Alpha Rebel

Chapter 1

Volf crept closer, crouching behind the tall grass. He stared at the deer grazing peacefully only a few feet away in front of him. He watched intently every move. He looked past the deer and behind a bush. Hunt was there, also ready to pounce on their prey. Volf advanced forward and froze. A twig had snapped nearby.

The deer lifted its head, twitching its ears nervously. It was now or never. Volf launched forward and missed. About half a dozen wolves lurked from their hiding places in pursuit of their prey.

Volf looked back. He had outrun the rest. He tried one last attempt. He felt his claws tearing flesh before he rolled in the dust. He shook his head and stared as the deer ran off, a bloody speck in the distance.

"Did you get anything?" Hunt panted behind him.

Without reply, Volf got up and left to meet up with the others. He walked up to the single file of hunters. "Alright! Who did it?"

They stepped back, squeezing the youngest wolf out to the front.

Volf sighed exasperatedly. "Hundid, again?"

Hundid hung his head. Volf was about to scold him when Hunt cut him off.

"You miserable dog!" Hunt snarled with rage. "We've been hunting all day just so you could keep messing up our game. If you screw up one more time, I swear I will-"

"Enough!" Volf cut him off.

"But-" Hunt began to complain. 

"That's enough, thank you." Volf said firmly. Hunt scowled at him. Volf knew he hated it when he treated him like that, but he wasn't in the mood to deal with him at that moment. He ignored him and turned towards Hundid. "If your hunting skills don't improve, you're gonna have to stay in the den with the rest of the pack," Volf said sternly. "Understood?"

Hundid nodded solemnly. Volf dipped his head. "Alright." He got up and began to walk away, "We will try to hunt new game..." he took a peek over his shoulders at his hunters, "Again."

A growl came from among them.

"Is there a problem, Bardou?" Volf glared at him.

"We've been hunting all day long. Can't we call it a day and go home?" He protested.

Volf took in a deep breath. "No, we can't let the pack go hungry tonight."

"We've got other plans for tonight, Volf." Bardou snarled. 

Volf shifted, trying not to show his annoyance. He could tell that other wolves were getting annoyed too. Specially Hunt. "I am fully aware of that. And we need to provide for the pack today more than ever. Which is why we're going back hunting." Volf turned again, thinking he had said enough. 

"Well, I'm not going." Bardou lifted his chin, defiantly. "I don't even know why we're following your orders. "He surveyed Volf up and down with a disdainful sneer. "You're not even the next Alpha."

Before Volf had the chance to snap back at him, Hunt butted into the heated conversation.  "Careful with what you say, Bardou." Hunt drawled. Bardou growled back, and with that, the  two wolves got tangled up in a fight. 

"Enough! Cut it out, you two!" Volf ordered. Neither of them showed any care. Instead, they seemed to fight more intensely. "Alright! Knock it off, I said!" He tried stepping in between them, but it was no use. "Bardou, Hunt! I said knock it off!"

This time, they both froze in their tracks, but not because of Volf's ranting.

A shrill, bloodcurdling howl echoed through the valley. On the crest of a hill stood a silhouette, almost statue-like. Everybody bowed their heads as the Alpha passed by.

"Bardou, Hunt, you disappoint me," he said in a low, quiet voice.

"Sorry, sir," Bardou apologized. Hunt said nothing. The Alpha glanced at him.

"Sorry," Hunt muttered, not at all apologetic.

The Alpha continued and stopped within inches from Volf. "Did you catch anything?"

Volf felt his face heat up under his fur. "No, sir."

The Alpha drew in a long breath and slowly turned to the rest. "Head back to the den. You are all to be ready when I call."

The wolves scattered, leaving Volf behind with the Alpha. He looked down to him.

Volf growled, finally letting go of his frustration. "I'm sorry, father."

He shrugged, "Can't expect much from those two when they're together."

"No, I mean about the hunting. We were so close!"

To Volf's surprise, his father only chuckled. "Yeah, should have seen that jump in slow motion."

Volf scowled. He wanted be given advice, not to be made fun of.

"Are you ready for tonight?" His father asked, changing the subject.

Volf dealt with this sudden change. "I'm..." his voice trailed off. Excited? Eager? Worried?Anxious? Terrified? "I'm looking forward to it."

His father shoved him with his hip, almost sending him toppling downhill. He chuckled, "Bah! Of course you are! It is in your blood!"

Volf wasn't really sure about that. He gazed at the myriad of colors that repeated in an unordered pattern across the canyon walls, lost in thought.

"I sure hope Sylva has something to eat waiting for us." His father interrupted his line of thought. Volf felt glad of it. When he thought he was obsessing too much over things, it always seemed best to change the subject. His father seemed to know that.

Volf smiled with relief as they approached the outskirts of their den. "She always does."