Chapter 2: The Challenge Within
The ancient hall of the Crimson Howl had not seen this many footsteps in weeks. What remained of the once-mighty pack stood gathered under the broken banners and cracked moonlight leaking through the ruined roof.
Kael stood at the center of the gathering stone circle, facing the very wolves who had once laughed behind his back. Some looked at him with doubt, others with curiosity—and a few with open hostility. He could feel the tremor of distrust beneath every pair of glowing eyes.
"This is a mistake," someone muttered.
Kael's golden eyes narrowed. "Step forward if you believe that. Let's settle it the old way."
That was all it took.
Thirteen-year-old Tamir, unshifted and desperate for recognition, stepped forward with a trembling jaw. "You never even fought before. What, did the moon whisper something to you now? You think you're chosen?"
Whispers surged.
Kael inhaled. The system hummed quietly in his mind.
System Notification:
Pack Creation Process: 38%
Internal Discord Detected.
Side Mission Unlocked: Assert Dominance.
Condition: Defeat challenger without external aid.
Reward: Pack Loyalty +10%, Alpha Presence unlocked.
Failure: Leadership rejection risk increased.
He couldn't afford to fail.
"I will not strike first," Kael said, shrugging off his cloak. His bare chest bore fresh scars—ritual burns from awakening the Alpha's bond.
Tamir screamed and charged, claws half-formed. He hadn't even fully shifted.
Kael clenched his fists and summoned every ounce of instinct pulsing through him. Pain shot down his spine. Bones cracked. Flesh stretched. Golden eyes gleamed in anguish.
And then—
His body expanded.
Limbs twisted as thick, dark fur covered his skin. His teeth elongated. His nails hardened. He fell to one knee, panting, growling, half-formed… a grotesque in-between. A youngling's shift.
The crowd gasped.
His form was unstable—larger than Tamir's, but shaking, raw. Kael couldn't fully control it. His breathing was ragged, his arms twitching as the instincts fought his will.
Tamir hesitated, but only for a moment.
He pounced.
The two collided with the crunch of bone and howl of pain. Tamir clawed wildly at Kael's side, drawing blood. Kael roared, not in pain—but in fury. He swept a paw across Tamir's chest, sending him tumbling.
Kael staggered to his feet, wobbling, snarling through fangs he barely controlled.
Tamir rose again. But as he charged once more—Kael didn't wait.
With a burst of unstable power, Kael tackled him mid-air and slammed him against the stone wall. The impact left cracks in the stone and Tamir unconscious.
Silence.
Kael slowly stood over the fallen boy, blood dripping from his claws.
"I am your Alpha," he growled. "Not because of the system… but because I will carry us through the fire."
One by one, heads lowered. Not in defeat—but in recognition.
And the system confirmed it:
System Update:
Side Mission Completed: Assert Dominance.
Reward Granted: Alpha Presence (Passive).
Pack Loyalty Increased: +10%
Pack Creation Process: 60%
A voice echoed faintly from the crowd. "What now, Alpha?"
Kael straightened his back, still shaking slightly from the shift.
"We set the law," he said. "No pack rises without law."