Aodhan

The reluctant first alpha of Stonepath, Aodhan and his mate, Black Elk, were both born into the Running Deer Pack. Located in the gentle heather fields, these wolves were tall and swift, feasting on the deer herds that called the area home.

The two grew up together, born merely months apart. Over time friendship shifted into love, and the two decided 'mates' was a good term for their relationship. Their youth was filled with love, laughter, and constant motion as they joined hunt after hunt to feed the pack. Yet, age changed their outlook on life. Pups were never desired, and not only because they were both male. They wanted a quiet life, only with one another. So, with a tearful goodbye their pack the two left for the gentle slopes of the mountains. For two years they lived a peaceful life together, growing plump in their middle ages. Then they met Aziza and everything changed.

If he could go back, Aodhan would send her and her mother on their way immediately. Black Elk stumbled upon an old she-wolf and her eldest daughter, Aziza, during one of the mountains notorious snowstorm. Aziza, at the time, was heavily pregnant and Black Elk could not leave the two she-wolves to their fate. Never being able to deny his mate anything, Aodhan allowed the two to spend the winter with them. And, just as the snows melted and the trees began to bud, the old she-wolf died and Aziza gave birth.

What was he supposed to do? Send a young mother and her infant pups into the wilderness alone? No, instead he and Black Elk added the little family to their own. Black Elk loved the pups, and would often spend his days pupsitting them while Aziza and Aodhan hunted. Aodhan was less enamored, but as long as his mate was happy he was content. Yet, their tiny pack of five grew when Aziza's sister came looking for her and their mother; bringing along her own adult brood and mate. All were smaller than either Aodhan or Black Elk, skinny and ragged and hopelessly lost. Thus the Stonepath Pack was born.

Unanimously the wolves appointed Aodhan as their alpha. Their reluctant alpha, who missed the easy life when it was just he and Black Elk. His mate seemed to enjoy all the other wolves, but always made time for just he and Aodhan. Their love was as strong as ever, a bond Aodhan felt nothing could break. Except one thing.

Three years in and muzzles going grey, the alpha and his mate settled into a routine. The pack had grown by more than a few, to Aodhan's displeasure, but Stonepath had become a home to many wolves who sought out the peaceful life they thrived on. Aodhan would say they got complacent; this cost him his heart.

Black Elk had taken Aziza fishing in the spring for fatty salmon to feed her new pups. The older male forgot one very important thing: where there were salmon, there were bears. The fight lasted barely five minutes, with Black Elk giving his life to give the mother time to escape. Aodhan, utterly distraught, abandoned his pack for three days to grieve on his own. Without his mate, his soul, for the first time in his life. For three nights Stonepath could hear their alphas anguished howls far into the night.

A large part of the alpha wished to join Black Elk, but he knew the other wouldn't forgive him for leaving Stonepath alphaless so he returned. Aodhan could never meet Aziza's eyes for the rest of his short life, and distanced himself from the pack. Ignoring the looks, Aodhan spent the next moon contemplating, and in the end the best course of action would be to train an heir. And he had the perfect candidate. Rafell was a newer wolf to Stonepath, but he was bright, friendly when he could be, but stern if he had to be. All the wolves liked the young male. And, too Aodhan's pleasure, Rafell agreed. Thus many moons of training took place before Aodhan stepped away from the mantle of alpha.

Aodhan waited merely a week to be sure Rafell had everything under control before disappearing into the night. The reluctant alpha knew it was time to reunite with his beloved Black Elk. Following the murmuring of a stream, Aodhan followed it until the sun rose and he could see the pinks of the salmon swimming upstream. For the first time in what felt like forever his heart was light, and he turned his face skyward, closing his eyes and breathing in. When he finally looked back down, it was to meet the gaze of the bear. He smiled.