Ares walked up to William. He didn’t have a smile on his face but the look he gave William was light. If his face wasn’t smiling, his eyes were. William met his teacher with an extended claw. Ares gripped the claw and looked down at his former student. The two didn’t say anything at first. The noise of congratulations and thanks from his other pack members rose around them.

Into the sudden noise William leaned in close to his teacher as he released his claw. “Thank you, Ares.”

Ares seemed surprised by the comment. “Thanks for what?” he said as he cocked his head to the side.

William wasn’t sure just how much his pack mates knew about him, and he wasn’t sure how much he wanted them to know just yet. Derceto still had strong reservations about him and there was something inside him that made him not fully trust himself. He lowered his voice so the rest of his pack wouldn’t overhear. “Thank you for everything you did for me. Keeping me alive and helping me work through my…problem.”

Ares smiled and shook his head. “William, I could only push you so far. Ultimately, it had to be your decision and your actions. What you did you did on your own.”

“You did keep me alive long enough to do it though.” William glanced sideways at the happy conversations going on around him. “Derceto still thinks that I should be put down.”

Ares heaved a sigh and his shoulders seemed to slump noticeably. “Derceto can’t afford compassion. Because of that, she must see the world in absolutes, black and white.” Ares gazed evenly down at William his voice serious. “Her lack of compassion allows her to do what she has to do to protect this city. I wouldn’t want to have to make the kind of decisions that she does almost on a daily basis.”

William absorbed the words of his teacher. “I understand that she, and all the other Elder’s, have a greater responsibility for the safety of the City under the Mountain. But is there no room for compassion in those decisions? It seems so cold.”

“Civilization and laws sometime require that cold edge. The needs of the majority have to tip the scales against the needs of one individual. Those are the types of decisions that she and the rest of the Elders are charged to make.” Ares tone was soft but his eyes had an edge to them.

William nodded. He understood what Ares was saying. “I just wish that I had more time with you.” William looked over at the rest of his pack as they were talking to their teachers. He looked back at Ares. “It seems that everyone else got weeks or months with their teachers. I only got a few days with you.” He shrugged his shoulders. “I just wish that I had more time.”

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Ares heaved another sigh as he looked up toward the carven ceiling. He looked back down at his former student. “William, time is something we never have enough of.”

William cocked his head to the side. “What do you mean by that?”

Ares allowed a weary smile to touch his lips. “You’ll find out…a lot sooner than you think.” William didn’t know how to respond to what Ares had said. “But today is your day, enjoy it. I’ll be seeing you, William” Ares started to turn but stopped and said over his shoulder, “Stay out of trouble.” William saw his teacher smile as he said this. Ares turned around and walked back into the surrounding forest.

William was left alone among a group of people. He didn’t mind. William had come to expect Ares to say what he had to say and leave. Besides, if time was as precious as he made it out to be, he wondered just how much time Ares got with his mate Physis. The two of them always looked so happy around each other. He allowed himself the luxury of wondering if he could ever be that way with someone. Could he ever be that happy? The thought was a little juvenile and he had to smile at himself for it. Now, what had caused that sudden bit of sentimentality?

“William, you, ok?” It was Katherine’s voice.

He shook himself out of his reverie and looked over at her. William saw that most of the other teachers had left as well. His pack stood in a loosely clumped group a little separated from him. He hadn’t noticed any of the other teachers leave. He gave her a smile. “Yeah, I’m fine. What’s up?”

Katherine glanced over at Aceso. His alpha was standing apart from the rest of the group in deep discussion with her teacher. Their voices were very low and even his wolf hearing was unable to pick up what they were saying.

“Me and Charles were talking and we thought that it might be a good idea if we stayed out here for another day and tonight,” Katherine said. She walked up to where William was standing. She was be flanked by Charles. “Since the test is over, we thought it would be a good idea to just hang out for a while, relax and try to get to know each other a little better.”

William thought about trying to convince the others to swear to Aceso and become a true pack. But something that Ares had just told him made him stamp that thought out. The oath has to come from them. It has to be their own actions in their own time. I can’t push them into it. The thought had a huge calming effect on him. He would never stop being loyal to Aceso and he would try to support the pack as best he could, but he couldn’t take responsibility for his pack mates. As soon as he comprehended that, he felt a lot better and what Ares had just told him took on new meaning. Even Derceto and the choices she had to make, they were hers to make and all he could do was live and make the best out of the time that he had. He felt a smile spread across his lips.

“So, is that a yes?” Katherine asked, confused.

William refocused on her and Charles. “Sorry, I was just thinking about something.”

Katherine and Charles shared a look of confusion between them. “Well, or you in?” Katherine asked.

William nodded. “Sure, sounds like a great idea. Besides I could use a full night’s sleep.” Charles smiled at the comment.