[PRP] A Heir [Forbidden Oath x Big Bad]

[NymiiNym]

Big bad wasn't used to being summoned. Not anymore, at least. Time had passed and his legs had grown past his young days. He wasn't someone to be ordered, anymore. And yet, Forbidden Oath had a way of simply being that commanded his attention. Her words remained gentle and yet unyielding, and thus Big Bad found himself settled neatly in the corner of the pack lands.

'Meet me where we used to train. Make sure no one follows you,' she had said, and Big Bad felt dread creeping in. Oath was one of many mysteries, and even as her adopted son he didn't know much more than the rest of his pack did. Whatever she had wished to speak about was unknown to him, although a part of him wondered if it was about Strife, again. His muzzle twitched in agitation at that thought, ears flattening.

Deities, he hoped not.

Strife had been gone for a time and he was delighted by it. He had never thought Strife would join the pack, sure, but caring for the injured male had been a unique torture upon itself. Strife and Big Bad clashed. They were both too stubborn and proud. That, and perhaps there was a little bit of irritation at the idea of his mother settling for someone like Strife.

Or maybe he hated the idea of Oath finding someone in general.

It was childish, of course. Big Bad never really had a father, as his had been absent from the moment Big Bad was born and until his father died. He never wanted a father after a point, and he knew anyone Oath settled with wouldn't be one at this age, but still. It tasted foul. He liked how his family was, but that was selfish. Oath deserved happiness.

Still, he hated it.

Big Bad twitched as he spotted grey fur soundlessly slip through the bushes. How did she remain that quiet, always? Clearing his throat, the behemoth of a wolf sat upright. "Why did you call me out here, mother?"

 

[NymiiNym]

Something had lurked in the corner of Oath's brain for months now, and she couldn't stave off another day of not bringing it up. She was absolutely positive Big Bad would react poorly, but did it matter? He didn't have a council, unlike every other Alpha prior to him. It was unheard of, honestly, but the plague had wiped out most of the council and the others had perished with old age by the time he ascended. Big Bad was, for lack of a better term, alone in his rule, and that was dangerous. He was a clever boy, something she often found pride in, but he was just one wolf. He couldn't see everything, nor could he prepare for all there was to come.

And one thing he hadn't even considered since his ascension.

She felt almost guilty for the topic she was broaching. It went against quite a few things she stood for, and it trivialized important parts of their family. Yet, she had to. Someone had to. She had suspicions for quite some time that Big Bad would never come to this conclusion on his own. It didn't seem to align with his, ehrm... interests.

Which made it all the more important she brought it up, and soon.

"Patience is a virtue," she answered from her spot in the bushes, slinking finally into the open. Big Bad looked tense, although this wasn't new lately. The upcoming winter was bound to make him nervous from the conversations she had overheard.

"Although I should cut to the chase, as we both have other duties to attend to." Puppies -- they were suddenly everywhere and Forbidden Oath had her paws full as of late. She stared at her son, face void of the emotions she felt (as was usual). When Big Bad shifted uncomfortable she decided to just start, or else they'd sit there for another hour if she had her way.

"Do you remember what I've told you about your father before you were born?"

 

[NymiiNym]

"My father?" He repeated, voice thick with confusion. Of Silver had never been of importance between them, or so he had assumed. There had been moments, long ago, when he caught his mother staring at Of Silver, but... she had never explained why, and he had dropped it. He couldn't even remember the last time they mentioned Of Silver, until now.

His face scrunched as he glanced to the side, piecing together the memories. "He was a poor Alpha, for one." The wolf who had ruined the pack -- that was the legacy his father had held. His eyes narrowed sharply, ears flattening as he fought every urge to spit out something unfair. One does not speak ill of the dead, correct?

Screw that.

"The plague came and he left the pack to rot. By the time I was born he was well on his way to dementia." He locked eyes with her, a part of him wondering if something was important about this. Was he too failing? Was that it?

 

[NymiiNym]

Forbidden Oath felt irritation swirl in her chest. Her love for Of Silver had remained a secret for a long time. The ones who had known had long perished, and thus Big Bad had no reasonable way to know. She had moved on, sure, but there was a part of her that still loved the wolf she had grown up admiring.

Grown up pining for, even.

She tossed that feeling aside, isolating it in the back of her mind. Big Bad had valid frustrations towards Of Silver, and he had no proper closure. It wasn't fair to expect him to feel any other way.

"Your father was once a good man, but his ascension was one of tragedy. He had lost almost everything he held dear. Many can't come back from such a loss," she defended softly, head shaking as her eyes flicked to the ground. "When he rose to become the new Alpha there was plenty of concern the pack would die under his rule. They were justified, but one of the biggest fears were his own death. Who would reign when he died?"

Her heart ached at the memory of her own attempt to speak to Of Silver about children. About mating, even. Big bad didn't need to know about that. No one did.

"He didn't have children for the longest time. The pack was already doomed in his eyes, and so it wasn't of importance. If anything, it'd just delay what was inevitable. It took until his dying years to convince him, and he only sired one pup; you. We were lucky you were male, as that was our last chance." She didn't add the rest. Of how she had told Big Bad when he was a puppy they could run away together. Of how Big Bad had struggled to accept his position and was a wild and pained young child.

It didn't need reminding.

She looked up, sensing Big Bad was putting the pieces together. His face had warped into one of stoicism, a habit of his when he was overwhelmed. "What would happen if you died today?"

 

[NymiiNym]

She was right, he had been putting it together. Big Bad was a smart wolf, despite his size and goofy antics with his pack. For a moment he was rendered speechless. He lacked a Beta still, and that fact itself had been enough to worry him prior. He lacked what many Alpha's had, and his pack was left defenseless. It was one of the reasons he didn't travel outside of the pack often, as he had to prioritize his own life to ensure his pack had someone. He lacked so much... a council, a Beta, a....

His throat clenched, eyes narrowing sharply at her. He didn't like this conversation and wished he had rejected meeting with her. Then again, she would have grabbed him somehow. He couldn't avoid his own mother, could he?

"Wood Cutter," he answered, his voice too strained. It was the right answer, wasn't it? Wood Cutter was his son through adoption, and thus he was the most likely candidate for heir -- right?

He knew the answer was wrong by the look in her eyes.
Deities he hated that look.

 

[NymiiNym]

She had known the answer before he spoke it. He was a stubborn boy.

"You know that wouldn't work," she answered solemnly, heading shaking. "If the pack would have accepted that then your birth wouldn't have been a necessity, would it?"

She hated saying that. Hated reminding him that he had only been born as a requirement. Big Bad, for his credit, didn't seem to react to what she had said. Instead he watched her warily, ears tense and halfway down.

"There is no direct successor. You do not have a Beta, nor do you have anyone of higher status with the right requirements. If you appointed a Beta now that'd be one thing, but you haven't found the right one, have you?"

No, he hadn't. They had this talk before, of how Big Bad hadn't yet felt right picking someone to stand by his side. The only wolves he'd consider weren't even part of the pack.

"If you died on the way back to the pack, today, we would disband." She didn't need to go further. He knew what that meant. Red Riding Hood would lose her only coping mechanism, Wood Cutter would be without a family once again. Families would be thrown out into the wild without protection. The voices and faces they had grown close to throughout the months would split throughout Kells. A pack was the best means of survival for a wolf.

How many would never find a new home?
How many would suffer with his fall?

And yet, while she knew this, her heart felt heavy. She was asking him to betray himself for the pack. To do something he didn't want to do for his duties. To repeat Of Silver's actions. Being an Alpha required sacrifices, but losing the choices of your own body for the better of your own people... it felt suffocating to suggest such a thing. But they both loved the pack. She knew the Crows falling would end Big Bad if he was alive. He'd never want for such a thing in death.

 

[NymiiNym]

To other Alpha's this wasn't as big of a deal, was it? And yet... his insides felt like they were on fire. He didn't want to be his father. He didn't want to create something only to fill a role. Yet, when he thought about it, really thought on it, Big Bad knew he'd never have his own children at this time without a reason. It wouldn't happen by accident, either, as Big Bad had never liked the other sex in such a way. Realistically, he'd only have a heir by planning for one.

And yet his own father creating him without an intent to love him or be a true father lingered on his mind.

He had wanted Wood Cutter and Red Riding Hood. He had chosen them as his children and eagerly loved them. What if he didn't love these children? What if he set out solely to make a heir and it was a mistake?

What if there wasn't a male in the litter?
Then he'd have to try again.

For the first time in ages he looked at his mother with a plea, hoping she'd answer this decision for him. What if this was the wrong choice? What if he rejected it and died the next day? What if he accepted and raised the heir poorly? What if he was just like his father?

Just like Of Silver?

His throat, for a second time, clenched. He wanted to tell her no, that they'd figure another way. But The Crows was a traditional type, and it'd take more than one generation to change that. He had already clawed his way into them accepting him as he was. He couldn't push again -- he'd lose that fight. They were too new in rebuilding. He had already changed so much... already flipped the core of The Crows and done too much. He couldn't push further. He just...

Couldn't.

And thus he was left with the realization he was stuck. He could appoint a Beta immediately, but he wasn't ready. God, he wasn't ready in a lot of things, was he? He didn't see anyone ready to take on such a responsibility. There were a few who would be excellent Beta's, but without a Heir to take the position of Alpha they'd be the next in-line, and he wasn't sure of any he could trust with his entire life in that way. He loved the Crows too much, he wanted the right candidate.

Which left him to another thought -- there was no guaranteed his son would be a good fit. He could do his best and shape them into the proper wolf, but there was no promise. It could take just as long as finding a Beta would. None of this was certain, but if he didn't start something now he was losing time. Every day anything could happen to him, and every day his pack wasn't any closer to another candidate.

At least... if he did this... they'd be a little closer to finding The One.

"I-" he cut off, voice uncharacteristically small. Was he just like his father? "I need time to consider this," he answered. He did, and while he knew they needed an answer soon... he just couldn't at that exact moment. For a moment he saw his father in the corner of his eye, taunting. He was better than that, right? He wouldn't just be following in his footsteps and setting his children up for a childhood of pain and resentment like he had?

He... he needed time.

 

[NymiiNym]

She nodded softly. Of course he needed time, she hadn't expected him to answer her right away. For a moment she was quiet, reflecting on their conversation.

"If you choose to have children, remember you're not your father," she whispered, looking up at him. "He had no room for love. You're a good, loving wolf. You've been a good father once, you'll always be one."

She meant it. She saw nothing of his father in him, and while once upon a time that had upset her... not anymore. He was a good Alpha, son, and father. She had more faith in him than any other wolf.

And she'd stand by any choice he made.

Silence lingered between them and she felt the conversation had met its end. He needed time, and time she'd give. Gently, Oath brushed against his side as she slipped past, feeling how tight his muscles were. "I will give you time. I'll head back."

A part of her, honestly, was afraid this would hurt their relationship.
She just had to have faith.