Phoenix Maplewood California One/The Youth and Beauty Brigade

Whatever had befallen Ukko beyond their borders came of his own volition.  Ultimately, Reek felt clear of all semblance of guilt for indirectly pushing his beta away to his possible doom; in Reek's eyes, his paws were clean of any blood that he may be indirectly resposible for. Suggesting that Ukko may have been waylaid, injured, or in danger, Saena provoked no emotional change within the raggedy alpha, who cared little if Ukko lived or died following his betrayal. But, that isn't to say Reek felt nothing from his beta'a absence. He felt not for Ukko, but for the hole he had left behind in their pack.  

A beta, distrusted as he was, was still hard to replace. Reek had grown accustomed to having someone directly under him to carry out the pack's day to day business, an intern of sorts. The heavy load of leadership now fell back in full to the leading couple. Of course, Reek agreed that searching for Ukko and dragging him back by toe to the Maplewood would be a waste of time and valuable energy, especially now with a war brewing on the horizon. He signaled his agreement with a silent nod and continued to listen as his wife spoke.

Catching his mate's raised brow, he knew why they would eventually need another beta. If she was indeed pregnant, Saena would be out of commision for a time, and while she would remain alpha in name and title, Reek would bear the heavy burden of running the pack on his own. While, he felt he could handle it, running the pack solo wasn't exactly the ideal situation. His ears splayed back in thought of a suitable replacement, but no names stood out to Reek. He trusted few and the pack was occupied mostly by new recruits. Desna... and possibly Spring to an extent, were the only wolves aside from his wife that Reek trusted, but neither, he felt were beta worthy.

"I can keep an eye out from now on," he reassured. Perhaps in the time between now and spring, one would rise to the challenge and be a clear beta candidate. "But, uh, no one really stands out to me yet as leadership material. They're all so— new, you know?" It was times like these that he wished Scarlett, Nochtli, and Citali were still around... if any one of them had remained, they would be shoo-ins for the position.  "What do you think babe? Anyone stand out to you?"