The black-silver wolf ducked through the low-hanging boulders screening the entrance of the nursery, a cave that branched off the center cavern. Despite the feeling of shock that still left him numb, he still felt the old flutter of joy at the sight of the five bundles of fur nestled against Tundra's belly. His mate smiled wearily as he entered the den, her sharp blue eyes softening. Then, she tilted her head in confusion.
"Nimbus, what's wrong?"
He let out a small yet heavy sigh. He felt as if a hard weight was pressing against his shoulders.
"Bee told me I'm next in line to be leader," he said, muscles taut.
Her ears twitched.
"And that's a bad thing?" She said with a snort, her voice holding a note of her old personality.
"Yes, because I don't think I'm ready." He began to pace the den, the fur on his coat prickling. "I don't think I'd make a good leader, Tundra. I don't have any experience. Like my hunting party. I'm not the leader of it, I'm just a chaser. How am I supposed to know how to lead?"
He didn't realize how much he was rambling.
Tundra just looked amused.
"Have you forgotten that I'm beta, and I've never had any sort of leading experience before?