Chapter 2

Ryle

"That's all for tonight, everyone. I will speak with you all again tomorrow. This is your Midnight Wolf,signing out for tonight!" 

I set aside my headset, stealing a glance at my manager through the glass pane. Spotting his approving thumbs-up, a sense of satisfaction washed over me as I exited the recording studio.

"Great job, Midnight Wolf!" he grinned, and I reciprocated with a high five. Surprisingly, despite the extended hours in the studio, I felt invigorated. The prolonged workday hadn't left me fatigued; instead, I could see myself thriving in this role indefinitely.

My spirit wolf, Koa, teased me in my mind. "While other Alphas crave blood for energy, here you are, getting thrilled about music. You're truly a unique Alpha in the making."

"Give it a rest, Koa. You're making me blush." Both of us shared a chuckle at Koa's good-natured ribbing. Our banter was abruptly halted by a knock on the door. The manager swung it open, unveiling a man on the other side. It was none other than Uncle James, my mother's younger brother.

"It is time, Ryle," he uttered. I nodded at him in response.  

After saying goodbye to my manager, I swiftly exited the room to catch up with Uncle. He drove me back to Silverwolf and straight to the training ground. 

As the crown Alpha of the Silverwolf pack, training constituted a non-negotiable part of my daily regimen, a rule vigilantly enforced by Uncle James. Without fail, he ensured I reached the training ground at the precise time I should be there. 

Upon arriving at the training ground, a man stood at its center, fully prepared and equipped for a sparring session. 

I turned to Uncle James, who uttered, "Get ready. As you can see, you will spar with someone else today."

In a rush, I quickly prepared myself, feeling a bit unsure about the upcoming hand-to-hand combat but confident enough to face it head-on. I took a few deep breaths to get my body and mind ready before stepping into the training area. The man looked a bit intimidating, but I ignored it and focused on readdying myself. 

I changed into suitable clothing in a nearby space, making sure to wear the right gear for the sparring. Next, I did a couple of stretches, preparing my body to the physical confrontation. My body began to heat up, as sweat was formed all over my body. 

Uncle James blew his whistle, signaling for us to return to the center. He placed himself between us, becoming the mediator for our sparring session.

"The same rules apply. Either one of you concedes or gets knocked out. Give your best, and treat this as a real combat scenario."

We both resumed our fighting stances, anticipation hanging in the air. Uncle James raised his hand.

"Let the match begin!"

Without hesitation, my opponent swiftly charged in my direction. Startled, I instinctively took a step back to avoid the oncoming attack. The onslaught persisted, my opponent dictating the rhythm of the battle with relentless attacks.

"Come on, Ryle. That's not how Alphas fight. You won't win by just evading the attacks."

I smirked at my uncle. "Don't blink, Uncle James. Watch and be amazed."

Suddenly, I launched a surprise attack. My opponent was taken aback, stepping a few paces back and stumbling on the floor. I smirked and cracked my fists.

"What's wrong? I haven’t hit you, but you look startled," I teased.

My opponent didn't take kindly to my jest. Swiftly getting up, he unleashed a barrage of fists, attempting to disrupt the rhythm of our sparring match. Despite his efforts, I managed to maintain the upper hand.

Then, we heard approaching footsteps. I didn’t have to turn my head to check who arrived. It was Alpha Ares, my father and the current Alpha of Silverwolf.

“Shit, Koa. What is the old man doing here?” I asked Koa inside my head.

“To watch you fight, silly! Now, focus on your opponent and make sure you will win this. Don’t mess this up! You know how your father will react if you lose this battle.”

Nervous and conscious of my father's presence, I got distracted. I faltered. Seizing the opportunity, my opponent launched attacks in different directions. Panicking, I slipped, and he capitalized on it, pinning me to the ground and raising his fist.

Unable to move under the weight pinning me, I sighed and conceded the match. My opponent lowered his arms and smirked at me. "What’s wrong? I haven’t hit you, but you already conceded."

“You are just lucky,” I retorted, trying to recover my bruised ego.

My opponent rose to his feet, offering a respectful nod to Alpha Ares before gracefully exiting the stage. Seated on the ground, I observed my father shaking his head, disappointment etched across his face. That familiar expression was the one thing I detested the most in the world. It made me feel consistently inadequate, never quite enough to catch Alpha Ares' attention or secure any hint of his approval.

Silently, Alpha Ares stood up and walked away, leaving an atmosphere tinged with unresolved tension. Shannon hesitated briefly, torn between following our father or approaching me.

Eventually, she chose to walk toward the stage.

"What the heck was that, Ryle?That was the lamest fight you've had in your life! If only you could see how awful you were earlier. Don't tell me you were missing a lot of training due to your radio show?"

I stood up and exclaimed, "Of course not. Ask Uncle James if you want!"

Uncle James nodded. “Your brother is telling the truth. He never missed any of his training and even performed better. Alex just won by luck. But I assure you, Ryle is in perfect shape.”

“Oh, come on, Uncle! Did you not see how your favorite nephew messed up?” Uncle James caressed the back of his head, and I could see how he immediately regretted vouching for me.

“And as for you, young man!” Shannon pointed her fingers at me. "You better not drown yourself in your freaking radio show. Remember that Dad raised you as an Alpha and not as a singer. You were trained to lead a pack, not to entertain random she-wolves with your music and mysterious identity. You know how much Father hates this side of you. If you want to keep being a singing Alpha, then make sure to excel in everything. If you can’t, then I think it is time to give up your passion for music and focus on more important things."

Hearing this left me disappointed and wounded by the harsh reality. My father harbored a strong dislike for music, and I was well aware that my affinity for it made us clash. My passion for music made me stand out among other Alphas in the region. However, I couldn't fathom why my passion garnered such disdain, particularly from the last person I would have expected.

Shannon noticed my downcast mood. Quickly, her angered face softened. “You understand why I am hard on you, right? You are the crown alpha of Silverwolf. Sooner or later, you will inherit the title and govern a multitude of wolves. This is no easy task, Ryle, and you know that. Dad was just preparing you for what you are about to face in your reign. He was extra hard on you for your own good. If you really want to gain his favor, then do your best to excel in everything.”

She offered her hand, but I stood up by myself and ignored it.

"I wonder why Dad hates me so much. He always makes me feel worthless in his eyes. Maybe I am not his son after all.”

I walked out, but Shannon chased after me.

"That's your lamest joke ever, Ryle Vanderberg!” Shannon exclaimed. “YOU ARE HIS HEIR!! OF COURSE, HE WILL EXPECT THE BEST FROM YOU. Dad just wants you to be a successful Alpha one day. That's why he is always hard on you. Maybe you'll appreciate it once you have a taste of leading the pack in the future."

I let out a defeated sigh. "I can't fathom leading Silverwolf in the future. Even the wolves in our pack acknowledge that you're more suited to be an Alpha,"

Shannon smiled bitterly. "But jokes on them. I was born a female. I could never be an Alpha, Ryle. Dad knows that. So, enjoy his attention for the rest of your life."

Shannon made an attempt to tease me, perhaps in an effort to lighten the mood. She then handed me a paper, prompting me to pause and inspect its contents.

"It's for the new school year, bro."

“But I thought my two-year study was enough and would just need to do personal tutoring with Gamma Lee?”

“The council decided to push back from that because of Gamma Lee’s deteriorating health.” We both heaved a sigh as she continued. 

“Try to be the best during your additional college years to make up for today’s failure.” Shannon remarked, tapping my shoulder for encouragement before departing.

Uncle James offered comfort as he overheard me muttering curses into the air after Shannon's departure. I disliked school more than training, but unfortunately, I wasn't left with much of a choice.