“Gregory, you do know that the war packs lose alphas all the time?" ULf said “It would be a happy thing to lose you to your return home, rather than on the battlefields of the far north. Then we would simply choose another to lead us, but I think we would all be stronger for having you as alpha for a time. And I think that you would bring us victory sooner than I ever could."

The human let out a distinctly orc-like growl of frustration which did annoyingly little to wipe the smiles from the faces of his companions.

"You all want this?" he asked.

A round of fervent nodding ensued from them all.

Gregory turned and looked down from ULf's face to the sword still laid across his palms. Respectfully, he reached out and took it up by the handle to test its weight and then lower it to his side. ULf lifted himself back to his feet, still heavily favouring one foot over the other.

"I reckon it's roundabout time for another huzzah!" Nullik lifted his arms victoriously up into the air.

Gregory seemed to turn to give his answer to that call for good cheer, and it Looked Like it might involve breaking Nullik's face. Thankfully, ULf interrupted him.

“Alpha, we should celebrate as Nullik says. But before we do then might I make a request of you?"

Gregory stopped and glanced back to ULf with a heavy sigh.

“Don't you think you might have asked a wee bit much of me already today, Ulf?" Despite the question, Gregory's tone became somewhat resigned, and there was a hint of amusement playing across his features. That was until he turned toward Ulla and his features got a little more stony in the process. "I take it this is about her?"

“Aye, alpha. I would ask that she be reinstated within the pack. It would be difficult for me without her."

“It wasn't so difficult for you before."

“No, but things have changed. Ulla and I are together now, and after the provings we intend to be mated."

“Well that's well and all but-" Gregory paused, and glanced between the pair of them. He'd been expecting ULf to make some excuses for her, but he hadn't quite been expecting that.

“Oh, I see.”

Orcs weren't the best creatures in the world when it came to blushing, but ULf was certainly offering up a staggeringly convincing effort just then.

“Well I was going to say no, but I suppose I'll have to reconsider if you're that certain." He reached out to give Ulf a pat on his arm before turning to face Ulla once again. She had been uncharacteristically quiet until then. "You will follow me, Ulla? I swear to The First that if I give you an order that isn't met to the fullest of your abilities you are out of this pack. I'll survive without Ulf if I have to."

Ulla Lifted her gaze from where she'd apparently taken up interest in a clod of dirt nearby her feet. She met Gregory's eyes without even a hint of a challenge in her features, and then nodded her head in submission.

"I have dishonoured myself greatly, and I mean to make up for that." “Algra will Likely be at our training sessions, and once we are proven she will be joining our pack. Can you follow her instructions as well as mine?"

That certainly got a familiar fire to ignite behind her eyes, but she blinked it away forcefully and appeared as if she was attempting to swallow a Live slug. Finally, she gave a short nod to Gregory.

"I will follow you until the provings, Gregory. I will do all you ask as my alpha, but once I am proven then I aim to Lay down a challenge to Algra in the proper way.”

Gregory shifted his gaze back to ULf, and he didn't back down this time. The guy wanted him to hire someone to their pack who very Likely wanted to kill his own mate? It was certainly a very orcish proposal.

“Fine," he finally agreed. "You're with us until you fuck up or you die, and I'd suggest you avoid doing either. It'll be nice to be back at full numbers again.”

There was a slight whooshing noise as nearly all the pack exhaled at once.

"Alright then! Time for huzzahs and firewater!" Nullik cheered.