Not Just an Omega

The Ceremony

Chapter 7

   The pack was nothing like I'd expected. I expected it to be rundown, made all of wood, and scroungy people mulling around. But in fact, it was clean—as clean as a forest can be—and the people living here were nicely dressed. Some buildings were made of glass, but the ones that people lived in were all made of wood, metal, and bricks. And, of course, the wicked awesome treehouses that look like they came from nature survivor movies.

   "How many people live here?" I ask Kai, who walks next to me. We avoid the main dirt roads, and go around all the buildings. "How is this place set up?"

   "I'm not discussing the population of my pack to a human, but let's just say there are many of us. The wolves here are a portion of the pack. This is one of the cases where were are not like wolves. You know about regular wolf packs, right?"

   "Yeah. Packs usually consist of family members. The leaders being the main parents. There's their pups and the parent's siblings. Some have five or six, some have fifteen at large. Do you not have networks of families in your pack?"

   "Oh no, we do. All sorts of families here. We learn and teach to respect our elders, use the forest as a natural resource, and not to pick fights and run away. The elderly elders, the ones who can't care for themselves, live with their families.

   We have a lot of wolves spread around this entire forest, as much as can fit comfortably while preserving nature. A town adjacent to here is where the rest of our pack lives. Some—"

   "Does that town have a Caster too? Or is yours just really powerful?" I cut in. "And yes, LeAnne told me about your Casters."

   "No, actually. Our Alpha owns the land, and owns the buildings on it. That's a good way to shelter our people, and collect income. The majority of the rest are ones who's bloodlines go back to the very start of this pack. We are one of the few packs that still have our founding father's bloodline in our pack. That's what Ichor means by the way—it's Greek for 'Blood'."

   "I already know what ichor means. Also, it stands for the fluid like blood in the veins of Gods. I figured your pack is called that because you're violent." He seems to be taken aback by it, but covers it up with a scowl.

   "Don't say that around others. They'll get testy."

   "Tell me about wolf spirit. And where are we going?" We had been walking around the outskirts of buildings, and I was confused.

   "I'm not telling you anything about wolf spirit. And we're heading to the Base Den. It's near the edge of the pack. That's where the Alpha and Beta—that's me—live."

   "Oh yeah, you're the Beta. Is that like being the vice president? Do you live in a giant castle?" Kai narrows his eyes and twists his mouth into a sideways frown. "Fine, nevermind. I do have one question though," I say, looking at him.

   "Does this involve the old la—I mean LeAnne?" I half shrug. "Alright then. Out with it."

   "She told me you ranked based on how much wolf spirit you have. And sometimes you can turn into a wolf. But if you can't completely turn into a wolf, what do you look like?"

   He runs his hand through his hair, messing it up from its previously nice state. "Our ears go near the top of our head and become more pointed. Our mouths extend a bit, to give it more shape. Our teeth become elongated. And our eyes may or may not change color. Other than that, it's mostly inner soul rather than the whole physical appearance. It all depends on how much wolf spirit you have."

   I think back to the night when I saw a human with wolf ears, twisted snout, and glowing green eyes. Were they part of this pack? Or an enemy? What were they doing?