The next morning, as the first rays of sunlight spilled across the pack house, Darius called Nathan into his office. His son, bright-eyed and always eager to be in his father’s presence, bounded in with excitement, only to pause when he saw the serious expression on Darius’s face.
“Nathan,” Darius began gently, resting his hand on the boy’s small shoulder, “I need to tell you something important. Tomorrow morning, I’ll be leaving to visit another pack. There are matters that require my attention.”
Immediately, Nathan’s hopeful expression shifted to worry. His little brows furrowed, and he clutched at his father’s arm.
“Daddy, please take me with you. I don’t want you to leave me behind.” His voice carried both the desperation of a child and the budding determination of a future alpha.
