Time to step up

[a magical taco]

The past several days had revealed a lot to Richard about himself. He remember the as the Alpha wolf had walked forward he was already moving when Rebecca pushed him towards the center of the clearing, he hadn't even hesitated. It was nice to be out in the field again. The fear of standing in front of a potential enemy and staring it in the face without the safety of the scrying pool. It was exciting, something he had not felt in a long time but now realized he missed. He also recalled how the wolf had called him an Alpha and that for the first time he had embarrassed the idea. Richard had never wanted to be a leader, he didn't want to be responsible at all much less responsible for the lives of 6 others. His pride was still swimming from the compliments from the wolves in recognition of his strengths and the strengths of his friends.

Then it was Rebecca's turn to step up and she had made them all look foolish. She had antagonize the leader of the wolves and ignored Richard's words to stop. More so, she did this in front of them. It had made him look weak, not like the leader the other alpha expected him to be. Richard found it odd, the feeling of pride he now had for him cabal and the disrespect he had been shown not only during the encounter with the wolves but also before hand with Simon. Richard may have let his mouth get the better of him with Simon but the prank he had pulled was over the line. It needed to stop. Richard was finally ready to be a leader and he planned to start with Rebecca.

He knocked on Rebecca's door and after a moment she answered it. She created him kindly and invited him inside. She spent a moment playing the host, offering him a drink but he politely declined and asked he to sit though he stayed standing.

“I’m going to speak, please do not interrupt, I promise to give you your turn.” he waited for her to agree before continuing. “I don't know what happened with you out there with the wolves. Not only were you disrespectful to them for no reason but you were disrespectful to me in front of them. I expect that had it not been for the trials you would have started a fight with them and to achieve what? Were you trying to ruin Kira’s chances to learn from them? Did you want to prove that you were the Alpha out there instead of me? You have asked me to step up and lead this cabal numerous times and when I finally try to you do everything you can to sabotage it.” A flash of pain came across Richard's face. He turned away from Rebecca and rubbed his eyes. He started to stay something but hesitated before coming in a weak voice. “Rebecca, I am finally ready to do what I need to in order to lead us but your actions out there with the wolves cannot be considered acceptable. I realize that I have not been a proper leader but that ends today. When we are finished here we are all going to sit down and we are going to discuss some serious ground rules and the consequences for ignoring them. But I need you to be on board, none of this works if you don't back me.” he key out a heavy breath and looked at Rebecca.