What had he done? Everything was falling apart, and the Alpha knew it was no one's doing but his own. Odette and Stoic were nowhere to be found. Steady hadn't even seen Stoic during the pack meeting, but Odette had been there, at least before he placed the meat of her dead mother before her and ordered her to eat it. She had run off then, and Steady had been glued to his spot, dumbfounded. In his heart, he knew he had only been trying to keep them alive, but in his head, he cursed himself, berated himself for acting so morbidly. He just hadn't known what else to do. His family was dying left and right, and he had grasped at anything to make it stop. 

His heart physically ached, for he knew the absence of the pups, and the wolves that he felt were sure to leave, him was his fault. He wouldn't blame them. He stood over his brother's grave, staring at it, silently begging for FitzDutiful to come back. His brother would have known what to do, would have known how to make this right. A sob slipped from his throat and his body dropped to the ground. Brother, please, he begged. Help me. He had no idea if Fitz could hear him or not, but he pleaded anyway. 

Logically, Steady knew his brother as not coming back, but it didn't stop him from voicing his need of him. He was at a loss of what to do to pull the pack back together. Honestly, he was sure it was even what they wanted after what he did. Did they still want him as their leader? 

Pawsteps reached his ears, but he did not rise. Krypton's scent flooded his nose as she laid next to him, lending him her comfort. She heard his words, but his heart didn't believe her. Isn't it though? he asked of his fault. I'm the one who chose... No, I ordered the mutilation of her body by the pack... In front of her own children. They had ran, and he expected they went as far as their legs would take them. All the time he had spent with Odette, he thought she trusted him enough to give him the benefit of the doubt that he had her best interests at heart. But, she was still young, and he didn't think she understood just how dire things had gotten, even after seeing her brother starve to death. 

But, Steady knew better. These were drastic times, and he had taken a drastic measure to try and keep them all alive. Should he have let them die? Would others forgive him for that, but not for trying to keep them alive? Zaria would have been dead either way, and he knew for a fact she would have done the same as he did. Why, then, did he feel so horrible?

He listened quietly as she spoke, taking in her words. She understood exactly why he had done what he did, and he didn't even have to explain it to her. She seemed to sympathize with what he was going through, and more than that, she didn't hate him for doing what he had do. He could only hope the pups, if they didn't come back, found someplace safe to grow up and came to understand the reason for his actions. Maybe they would hate him a little less.

He knew for a fact Zaria would agree with him, as she had tried to get Odette and Stoic to eat Solemn after he passed. He had told the then-Alpha that it wasn't a lesson they should learn that day, but now he second-guessed himself. If they had learned that lesson then, maybe they wouldn't be gone now.

He pushed the thoughts aside, knowing he was digging himself deeper into a pit he would never get himself out of if he didn't do something soon. He looked to Krypton, studying her for a moment. He really couldn't respond to what she had said without getting emotional, but listening to her did make him realize something else. You've been here for longer than I can remember, he said softly. You've never wavered in your loyalty to Fitz, Zaria, or me, he added. He shifted, facing her directly. I'm not so prideful that I can't admit when I need help... And I need help. Will you be my Beta, Krypton? If she said no, if she had no desires to be a leader, he would understand and do this the best he could with no Beta, since there was no one else he would ask. But, he knew he could do it better with her.

She had made his heart feel a little lighter, and for that he would be forever grateful. He knew he could always count on Krypton, both for himself and for the rest of their family. Which is why he could only see her as his Beta. She was last of the pack as he'd known it before death began to claim them, but she was strong enough to stick by them instead of seeking out better opportunities. The other wolves, while he knew they were loyal, had not had the time to prove that yet. 

He smiled, finally, when she accepted his offer. The honor is mine, I assure you, he said confidently. To be honest, he had felt alone up at the top, being the only leader, even though their pack was thriving with members. Knowing Krypton was there took a little weight off of his shoulders, and he would be forever grateful to her.

He lifted his muzzle to the sky, announcing Krypton's promotion to Beta of Silvertip Mountain.

She pledge her loyalty to him, but he knew from her actions over these past months that she would do that, without her having to say it. Still, he acknowledge what she said. I really do appreciate that, Krypton. You've been a great friend. I don't know what I'd do without your support, he said, a soft smile upon his maw. 

He hoped the other wolves could take a page out of her book. Through the easy times, and the tough, she had never faltered in her duties. He knew other wolves would come and go, it was the nature of the things. But, it was nice to have at least one he could always count on being there.