Namjinkook: A Vampire AU

Chapter 20

The Legend of Kwon Ji-Yong

"I already went to our pack council, my love. They did not grant us their blessing.", Ji-yong informed his mate Dara, a vampire, with much regret. The couple is currently in the forest just outside the borders where the werewolves have established their community. The vampires are staying on the other side of the land, their territories separated by a small river. As long as each kind stay on their respective sides, everything is peaceful.

"But why?", the petite and pale woman asked sadly.

"They don't understand us. They said we can't be together because we belong to the different ends of the mutations. Our union will not prosper. We cannot produce children. And as the head of our pack, I need heirs who will rule in my succession.", the wolf explained. The vampire scoffed.

"Heirs? Why would you need heirs? Can't you just vote for the next pack Alpha once your reign has ended? Your pack has many alphas that are eligible to rule so why can't they?", Dara argued.

Ji-yong sighed. He does not expect her to undertand but still it frustrates him. The leadership rules are very much different for both kinds.

Upon settling in their new land after being banished by the so-called "normal humans", the vampires immediately elected a single leader who they decided to call 'Count'. They then gave her the power to choose her council of advisors. Count Lee Ji-eun has stated that in the event that one of the members of the council has perished or unable to perform his/her function well, she will choose another qualified vampire to replace that member. If she herself dies or has been deemed incompetent by the council and vampire community, a voted member of the council will take her place. So far the vampires are satisfied with her leadership and has abided by the rules and regulations that she set with everyone living harmoniously.

Meanwhile, the same cannot be said with the werewolves. The pack initially did not have an established leader and rules, leading to frequent altercations among them. After losing several lives due to senseless fights, they finally set a meeting and majority agreed that the strongest alpha should rule them. But who's the strongest?

The members suggested a series of challenges to determine the mightiest in the pack. This involved testing the skills of eligible candidates like lifting heavy objects, hunting, running and the likes. After completing the set tasks, they were left with two candidates: alpha Shindong and alpha Ji-yong.

At first, the pack wanted an election; whoever has the most votes will be their pack Alpha. However, Shindong with his group of family and friends, knowing he's unpopular among the pack, argued that they should continue with skill testing. But what else is there to prove? And so, the pack has decided on a final test. A duel. No rules, no limits. Whoever comes out victorious will be their one true leader. The most powerful of them all.

The two alphas agreed, both confident in their own strength and capabilities. But while Shindong is clearly the stronger alpha, Ji-yong is a highly intelligent fighter who carefully plans his next moves. The older wolf is clumsy and impulsive, striking without much planning. Ji-yong used that to his advantage and was able to outsmart his opponent. He took his time to study Shindong's technique, which really is just "attack when there's an opportunity". Ji-yong decided that Shindong will tire out easily if he continued with this method of fighting. So Ji-yong just did his best to block each strike and ran away when Shindong is getting too close. He wasn't wrong and his patience was rewarded. Shindong's moves eventually became more sloppy as time went on and his strikes were getting weaker. Once Ji-yong was sure that he can now defeat the other, he shifted to his wolf form, catching his opponent off guard and unable to follow suit. Ji-yong was able to over-power Shindong easily. Within a matter of minutes, his rival is under him, baring his neck in submission, and begging to be spared.

The victorious Ji-yong was proclaimed pack Alpha. Since Shindong came in second and has proved his worth, he was named second-in-command. The two of them gathered the next toughest alphas and made them council members. The very same council declared that only the strongest alpha should rule and that is alphas coming from the blood line of their leader, Ji-yong. If Ji-yong does not produce heirs, Shindong's heirs will naturally take over.

But Shindong is corrupt and cunning, often using his position to his and his family's advantage. Even his young children, the youngest already showing signs of presenting as an alpha when of age, are mischievous and are mean towards their peers. The council does not want Shindong nor his heirs to succeed their venerable leader. For them to allow that would prove to be a catastrophe.

That is why Ji-yong needed heirs. That is why he cannot mate with a vampire. That is why he and Dara cannot be.

***

"Kwon Ji-yong... is alive? Are you positive, Sehun?", Shindong asked in a grave tone, refusing to believe what he just heard.

"What do you mean alive, Alpha? Isn't Kwon Ji-yong just a legend? He's not real, is he?", pack Alpha Jaebum dared to interrupt the two elders.

The vampire elder smirked at his old friend.

"Legend? What have you been teaching your pups, Shindong?", He turned to the younger wolf. "I don't know what kind of stories about Ji-yong you've been told but I can assure you that he is real and is very much alive to this day. He's the first and only vampire-wolf hybrid to ever exist. Well, up until recently. And we have reasons to believe that he's the one behind the manufacturing of the new hybrids. In fact, he's the one manufacturing them."

"You can't be serious, Sehun. How is he able to do that? And why would he do that? What is his purpose? What is he trying to gain?", the elder wolf asked increduously.

"We don't know yet. So far we are not successful in tracking him. That is why we are here. As someone who personally knows him and who was a witness to his capabilities, we need your input and help, alpha.", Count Suho supplied.

The wolves began to talk amongst themselves, unable to grasp the gravity of the situation. To them, Kwon Ji-yong is just a character in one of the many bedtime stories they've been told as pups; a story that was passed on from generations to generations. But still just a story nonetheless. A fairy tale that easily ended up being the most tragic love story they ever heard. Nobody knows or has seen Kwon Ji-yong. He doesn't exist in their world because it's simply impossible. But apparently, they were wrong. The Legend that is Kwon Ji-yong is real and their elder Alpha Shindong knows him.

Shindong sighed as he looked at his pack members who looked confused and betrayed.

"Why don't we move to the library and take our discussion there? It's going to be a long night."

🧛‍♂️🧛‍♀️🧛🐺🐺

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Author's Note

Aaaaaaand we've officially moved on to the next phase of our story, aka the calm before the storm, aka before sh*t hits the fan. Here, we revisit the past and explore the relationship of vampires and werewolves.

Thank you for reading, leaving comments and liking the chapters. I really appreciate them. I apologize fo the late update. I didn't realize that it's been a couple of months since the last chapter. I have not abandoned my books, I was just struck with the worst case of writer's block. But I'm back! Yey!

So, thank you for your patience. I hope you enjoy the next phase as much as you enjoyed the first one.

Take care and keep safe! 💜