Lucichan

18: LUCICHAN

Being battered and rejected, it was natural to collect a grudge in one's heart. We often let that simmering heat reach a boiling point until that anger overflows and creates more chaos.

When you are dictated of your worth despite your dedication to serving, do you still see your own value? What if in the end, you get shunned and get compared? Would you still consider coming back just to be discarded again?

Why are we still smiling while we bled through the years of suffering?

Why do we still feel love when the world is harsh?

"Today is a day to rejoice. Not only do we witness two alphas show their worth, but we get to be spectators of the sudden show of bravery of Chief Culgan's son. We have thought this day would never come and yet here we are– astonished, confused, and thrilled," Basba, Ulmer's father, spoke in between us.

We were surrounded by every member of the pack, may it be man, woman, or child. No one else decided to step up and fight me other than Ulmer. The entire pack was with him and with that they were against us- my wolf and me.

"This match will determine the wolf who will lead the pack after Chief Culgan. The winner will get a wish granted and is guaranteed a sure future of being the pack leader," he continued as his eyes passed by me with a glimmer of arrogance in them.

"Pray to the Goddess that she gives strength to an alpha who is righteous, disciplined, and charismatic. One who will lead the pack to a road of victories and peace. He shall not cower when threatened nor shall he harm without logic."

Just a little more push and he would have said Ulmer's name.

After finishing his speech, he walked to his son and whispered. I felt a hand land on my shoulder.

"I don't know what had gotten into you all of a sudden," Papa said with much distress in his voice.

He turned me to face him, grasping each side of my head. He placed his forehead against mine.

"But I know that you and Fenris wouldn't do something like this without coming to a conclusion."

The ends of my lips curled . My hands trembled.

"Are you afraid?" he asked me, noticing my shaking.

Was I really? Were we really?

No...This was not fear.

"Afraid?" I repeated.

I raised my gaze to meet him.

"This isn't fear, papa. To be honest with you, we are dying from anticipation..."

I raised my trembling hands to get a better look at them.

"We will converse with the world in its own language and... baffle it."

"Chief Culgan, please do the honor," Basba requested. His false courteousness was revolting.

He and his son were two eggs in a ball sac. It was just a matter of who had more evil deeds to cause the other one to sag down.

Papa's bewilderment caused him to hesitate, nonetheless he had a sense of duty to start the battle.

"With your eyes as witnesses, with my judgment and authority, and with the Goddess' blessing and guidance, I commence this match!"

An ominous smile spread across Ulmer's lips. He charged towards me with electrical currents rampaging out of his form.

Once his fists met my body, I stumbled away from the impact of his punches. The crowd cheered as I was easily motioned without returning the favor. With one last strike to my face, I was sent sliding to the ground with my eyes looking up to the bright blue skies.

"It is a day to rejoice isn't it, Breux?" I asked my wolf.

"It is droog, but do you think mama will still cook for us after this?"

Maybe she wouldn't even acknowledge us after this.

"We'll just have to eat with noona if she doesn't," I chuckled.

Ulmer grabbed my foot, tossing me up before electrifying me. I convulsed midair yet instead of getting burned, my body adjusted with the energy forced to it. It was like I was being fed with little amounts of snacks that heightened our mood even more.

"Finish him Ulmer!"

"You got this! This garbage doesn't stand a chance against you!"

"You're my alpha Ulmer!"

I was dropped to the ground once the currents withdrew. I slightly convulsed as I felt the electricity seep through me like water.

"That tickled..." I murmured.

His currents felt like a million ants crawling under my skin.

Ulmer clucked his tongue. "You're tough!"

He distanced himself away to relinquish streams of more powerful and clamorous electricity. I stood maintaining my composure while waiting for Ulmer's next series of techniques.

"Don't give up big brother!" Claude cheered from behind.

"We can't fail him, droog," Fenris reminded me. His voice returned to that cold and mature tone.

Despite being one of the witnesses of our many weaknesses, Claude never failed to look up to us. He was one of those who defended us and comforted us while the entire pack ostracized my wolf and me. As the eldest, we should be the ones who should inspire, nurture, and protect. This time we can finally do that.

Ulmer's currents shot towards our direction. I opened my arms to welcome his energy.

"Go for it, you idiot!" Conall screamed.

Was Conall rooting for us?

Noona was right– Conall did care for us in his own denial way. We couldn't afford to fail him. We put him in shame long enough.

"We definitely... Cannot lose." Fenris meant business.

"Wha-what?!" Ulmer gasped.

I sauntered through the currents of electricity, absorbing the energy like a black hole.

His puzzled expression distorted to frustration and anger, leading him to give us more of what did not hurt us anymore.

The moment I was right in front of him, I gave him a toothy grin.

"How did you-" I cut off what he was about to query and grabbed his face firmly.

We converted the energy he gave us into a blistering inferno. He released muffled pained screams that turned the pack's expression upside down.

This fire was perfect for winter.

The pack members watched us with horrified expressions. Ulmer's avid supporters came rushing to stop the match.

"Stop him! This match is over!" Ulmer's father snarled.

Oh?

I lifted Ulmer up with one hand, flailing him around in front of everyone.

"Over? But this match is just getting started," Fenris and I spoke in unison.

Weren't they so confident with Ulmer seconds ago?

Streaks of fire extended out of my form, grabbing the members' necks who dared stop this sanctified brawl.

"Get back to your places!" we barked, hurling them away from us.

A tail sprung out from my tailbone. My hands turned into claw-like features.

"You are no longer a part of this pack! I will make sure that you are either banished or buried! " Basba growled.

He transformed into his wolf form, attempting to snap his feral teeth on my head. Unfortunately for him, his actions only placed him in the same situation much like his beloved son he took so much pride in.

Their writhing bodies ceased. I threw them in opposite ways and scoffed. Ulmer's face appeared to be melted wax.

"Here is your beloved alpha. Do enjoy him medium rare."

Papa was trying to stop his grin from spreading as he stepped forward to finally end the match.

"Would anyone else desire to challenge my son?" Papa asked, looking around for volunteers.

The audience took steps back, signifying no other willing competitors.

"Then that is the conclusion of this match. I hereby grant my son to be my successor and will now heed his wish."

I knelt on one knee, bowing my head to show him the full respect that this pack had long forgotten. Basba's influence was powerful.

"Papa...Our Great Chief Culgan, there is only one thing we would like to ask from you," my wolf and I humbly approached.

"Let me hear it." He was more than willing to grant it.

Fenris and I thought that this was the greatest thing for the pack now— to have them get a taste of their own twisted desires.

"Take a momentary step down from being the Chief and have Ulmer take over."

Murmurs flooded us. Ironically, many strongly opposed this.

"That's ridiculous! There are sightings of rogues in the forest and are expected to attack at any moment!"

"Ulmer lost fair and square!"

"Is he crazy? With Ulmer in that state, how can he lead?!"

"He wants the pack to be annihilated!"

...

"We can never please you people," we chuckled, causing them to freeze when we faced them. "This is merely a test drive. Since all of you desired Ulmer so much to become the chief, why not bear witness to how he can actually lead?" we asked, glancing at papa for approval.

The chief was in deep thought. He wasn't expressing a face of disappointment or disapproval.

"You have a point there," he agreed, turning to noona.

"Does his wish get your blessing, elder?"

Noona nodded amusingly. That ended the right to continue this dispute despite the pack's wish to maintain it.

I felt myself get tackled down by my two brothers.

"Amazing!" Claude chirped.

"Were you really just holding back all this time?!" Conall questioned.

Unmeasured bliss swelled within me from the triumph we reaped.

"We really did it droog! Hurray!" my wolf childishly chirped.

'Thank you for your hard work, breux, we did it.'

I pulled my siblings down with me into a tight hug.

"We won... We really won!~" I laughed. "Did you guys see us?"

"We did! Conall was even more excited than me!" Claude teased.

"I was not!"

"Yes, you were!~"

They just argued non-stop...

Soon the crowd dissipated. I jolted when mama called me in an upset tone.

"Caleb Ridley Howler!"

My ear was yanked down. I expected a thick content of lecturing from her.

"I guess I don't have to ask Claude and Conall to pee in the potato garden of Basba's wife," she giggled.

Ha...

"Ha?!" I questioned in full surprise.

"Your mother has been so upset from not getting enough revenge for you. She was readily prepared to charge into Basba's household to pummel Ulmer into oblivion despite her pregnant state," Papa explained.

And here I was judging her poorly. She must have been boasting her accomplishments to her friends. I misinterpreted her.

'Mama!' Fenris externally whined, causing her to coo and take us into an embrace.

Still...

"Why did you think that the best possible way to avenge us is to urinate on their potatoes?" I asked.

"It was your papa's idea!"

My eyes shot at papa who looked away coolly yet possessed a blush on his face.

"Sweet revenge of the golden shower..." he murmured.

"I gu-guess morality abandons a chief's mind every now and then, huh?" I awkwardly chuckled.

As decided, papa stepped down from being the head of the pack. He let Ulmer take over in the meantime. With Ulmer's embarrassing defeat against me, his supporters decreased. He experienced criticisms here and there that would often lead to fights.

Not a single day passed by without getting visitors to raise complaints against Ulmer. They were begging/demanding the chief return to position.

This time, the complaint that a pack member brought up was his omega being sexually assaulted.

"That figlio-di-puttana (son-of-a bitch) was forcing my omega to have sex with him! When is this game going to end? How long are you going to let that testa-di-cazzo (dickhead) have his way with the pack?!"

"This potato tastes bitter," Claude grumbled.

"Must be from all the spit constantly splattering everywhere from their whining trap," Conall scoffed.

He was gnawing on a medium-cooked antelope.

"I currently do not have the authority or the power to intervene. He still has ten days to his position and after that, I shall take action," Papa replied. The other party disapproved.

"Ho–how? How can you sit idly by while he does this to us? The other day he and his supporters followed a group of omegas to the river. If it weren't for the mated alphas and betas who happened to be in the area, they could have been raped... each one of them. Doesn't that bother you?" he asked in disbelief.

"Aren't you one of his supporters?" I queried with a smile.

I knew him. He broke two of my ribs once and would often join Ulmer in his expedition to torment us.

'Isn't that right, breux?'

'Yes, droog! Oh boy, oh boy he's one of em!'

"So when did you withdraw your loyalty to him?" I asked again.

His lips were sewn together.

"Mama, what's a leech?" Claude asked.

"Just observe our visitor sweetheart and you'll get the idea..." Mama whispered to Claude.

My brother looked at the plagued visitor and went back on eating his food.

"That's a sad-looking leech."

"Aren't you going to answer him?" Papa asked.

The invited guest was sweating too much now.

"Fro–from the day you won against him," he nervously answered.

"My nose is tingling droog! Fenris sniffs lies! Fenris sniffs-" my wolf stopped midway from his protest and continued. "Fenris cannot sniff anything when Fenris is not out but I sniff with my eyes that he is lying droog!"

I snickered at my wolf's observation. He was finally learning how to roast someone he was not pleased with. His intuition was improving and so was his judgment of character.

"I saw him yesterday. He and Ulmer were peeking at Wulfurin's daughters," Conall revealed.

The visitor looked like he was poured with a bucket of shame.

"So you only turned against him once his actions finally affected you..." Papa concluded.

He stabbed him with his sharp gaze.

"Get out of my sight before I piss on you," papa threatened.

The pack member scrambled back, fleeing out of the house.

"My, you look even more stressed compared to when you were in position," mama noted.

"I thought I would be able to relax my mind when I stepped down, but once Ulmer stepped up, pack members suddenly decided to rely on me to do something," papa complained.

"Honestly, they're a bunch of kowtows. After dumping papa somewhere they'll run back and pick him up just because they hit a wall," Conall snorted.

Before heading off to bed, papa dropped by and engaged me in a topic I never knew we'd dive in.

"Now that I think about it Caleb, you never got attracted to the pack's omegas before. No one sparks your interest?" he asked.

"I was too busy getting patched up by noona almost every single day to even notice."

Broken ribs, swollen eyes, dislocated joints, and bleeding guts—who had time to ogle at an omega's ass? Fenris didn't show any interest so why should I?

Papa hummed in understanding. "Either you create a bond with someone or wait for the Goddess' destined one for you. The latter will take a lot of time. I only know a handful who actually met the moon's grace."

'Fenris wants the moon's grace. Fenris don't want any other omega!' my wolf tenaciously declared.

"Why not... Just do both? We'll wait for the moon's grace and also create a bond with him or her."

I just didn't want to rely on what the Goddess would give us. I want to know if the moon's grace will wholeheartedly accept my wolf.

"How can we find this person?" I queried.

"You'll have to refer to noona's memory of that. From what I recall, if Fenris starts to act bizarre, that's when he is near."

I guess the moon's grace was always a meter away if my wolf was like this for as long as I know.

'Fenris wants mate!" he protested. "Let's find him, droog. Goddess says his name is Luci...Lucichan!'

Lucichan? Was he making this up?

'Droog!'

'Alright alright, we'll find that person!' I groaned.

This Lucichan better be worth it.