The sun had already dipped below the horizon, and the full moon, a cold, indifferent eye, hung high in the sky. A silence, heavy with anticipation, settled over the gathered pack.
Alpha Walter's eyes began to glow a deep, bloody crimson, and a low, bestial growl rumbled in his chest. "I do not kill nameless people," he snarled, his voice guttural and raw. "I'll allow you a chance to say your name before you die." As he spoke, fur the color of the blackest night rippled across his skin, his jaw elongated, and his teeth sharpened into menacing fangs. His hands and feet twisted, transforming into claws that glinted wickedly under the moonlight.
The challenger's form shifted in kind. Deep, earthy brown fur sprouted across his body, and he answered with an equally guttural growl, "Austin. You'd do well to remember the name of the one who killed you."
Then, with explosive force, they launched themselves at each other. Hundreds of blows were exchanged in a single heartbeat, their forms blurring into indistinguishable shadows for the onlookers. Suddenly, a dark shape flew backward, slamming into the hard ground with a bone-jarring boom.
When the dust cleared, it was Austin, already pushing himself to his feet. A thin line of blood trickled from the side of his lip, and a deep, bloody gash marred his chest, exposing raw bone. Yet, even as the pack gasped, a mysterious power glowed at the wound's edges, and it began to heal at a rate visible to the naked eye.
Their transformations deepened, their forms becoming even more beastly. They lunged again, this time with a dense black aura shimmering at the edges of Alpha Walter's claws. Austin, his arms rapidly encasing themselves in what appeared to be stone, crossed them over his chest to defend. When Alpha Walter's strike landed, a loud, muffled boom echoed through the air, pushing Austin back ten meters, carving a deep trench in the earth beneath him.
Alpha Walter growled menacingly, "In your next life, remember not to bite off more than you can chew." He vanished and reappeared instantly behind the challenger, swiping his clawed hand in a single, devastating arc. "If I need more than three moves to deal with trash like you," he sneered, "then I truly would be unworthy of my title."
Austin's body stood frozen for a heartbeat, then his head rolled from his shoulders, thudding softly to the ground. A fountain of blood erupted from his neck, splashing onto the earth.
Alpha Walter turned, his crimson eyes already fading back to their normal deep blue. A servant, trembling, immediately stepped forward with a piece of cloth. The Alpha cleaned the blood from his hands, his form shrinking back to human. His expression showed no sign of the raw brutality it had held moments before, a chilling mask of calm composure. "Have this place cleaned up," he commanded, his voice cold and devoid of emotion. "Chop up his body and throw it into the wild."
He then began walking back towards the mansion. Liana, wide-eyed but composed, walked close beside him. He bent down, scooped her into his arms, and tenderly pinched her cheek, to which she pouted cutely. When they arrived inside, he asked, "So, does my precious have any questions?"
"What was that black glittering thing on your hand?" Liana asked her grandfather, her big blue eyes wide with curiosity.
He extended his arm, and instantly, his hand transformed into a claw, surrounded by a swirling, viscous black cloud. Liana gasped, captivated, but just as quickly, he retracted it.
"When you manifest your wolf at age twelve," he explained, "an element will awaken with it. Everyone has their own unique element, and they're all powerful. You must learn to wield it well and control your form. Your training will begin at age six, as that is the optimal time to start preparing your body. Your teachers will explain the rest over the years as you train, leading up to your wolf's manifestation."
He gently pinched her nose. "You must learn well, because if your body isn't strong enough, it might be injured, or worse, explode, unable to bear the manifestation."
He then set her down. "Go play now; Grandpa has some things to deal with." Liana scampered off to find her mother, while Alpha Walter turned towards his study.
Simon entered their small room and sat at the table, lost in thought. The fight he'd just witnessed replayed in his mind. Time slipped by until Olivia, his mother, came in with dinner. She spotted him, deep in contemplation.
"Simon," she called, but he didn't respond. She walked over, gently shaking his shoulder. He startled, finally looking up. She smiled, ruffling his hair. "What were you thinking so deeply about that you didn't even hear me calling you?" she asked. "Well, go wash up and come eat while it's still hot, then you can tell me all about it."
He nodded, getting up to clean himself. After they finished eating and cleared the table, they sat facing each other.
"Mama," he began, "it's not much. I was just thinking how quickly that fight ended, and how brutal it was."
Olivia's face grew solemn. "That, my son, is power and the bitter truth of our world. If you're strong, you can do anything, and no one will say a word. But for the weak, it's nothing short of hell; every day is a struggle."
Simon listened intently. "I'll definitely work hard and become strong enough to protect you," he vowed, "so we can finally live our lives without worries."
Her eyes widened for a moment, then she smiled sweetly. "It's good that you have ambition, but remember never to lose yourself in the pursuit of power. That will only lead to self-destruction. Now, let's go to sleep; you still have school tomorrow."
They both climbed into bed, hugged each other under the covers, and drifted off to sleep.
They woke with the prickling rays of the sun on their faces. Simon went to wash up and get ready for school, while Olivia headed to the kitchen for breakfast. While he ate, she brushed his hair and then handed him his bag. She walked him to the door, where he waved goodbye and joined the other servant children walking to school. Once he was out of sight, she headed back to the kitchen to start the daily grind.