2026-09-25 07:54:27JOHN
The crowd roared like wild animals, their chants echoing across the clearing. Everyone was on their feet, cheering, shouting, stomping the ground with excitement and right there in the middle of it all was my dad who was my hero.
I did not even hesitate as jumped into the chaos, shouting at the top of my tiny lungs, "Dad! Beat his ass! Get up, Dad! You've got this!"
My father's name is Jason, and he's not just my hero but he's the Alpha of our clan. He is the big wolf and also the one everyone respects or maybe fears. Today, he is fighting Pete, an Omega who for some strange reason only his ego could understand, had challenged my father in a public duel.
The rules of our kind are simple; you challenge the Alpha, you face him in front of the whole pack. Win and you rise, lose and try waking up with a dislocated jaw.
At first, Dad was doing great, He moved like he owned the ground beneath his feet but then, I noticed something wasn't right. His movements slowed down, His breathing changed and He was tiring.
I could feel it in my bones and I couldn't just stand there. Without thinking, I charged forward, I didn't care that I was just a kid, I was just a boy about to turn fourteen in three days.
My instincts screamed louder than my fear but before I could throw myself into the fight, a strong hand grabbed me by the collar.
"Whoa there, warrior, you trying to get both of us skinned?" came the deep voice of my uncle Josh, he was Dad's younger brother and the second-in-command of our pack.
He held me back firmly, dragging me away from the scene as I struggled but before I could break free, I heard the crack.
It was the sickening snap of a bone clear as thunder, echoing through the crowd.
I froze as I asked myself if that came from my dad. I tried to twist out of Josh's grip with my heart pounding, but then the crowd erupted into loud cheers and triumphantly echoing across the trees.
The fear inside me shattered like glass because He did it, He won.
I ran forward, dodging limbs and bodies, pushing through the crowd until I reached him.
His chest was heaving, his arms were scratched, and there was sweat glistening on his face but he was standing victorious.
I threw myself at him, wrapping my arms around his waist. "Dad, when I grow up, I want to be just like you!" I beamed
He looked down at me and replied with a crooked smile, "Son, you've got three days to grow."
I blinked like what did he mean by grow up in three days. I didn't understand it but I nodded like I did grinning like a fool. My dad being alive and victorious as well was enough for me.
As soon as we got home, I sprinted to my mother's room eager to tell her everything. "Mom! You should've seen how Dad lifted Pete and cracked his bones like breadsticks!" I yelled as I ran down the hallway.
I didn't wait as I ran full speed into her door only that it didn't open. My forehead smacked hard against the locked door and I bounced off like a cartoon character.
I landed on my butt, rubbing my head but I didn't cry because I was too excited to feel pain.
I got up and headed straight for the kitchen which was the only other place my mom could be hiding and sure enough she was there standing near the stove, stirring something.
Her eyes a little glassy and I knew that something was off but before I could speak, my dad entered from the other end of the hallway. Mom turned and looked at him with her smile small and sad.
She glanced at me and tried to brighten up then patted my shoulder softly. My dad nodded once and they both walked away together saying nothing to me. I tilted my head because that was weird but I was too pumped to overthink it. The world had to know how amazing my dad was and that is starting with my friends.
I darted off to the usual spot where me and the gang hung out, it was a little clearing near the woods, full of logs and tree stumps, where we argued about werewolf legends and swapped snacks. When I walked in, I puffed out my chest, lifted my chin, and strutted like a warrior back from war.
Ramsey, my right-hand man and best friend since forever, spotted me first. "Yo! John! What happened? Did your dad crush him or what?!"
I cleared my throat, deepened my voice, and launched into my tale like a bard at a bonfire.
"Let me educate y'all," I began, raising a finger dramatically. "My dad is the strongest being on this earth. Pete?He didn't last five minutes. My dad didn't just beat him but he embarrassed him."
Ramsey clapped and hailed me. "Talk that talk!"
Ukaria, the ever annoying rival of my existence, rolled her eyes. "Yeah, right, You were shaking like a leaf. Everyone saw you run to your daddy like a baby when Pete grabbed him."
My nose flared. "That's a lie! I was brave. I was the only kid allowed there Everyone else was at home sucking their thumbs." I argued
Ukaria crossed her arms proving me wrong "I was there."
I grinned wickedly. "Oh! You were there? I guess I'll just tell my dad that you were sneaking around during a restricted clan duel so we can see how he reacts." I threatened her.
Her eyes widened and she denied"I was... I was just joking."
I smirked and responded. " I thought so, Victory!"The rest of the gang cheered, and just like that, I was king of the moment. Ukaria was my personal assistant for the week because I made her carry my bag, clean my boots, and do half my chores; It was glorious.
By the time the sun started to set, I felt invincible. On my way home, I kept my warrior strut strong, shoulders high, steps heavy, chin up. People should know I'm the son of the Alpha, the future of the pack.
But when I reached home, something wasn't right. There were too many people in the house. Some were whispering, others stood silently, staring at the ground. Their faces were long and their expressions unreadable.
I didn't ask questions because I didn't want to ruin my vibe, I was a champion today.
Still in full swagger mode, I made my way toward my room. On the way, I ran into Uncle Josh again.
Normally, this would be the part where he slaps the sense out of me for no reason so I braced myself.
But instead, he smiled, smiled and handed me a small box. "Take this to the front porch, kid." He said to me.
I blinked. "Sure!" I said quickly, grabbing the box and walking off.
I couldn't help it, I looked up at the sky and whispered, "Three wins for me!"
As I turned the corner to head back, I nearly collided with the last person I wanted to see who was Grandma.
My grandmother is a whole other level of scary. If Uncle Josh is a lion, she's a dragon with high blood pressure.
She snatched me by the collar and narrowed her eyes. "Are you just getting home, John?!"
I gulped. "No-no, ma'am! I'm just running errands for Uncle Josh!"
She stared me down like a wolf sizing up her prey. Then with a grunt she let go and walked off.
I exhaled like I had just escaped death. "Four wins," I whispered.
I marched to my room with my nose in the air. Whatever was going on in the house didn't matter. Maybe they were jealous, maybe they could sense that greatness ran in my blood or maybe the stars were lining up for me.
I pushed open my door, kicked off my shoes, and threw myself on the bed like royalty. Arms stretched wide, legs relaxed, I grinned up at the ceiling.
"Four wins," I repeated. Whatever tomorrow held, it had big shoes to fill.
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The blood trail
Ukaria I kept grinning as memory of yesterday continued to dance in my mind like fireflies even after I had woken up, stretched, and rubbed the sleep from my eyes. It was a crazy and exciting day of a lifetime. I felt as though I should have heard this story from someone else. However, I was present, I witnessed it and I inhaled it. The sound of drums reverberated throughout the clearing, the smell of smoke from the roasted meat, and the excited shouts of boys who now walked like warriors. And we were all taken aback by John.To tell the truth, I still didn't think it was real. The John I knew was cliched, cunning and always talking big while doing little. A boy who relied on his sister to organize activities for him and his friends to execute, and who required assistance tying his hunting belt. John is lazy, he is funny and definitely not a leader. Nevertheless, in some way, he had entered the forest and emerged triumphant. The warthog was seen by all and everyone applauded him.
It was not my Victory
JohnAfter Dad's motivational speech the previous evening, I never imagined that I would still be afraid when hunting. He had filled me with tales of bravery and purpose, speaking to me like a true warrior. Amelia had even weighed in, advising me to remember who I was and to have faith in myself. I felt ten feet tall when I went to sleep. I therefore took the lead like a true alpha in training when we ventured into the woods that morning. I reassured my friends that there was nothing to fear. I sounded like a leader like Dad, shoulders back and chest out.Then I noticed it, the warthog it was more muscular and menacing than any I had ever seen and stood between two towering trees like a demon on duty. I told them to go, that I could manage on my own. I had called it a "Piece of cake," and I think that was the dumbest thing I've ever done. Like a fool attempting to start a fire with his bare hands, I chased it at full speed. The warthog kicked up dirt and leaves as it darted thr
The betrayal
AaronThat night, I did not get much sleep. My mind wouldn't stop racing even though my body was motionless. My father's words played in loops, his pain, his regrets and the betrayal that broke our family. I kept playing back everything he said, imagining it as if I had experienced it firsthand. My dreams were troubled when I eventually fell asleep. In slow motion, I witnessed my grandfather's fall with blood in his throat. Once strong and proud, I saw my father kneeling in shame and and Jason untouchable, crowned by betrayal, standing above it all and My jaw was clenched when I woke up. The sun had barely risen, but I got to work; cleaning the cabin, preparing food and boiling herbs for Dad's pain. Instinctively, my hands moved but my thoughts were elsewhere.After finishing, I grabbed my bow and went into the forest. Hunting for food and possibly gathering herbs for Dad's medication was the original plan but I had a storm in my head. I wasn't paying attention and I had no idea whe
My one in a million
PeteLife has not been good to me. For years, I told myself that the only way to move forward was to fight for what was mine. But now, as I lie here in pain and regret, I know that fighting Jason was a bad idea. I am not the same person I used to be, and now I am just a burden to my fifteen-year-old son Aaron. Aaron is a boy with the strength and will of a thousand men, but his body is too young to handle so much weight. It breaks my heart to see him take on responsibilities that no child should have to deal with.Sometimes I feel sorry for him because he's out there in the cold, fighting beasts and dangers with only a spear and his own instincts. But feeling sorry for us would not feed us, and feeling bad about what happened won't fix my legs. So, I do the only thing I can which is I pray to our ancestors and ask them to take care of him. Just as I finished my last silent prayer, the door creaked open. Aaron's voice rang out in the shack. "Hey Dad, I'm back."He came into my ro
A beautiful mess
JasonWhen John knocked on my door that night, something stirred inside me, it was something warm and heavy at the same time. I was happy to see him of course but the timing made me uneasy because it was really late besides, was not the type to come knocking unless something had gone truly wrong.Still, I did not rush him with questions because I didn't need to rather, I made him feel as if I was pleased by seeing him.I opened the door then I stepped aside and let my son in like it was the most natural thing in the world."Make yourself at home," I said as I was already settling to play the role I knew he needed me to play at the moment.I didn't play the role as the clan's elder neither did I play the role as a warrior rather I played that of a father.He stood for a moment before sitting. It was as if he was caught somewhere between trying to be strong and not falling apart. He looked like someone who was carrying a storm inside him so, I did what any father would do, I went ahea
Prepare for the Hunt
JohnIn my imagination, I was a hero and he crowd's cheers was so loud as I lifted the warthog above my shoulders. My parents were standing proud and the entire pack bowed before me and acknowledging my greatness. My hunting crew where also happy and part of the victory. It was epic but then reality knocked because in truth, I hadn't hunted anything, I had not even stepped outside yet. I was still in bed, under my blanket like frightened and staring up at the ceiling as though it could give me an answer to my questions. The Hunt was tomorrow and I was far from prepared. My stomach was tight and mind would not slow down even sleeping was impossible.All I thought about was negative and I was just asking myself questions. "What if I mess up, what if I get lost, what if I get eaten and what if I am one of those who needs rescuing?"No matter how I tried to calm myself down, nothing seemed to work. The panic was real and loud that nothing I did could calm it down.I got out of bed as