“I can’t wait to hear it.” Scooping up Danny, Jackson cuddled his son’s wolf to his chest, relishing the feel of his fur, alreadyrougher than a month ago. His son was growing up faster than Jackson would have liked. It seemed just yesterday, Jackson was holding newborn Daniel, and now his son was challenging him for the Alpha position. Worried and feeling guilty, he sat down at his desk, still cuddling Daniel in his arms, refusing to let go of him.
While everyone found his son’s behavior adorable, Jackson knew that as Daniel grew older, it would begin to tear apart the fabric of the pack. Loyalty to the Alpha was absolute and if there was even a hint of dissension, he’d have no choice but to step in and stop it. And what would that do to his son? Nothing good, that was for sure.
“Hi babe,” Steel said to Jackson as he walked in. Bending down, he went nose-to-nose with Danny’s wolf, chuckling when his son licked him. After sitting down next to his mate, he turned to his father. “Jackson said you know what’s going on with our son.”
“I do,” Maximus said. “It’s perfectly normal.”
“It is?” asked Jackson. “Does it have to do with his ability to talk with animals?”
“No, not at all,” Maximus replied. “Every Dire Wolf pup goes through this stage. However, in this case, the difference is Danny, himself. Even at his age, everyone can recognize he’s a powerful Alpha, which is why Norm and Theo’s full-grown bears followed him yesterday.”
“I don’t remember Slate or myself behaving this way at all,” Steel replied.
“While neither of your wolves at that age were as powerful as Danny’s, trust me, you did,” Maximus said, chuckling.
“Tell me more about Daniel and why he’s challenging me?” Jackson asked Maximus.
“He’s not challenging you…if anything, he views himself as your protector, the same he does with every member of the Blackwood Pack,” Maximus explained.
“You mean like an enforcer?” asked Steel.
“Exactly.”
“But he’s an Alpha,” Jackson said. “Danny will become the Alpha of the Blackwood Pack someday.”
“Yes, indeed,” Maximus agreed.
“I don’t get it,” Steel said.
“Look at Danny as an Alpha-in-training. Do you remember, early on, when you saw how he was with Jake and Jessica? Everyone thought it was cute when Danny protected Jessica while she was reaching for one of Cody’s shirt buttons.”
“Yeah…Alpha of the Blackwood Puppy Pack,” Steel said, smirking.
“That’s because you saw his actions through the lens of an adult. In reality, Danny was practicing the skills he’d need in the future when he became the Alpha.”
“What about now?” asked Jackson. “Danny tried to follow Smokey yesterday and if it weren’t for Norm stopping him, he could have gotten shot.”
“Smokey wouldn’t have let that happen,” Steel assured his mate.
“Maybe…” Jackson said, then looked at Maximus. “I understand Danny is flexing his Alpha muscles, but there needs to be limitsas to what he’s allowed to do, because he’s too young at this point to fully understand the potential danger in a situation.”
“I agree,” Steel said. “Protecting pack members is only one part of being the Alpha, but knowing how to avoid danger is just as important…if not more. That skill has kept wolf packs safe throughout the centuries.”
“You said every Dire Wolf Alpha pup goes through this stage but isn’t Danny still too young to be exhibiting this behavior?” Jackson asked. “I was much older when my father taught me about being the Alpha.”
“It usually happens sooner for a Dire Wolf pup,” Maximus said. “But I’ll admit, I’ve never heard of it happening in one as young as Danny.”
“Do you know why?” asked Jackson.
“It’s only a guess,” Maximus said, “but I think it’s because of your Alpha power. It’s like the pull of a full moon for Danny, especially when he’s in his wolf form. That’s why he acts this way only after he’s shifted.”
“If that’s the case, shouldn’t we be doing something to protect Danny from himself?” asked Jackson, worriedly. “I just can’t stand by and hope he doesn’t get hurt.”
“Give him rules his wolf needs right now, and the best way to do that is in your wolf form,” Maximus suggested. “His wolf knows you’re his Alpha and will obey whatever you say without question.”
“Is that what you did for Steel and Slate?” asked Jackson.
“Yes…it’s also a good way to teach other lessons about being a leader,” Maximus said, smiling. “And it’ll help you get rid of theguilt you feel about Danny’s behavior being the result of your not spending enough time with him.”
