Chapter 1: This is the Howler Way

Chapter 1: This is the Howler way

All activities ceased the moment they stepped into the clearing. Six men, all equally tall, and muscular and bare chested. They all look a little tired but extremely pleased by the result of that morning's hunt.

My eyes widened upon spotting the fresh kills dangling on their back. Today's breakfast! 

I, along with the other wolf-cubs, watched with anticipation as our Alpha, Finnegan Howler, assisted the hunters in dividing the meat. 

They always seem to take forever in cutting those juicy slabs of oh-so-delicious heavenly treats! The younger cubs were already growling, while the older ones, me included, tried to play it cool by feigning disinterest.

"You're sorely mistaken if you think you'll get a share of that."

I didn't bother turning my head to see who'd said that. There are only eight other cubs in our pack, four are far too young and too busy drooling over the meat, three are males and thinks they're too important to even give me a second of their time and one... well that's the one beside me now.

"Hello to you too, Viilla," I said with a cheeky grin, glancing briefly at the girl who is two years younger than me but who also is about two inches taller than me. 

She ignored my greeting. "Almost half of the meat goes to Sir Finnegan and the hunters, half of the remaining half goes to the adult females, the remaining of that is for us, the stronger cubs, then the younger cubs then... hmm. Let's see, by the time it's your turn, nothing will be left, Layan."

"That's really too bad," I replied in a somber voice, nodding as if this was the first time she'd told me this. All I really want  to do is just to go ahead and scream 'I've been in this pack for sixteen years and I know exactly how the food distribution works, no need to remind me thanks very much!' but I stopped myself. Viilla happened to have one irritable older brother, two equally annoying younger siblings, a father and a mother. While I have no one.

So, that's a no go.

I brightened when Sir Finnegan assumed his position at the middle.

He scanned each of our faces before saying in a booming voice, "Wolf and Wolf cubs, FALL IN!" 

In a split second, all of us had fallen into a perfectly straight line. We already know who goes first and who goes last. 

"COUNT OFF!"

The adults started the count with booming voice down to the wolf-cubs. And it's finally my turn.

"Twenty! Twenty is the last number, Sir!" I said in a voice that I hoped didn't burst anyone's eardrum. This has been customary in the Howler's pack, we all have to count-off to make sure no one's gone missing before breakfast.

I always go last, after all, I am the smallest, the weakest, and the weirdest looking wolf in this bunch. 

I always get to eat last as well, and I'm the only one who eats while in human form. Most wolves could shift by the time they are five years old, unfortunately, I'm not most wolves. I'm the one odd wolf who's sixteen years old and still can't shift.

I was a stray, that's what they call wolf-cubs found without a pack, and a she-wolf picked me and begged Sir Finnegan to allow me inside the pack. That she-wolf died even before I could age enough to remember her face.

Sometimes, I even think I'm human. Because if I am indeed a wolf, then I'm one hell of a late bloomer!

"Wolf-cubs ages 14 to 17, meet me at my shelter!" 

Me and three others immediately stood up to follow our Alpha. I felt my toes tingle, I can barely contain my excitement!

"Down," Sir Finnegan said seriously once we arrived at his shelter.

All of us squatted on the ground and eagerly waited for his next words. 

He started pacing, as if what he is about to say is something so problematic.

"You know that if I could, I would spare you from any hardships," he began.

I barely managed to stop my brows from twitching. This coming from the man who throw all of us into a freezing river when we were five years old just to get us to shift into our wolf-forms, in which I of course failed to do.

"It is that time of the year again, and you must, even if it pains me to say, step into this one last hindrance before entering adulthood and creating an alpha link with me."

By God! I didn't know Sir Finnegan was super into suspense!

"Tomorrow," he continued in an even somber voice, "You shall step out of our territory unchaperoned, and go to  high school in Rainforest Academy."

"YES!" I exclaimed.

All of them looked at me. I almost wanted to dig my own grave when Sir Finnegan's amber eyes narrowed.

I cleared my throat and said in the gravest voice I could manage, "Yes... Very unfortunate..." 

He gave me one last warning look before addressing his favorite adopted son with a smile. "My son, Ygan, and another strong candidate to be the next Alpha, Mario," he gave Viilla's older brother a slight nod, "have already graduated and will be given proper ceremony upon their 18th birthday, the entry to adulthood. That leave us with Dave and Viilla to be escorted to the Academy."

I was nodding happily up until the moment I realized that my name wasn't mentioned.

"Sir Finnegan? What about me?" I blurted. 

The Alpha looked at me like he had forgotten that I am here at all. "You are too young."

I stood up, feeling indignant. "That's what you told me last year too! Besides, I am as old as Dave and Viilla is two years younger than me!"

Sir Finnegan gave me one of his bone-chilling superior alpha stares. I've seen a lot of adult wolves brought to their knees trembling by that one stare. Fortunately, I am not an adult and still is not mentally linked to the alpha.

This does not seem to sit well with him. "Layan, you will die in that school." 

"Well," I said, knowing that I am treading in dangerous territories, "all of us have to die sometime."

I know that if I don't go to this high school, I will forever be stuck in this place. I will never be allowed to hunt because I cannot shift, I will never be allowed to have a  mate because my 'defective' genes might be passed on to my child, meaning I will be stuck here, to shrivel and die miserably, maybe of old age.

I refuse to die like that! If I'm going to live a life like that, I'd rather die early but with a little bit of style!

"You will bring shame to my name."

I looked at him directly. "Then I would gladly become a stray without a name."

I could hear expressions of disbelief among my peers. What I'm doing is either utterly brave or utterly stupid. I am basically begging Sir Finnegan to kick me out of the pack.

Sir Finnegan looked serious and I almost want to step towards him and kneel and ask him to forgive me for my stupidity. But I didn't. I want this. I want to see the world beyond these circle of shelters. I want to be alive even in a world that I am most likely to be looked at as a prey.

"You have always been peculiar, Layan," Sir Finnegan suddenly said.

I stared at him in disbelief. "S-Sir?"

"And impossibly stupid." He waved a hand as if in surrender. "Fine, I will allow you to go and you can keep my name. Go on now and prepare for your journey, I need to sleep."

I thought my lips will tear from smiling so much. "Thank you so much, Sir Finnegan! I promise I won't die in the first week!"

I hopped happily back to the wolf-cub's common shelter to prepare for my departure.

I'm too happy that I even grinned at Viilla's sour face.

I can't wait for tomorrow!