- In the dance studio of The Royal One -
"This is hell!" Goemon panted, as he laid exhausted on the floor. The rest of his class was beside him, except for Iruma and Purson. "The evidol forbidden dance: Hell Dance."
"We c-an't give up!" Lied struggled to get up.
"The power of love will get us through," Kamui announced.
"All for Kuromu!" Both of them exclaimed, finally managing to stand up for a second... before promptly falling asleep.
"Pathetic," Alice scoffed, sounding every inch of the noble he is.
"Says the demon who is laying down," Kerori snapped.
She sighed. What else was she expecting? If not even professional evidols were capable of doing it, how were was the misfit class supposed to keep up the pace?
"Ok!" Clara exclaimed, jumping on her feet, startling everyone with her sudden burst of energy. "Energy drinks for everyone!" She announced using her bloodline magic to produce drinks for the dance group. "Time to practice!"
"You said it," Jazz said. Gulping down the drink in one go and standing up. "We need to win this! This is for our den after all!"
"We are not letting anyone take it from us!" Sabnock roared, smiling widely- Kerori's heart skipped a beat in excitement. Her omega side swooning slightly at the alpha pheromones he released. "Not even the teachers!"
"We need to prove to our Pack Head Alpha that his confidence in us was not misplaced," IX said.
Kerori looked at her surprised. She was the center of the dance group, being the only one that needed to advance two ranks. So, she had been the strictest on her. Yet, here she is. The beta stood up, legs trembling, but back straight and eyes shining with determination.
"We got this, Kuromu." Alice smiled, hand laying on her shoulder.
The calming pheromones of the Pack Head Omega surrounded the ice demon in a protective cocoon. Tears threatened to fall from her eyes. this is the pack she chose, the ones she had trusted with her secret. The ones that proved over every time that they can defeat every obstacle and achieve the impossible.
This time I'll achieve the Hell Dance, or I am not the Evidol Kuromu! She exclaimed in her head, she whipped the tears away and smirked evilly at them. Her packmates gulp in fear.
"One more time! From the top!" She barked.
- In the music room of The Royal One -
"Is it me or are our classes harder than before?" Iruma whined as Kalego hit the back of his hands after hitting the wrong key one more time.
"Of course," the teacher scoffed. "Previously you only wanted to learn to join your pack-mate. The Music Festival, on the other hand, is serious business. I will not have my name as a respected pianist be tarnished by a lazy student. At least, you already have a base to expand from. Making my job much easier."
"In other words, you don't want your pack to lose their den. So, you are being extra strict." Iruma chuckled, then squeaked as he was hit again. "I didn't even play a note yet!"
"You are all my students and as it is my duty as your teacher I will guide you in the best capacity. But that does not mean I am part of your pack." Neberius barked, trying to ignore the blush on his cheeks and the pang in his heart when he said those words.
"Sensei... you are part of the pack. You know that right?" Iruma questioned his teacher, eyes widening when he received a blank look as his answer. "Sensei, when you are not staying in your house at the mansion's garden or in Opera-san's room, where do you sleep?"
"What questions is that?!" He clicked his tongue. "In my room at the mansion, of course."
"And where is that room?" Iruma inquired.
"In the... East Wing..." he froze, blinking slowly as if surprised by the realization.
"The same wing that was given to my pack, the one even Opera-san and Ojii-san need to request permission to enter. The same room you waltz in and out without any of us raising an issue." Iruma continued. "The teachers go straight to you whenever one of the abnormal class misbehaves, instead of them giving us the punishment. Because..."
"I am the derkiradamn elder of the Abnormal Pack," Kalego groaned, planting his face on the piano. "When did this happen?"
"I think it has been going unofficially for a while, but it all became clearer after I became a... you know. You came to the mansion and started teaching me about demon culture, pack dynamics, and..."
"Started acting like an elder." Kalego face-planted again. Not even caring to keep up his cool and scary image. How did he let this happen? "How did you notice before me?!"
"I didn't really notice, it was Opera-san the one who pointed it out to me." Iruma chuckled. "He came to me with Ojii-san to request an alliance between our packs through a bonding, my elder and Ojii-san's first beta. One would think that him being my grandfather would be enough, but it seems that pack-bonds surpass those of blood. Though most times they stay in the same pack they were born in, and I would have become the next Alpha if I didn't decide to unconsciously break the mold and create my own instead of adding them to Ojii-san's."
An elder, a member of a pack that exceeds the Alpha and Omega Heads in age and experience. Most of the time they stay out of the decisions and movements of the pack, looking over them from the outside and guiding them with advice when requested. They follow the Pack Heads but have more freedom than the rest of the members with their actions, and their voice is taken into account and respected. Normally they are previous Pack Heads or parents.
"What will happen now?" Kalego sighed.
"Nothing will change," Iruma replied, going back to play the piano. "You will remain our teacher and you will continue to teach us." The 'only us' was left unsaid but clearly heard.
Kalego shivered in pleasure at the possessive tone in his Head Alpha's voice. How did he not notice before? But a dark pleasure seized him. They were his brats.
"Ojii-san will join you when I am older enough to lead him and combined our packs. Opera-san depends on when you both decide to make your bonding official. Though he will keep his duties as Ojii-san's first beta and you will remain the main elder." He finished the piece with a flourish.
"Perfect," Kalego said, pleasantly surprised. "Now try to do it again." His stoic face returned.
"Not again," Iruma groaned.
But before Kalego could reprimand him, the doors of the music room were opened with a bang. At first, no one was there, but when they looked closer they saw Purson, who appeared more like a phantom than a demon. He remained expressionless like always, but his face was much paler than ever and the suitcases around him were not a good indication.
"I left home," he simply said and moved forwards with his trumpet to stand beside his Alpha Head. "Let's play."
Iruma had many things to ask, but he also knew that it was not the moment or what Purson needed. So, he turned back to his piano and played. He can always question him later. For now, they'll play music.