When Laika finished speaking and backed down, Rider stepped forward. "Thank you, fellow Alphas, for speaking," he said. "We all mourn for those who have passed, and we congratulate those of you who have given birth to pups. This Gathering is now over. Feel free to mingle with one another." Rider jumped down from the ledge, walking over to his own pack, and began conversing with one of his wolves.

Ferox stood up and climbed down from the ledge, trying hard not to look at Laika. However, when Rider left the wolf he was talking to and approached Laika, he couldn't help but watch. "Laika, congratulations on the pups," Rider said, nodding at the Ignis Lupi alpha's belly. Ferox felt icy claws running down his back and turned away, although he listened closely. "May I ask who the father is?" Rider asked. "He should be up on the ledge with you."

Rider dipped his head lightly. "Very well," he said. "I won't inquire further." Rider turned to leave, then paused, as if a sudden thought had struck him. "I'm impressed you lasted this long as an Alpha," he said. "Let's see if you can hang on to the position until the next Gathering." With that, Rider turned and barked at his wolves, leading them out of the clearing, back towards their territory.

Ferox, listening to the exchange, nodded approvingly as Laika covered their secret. That was well done, he thought. I just hope Rider doesn't try to find out more. Ferox looked at his wolves and barked the order to begin making their way back to the territory, and maybe half of the wolves stood up, while the rest ignored him. Ferox growled and barked again, this time with an angrier tone, and the other half lazily got up and began walking back to their land. Ferox hurried to take the lead, trying not to glance back at Laika. You'll see her tomorrow night, he assured himself.

Ferox walked in silence until the wolves returned to the camp, and they began to disperse to their dens. "Stay." Ferox's command lashed out like a physical blow, and the wolves, hearing his tone, stopped. Everyone else had gone to sleep, so they were the only ones listening. Ferox made eye contact with each and every wolf, then dismissed the five that had not hesitated to heed his command at the Gathering.

"I don't know what it's going to take to earn your loyalty," Ferox growled. "I have tried everything. And yet you still continue to resist my commands." Ferox dug his claws into the ground. "You might think it's fine to disregard my commands, but your behavior tonight, in front of the other packs, was unacceptable." Ferox gritted his teeth. "I will not tolerate that at a Gathering or in any situation with other packs. It;s not just me your making look bad, but yourselves as well. Let me make this clear: The next wolf that disobeys or ignores me in front of another pack is going to regret it. Understand!!?" Ferox's shout literally split the earth, cracks forming around where his claws dug into the ground.

The wolves gathered jumped back, startled, hastily bowing their heads and backing away with their tails between their legs. Ferox glared at them for a moment, then turned his back on them. "You're dismissed," he said. He could hear them retreating, and once he was sure he was alone, he lowered his head with an exhausted sigh.

Ferox stayed where he was for a moment, then slowly padded to his den and laid down inside. This was becoming too much. It had been a couple months since he had taken over for the last Alpha, and he had thought he was making progress until just a couple weeks ago. With a groan, Ferox rolled onto his side and tried to fall asleep, but it wasn't until early that morning that he finally drifted off.