but if all we are is just machines

Their meeting was long overdue and it was perhaps, in part, the beta’s own fault. He hadn’t gone out of his way to exchange as much as a word or as little as a glance with the wolf that had become known throughout Erenyx as his equal. It had been his rank first, that was true, but Irrationality hardly thought it made him any more important. Reaper—a fitting name for a monstrosity if there ever was one—called himself Teren’s brother which made him prominent in his own right. The alpha was the only wolf who could control Irrationality, and while he respected the brutes that could call themselves his blood, they were not him. It had been his own fault that he hadn’t meant Reaper sooner, but truthfully, he had no desire to go out of his way for something as simple and as bland as an introduction. If the two of them were meant to meet, then it would happen—and so it did.

His fellow beta’s voice sounded exactly how he always knew it would. It was funny, almost, that a creature could sound as dangerous as they were without so much as batting an eye. However, Irrationality had served Erenyx loyally for far too long to be intimated by anything it threw at him. He might have not been Teren’s brother, but he was his right-hand; that was something Reaper couldn’t take from him and, while it would be humorous to some to see him try, perhaps, it would prove to be a pointless and wasteful endeavor. He had never considered himself prominent, so when the word was paired with his name, he flicked an ear in muted interest before spinning to face the large wolf.

“Reaper.” He didn’t feel the need to pair the beta’s name with some kind of descriptive word. If this was a challenge, or a game, Irrationality was unfazed. He tended to be a bit of an aimless wanderer, allowing his paws to lead him wherever they pleased, but it wasn’t often that he was pursued by one of his pack-mates. He quirked a brow, inviting Reaper to state his reason for following; Irrationality didn’t suspect that he wanted a fight, not by any means, but he would defend himself from an oncoming attack without thought. He would defend himself because the alternative was dying but, if he was being entirely honest, a fight seemed like an utter waste of their time—he simply didn’t see what benefit would come from it lest Reaper intended to best him and prove that he was the better beta. If that was what he wanted, then Irrationality would do everything in his power to ensure it was a challenge; not because he wanted to, but because doing so would prevent him from being a disappointment to his alpha. There was no greater burden than that.

“Your stance tells me that you’re looking for a fight,” he observed with a blank look on his face, “and if such is the case then you’ll have to make the first move, for I didn’t leave my camp with the intention of disarming my partner in rank.” His voice wasn’t nearly as accusatory as his words. He stood his ground, body stiffer than a statue, watching Reaper’s body for the smallest change.