Julian...
Getting caught wasn't supposed to happen. Making a prank so legendary that the whole pack would remember it for decades—that was the real plan. Now Julian Zhao Xin stood with his five friends in Pack Leader Gao Wen's office, listening to Gao's angry lecture that had already lasted an hour. Gao shouted that Julian's prank had embarrassed not only him, but also the Elders and the honored guests of their ancient wolf pack, the Qinglong Fang.
"Who's going to admit it?" Gao Wen asked, glaring at each of them with sharp, yellow-tinted eyes.
Li Tao and Chen Feng looked nervous. Wang Yu, Liu Hao, and Sun Lei tried to hold back their laughter. Julian, on the other hand, was used to being called into the Pack Leader's den. Ever since he transferred to the Qinglong Fang territory two years ago, trouble seemed to find him.
During the Summer Solstice Festival, it was tradition for the young wolves—those who had just passed their first Shift—to pull a prank on the older apprentices. This year, the older wolves had filled their sleeping dens with pungent herbs that made the juniors sneeze and itch for days. It was only fair to return the favor, and this time, Julian wanted something much bigger.
The elders expected a raid on the apprentices' quarters and had even posted sentries at every entrance. So Julian's roommate, Li Tao, suggested borrowing three small boars from a nearby human village. Chen Feng had the idea to release them right before the full-moon ceremony, when the apprentices were lined up to be blessed by the Spirit Stone.
Julian added the finishing touch. They painted numbers on the boars: 1, 3, and 4.
The elders and apprentices would waste time looking for a missing "boar number 2" that didn't even exist.
It took all six of them to pull it off. They released the boars just as the Priest of the Moon began chanting the ancient rites. The whole gathering exploded into chaos, wolves shifting forms, howls and laughter mixing with angry roars.
Julian thought they'd gotten away clean. But now, standing in front of Gao Wen, he wasn't so sure.
Ma Jia, Gao Wen's loyal assistant, poked her head in the door. "Pack Leader, we still haven't found number two," she said quickly.
Gao Wen's face darkened. If he weren't so feared, Julian might have laughed.
If Gao Wen weren't such a heartless tyrant, Julian might've just told him the truth—that there was no boar number 2. But Gao Wen cared only about discipline, about keeping the Qinglong Fang's reputation perfect, about molding young wolves into warriors and politicians.
Julian sighed and spoke up, thickening his countryside accent on purpose because he knew Gao Wen hated it. "I did it, sir. It was me alone."
Gao Wen narrowed his eyes. "And these others?"
"They didn't help. I acted on my own."
Gao Wen's clawed hand tapped the desk. "When your father, Shi Diwen, hears about this, he will be furious."
Julian's spine stiffened. His father wasn't just anyone—he was the Pack Leader of the Shadow Peak Clan, deep in the mountains. Right now, Shi Diwen was far away, overseeing a sacred hunting ritual that would last half a year. His new wife, Bai Lan, stayed in a human town near the Shadow Peak, raising her little boy from her previous mate.
Julian wasn't worried. It would take a miracle for news of his prank to reach Shi Diwen. And if Bai Lan heard... well, she wasn't exactly the strict type.
Gao Wen stepped closer. "You expect me to believe you stole a sacred cart, fetched three boars, painted them, and set them loose in the ceremony alone?"
Julian glanced at his friends, who looked ready to confess. He gave a tiny shake of his head. No way he would drag them down with him.
"I borrowed the cart," Julian said casually.
Gao Wen's yellow eyes gleamed. "Everyone else may leave," he growled.
His friends hurried out. Julian waited for the punishment—extra cleaning, kitchen duty, guard duty at the Spirit Stone shrine. Anything was better than what came next.
"You are expelled," Gao Wen said coldly.
Julian's heart stopped.
"Expelled?" he blurted out. In wolf packs, being expelled was worse than death. It meant losing your place, your name, your bond to the spirit of the land.
Gao Wen continued without mercy. "You've been warned again and again. Fighting, disobedience, sneaking out into human towns, causing trouble at ceremonies... You are no longer welcome at Qinglong Fang. Finish packing. You have forty-eight hours to leave."
Julian couldn't speak. It was too much, too sudden.
He stumbled back to the junior wolves' den, where Li Tao was waiting.
"I heard Gao Wen say you were expelled," Li Tao said.
Julian nodded.
"Maybe if we all tell the truth—"
"No. If your family finds out, they'll punish you badly. Let's not risk it."
"You shouldn't carry it all alone."
Julian gave a tired grin. "Doesn't matter. Gao Wen's been itching to throw me out. This just made it easier."
Later, Bai Lan called. Her voice was soft, uncertain. She promised to come by tomorrow and talk to Gao Wen. Julian didn't have much hope. Bai Lan was sweet, but she wasn't exactly known for being clever or strong.
The next morning, pack guards came to escort Julian. As he walked through the village, wolves in both human and shifted forms stopped to whisper and stare.
Julian ignored them and looked up at the great stone pillars that marked the pack's sacred grounds. Once, he dreamed of having his wolf form carved there beside heroes like Zhao Wei and Liang Zhihao. Now, that dream was dead.
In the leader's den, Bai Lan sat awkwardly in front of Gao Wen's heavy wooden desk. She wore a loose green robe that hid the curves she used to show off with short dresses and bright jewelry. Her long fake hair hung past her shoulders, and her hands fiddled with the hem of her sleeves.
"So... is there any other choice?" Bai Lan asked weakly.
Gao Wen closed the parchment in front of him. "No. Your stepson has brought shame to Qinglong Fang. First, he abandoned his training with Coach Zhao Wei. Then he attended human parties, got caught drunk outside the sacred grounds. There were rumors of drug use after the Festival of the Second Moon, though no proof. And now... this insult to our rituals."
Julian shifted uncomfortably but said nothing. He knew arguing wouldn't change a thing.
"Maybe he could do some service work... or write an apology to the Elders?" Bai Lan tried again.
Gao Wen shook his head. "It is too late. The decision stands."
Bai Lan sighed and followed Julian out of the office, her shoes clicking on the stone path. Julian couldn't help but notice how people stared at her too, at her mismatched robe, her tired expression.
For the first time in a long while, Julian felt sorry for someone other than himself.