Phoenix Maplewood the old wolf remembers

She inched even closer until contact was shared between them, but Reek did not shy away nor flinch. Such a thing was a sign of weakness. He could be vulnerable, of course, but here on the borders Reek was a different man.  Stern, strong; much like Cato would have been if he hadn't been such a stark raving lunatic following the Jerry Springer style bullshit that was the circumstance of Reek's birth.

The elder spoke. Reek figured the name he had taken for his family designation would come under scrutiny, but he had his reasons for rejecting the titles of his old life. Even so, to think Cato would have let Reek carry on the family name was laughable. He lightly scoffed and shook his head. "No. I was only Reek to him," he countered. "—But, it's not like I wanted it anyway."  Unfortunately, the Cato Reek knew had been far different than the son Shreya had raised. Driven by the deep pain of heartbreak, spurred by Adrics affair with his mate, Reek's uncle found himself in disrepair— perpetually angry. "He was cruel," he finally interjected in a near whisper. Of course, Shreya had not seen the transformation that had taken place, but Reek assumed he had always been that way.

"I didn't take a name until I finally settled," Reek continued on. "Redtail Rise was the first place that ever felt like home. I led there for a time— met my mate there too. A fire forced us all out, but we kept the name." Reek shrugged. "It's a part of us now." A nod to their history.