🫧🫧⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆🫧🫧

All was quiet. The evening proceeded with no indication of the brutal killings that had taken place a few hours prior. A chilly mist rose from the ground, billowing through the air like thick grey puffs of smoke. Perfectly formed, fluffy, white snowflakes dusted over the dark mountain, each quietly tainted by the sticky red pool of blood that snatched it from the air and trapped it against the ground. 

A bloody trail of tiny padded paw prints led away from the scene and disappeared into the tree line of the forest. Whether by design or through a flawed plan, that was the only sighting that anyone could recall.

The two adult wolves were found just feet apart. The first creature, a steel grey female, lay sprawled across a thick granite rock, belly gutted, hide ripped open, entrails dragged from her body and wrapped around her neck. The large black pupils of her eyes were frozen still with terror.

Just to her right lay a mountainous black heap of flesh five times her size. The Mongolian Alpha male, despite its imposing girth, lay butchered, disemboweled and helpless beside her. His padded paws and seven inch claws were outstretched protectively towards her in a failed attempt to shield her from whatever had attacked them. Clumps of his fur had been ripped from his flesh. He was mauled down to the bone, leaving very little of his carcass behind.

As word of the attack spread, more and more of the pack arrived to see it for themselves. The moonless night shielded them from seeing the full extent of the horrific scene. But as their broad snouts expanded and contracted, scenting over the mutilated remains, the stench of blood, death and decay gave them all of the information they needed. The mighty rulers of the Deciduous Broad-leaf Forest and the descendants of the Mongolian pack of Beijing were dead, their royal blood dripping from the high cliffs of the great mountain. 

The deceased grey female Runa and her mate Jonghyun, the Alpha leader, had no clear line of succession. As a result, the thirty survivors of their pack were left frightened, separated and confused. 

Yet the question remained, what had come calling? Who had killed the innocent pack leaders? What had prompted an attack so vicious that the carcasses barely even resembled wolves anymore? Who had dared to dishonor the ruling pack in the region by killing their Alpha? And the most pressing question that haunted the pack survivors - where was the pup?

***

For many years, the remaining members of Runa and Jonghyun’s pack wandered the dangerous terrain of the Korean mountains fighting for food, shelter and protection. The death of Runa and Jonghyun remained a mystery with no known motive for the killing. This left the surviving pack members in turmoil. Once respected and revered, they were now outcasts, gripped by the fear of one day meeting the same fate as their dead leaders. As such, it became difficult for the survivors to reassemble the pack. And with many of them mysteriously dying, the survivors fled the granite caves as lone wolves with no support or family. 

Yet two members from Runa and Jonghyun’s pack were able to reestablish themselves; Wolyeong the nocturnal Alpha female wolf and her mate Cheol, the obedient Alpha male. The two were the only former members of Runa and Jonghyun’s pack who managed to survive when all other pack members died under mysterious circumstances.

Fate led them to the borders of a peaceful area called Jirisan where Cheol and Wolyeong chose to join forces with another powerful clan in the region, a clan who offered to fight beside them and protect their food and shelter; an affable pack known as the Parks, rulers of Jirisan mountain. And so it was written. Hundreds of miles away from the soft grey granite caves and plush green  forest where they had once thrived, Wolyeong and Cheol settled in a new home with a new pack family. 

The Park clan was led by a mighty Alpha known as Sanho Park and his Omega mate Hwarim. It was rare for a pack to welcome non-blood relatives into their ranks, but the Parks were different. They understood the importance of alliances, especially given the reckless human encroachment that continued to invade the wolf’s natural habitat. 

Sanho Park was a rusty brown Alpha, a ginger colored wolf. He had no siblings of his own so he learned from a very young age to expand his community for safety and security. It was his belief that anyone could be family as long as they shared common goals, loyalty and trust.

Sanho and his mate Hwarim were the parents of two pups, a beautiful daughter Lia with long Arctic white fur and a very special son, Jimin with uncharacteristically blonde fur that darkened along the roots of his mane. Along with Hwarim’s two Omega sisters and three Alpha brothers, they defended Jirisan with the hope of one day leaving the land for future generations.

Before human encroachment, wolves lived peacefully, segregated by vast forests, deserts and mountains. But as their natural habitat disappeared, the environment changed. Many wolves were pushed into extinction because there simply wasn’t enough land for all packs to settle peacefully. Scarcity led to competition amongst the packs, causing squirmishes over territory that eventually escalated to all out war.

Jirisan was a much coveted area. The food supply was plentiful, the weather was mild, and the steep mountainous range protected them from larger predators, including humans. The entire area was considered a kind of utopia for the modern wolf community. The attacks on the Park pack were increasingly more aggressive as dominant rival packs challenged them for the Jirisan mountain territory. The Park pack had occupied the same territory since the early 1700’s and they weren’t interested in giving it up. It was their rightful space and they were prepared to fight to the death to protect it. Even though they had no appetite for engaging in vicious battles, they never backed down from a challenge. They earned a reputation of being brutal fighters who were extremely capable and powerful.

With the growing violence in the region, pack survival no longer could depend on a single Alpha. Sanho, being one of the wisest Alphas in the region, quickly recognized that he needed to fortify his team of fighters through strategic alliances. With his son Jimin being just a pup, Sanho needed more capable fighters to help protect Jirisan. And it was for this reason, he welcomed Cheol and Wolyeong in exchange for allowing them to become permanent residents of Jirisan. Cheol was twenty years younger than Sanho, making him a great soldier to fight with the Park pack. Cheol quickly rose through the ranks as Sanho’s most trusted pack Alpha. Many of the Park pack expressed concerns about the dark history of Cheol and Wolyeong’s former pack. No one fully understood the mystery of the two and why their former pack were all dead. But Sanho dismissed their concerns. He left it up to Cheol and Wolyeong to earn their place, and that was exactly what they did.

***

One Year Later ~

Sanho leaned back on his hind legs. The sun struck his thick mane causing it to sparkle like cinnamon as he crept along quietly, black eyes focused, padded paws stepping over the stripped bark beneath the Red Pine tree. His snout pulsed in a steady rhythm as he contemplated the musky scent. 

A tiny growl, mighty in tenacity but meek in substance, sounded behind him. Sanho continued to run his nose along the ground, tracking in circles around the pine tree. The little one was close, Sanho could smell him, sense him. His ears perked each time the little one tried to act menacing by releasing his little growls. Sanho’s dangerously thick and powerful muscles rippled beneath his fur as he continued to glide low to the ground with his paws leaving heavy prints in the mud. He was in attack mode, fresh on the scent of his tiny prey.

With a sudden movement, faster than a bolt of lightning, he lunged forward, grabbing the pup between his fangs and snatching him from the ground by the scruff of his neck. Before the younger wolf even had a chance to react, he was hurdled through the air and thrown into a pile of leaves. His mighty growl transitioned into a terrified howl as he landed softly on the rainbow colored foliage that scattered all around him. His father raced to grab him by the scruff once again. This time Sanho tossed little Jimin into the air and shuffled under him, causing the small pup to land on his back. 

Sanho began to run with Jimin clawing his back to keep his balance. Jimin buried his snout into his father’s thick mane and closed his eyes shut. The wind was too much. He wasn’t sure how long he could continue to hold on. This was a test; one of the many that his father administered to gauge his survival skills. He wanted to know how young Jimin would respond and get away.

~You will not give up, do you hear me? I can smell your fear.~ Sanho’s voice sounded vibrantly, directly into Jimin’s mind.

~Yes father, I hear you. I’m trying, father, but you’re going too fast.~ Jimin sent his thoughts back, with the hope that his father would slow down.

~Think Jimin. Think. How do you get away if you’ve  been captured? What should you do? Your enemy is going to kill you. How do you fight back Jimin? Think! ~ Sanho’s thoughts flooded Jimin’s mind, loudly and aggressively. 

As the elder wolf reached the open field, his legs stretched in front of him creating a graceful sprint through the high grass. Jimin struggled even more to hold on to his father’s back. He felt himself slipping as his father raced towards the mountain.

Jimin’s fear overwhelmed him, not because he was afraid of his father, but because he was afraid of disappointing him.Afraid of what it would mean to his heritage if he failed to learn. His fur became oily and stiff as the fear in his blood manifested. With it came the black stench of anethole, fennel and burnt umber that oozed from his pores. 

~Control it! If they know you’re scared, they will devour you. Bury the scent of fear before I maul you myself. Bury it. Use your power.~ Sanho sent another message to his son.

Jimin did not send any thoughts back. He was too focused on masking his scent as his father demanded. He engaged his senses. Meticulously, he visualized each of his pores, his veins, his arteries, his heart. He manipulated his entire body with the blink of an eye, voiding his bloodstream of epinephrine, shutting down his neurotransmitters and reversing his adrenaline. His body was controlled by his powerful mind, bending to his will with just a simple thought. Within minutes, all of his fear and anxiety was released and his scent was completely muted. And with the burnt umber stench of  fear gone, he was free to focus on his escape like the cunning little Alpha he was meant to be. 

~I can no longer smell your scent. Good little Alpha! ~ Sanho howled happily as he galloped through the tall grass with Jimin clinging to his back. 

Jimin could tell by his father’s slowed pace that he had lost his scent. The muting had worked, discombobulating Sanho and causing him to wander in circles. If it hadn’t been for the little one’s claws grasping his fur, Sanho would have thought his pup had fallen off. The scent was completely muted and he had no real sense of Jimin’s being. He continued his run, curious to know how his little Alpha was going to escape.

Once Jimin’s fears were tamped down, he could think clearly. His legs were too wobbly and his body too small to challenge his oversized father to a battle, so instead he had to be strategic. He had to display both cunning and bravery in order to pass his father’s test. Purposely, he blocked his father’s messages to keep him out of his mind.

Just ahead, Jimin saw his escape. There was a creek along the banks where beavers constructed narrow burrows through the mud. The openings were just large enough for Jimin to shelter his small body. He knew that once he dropped into the burrow, he would be safe because there was no way his father could follow him. With the wind whistling through his blonde sable fur, he lowered to his haunches and prepared to hoist himself off of his father’s broad back. His mind blank, his fear muted, he waited patiently for the moment when his father’s feet trampled through the mud. He spotted the opening and with all of the force he could muster, he released his claws and flew through the air. Before his father even knew what was happening, Jimin was on the ground, shimmying himself through the mud hole. 

Sanho could feel Jimin jump from his back. He immediately began sniffing the ground but again, he could smell nothing. Jimin’s scent had completely disappeared, which meant so had Jimin. Sanho circled back to the hole when he saw a tuft of blonde fur scurrying through the tunnel. The opening was so small that he could barely fit a paw inside. He clawed at the tunnel, trying his best to stir the mud and fold it back so that he could get inside. His large snout relaxed and contracted as he desperately tried to scent his little pup. 

But Jimin could not be stirred. He ran as quickly as possible to the back of the tunnel, knowing that it was completely out of reach of his father’s claws.

~ Brilliant! Brilliant!~ Sanho pounced around the hole waiting for his little pup to re-emerge.

He was so impressed with Jimin’s ability to outmaneuver him that he rolled on his back with his legs in the air as he always did when he felt like celebrating. 

~ Once again, you’ve gotten away from your predator. What a smart Alpha you are. You are completely undetectable. So much power in such a little one. Your father is proud.~ Sanho continued to dance around the beaver tunnel.

Once Jimin realized that the challenge was truly over and he’d won, he finally revealed himself, cautiously peeking his head up through the mud.  

~ Brilliant?~ Jimin questioned his father proudly.

~Brilliant. You thought quickly on your feet in the heat of battle. You knew that I was much too big to reach you in that hole. You found a safe place, you didn’t try to fight, you didn’t try to injure me. Instead, you outsmarted me. You got away and lived to fight another day. You are the smartest little Alpha in all of Jirisan.~

~Did I really do a good job Father? ~ Jimin messaged.

~You sure did. I would have never thought of such a strategic hiding place.~

Jimin’s wobbly legs sprinted towards his father. As soon as he reached him, the elder surrounded him and nuzzled his large snout against Jimin’s little ears. 

~You are the future. You are the Alpha that no one will ever be able to dislodge. We have worked hard for years, since you were born to get to this day. You are a Noetic wolf little Jimin. Do you know what that means? ~

~I can make other wolves lose my scent?~ Jimin wasn’t completely sure of everything he could do. 

~You are a very, very rare wolf. You have a trait called Noesis. It allows you to control your consciousness by manipulating your own thoughts and physical attributes. In your case, it allows you to control scents. And your Noetic power is the strongest version that any generation has seen in centuries. Not only can you control yourself, but you can control others. You can manipulate scents. You are a great disruptor for our species because no enemy will ever overtake you. Scenting is how a wolf survives. It’s how we hunt, mate, travel, and fight. Without the ability to scent, a wolf is rendered blind. And you, my little Alpha, can control it all.~

Jimin didn’t doubt his father’s information but it did scare him to know that he had so much power. ~I can?~ 

~You can. You still have alot to learn and you will need to work hard to master your craft. But we will continue to practice. I am going to challenge you harder than I have ever challenged anyone. But you can do it and today was proof.  I am very proud of you. You have the spirit of a great warrior and the intelligence of our wisest elders. You are brave and thoughtful. You are everything that I could have hoped for. As of today, I will be naming you as my successor. As soon as you come of age, you will be my second in command. No one will ever be able to take down the Parks and move us from our land as long as you are our lead Alpha. As it was meant to be, you will grow to protect Jirisan and all of the wolves who rightfully inhabit this land. I love you Jimin.~

***

After twenty-Years of training as a Noetic, Jimin is now twenty-seven years old ~

By the time Jimin was twenty-seven years old, he was one of the most respected Alphas in the entire region. And those who did not fear him had yet to encounter him. But, the Park Alpha Jimin was not a brute or a savage. He fought with finesse, compassion and only killed when it was absolutely necessary. For many this was perceived as a weakness. Whispers throughout the countryside spoke of Jimin as a legend, yielding powers that made him invincible, still their fiercest enemies had no fear of him. They lined up, pack after pack ready to challenge the Parks for Jirisan. All the while, refusing to heed the warnings that had been given to them by other packs who had rumbled with the Parks.

Even Jimin’s physical characteristics were an anomaly; soft blonde fur with coffee tinged roots, hazel colored eyes that glared with an almost human intensity, and a solid stature capable of bringing down wolves three times his size. Full grown at a height of almost four feet, Jimin was large, adding more and more muscle with each year of age. He was also intimidating. His blonde fur and deep set eyes were frightening to the unspectacular species of grey wolves that inhabited the area. 

And always by his side as his constant companion was his younger sister, Lia. The Arctic white Beta with powerful blue eyes. Unlike her level-headed pragmatic brother, Lia was blood thirsty and always ready to fight. She was the leader of the Beta medical team and an esteemed member of the Park clan. Although her father never named her as a successor, she was always willing and ready to fight whoever threatened her heritage.  There was something magical about the Park offspring. Both Jimin and his sister bore physical characteristics that had rarely been seen in Jirisan. They were beloved by their pack which had grown to over two-hundred members over the years. 

And the loyalty of the pack was needed because the attacks on Jirisan were almost non-stop. Many of the battles were brutal, leaving bloody carnage in the wake of each attack. But the Parks were never aggressors. They simply worked hard to protect their growing pack and defend their territory. No pack ever successfully breached their borders but that was all about to change. 

Sanho and Jimin were the primary fighters and they maintained the hierarchy as ruling Alphas of the pack. Sanho was first in command, with Jimin second. And the Alphas were not the only fierce fighters of the growing pack. The large Omegas, the Alpha hunters and the medical Betas all worked together to aggressively protect their home. They operated as a fully functioning society with roles and responsibilities that all worked in tandem to keep the community going. For decades, the Park pack remained the most stable and powerful, winning every battle decisively. 

Cheol also took up space. For twenty years he fought behind Sanho and Jimin, solidifying himself as a loyal constituent. He had Sanho’s ear and often gave him good advice and guidance on leading Jirisan. Since Sanho had no real brothers, Cheol became like a younger sibling to him and he placed a great deal of trust in the Alpha and his wife. In return, Cheol showed tremendous loyalty.  

But as the years flew by and Sanho aged, he began to lose his edge. He was slow to rebound, often forgetful of important scents, and not as powerful as he was in his youth. Too many injuries; bite marks, ripped flesh, unhealed wounds, broken bones and other maladies had weakened his body over the years. His mind was tainted with disease and his decisions weren’t as solid as they once were. As the strongest and largest Alpha in the region, he was individually targeted by those who wanted to challenge the pack’s dominance. Many times he was lured into uneven battles where he was isolated, attacked and forced to fight alone before he had a chance to call for help. The targeting became so frequent that Jimin ordered several Betas to escort him during hunting runs. More often than not, Jimin ended up fighting beside him to keep him from being killed. 

Sanho’s Omega partner, Hwarim, also found it difficult to watch his slow demise. She begged him to place Jimin in charge so that the elder could rest and prolong his embattled life. But always the stubborn Alpha, he refused to listen to her as well. Even Cheol, Sanho’s closest confidant, attempted to approach him strategically about fortifying the hierarchy with new blood. Sanho still refused to step down. He insisted on maintaining his leadership. 

Sanho’s stubbornness placed a burden on the entire pack. Despite the rumor of Jimin’s powers, whispers grew loud that Sanho was the weakest link amongst the fighters. With the quickly shifting dynamic around territorial rule, the stability of Jirisan was at great risk. 

And then came the hierarchical shift that no one saw coming. Sanho pulled together Lia, Jimin, Hwarim, Wolyeong and Cheol and stunned them with an unexpected announcement.

Sanho stood atop of the large rock near the mouth of the river. He sat on his hind legs and surveyed them before sending a powerful message to them.

~I’ve heard whispers, even from you, that I’m too old to maintain my position as leader. You should know that I refute that claim. I am as spry, intelligent and capable as I’ve always been. Age has slowed me down a bit, yes. But I am still capable of being your leader. Thanks to our faithful Alpha Cheol, I have made a very important decision.~

Jimin walked forward with Lia flanking him closely on the right. Their hearts pounded as they awaited the message that their father had for them. 

~What decision, father?~ Jimin interrupted his father’s thoughts with his question.

~The safety and stability of this pack is my most important priority. Jimin, you are my successor since you are my blood. But based on the aggressive attacks that we have faced, I believe we need a strong leader to stand behind Jimin. Lia and Hwarim, you are capable fighters, but for the safety of this pack, I feel we need another male Alpha to lead us. I am hereby appointing Cheol to be third in line behind me and Jimin. I know this may come as a disappointment, especially to you Lia. But it is for the best. I hope that you will support me in my decision. If anything happens to me or Jimin, it is Cheol who I will trust to lead the Parks.~

~What?~ Lia did not hold back. She sent her strong opposition straight into her father’s mind, ~How could you father? How could you pass me up for this wolf who’s a virtual stranger. He doesn’t carry your blood. I do. And mother is the mother of your children, the one who gave you Jimin. Me and mother should be the next leaders of the Parks behind my brother.~

~Cheol is not a virtual stranger. He and Wolyeong have been with us for twenty-years, side by side in battle. He is loyal and he has risked his life to earn his place here. We have many Alphas here in this pack, but none have shown the bravery that Cheol has shown.~ Sanho snapped back at Lia.

~Bravery? Cheol? Brave?~ Lia snapped back again. In her opinion, Cheol was many things, but brave was not one of them.

Jimin didn’t like what he was hearing. He questioned his father. ~Why have you made this decision? Lia and mother have been the strongest fighters in this pack for decades. All due respect to Cheol, but he doesn’t have the Park blood, the intuition to fight as we do.~

Cheol had no thoughts to share. He humbly bowed at Sanho’s feet and thanked him for the honor. Lia, meanwhile, had nothing further to say to her father. She raced from the lair and headed towards the river. Jimin ran after her with an attempt to console her.

Lia turned on Jimin. ~It’s because I’m a female. If I were a male, he would have never done this.~ 

~I don’t think that is the reason, Lia.~ Jimin messaged her with melancholy.

~What other reason could it be?~ Lia challenged him.

~Have you noticed? Father isn’t the same. I believe he is ill, possibly diseased. Something is affecting his mind and it feels like…~

~It feels like Cheol is taking advantage of him!~ Lia growled.

~Cheol has been very loyal to us. He’s risked his life, both he and Wolyeong. If father wants him to be third in command, then we need to respect his decision.~ Jimin impressed upon her.

~Respect his decision? Easy for you to say. You’re the chosen one. The Noetic Alpha that is the savior of Jirisan. No one will ever dismiss you or your contribution to this pack. I’m the one who is constantly disrespected. And you’re just going to sit there and allow it to happen. Even though you just said yourself that father isn’t in his right mind.~

~I’m not letting it happen. But I don’t want to divide the pack either. The pack has grown very large and we cannot afford an internal war. We have to think carefully about how to handle this. No Lia, I don’t think father is in his right mind. He’s sick, we can all see it. But, I do think he believes he’s doing what’s right for the pack. I’m still second in command of Jirisan. I still have a say in what happens here. I will find a way to make this right without disrespecting our father’s wishes. I just need time to think.~ Jimin turned towards the large rock as he watched Sanho make the announcement to the rest of the pack.

Lia dipped her head in sadness. ~In the meantime, I have to live with being the outcast Beta who was looked over by her own father. I’ll never forgive him for this.~ Lia galloped angrily into the river and raced up the mountain. Her icy white coat disappeared amidst the snowy caps.

***

One Year after Sanho’s announcement of Cheol being third in command. Jimin and Lia are now twenty-eight and twenty-six respectively

Early morning; the deep indigo of the velvet sky rested over the mountain. Clusters of stars disappeared one by one as the temperatures dipped below freezing. Parting the clouds ever so tenderly, a pale orange beam of light cracked the horizon. The muddy banks near the river reflected the light as it rose into the sky. Chill was in the air, causing the thickening of their manes and tails as the weather quickly transitioned to winter.

Jimin panted heavily as he raced up and down the mountain. He was one of several pack leaders patrolling the perimeter and tracking for the enemy. His broad capable nose pulsed along the trail. There were many foreign scents trapped against the bark of the heavy red pines and he committed each of them to memory. Enemies were near, waiting for a moment of vulnerability to make a move. He could sense them, feel them. As he peered through the darkness of the forest, he could see their golden eyes glaring back at him. Their presence was no surprise. He knew they were there and they knew he was tracking them. Still, they dared not make a move because the young virulent Alpha was a danger to any species who dared to challenge the peaceful pack of Parks. So quietly, they bade their time, remaining just beyond the borders of Park territory.

As he made his last round along the trail, he caught a glimpse of a white flash of fir frolicking in the nearby woods. Despite the thick snow that covered the ground and camouflaged her body, he could still see her sable white fur and clear blue eyes. Even in his Noetic state of scent blocking, he noticed her. 

It was his sister, Lia. And she was not alone. Just beside her was a grey wolf with a matted mane playfully chasing her through the deep snow. Jimin had a series of enemy scents categorized in his mind and the foreign grey wolf was definitely one of them. The stench of the grey’s urine was intentionally poignant as he marked his presence on the borders of the forest. Something was amiss. The grey should not have been there and he definitely should not have been in the presence of Jimin’s sister. Lia was in danger. 

Jimin embarked immediately, abandoning his flank to race directly into the tree line towards his sister. He wasn’t sure how the trespasser had breached their patrol, but he was ready to end him. As he grew closer, he sounded the alarm to alert others on patrol that danger was imminent. With a short, low-pitched, guttural barking-howl, he angrily summoned the other pack leaders. Cheol and Sanho were on the opposite side of the mountain, but Jimin knew as soon as they heard his bark, they would come quickly to join the fight.

Within seconds, Jimin’s powerful five inch fangs were embedded into the hindquarters of the enemy grey. The weight of his body collapsed across the grey’s back, forcing the smaller wolf to the ground with a terrified howl. 

It took Lia only nano seconds to recognize the blonde attacker. She sent an angry frightened message to him.

~Jimin! Jimin don’t. He’s not an enemy. He’s a friend, my potential mate. Stop it Jimin. Release him.~ 

Lia pleaded with her angry brother. Jimin stood mightily on the chest of the smaller grey wolf. He forecasted his message with menacing intent. 

~What is your name? How dare you breach the borders of Jirisan. I should kill you for your indiscretion.~

~Jimin please. No!~ Lia pleaded again. 

She watched her powerful brother take down the grey, rolling him several times across the snow. The smaller grey was not looking for a fight. He scrambled to his feet and retreated, running for his life. He never looked back. Instead he fled with a crippling wound in his hind leg, courtesy of Jimin.

Lia turned and charged towards her brother, fangs protruding.