Chapter 1: The Joke of the Crimson Howl Pack
The wind whispered through the broken stone archway of what once was the grand entrance of the Crimson Howl Pack. Dust hung thick in the air, and the scent of blood had long been soaked into the soil. In its prime, the pack's territory had been a fortress of pride, its warriors feared across the valleys. But now, it was quiet. Too quiet.
Kael sat slouched in what remained of the Alpha's seat, a stone-carved throne cracked down the center. His right hand lazily held a roasted bone, while his left toyed with a piece of silver jewelry that once belonged to his mother.
He wore a fine fur cloak over bare shoulders, more for flair than warmth. His dark hair was tousled in a way that suggested effort to look effortless, and his golden eyes reflected the firelight with arrogance.
Outside the hall, whispers filled the cold night.
"He's not ready." "He only knows how to shout, not lead." "He was the clan's little tyrant... now our only hope?"
Kael heard it all.
His fingers clenched.
He remembered. The laughter behind his back when he failed to shift during his coming-of-age ceremony. The smug smirks of warriors who said he'd never rise beyond his beauty. The elders who rolled their eyes when he trained—too lazy, too pampered.
But most of all, he remembered the day it all ended.
The Black Moon.
It came without warning—an eclipse that painted the skies in blood. Dark forces swarmed the valley, ancient curses awoke, and in one brutal night, the Crimson Howl was brought to its knees. His father, Alpha Ronin, was gravely wounded. His grandfather, the legendary Varric, shattered his own spirit core protecting the den. And Kael... Kael ran.
Until the voice came.
Like a thunderclap in his mind, it whispered with power:
"System Awakening... Ultimate Pack System Online."
And from that moment, everything changed.
System Display:
Ultimate Pack System
Name of Pack: Crimson Howl
Territory: Black Ash Vale
System Storage Space: Locked
Pack Rank: 1 (Broken)
Active Members: 19
Chaos Bloodline Sync: 0%
---
Mission: Form Your Pack
Reward: Stage 1 Bloodline Awakening
Failure: Death
Kael didn't understand it at first. He thought he was cursed—haunted by madness.
But then... it guided him.
His first act was to return.
What remained of the pack stared as he dragged his father and grandfather from their guarded chamber, laying them before the fire.
"I am Kael of the Crimson Howl," he declared. "Heir of Alpha Ronin and Grandson of Varric the Unbroken. From this moment, I claim the seat of Alpha."
Shock. Outrage. Disbelief.
A young warrior, Darrek, stood. "You? The tantrum prince? The pup who never even shifted?"
Kael's gaze turned molten.
"Then challenge me."
Darrek hesitated.
The air thickened. The fire crackled.
None stepped forward.
Kael raised his hand. The system flared in his mind.
System Update: Pack Creation Initiated.
And thus, the trial began.