Shannon knew his way around the city streets. They had already covered many new areas, and when the smell of roasted meat and fresh bread reached them, he slowed near a busy tavern.
"We can eat here," he said. "The line is long, so the food must taste good."
Once seated, they ordered grilled meat, vegetables, and Tristan's favorite—fresh bread. The food was worth the wait.
For a while, they ate in comfortable silence. Then Tristan set down his fork and looked directly at Shannon.
"You know almost everything about me," Tristan said. "My family, my past, the worst things I've done, the worst things done to me. But I hardly know anything about you."
Shannon's brow lifted slightly. "What do you want to know?"
"Your family. Your past. How you became what you are. All I know is that you're an Alpha, and that you can turn into a wolf."
Shannon took a drink of water before answering. "I was born into it. My family has been wolves for generations. We keep careful track of our bloodline—it's important to us."
"When did you find out?" Tristan asked.
"I always knew," Shannon replied. "In our family, the first change happens between the ages of twelve and sixteen. Mine happened at thirteen."
"Was it… difficult?"
"It was painful," Shannon said plainly. "The first change always is. Your body doesn't understand what's happening. You think you're breaking apart. After that, it gets easier, but controlling the instincts takes training."
"What kind of instincts?"
"Mostly those tied to the wolf—hunting, guarding territory, reacting to threats. You have to learn to think before you act. That's what separates a trained wolf from a reckless one."
Tristan nodded slowly. "And you eat… the same as humans?"
"We do. Our bodies need more protein, so meat is important. But I can eat what you eat. I won't growl over a salad."
Tristan smiled faintly. "And your clothes? Where do they go when you change?"
"We either remove them first or wear clothes designed to come apart without tearing," Shannon explained. "If I change without preparation, the clothes are ruined."
"And your family? Are they all wolves like you?"
"Yes. My parents, my brothers and sisters, my uncles and cousins. Not all have the same strengths. Some are better fighters, some are better trackers, some have sharper senses. Each of us finds our role."
"Where are they now?" Tristan asked.
"Spread across our territory. Some lead smaller packs in outlying villages. Some work in the city. We meet when needed, but we don't all live in one place. Too many wolves together can cause tension."
"So you fight?"
"Sometimes. Disagreements happen. But unity is important. We settle conflicts quickly before they become problems."
Tristan hesitated. "Do they visit you?"
"Occasionally. My parents visit less often now; they've stepped back from leadership. My brothers come when they need something, which is their way of checking in. My sisters prefer letters."
Tristan leaned forward slightly. "What about you? You've helped me, protected me… but what's your role in your family now?"
Shannon met his gaze before answering. "I lead the main pack. I make decisions that affect everyone in our territory. I settle disputes, plan defenses, and keep order. I'm also responsible for maintaining alliances."
"That sounds like a lot," Tristan said.
"It is. But I accepted it."
Tristan hesitated again, then asked, "Do you have a… girlfriend? A wife? A mate?"
"No," Shannon said.
Before Tristan could move on, another thought struck him. "What about Eira? Is she… connected to you in that way?"
Shannon shook his head. "No. Eira is a wolf healer but prefers to remain independent. She doesn't want to belong to a pack. I rescued her from a raid gone wrong, and we've been friends since. But she is not my mate."
Tristan absorbed that quietly, then asked, "So you're not attracted to each other?"
"No," Shannon said simply. "I've only ever felt friendship with her."
Tristan nodded, then returned to his earlier line of thought. "Do you want a mate?"
"Yes," Shannon said. "But I'm not in a hurry. I've seen enough forced bonds to know they end badly.
I've had offers—arrangements were suggested when I became Alpha—but I didn't accept. My mate would be my choice, my partner in raising a family, not just someone to build a public image with."
They ate in silence for a few moments. Tristan savored the taste of food cooked by someone else. To his surprise, Marla's cooking at the cottage matched the quality of the tavern's food. She could open her own diner if she wished.
As he chewed, Tristan tried to imagine Shannon's life. Humans and wolves worried about similar things: managing people, handling politics, maintaining peace.
"What's the hardest thing about being an Alpha?" Tristan asked.
"Making choices that affect everyone in the pack," Shannon said. "One mistake can harm many. And those consequences are hard to live with."
"And the best thing?"
"Protecting my people. Seeing them safe. Knowing they can live without fear because I'm doing my job."
Tristan considered that. "You sound like you've given up a lot."
"I have," Shannon admitted. "But I've also gained much. Respect, trust, and the ability to shape our future."
Tristan met his eyes. "What about your own future? Do you ever think about… something for yourself?"
"Yes," Shannon said. "Someday, I want a family. Children running through the house, proud of both sides of their ancestry. I want to guide them through the rite of passage, to teach them that they are both human and wolf, and that with training they can control their instincts.
You saw those young wolves in the territory—their transformations were easier because they had guidance."
He paused before continuing. "As a leader, my goal is to see the pack grow stronger, larger, and more united. When the time comes to step down, I'll be glad to do it knowing I left things better than I found them."
Tristan listened closely. Shannon's words were direct, without pretense. It was refreshing.
Sitting at a tavern table, eating slowly in public, felt like a gift to Tristan. In the camp, he had eaten quickly, scavenging crumbs or scraps, never daring to linger. Now, he could enjoy a meal without fear.
It was a good thing Shannon had not accepted his initial refusal to come to the city. Otherwise, Tristan would have missed this experience.
Today, he had a real conversation—an adult one. Shannon had answered every question, even the personal ones, with honesty. Tristan realized he was beginning to see beneath the Alpha's skin, past the leader's authority, into the man who bore it.
And that picture was clearer now: not just a protector, not just a benefactor, but a guardian who lived with choices, burdens, and quiet hopes of his own.