Ezekiel arrived, and Steady returned his nod, though, it didn't feel as friendly as before. He was quiet as the other male sat down in front of him, and asked why Steady had called him here. The moment seemed formal to the Alpha, not at all what he wanted, but he supposed he would take it. Ezekiel seemed eager to get down to business, and Steady wouldn't disappoint.

I made the decisions I did at the pack meeting, and I wanted to know if your loyalty is still the same, he said, his tone matter-of-fact. While he wouldn't hold any hard feelings if anyone left him, he wanted to know sooner rather than later. 

He listened as Ezekiel spoke, not condemning him for his decision, but understanding why he had to do it. Steady, and the others, had lost so many wolves, and he was at his wits end. He felt so helpless that they couldn't seem to gather enough food to feed everyone, and the ones who seen it the most had given their own portions to others. Steady had felt so weak, so lost on how to help. But, a weak man knew the value of strength, the value of power. Steady had used his power to order his pack mates to eat, knowing under different circumstances they would have never done it. 

He let out a heavy breath, the tension leaving his body as his friend pledged his loyalty until the end. It awe Steady how he had gotten so lucky to have such good wolves on his team. It was not something he would take for granted. Thank you, friend. I hope I'm as good a leader as you are loyal, he said, returning a smile. 

With that settled, Steady was curious how the others were doing. Have you spoken with anyone else? Krypton and Niita are good. What about Makui, Reiko, or Anita? he asked. Chaska was still recovering from his injuries and hadn't attended the meeting, though he sent a howl. Steady didn't even know if anyone had told him what went on. Phocion had been absent lately, and Steady wasn't sure why.

With his fear of Ezekiel leaving now dissipated, they moved on to talk of the others. Steady looked a little surprised that Ezekiel admitted that he and Anita didn't get along. His ears perked, his head cocking to one side. He thought Ezekiel's abrasiveness was wearing off a little since he had joined, but possibly not. Then again, there was always the possibility that it was Ezekiel who had the problem.

Why don't you two get along? he asked. He liked knowing what was going on his pack, as letting things fester too long could be cause for disaster. Generally, he felt it better to get things out into the open and settled before anything turned bad. A slight disagreement between the two could easily be mended, but if they let the anger go on instead of dealing with it, who knew how bad it could get? All Steady knew was that prey had to return soon, and any discord needed to be settled if they were going to work together.

Steady's ears were perked as Ezekiel spoke. Steady's instincts told him to react quickly, but he held them back until Ezekiel was finished speaking, hoping to find some redeeming quality about Anita that wouldn't make him want to stalk after her right now and chase her from the pack lands. They were a family pack, yes, but Steady did not tolerate insubordination in any way, shape, or form. He understood Ezekiel's hesitation about her punishment, but he knew if he let this go, Anita could get worse. 

The fact that she actively sought him out to harass him made Steady's blood boil. Happening upon him and being rude was one thing. But, Ezekiel was her superior, and to go to great lengths to disrespect him showed just what kind of wolf Anita was.

In the end, Steady did his best to keep his anger in check, but knew his face would have showed some of it, at least. I'll have a talk with her, he said. But, there was another issue at hand here, maybe one Ezekiel didn't realize. Steady broached the subject cautiously. I'm not sure how high you intend to go in this pack, or any pack, he said. But, if you want to keep your current position, and teach others how to respect that position, you'll have to put them in their place sometimes. His voice was soft as he spoke, a little matter-of-fact. While Steady would uphold the positions he placed his pack mates in, they would need to show that they wanted to be in that spot, too. To lighten the subject, he added with a smile, This is where the asshole part of your personality comes in. He knew Ezekiel didn't quite like that aspect about himself, but Steady also knew he could use it to his advantage sometimes.

He chuckled, glad that Ezekiel had taken his joke so well, but turned serious once again when his friend admitted that he was apprehensive about being too assertive. Steady could certainly understand that. I think many wolves go through that, including myself. To be completely honest with you, I had no aspirations of becoming Alpha of his pack- it was my brother's, after all, and Mason was next in line, he explained, hoping his pack mate wouldn't think less of him for admitting that. I was content to be their follower, to help them rise and succeed. It was through necessity that I took on leadership, and it's quite an adjustment. I've never had to decide whether or not someone needs a punishment...he trailed off, thinking of Anita for a moment and what he should do there. 

He took a deep breath, coming back to the present and Ezekiel. You just have to find the right balance for you. Maybe you only need to voice to them that they need to cease their actions, maybe you need to physically reprimand them, it will all depend on the situation. He hoped that helped Ezekiel with his confidence a little. You're welcome to come to me with any questions, he offered. Maybe in the future he wouldn't take on the problems of his pack mates, and instead try to guide them to their own answers. This one, however, would be one he dealt with.