The Alpha

After about a minute of dragging the deer, I noticed the white wolf slowing down.

"Are we there?" I asked.

"Yes. Just behind that rock, the pack gathers," he said, gesturing toward a large stone about ten meters ahead.

I couldn't see beyond the rock, and the dense trees around us made it impossible to tell if there were traps. But why would there be? There was no reason for them to attack me.

Deciding to trust my guide, I followed him past the rock. As soon as I stepped into the clearing, my eyes widened in surprise—around twenty wolves were gathered, each with prey in front of them, yet none were eating.

At the head of the pack sat another wolf, gray-furred with a deep scar running from his forehead down to his snout. Unlike the others, he was the only one eating, while the rest watched hungrily.

That had to be the leader.

White gave me a concerned glance, subtly motioning for me to sit. I complied—there was no reason to defy the alpha of a wolf pack.

As I waited, I noticed the scarred wolf finally looking in our direction. But his gaze wasn't on me—it was on White.

A moment later, he stood up and strode toward us, a smug smirk on his face.

"White, you know the rules. You eat only after I've finished," he said, eyeing the deer I had brought.

"Alpha... this isn't mine..." White stammered.

"I don't care! Take it away!" the alpha barked at his lackeys.

"This deer isn't going anywhere." I planted a paw firmly on my meal.

For the first time, the scarred wolf turned his gaze on me. "Who are you? I am the leader here, and if you don't obey, you die!"

"I take orders from no one. This deer is mine." I growled, rising to my feet.

His expression darkened. He bared his fangs and lunged at me, aiming for my throat.

I dodged to the right, and as he stumbled past, I struck him with a powerful shoulder check, sending him crashing to the ground.

"I don't care what you do with your pack, but you don't order me around. Let me leave, and I won't kill you." My voice was cold, indifferent.

I didn't like this guy. But he was their leader, and I didn't want to interfere—unless he forced my hand.

The scarred wolf hesitated, glancing at his pack. Their eyes held something unexpected—anticipation. Were they hoping for his defeat?

So they hated him. Interesting. But not my problem.

I turned to leave, but before I could take a step, he lunged again, eyes blazing with fury.

"Watch out!" White shouted.

I barely needed the warning. As his jaws neared my neck, I swiftly shifted into my cat form, making him bite at empty air. In the next instant, I transformed back into a wolf, clamping my teeth onto his throat.

I tightened my grip, shaking my head violently before flinging him toward a tree.

He crashed hard. Struggling to rise, he glared at me with pure hatred—but his legs gave out. A second later, he collapsed, dead.

Silence.

I turned my gaze to the rest of the pack, expecting an attack.

Instead, they erupted into joyful howls, leaping in celebration.

What…? Why were they so happy?

White approached me, tail wagging. "Amazing! You defeated Scarred! You freed us!"

"It wasn't intentional. I'm leaving now." I turned, ready to go.

White blocked my path. "You can't leave. You're the alpha now."

I froze. "What? You already saw, didn't you? I'm not a wolf—I'm just a cat."

To prove my point, I shifted back into my feline form.

I expected outrage. Maybe they'd chase me out for deceiving them.

But White merely smiled. "We don't care. You're stronger than us, so you're our leader."

The other wolves wagged their tails in agreement.

Were they wolves or dogs?

Ugh… What had I gotten myself into?!