Absolute (read only)

Read only, please!

Elwood felt numb. How had everything gone so wrong so quickly? He didn't feel right in his own skin, much less within Redhawk Caldera's borders. Finley had done a great job of convincing him that he didn't belong there, and that he never had. His presence was fluid and transient -- he had never been meant to stay, to integrate himself into the pack. This was her home; Fox and Peregrine were her friends.

He was still bewildered the next day as he lingered near the southern borders. She wanted him gone -- he still couldn't believe the hateful words that had come from her mouth. Never in a million years would he have expected Finley to even be capable of such feelings. She was flighty, yes, and often made rash decision, but this...this took the cake.

It didn't even matter what he had done. Grimm was the farthest thing from his mind as he gazed out over the lonely horizon. He didn't want to go, but it was inevitable. In his mind, it was better to keep at least a little bit of his honor intact, and tell Peregrine that he was resuming his search for his sister. The other option would likely get him chased out with the Alphas hot on his heels; no goodbyes or well wishes to be exchanged as Finley smugly watched him disappear.

Despair filled him, and he bowed his head quietly. He would take time to prepare himself, at least until Fox's children were born, and then he would go peacefully. Elwood Grove would eventually be forgotten by the wolves of the caldera -- just a passing entity on the breeze. Until then, he intended to avoid his packmates; the sound of paws on the snow would be enough to send him in the other direction. The only wolf he sought out would be Somnia, who he checked on periodically, but he did not share his news with her -- not yet.

With a sigh, the Beta sat down, yellow eyes glassy as he reflected on what had become of his life.