.

"Are you..." Beta Lucas looked from Fluffy to me.

Suddenly the guys stopped beating Fluffy up.

"No way, right?" Ben asked. For some reason, Ben looked even more worried than his dad.

I immediately shook my head. Thank goddess. Fluffy wasn't my soul mate here.

"I thought Pretty Alpha was going to choose someone who made her happy from now on?" Fluffy asked in all (feigned) innocence. 

"Fluffy... you would be the last wolf Sam would date." Ben told him. He also play-kicked Fluffy in the butt for good measure.

"Over you, Scary Beta?" Fluffy challenged.

"That... hell no!" Ben looked aghast.

"Then I am not the last. You are." Fluffy beamed.

Ben growled, but only because he hated losing in everything - even things he didn't want to win.

Beta Lucas grabbed Ben by his scuff and physically pulled him back and away from me, "Try to elope again and I will hunt you down and shoot you myself."

"What the heck, Dad!" Ben protested, "Sam and me will NEVER be an item, okay?"

"Yeah." I was much more calm about it because I was that sure, "Whatever happened in that particular timeline had to be a misunderstanding."

"And whatever happens in this timeline, do NOT date Fluffy." Ben warned, "That guy is a sicko."

"All men are wolves." Fluffy smiled.

"Don't equate wolves with sickos, Fluff." Harvey said wryly.

The other guys nodded like it was universal truth, but Ben felt he had to warn me again, "Sam... seriously, you can date anyone except Fluffy."

"Actually, the only one I'm going to date is my soul mate." I decided to make clear.

For some reason, no one looked like they believed me. I turned to Dad to back me up on this, but Dad remembered, "Yes, but only if he is someone who'd make you happy."

I blamed Fluffy for reminding him.

Eventually, Dad and Fluffy came up with a mutually agreeable solution. Dad was going to be Fluffy's godfather. Fluffy's name would remain as Alaric.

Fluffy did have a request though. Slaves didn't have family names. Neither did princes of the Colored Mountains. 

"I would like to use Kaius as my family name from now on, Alpha." Fluffy said in uncharacteristic straightforwardness. 

Alaric Kaius. The name change felt apt because Fluffy had changed. Even though his slave band marks were still branded in his arms, he had also once lived as the son of Night Leaf's Alpha.

I wasn't the only one who was older and wiser. In Fluffy's case, maybe he grew up more "normal" too.

"What do you think Pretty Alpha?" Fluffy beamed at me, "How does Mrs Samantha Kaius sound to you?"

And he laughed, exactly the same way Kaius used to laugh - a little growly and very leisurely.

I take that back, Fluffy was far from "normal".  My betas dutifully made sure Fluffy got properly smacked from three sides.

In many ways, Timeline 3 felt like home.