Phoenix Maplewood [m] Who's that little mouse

Reek seemed to have the same doubtful thoughts about Arion and his suitability. Saena was glad they were on the same page but, like her mate, she regretted feeling that way as well. The Arion of before would've made a great beta, but no matter how much he denied it, the warrior was different now. He was volatile. He was unruly. All the things that a beta could not be, because a beta represented the pack and often served as its voice, as Reek had for so long.

"You'd think," she muttered, ever conscious that their subordinate might sneak up and hear them talking about him, "that he lost everything he ever held dear." Maybe that was exaggerating a little, but the still youthful Saena often did that, as she would one day learn. "I don't really know but I agree he isn't right for it right now, especially since he threatened to just up and leave that one time," she'd probably told him about that, but maybe she'd overlooked it. Either way, in response to whether he was still being a dick, Saena explained, "Before the storm when I asked him to help make sure everyone had shelter, he sort of implied it wasn't his job." He hadn't said so many words, but what was important to her was his tone, not so much what he'd actually said.

"I asked what his problem was. He denied having one, then said something about the poppy." She frowned. "Is it really that addictive?" she wondered aloud, then shook her head and refocused and went on. "Anyway, I pointed out his attitude lately and he got all pissy, said if we weren't so busy we'd know what was wrong and something about being in his feet. The one time I asked what was wrong he told me he couldn't say. I think he thinks we can read his mind." That or Arion had just gone so far off the deep end that he was going insane and held his friends, his family, accountable for all the bad things he felt.

No, she didn't think Arion would do that, however much sense it made. He wasn't crazy.