Chapter 267 WOLF’S ASCENDANCY
Percival
"You’re more human than wolf." I growled, my anger sharp and hot. "Gaspar has been training me, helping me become one with my wolf. I’m stronger now—stronger than you ever imagined I could be."
I took a step closer, the rage thrumming through me, electric and wild.
"It’s your fault I snapped." My voice cracked with fury. "You raised me to be human when I was born to be a wolf. You forced me into a life I didn’t want, made me deny the wolf inside me."
Dad’s eyes darkened with something I couldn’t place—regret, maybe.
"You wouldn’t let me send Tatiana back to her home. You wouldn’t let me be with Edeline after I found out she was my true mate!" My breath hitched as the memories flooded back. "And now you're forcing Nixx into the same trap—pushing him into a role he doesn’t want, making him reject the mate he loves!"
The words poured out of me, raw and unfiltered. "That’s what started this whole mess—" my voice broke into a snarl, deep and guttural, "—you."
It didn’t even feel like my own voice anymore—just the voice of something wild and furious, a beast that had finally been unchained.
I stopped pacing and stood beside him now, my shoulders squared. For the first time, I realized how close I was to matching him in size.
He wasn’t the strongest wolf anymore.
He’d stopped training.
We stood there, eye to eye—wolf against wolf. Neither of us backing down.
"I want to be Alpha, Dad." The words were a growl, low and deliberate. "So I challenge you for the title."
A ripple ran through the gathered crowd—gasps, murmurs, the low hum of disbelief.
Dad’s expression flickered with surprise, but it didn’t take him long to regain control. He raised an eyebrow, the corners of his mouth twitching downward.
"Will you fight to the death for it?"
I took a slow step back, shaking my head. "No."
The crowd stilled, holding its breath.
I narrowed my eyes at him. "Death’s too easy for you."
The words dripped with venom.
"You deserve punishment. For your past mistakes—and for the ones you're still making."
The tension crackled in the air between our wolves—son versus father. I could feel my pulse racing, excitement surging through my body like wildfire.
I closed my eyes, summoning the wolf inside me. I could feel the bones shifting, the familiar, exhilarating pain as my body began to transform. Fur pushed through my pores, and I broke down, only to start over, stronger and fiercer. The other wolves had scattered, giving us space, creating a larger circle than the one I had faced before.
When I opened my eyes, I stood tall in my wolf form, muscles rippling beneath my fur. I let out a powerful chuff, a challenge to my father, urging him to move. He merely stared down at me, his expression a mix of surprise and something darker.
“You might be bigger, but you are not ready,” he said, his voice low and heavy with authority. “If this is what you want, then do it.”
With deliberate slowness, he removed his shirt, then his shoes, and finally his pants, leaving only his underwear. Each piece of clothing flew away, fluttering into the cool night air like leaves torn from a branch. His bones shifted and cracked, reshaping his body as he transformed into a wolf.
Now, three beasts stood before one another, each imposing in our own right, but I could feel the strength radiating from my wolf.
As my wolf slid back on his front paws, lifting his rear into the air, I felt the thrill of the moment. My wolf’s eyes sparkled with challenge, his ears pinned back as he prepared to push against my father’s dominance. The snarl twisted his lip, revealing teeth stained with blood from previous battles. I could sense the wild anger emanating from my dad’s wolf.
He mirrored my stance, preparing for the fight as the pack members cheered, their voices a rumble of excitement. They were thrilled to see their Alpha finally challenged, and I realized I had allies now—supporters who understood the strength of my words.
With a low growl, he planted his paws firmly on the ground, mirroring my wolf’s posture. As we circled one another, he lunged to the right, aiming for my wolf. We dodged his attack, but our teeth sank into his side, tearing through fat and fur. His wolf barked in pain and hopped back, shifting its position for another strike.
My wolf let out a low growl, the sound rumbling from deep in his chest, as Dad’s wolf prepared to retaliate.
This time, my wolf charged forward, leaping high, but Dad intercepted, striking him hard on the head. My wolf’s teeth clamped down on his front leg, and I fought to regain control, but the surge of adrenaline only made my wolf roar louder. With a fierce grip, he bit down on Dad’s wolf's ear, shaking his head violently.
A horrible sound escaped my father’s wolf, and it whined in pain. My wolf released his grip, and I could hear Maxim laughing in the background, followed by Gaspar’s voice cutting through the chaos.
As soon as Dad’s wolf let go of my wolf’s front leg, my wolf surged forward again. I let instinct take over, diving into the battle like a wild beast. I sank my teeth and claws into him wherever I could find purchase. But Dad’s wolf was far tougher than the three smaller wolves I had faced before.
He shook my wolf off, and I hit the ground hard, the impact reverberating through me. Dad’s wolf loomed over me, growling, its presence imposing. My wolf stomped his feet, digging his claws into Dad’s chest, ripping through fur to expose the flesh beneath. Blood flowed freely as I felt the rush of battle and fury surge within me.
In an instant, Dad’s wolf charged, his sharp teeth finding my wolf's scruff. The grip tightened painfully, and he shook his head violently, trying to assert his dominance.
But my wolf remained silent, a flicker of determination in his eyes. He jerked away, tearing free from his father’s grasp, leaving a piece of skin behind. It was a painful lesson—our wolves had learned how to escape a hold, even if it meant sacrificing a bit of ourselves in the process.
It was better to win with scars than to lose and be crushed.
My wolf transformed, snapping into action with a ferocity that matched my own. He charged at my father’s wolf, which responded by rising onto its hind legs. My wolf leapt into the air, and for a moment, we danced, a fierce ballet of claws and teeth as we fought each other amidst the gasps and surprised murmurs of the pack.
Then, it happened. My father’s wolf sank its teeth into my neck, a brutal grip that left my wolf unable to break free. I could feel the pressure building, the fear of being trapped surging through me. If we did not act quickly, we would be at a severe disadvantage.
In a moment of desperation, we let ourselves fall forward, landing on my dad’s back. The wolf still held onto my neck, forcing a low growl from my chest, a desperate warning that we would not submit. My wolf pressed his nose against my father’s face, and in a primal instinct, he bit down hard on the side of his head. The skin stretched beneath his teeth, and my wolf clawed for any weak spot he could find.
With a sudden surge of ferocity, my wolf bit down on my father’s eye. The pained scream that erupted from Dad echoed in the night, and in that instant, he released his grip on my neck. We seized the opportunity, lunging forward and sinking our teeth into my father’s throat. It was just the right amount of pressure to break the skin without doing irreparable harm.
My dad’s wolf jerked in shock, and as the rumbling growls emanated from my chest, my wolf dug his teeth in deeper, drawing blood with each powerful bite. The crowd gasped, a mix of fear and surprise coloring their reactions. A few voices cheered, their admiration washing over me like a wave.
But my dad was far from finished. Stubborn as ever, he fought back, his wolf trying to shake me off. His paws scraped against my sides, claws cutting into my flesh, but I held on, refusing to budge. The more he struggled, the more determined my wolf became, our growls rising in intensity.
I felt the pressure of his jaws tighten around Dad’s neck. Each strained breath brought us closer to victory. My dad’s wolf worked furiously, trying to dislodge me, but I could sense the fight leaving him. A whimper escaped his throat, a sound that echoed in the stillness, signaling his surrender. He hung his head back, exposing more of his throat, and for a brief moment, we held him there, waiting, sensing the shift in power.
When my wolf realized my dad wasn’t going to retaliate, he loosened his grip and stepped back, standing tall over him. A low, victorious growl escaped my throat as he licked the blood from the cuts he had made before moving away.
With the weight of triumph filling me, I shifted back into my human form, standing bare before the pack. I felt the surge of new power wash over me, the Alpha title wrapping around me like a cloak of energy. It was intoxicating, the rush nearly overwhelming, leaving me standing there, naked and exposed, yet undeniably powerful.
I looked down at my father, who lay badly hurt on the ground, motionless. The sight stirred a mix of triumph and pity within me. As the pack stared in awe, I raised my head, surveying them. I could feel the pain coursing through my own body, cuts and bruises marring my skin, blood running down and mixing with the earth beneath my feet.
Both my wolf and I puffed out our chests, taking in every single wolf surrounding us. A new hardness settled within me; I felt stronger than I ever had before.
“I am your new Alpha!” I declared, my voice ringing out strong and clear, infused with the power of my new title. “And from now on, things are going to be a lot different around here!”
As I spoke, some wolves instinctively hunched their shoulders, women tilting their heads in curiosity. The more aggressive males avoided my gaze, but I could feel their hesitance. I had won my title in a fair fight, and it felt as if the very air around us shifted, thick with anticipation and respect.
“First order of business will be the punishment of my father!” I cried out, my voice echoing in the tense silence. My gaze shifted, landing on Maxim standing with my mother. “And my mother!”
The surprise in the crowd was palpable. Dad’s wolf, still recovering from the fight, struggled to rise from where he lay. “Shift!” I commanded, standing over him like a lion watching its prey.
His transformation was swift; he couldn’t defy my new Alpha order. I watched as his bones snapped back into place, his wolf form fading to reveal him naked on the ground. The cuts from our battle had healed, but the evidence of our fight remained—blood staining the grass, and his ear, missing but sure to grow back in a few days.
I moved to the plastic bucket we kept for spare clothes, slipping on a pair of sweatpants, all too aware of the eyes on me. I tossed a pair to my father as well, determined to reclaim my power.
At this moment, I felt invincible, my wolf surging with confidence. Together, we were now in charge of the Crescent Moon pack.
As I surveyed the crowd, their disbelief was evident. The front line was stained with blood, casting ominous shadows in the flickering firelight. My father lay exposed on the ground, while Maxim and Gaspar stood tall, smirking at the unfolding drama. In contrast, Jack, Dahlia, and Mirabelle regarded me with a mix of fear and horror, as if I were some kind of monster. Their expressions made me acutely aware of the power I now wielded—both exhilarating and terrifying.
I approached my father, scanning the faces of the pack for any challengers. None dared to step forward.
“Percival...” my mother’s voice broke through, tinged with fear as she approached me.