Chapter 10: The Alpha's Stand
The sun barely pierced through the smoky haze above Black Ash Vale. Crimson Howl's territory stirred like a wounded beast, tense and uncertain. The Ritual of Laws had been performed, the first bloodline spark ignited, and Kael now stood not just in name but in presence—as Alpha.
But not everyone welcomed the change.
Inside the half-cracked council hall—an ancient chamber shaped from blackened stone and bone-reinforced pillars—Kael stood at the center while the remaining elders and warriors surrounded him in a loose crescent.
Flam stood at his side, arms folded, gaze unblinking. Tavon, bruised but standing taller than ever, flanked the other side. Seth leaned against a broken column, bandaged but attentive.
Kael lifted his chin. "I didn't call this meeting to beg for support," he began, voice calm but firm. "I called it to remind you who we are—and who we must become."
A scoff came from the crowd.
From it stepped Varn, a beta-level warrior known for his raw strength and biting tongue. His arms were thick as tree trunks, and the three claw scars over his collarbone spoke of battles survived—and grudges held.
"You speak like an Alpha," Varn said, "but your shoulders still look too narrow to carry a pack."
A ripple of unease moved through the hall. Some warriors shifted, eyes flicking between Kael and Varn.
Kael didn't flinch. "Then test me. Here. Now. Or fall in line."
Gasps followed. Even Flam blinked.
But Varn didn't charge. He merely bared his teeth in a grim smile. "Not yet. But I'll be watching. You slip, pup… and I'll be the first to pounce."
Kael stepped forward. "You'll be waiting a long time."
He turned to the rest. "The Ritual of Laws was just the beginning. The Chaos Bloodline has begun to stir in us all. But the world won't give us time to grow quietly. Hollow Shade has eyes on our land. We've already been scouted. Tamir is moving."
"Tamir?" one of the warriors muttered.
Kael nodded. "He's not just looking to raid. He wants to absorb our pack… or destroy us."
Silence.
He let it hang.
Then he lifted his hand, and a faint shimmer of golden light swirled over his palm as the system whispered to him alone:
System Update: External Threat Detected
Mission Triggered: Defend the Pack's Honor
Target: Hollow Shade Scouts
Reward: Chaos Bloodline Sync +3%, Access to 'Scout Path' Territory Info
Failure: Morale Loss – Penalty to Future Recruitment
Kael's jaw clenched.
He didn't need to tell the pack what the system had just shown him. But he did need to rally them.
"We fight not just to survive," Kael said, louder now. "We fight to rise. We'll track those scouts and show Hollow Shade what it means to threaten the Crimson Howl."
The fire in the center of the council pit flared as if in agreement. One by one, heads began to nod. Even Varn grunted, folding his arms without further protest.
Kael turned to Flam. "How long until the scouts vanish?"
"Hours, at most," Flam replied. "They're moving like ghosts—but not fast enough for me."
Kael's gold eyes gleamed. "Then we hunt at dusk."
And just like that, the pack began to move—united not by old glory, but by new fire.
The fire of a reborn Alpha.