Chapter Text
The Chi Pack has ruled over the city for centuries, owning nearly half of the land it was built upon. From the bustling, neon-lit downtown districts to the dense, ancient forests bordering the sprawling metropolis, their influence was absolute. To the oblivious human world, the Chi line was simply an untouchable dynasty of unfathomable wealth and political leverage. But in the shadows of the supernatural world, they were not merely businessmen—they were treated as undisputed royalty.
Deep within the isolated mountains, shielded by miles of heavily guarded private territory and impenetrable wards, the main pack estate sat like a sprawling traditional fortress.
And tonight, the very foundations of that fortress were trembling.
Unlike the chaotic storms that usually accompanied the birth of a born wolf Alpha, the sky above the estate was eerily, suffocatingly still. There was no wind to rustle, no rain to wash the stone paths. Instead, hanging impossibly huge and heavy in the starless night sky, the moon was slowly turning a deep, violent crimson.
A blood moon.
Every wolf on the estate, from the lowest-ranking guards to the highly respected elders, was rigid with thick tension. It had been nearly a century since a pup had been born under the harsh crimson glow of a blood moon. The last to claim such a formidable birthright was the grandfather of the current Pack Leader, Chi Yuan Duan—a devastatingly powerful Alpha who had expanded their territory with ruthless, terrifying efficiency.
To witness such an astronomical alignment again in their lifetime was a staggering rarity that had the entire pack holding their collective breath. They all knew the ancient texts. They all knew the whispered stories passed down through generations.
There was a profound, terrifying legend etched into the very bones of their pack's history: The Wolf of the Blood Moon.
It was said that a wolf born under the crimson gaze of the blood moon was destined to be the absolute apex of their bloodline. They would be a natural Pack Leader, possessing a physical strength and an instinct that would bow to no one. They held the raw power to elevate their pack's dynasty to god-like heights or completely tear the supernatural world apart.
But the legend went much deeper than standard pack dynamics. Unlike ordinary werewolf Alphas—who were forced to constantly assert their dominance through brutal physical combat, shed blood, and endless territorial conquest—a werewolf born of the blood moon stood entirely apart. They were a True Alpha. This was a mythical tier of supremacy that was not earned in the fighting pits or challenged for; it was absolute by pure birthright.
Yet, the oldest, most fiercely guarded scrolls hidden deep within the Chi Pack archives suggested something even more about this bloodline. As a True Alpha, their mere presence could effortlessly crush the iron will of any other seasoned leader in the room. They entirely bypassed traditional pack laws, commanding absolute, unquestionable submission through their existence alone. The weight of their aura was an invisible, unbreakable command.
In the simplest of terms, stripped of all the ancient mythology, a True Alpha was the ultimate apex predator. They were the Alpha of all Alphas. A ruler not chosen by a pack, but crowned by the mother moon itself—a sovereign entity capable of forcing an entire room of scarred, battle-hardened werewolves to their knees without ever once having to bare their fangs.
—
Inside the heavily warded master wing of the estate, the crimson-tinted stillness of the blood moon was shattered by a low, guttural snarl. The sound carried a heavy weight, vibrating steadily through the thick panels of the mahogany doors and echoing down the empty corridor.
Beyond those doors, Zhong Wen Yu had surrendered entirely to the volatile lunar pull, taking on her full werewolf shift. A massive, lethal wolf now paced relentlessly across the master suite's hardwood floors. Her sharp claws clicked rhythmically against the wood as she aggressively guarded the perimeter of her domain.
Standing perfectly still in the dimly lit hallway outside was Chi Yuan Duan. The reigning Alpha of the most formidable pack in the country found himself firmly locked out of his own master bedroom.
It was not a matter of a physical lock; Chi Yuan Duan could have easily splintered the heavy mahogany doors with a single strike. It was a matter of pure, territorial instinct. The blood moon amplified Zhong Wen Yu's primal senses to a fever pitch, rendering her hyper-territorial. In this magically charged state, her inner wolf recognized no husband and bowed to no Alpha. She had drawn an invisible boundary around the room, and the heavy snarl was a crystal-clear warning.
To cross the threshold into her claimed space tonight would not be seen as a husband coming to bed; it would be perceived by her inner wolf as a direct challenge, forcing a violent confrontation that Chi Yuan Duan had no intention of sparking. Out of absolute respect for her power and her territory, the Alpha simply stood outside the door, silently keeping watch over his fiercely isolated Luna.
Inside the locked suite, Zhong Wen Yu finally ceased her relentless pacing. Despite the restless, hyper-vigilant energy still coursing through her muscles, a much deeper instinct began to take over. She turned her large, intelligent eyes toward the center of the room.
Piled high in the middle of their expansive bed was a carefully constructed nest made from thick duvets, heavy silk sheets, and several of Chi Yuan Duan’s discarded shirts. The rich, comforting scent of her Alpha permeated the fabrics, offering a much-needed grounding anchor against the chaotic pull of the blood moon. With a low exhale that puffed into the cool air, the massive wolf stepped onto the mattress. She circled the center of the nest a few times, rhythmically kneading the blankets with her front paws before finally curling up and settling heavily into the soft hollow.
Carrying a werewolf pup was always physically taxing, and giving birth to a traditional Alpha was known throughout their history to be a grueling ordeal. But what Zhong Wen Yu was experiencing tonight was something else entirely.
Even in her fully shifted form, she could feel the sheer, unyielding weight of life growing inside her. The pressure radiating from her own womb was violently dense, thrumming in perfect time with her racing heartbeat.
As the hours stretched on, the pressure within the room reached a staggering crescendo. Zhong Wen Yu’s breathing turned into shallow, rapid pants, her massive frame trembling against the silk sheets of the nest. The force of the pup was fighting its way into the world, synchronized perfectly with the crimson glow of the blood moon filtering through the high windows of the estate.
She endured the agonizing, grueling process with unbroken stoicism. Her sharp claws dug deeply into the discarded shirts of her mate, anchoring herself through the violent waves of contractions. The air in the master suite grew so heavy with dominant Alpha energy that the mahogany doors rattled on their hinges. In the hallway, Chi Yuan Duan was forced to brace himself against the wall, physically feeling the overwhelming power radiating from his own coming pup.
With one final, earth-shattering push that forced a ragged snarl from her throat, the suffocating density in the room suddenly broke.
The oppressive weight vanished, replaced instantly by the faint, wet sound of movement in the center of the nest.
Exhausted, her chest heaving heavily, Zhong Wen Yu immediately curled her large body inward. Lying against the ruined silk sheets was a tiny, impossibly dark-furred pup. The newborn was small but already radiated an ancient, undeniable strength. Driven by deep, maternal instinct, the massive wolf lowered her head and began to drag her warm, rough tongue over the pup’s trembling form. She meticulously cleaned the dark fur, her movements incredibly gentle and deliberate, until the tiny True Alpha took a deep breath and let out his very first, sharp cry.
Hearing that sound, Zhong Wen Yu paused. She nudged her newborn closer to the protective warmth of her body, ensuring he was entirely secure within the hollow of the nest. Then, the Luna of the Chi Pack lifted her heavy head toward the blood moon shining through the glass window.
She let out a long, resonant howl. The sound was not a territorial warning, but a fierce, triumphant declaration of life that vibrated through the very foundation of the estate. It pierced the silent night, echoing far across to the center of the forest.
Outside the doors, Chi Yuan Duan leaned his head back against the wood. The suffocating tension that had gripped him for hours instantly evaporated, leaving a proud, deeply relieved exhale to escape his lips as he listened to his mate’s victorious cry.
He closed his eyes, allowing his own wolf to rise to the surface to answer her. Standing tall in the dimly lit corridor, the reigning Alpha threw his head back and released a massive, booming howl of his own. The sound was thick with absolute authority and overwhelming pride, carrying through the walls to merge perfectly with the Luna's call.
Almost immediately, the quiet night air beyond the estate erupted. From the patrolling guards at the perimeter to the betas deep within the mountain reserve, the rest of the pack synchronized their voices with their leaders. A chorus of werewolves rose up beneath the crimson glow of the blood moon. The harmonized howling swept through the dark forests and valleys, creating a massive, unbroken wave of sound and pack magic. It was an unmistakable, historic signal thrumming deep into the earth: the long-awaited heir of the Chi Pack was finally here.
—
Chi Cheng: 1 Year Old
Most human children—and even standard werewolf pups—learn to walk through a clumsy, frustrating process of trial and error: stumbling, falling, crying, and stubbornly getting back up.
But Chi Cheng, born of the Blood Moon, was the exception.
For months, he simply sat in the center of the massive, plush persian rug in the estate's living room. He rarely babbled and never crawled. Instead, he watched the world with an unnerving intelligence that did not belong in an infant's eyes. He meticulously observed the elite beta guards pacing the corridors. He tracked how his father shifted his weight from his heels to his toes when he stood, and how his knees naturally bent to silently absorb the impact of a heavy step.
One dark, rainy afternoon, while Chi Yuan Duan sat on the leather sofa reviewing a dense stack of financial reports, Chi Cheng decided he was ready.
He stood up.
There was no wobbling. He didn't reach out with chubby hands to grab the edge of the mahogany coffee table for support. He simply unfolded his legs and rose with flawless posture. His center of gravity was kept low and perfectly grounded, his tiny spine straight, and his chin held high in absolute confidence.
Chi Yuan Duan lowered his documents, his eyes widening in shock. "Cheng'er?"
The one-year-old slowly turned his head to look at his father, his expression completely deadpan. Then, he took a step.
It wasn't the flat-footed, uncoordinated stomp of a toddler. It was a fluid, deliberate stride. Heel to toe, his tiny feet rolled silently against the polished hardwood floor, mimicking the lethal, soundless padding of a stalking wolf.
Ignoring his father's stunned silence, Chi Cheng walked steadily across the vast room toward the floor-to-ceiling window. A large, fat fly was frantically buzzing against the glass, trapped inside by the heavy rainstorm.
Chi Cheng stopped a few inches away, watching the frantic insect for a moment. His head tilted just a fraction of an inch to the side. His golden-crimson flecked eyes tracked the erratic buzzing, perfectly calculating the trajectory.
Then, with a sudden, blinding speed—a movement exponentially faster than any human eye could ever track—his small, chubby hand snapped out.
THWACK!
He didn't crush the fly against the glass. He snatched it directly out of thin air, his tiny fingers closing around it with terrifying precision.
Chi Cheng slowly opened his fist. The fly sat completely intact on the center of his small palm, dazed but entirely alive. It didn't attempt to fly away. It was completely paralyzed, pinned to the boy's skin by the sheer, suffocating density of the aura radiating from the infant.
Chi Cheng stared down at his captive, utterly unimpressed by how easily it had surrendered. Letting out a soft, dismissive huff of boredom, he blew a tiny puff of air over his palm, sending the paralyzed insect tumbling aimlessly to the floor.
Sitting frozen on the sofa, Chi Yuan Duan watched the entire interaction in absolute silence, the vital financial reports completely forgotten in his lap. A cold, sharp shiver ran down the formidable Alpha's spine that had absolutely nothing to do with the drafty window.
His one-year-old son didn't learn. He didn't play.
He hunted.
—
Chi Cheng: 3 Years Old
The underground training hall was a cacophony of squeaks, barks, and thuds. The massive room was currently overrun by a chaotic class of four-year-old werewolf pups. Some were entirely in their human forms, awkwardly tumbling over their own feet, while others had let their inner wolves slip, yipping and aggressively chewing on the edges of the incredibly expensive, shock-absorbent rubber mats. It was a scene of pure, joyful, unrestrained chaos.
Standing rigidly by the entrance, holding his father's massive hand, was three-year-old Chi Cheng.
He was dressed in a tiny, perfectly tailored white martial arts uniform. Wrapped securely around his waist was a miniature black belt. His mother, Zhong Wen Yu, had sewn it for him as an affectionate, completely ironic joke—a nod to the fact that despite their lethal supernatural strength, the pack still mandated rigorous human martial arts training so their members could seamlessly blend into human society without relying on their claws.
Chi Cheng, however, did not think the belt was a joke.
He took the rank very, very seriously. Every few minutes, his chubby little hands would reach down to adjust the fabric, ensuring the knot rested perfectly horizontal against his stomach.
"Go on," Chi Yuan Duan nudged his son gently, his deep voice rumbling with quiet amusement. "Go play tag. Look, they’re having fun."
Chi Cheng didn't move. He slowly turned his head to look at a pile of giggling pups wrestling wildly in the corner. He looked at the growing puddle of drools forming on the pristine floor where a boy was gnawing on a training dummy. He scrunched his nose up so intensely with disdain that his eyes almost disappeared entirely into his chubby cheeks.
"No," Chi Cheng stated firmly, planting his tiny, bare feet into the floor like heavy stone pillars.
"Why not?" his father prompted.
Chi Cheng pointed a chubby, heavily accusing finger directly at the drooling boy. "Unprofessional."
Chi Yuan Duan had to abruptly cover his mouth, choking back a startled bark of laughter and barely turning it into a cough. "They are just playing, son. They are pups learning how to use their bodies. And you are a pup."
Chi Cheng entirely ignored the comparison. He let go of his father’s hand and marched over to the very edge of the training mat. He didn't cross the boundary to join the game. Instead, he stood with his legs planted shoulder-width apart, and his small arms crossed firmly over his chest, flawlessly mirroring the intimidating, immovable stance of the Head Instructor.
A moment later, a frantic pup ran past him, flailing his arms wildly in a game of tag. The boy tripped over his own feet, crashing face-first into the rubber mat with a loud, pathetic squeak.
Chi Cheng sighed loudly—a heavy, immensely dramatic sigh that seemed to carry the sheer exhaustion of forty years of middle management, rather than three mere years of life. He walked over, his posture stiff, and tapped the sniffling boy on the shoulder.
"Hey," Chi Cheng barked. Even at three, his voice carried a faint, unnatural weight that made the older boy instantly freeze and look up.
"Shoelaces," Chi Cheng commanded, pointing an authoritative finger at the boy's untied sneakers. "You trip in a fight. You die. Tie them."
The boy blinked, entirely confused, thick tears still welling in his wide eyes. "I... I don't know how."
Chi Cheng groaned, throwing his head back and rolling his eyes dramatically toward the ceiling. He dropped to his knees with a huff of extreme, put-upon annoyance. "I do it. But only one time. You watch."
With aggressive, military-like efficiency, Chi Cheng grabbed the laces. He didn't actually know the proper loops yet, but he managed to force the strings into a messy, incredibly tight, and highly functional knot. He yanked the ends hard to secure it, then patted the boy’s leg with two firm smacks. Smack. Smack.
"Go," Chi Cheng ordered, pointing a strict finger toward the running track. "Run better."
The boy scrambled up and immediately obeyed, terrified into absolute compliance by the heir.
Chi Cheng stood back up and marched right back to his father, aggressively wiping his hands on his tiny white pants as if he had just dealt with a highly hazardous, infectious spill.
"Did you make a friend?" Chi Yuan Duan asked, his lips twitching violently as he fought to maintain his stoic Alpha composure.
"No," Chi Cheng said flatly, immediately reaching down to adjust his tiny black belt again.
—
Chi Cheng: 4 Years Old
Chi Yuan Duan tore through the manicured hedges of the estate's sprawling rose garden, his heart pounding a frantic, heavy rhythm against his ribs. Adrenaline flooded his system, his Alpha senses flaring as he tried to locate the threat that had just sent the head gardener (human) scrambling into the courtyard, pale and stammering about a deadly predator. He was fully prepared to snatch his son away from danger, ready to violently tear apart anything that dared to threaten his heir.
"Cheng’er, what are you doing?!" Chi Yuan Duan shouted as he burst through the heavy wooden trellis, his claws already half-extended.
He found Chi Cheng sitting perfectly cross-legged on the dirt under a massive rose bush, completely bathed in the dappled afternoon sunlight. But Chi Cheng wasn't scared. He wasn't crying or calling for help.
He was deeply annoyed.
Chi Cheng held a tiny, chubby finger to his lips and glared fiercely at his panicked father. "Shh!" he hissed, his dark brows furrowing. "You are too loud! You are scaring him."
Chi Yuan Duan froze, the breath catching sharply in his throat.
There, resting comfortably in Chi Cheng’s lap, was a vibrant, neon-green bamboo viper—a creature notorious in the southern mountains for its highly aggressive nature and flesh-rotting hemotoxic venom. The deadly snake was coiled up like a perfectly stacked garden hose, looking bizarrely relaxed. Chi Cheng was gently stroking the reptile's head with his thumb, casually petting the snake as if it were a docile, purring kitten.
"Chi Cheng," Chi Yuan Duan said, his voice dropping to a trembling, dangerous whisper as he raised both his hands in a placating gesture. "Drop the snake. Slowly. Now."
Chi Cheng looked up, his eyes wide and entirely innocent. "Why? He is good. And even if he bites, I heal."
"It’s a highly venomous, wild animal, Cheng'er. It is not a pet."
Chi Cheng looked down at the bright green reptile. He lifted the snake’s chin with a single finger, tilting its head so it looked directly at the towering Pack Leader. "Show teeth," Chi Cheng whispered to the viper.
Terrifyingly, the primitive reptile obeyed. It opened its mouth wide, flashed its curved, venom-dripping fangs, flicked its black tongue, and then promptly snapped its jaws shut without making a single move to strike. It was completely subdued by Chi Cheng’s aura.
"See?" Chi Cheng said proudly, gently patting the snake's scales. "No biting. He knows I am the Boss."
"It is still a wild animal," Chi Yuan Duan insisted, taking a slow, hyper-careful step closer to the rose bush.
Chi Cheng instantly hugged the thick snake to his chest protectively. The viper didn't panic; it simply draped itself comfortably over the boy's small shoulder like a scaly scarf. "He is not wild. He is... Xiao Lu."
Chi Yuan Duan dragged a massive hand down his face. "You named it 'Little Green'?"
"Yes," Chi Cheng nodded solemnly, his chubby face entirely serious. "He is much better than the boys at school."
"How is a highly venomous pit viper better than the other pups?"
Chi Cheng looked at the snake with deep, profound admiration. "He does not talk. He does not run around screaming in the training hall. He just sits there and looks very cool." Chi Cheng looked up at his father, his eyes widening into a potent, pleading look that his inner wolf was already learning how to weaponize. "I want to keep him. I will teach him how to guard the east gate."
"Absolutely not."
Chi Cheng’s face fell. He looked at the snake, then back up at his dad. Chi Yuan Duan could practically see the terrifyingly advanced gears turning inside his son's head. Chi Cheng took a breath and immediately began to negotiate.
"Okay. No house," Chi Cheng bargained, holding up one tiny finger. "Garden only. I give him bugs. He eats the bugs. He works for us now. Free security."
Chi Yuan Duan aggressively rubbed his temples, feeling a massive headache forming. He was the undisputed ruler of the supernatural underworld, a terrifying Alpha Pack Leader, and yet he was currently locked in a tense negotiation with his son representing a snake.
"We are werewolves, Cheng’er. We do not need a reptile for security," Chi Yuan Duan sighed heavily, utterly defeated by the immovable stubbornness radiating from his son. "Fine. Garden only. But if he bites you, I am turning him into a belt. And I am not joking."
Chi Cheng gasped dramatically. He immediately slapped his hands over the sides of the viper's head, covering the snake’s non-existent 'ears'.
"Don't listen to him, Xiao Lu. Daddy is just joking," Chi Cheng whispered reassuringly. He leaned down and planted a soft, affectionate kiss right on the top of the venomous snake’s head. "Go hide under the big leaves. I will bring you a very fat toad later."
—
The crisp morning light filtered through the windows of the estate's master suite, catching the dust motes dancing in the air. Chi Yuan Duan stood in front of the massive, gilded full-length mirror, meticulously adjusting a dark silk tie. Today, he wasn't just the Alpha; he was the CEO preparing for a grueling human corporate board meeting. He frowned, his dark eyes narrowing critically as he checked the exact symmetry of the knot against his collar.
Behind him, the heavy scraping of wood against the floor broke the quiet of the morning.
Chi Cheng was slowly dragging a heavy, solid oak step stool across the floor. He refused to ask for help, his face set in a mask of intense concentration. When he finally positioned it in front of the mirror, he climbed up, his short, chubby legs struggling slightly with the height until he was finally standing shoulder-to-hip with his towering father.
Chi Cheng was dressed in a pair of dark silk pajama pants and a matching button-down shirt. But firmly attached to his soft collar was a bright red, slightly crooked clip-on tie.
Chi Cheng stared at his own reflection. He puffed out his chubby cheeks, severely furrowed his tiny brow, and pushed his lips into a deep, critical frown that perfectly mirrored the intimidating scowl of the Pack Leader standing beside him.
"Tie is bad," Chi Cheng stated firmly, pointing a harsh, accusing finger at his own reflection.
Chi Yuan Duan looked down, catching his son's eye in the mirror glass. "It’s a perfect Windsor knot, son. It is highly professional."
Chi Cheng stubbornly crossed his small arms over his chest. His lower lip jutted out in a toddler's pout, but thanks to the aura rolling off him, the expression was somehow genuinely intimidating. "It is crooked. An Alpha's appearance must be straight and perfect. A crooked tie means a weak, disorganized mind."
Chi Yuan Duan suppressed a proud smile, raising a single eyebrow. "Is that so? And who exactly told you that?"
"Grandpa," Chi Cheng said matter-of-factly, referencing the former Pack Leader who had taken an immense, terrifying liking to his grandson.
Having rendered his final judgment on morning attire, Chi Cheng hopped off the heavy wooden stool with a solid thud. He didn't run off. Instead, he clasped his small hands firmly behind his back, attempting to walk toward the bedroom door with a powerful stride. Because his legs were so short, it translated into a waddle—but it was a waddle filled with immense, terrifying purpose.
"I go to work now," Chi Cheng announced to the room.
Chi Yuan Duan chuckled quietly, turning away from the mirror. "You are going to preschool, Cheng'er. Not work."
Chi Cheng stopped at the doorframe and looked back, his eyes serious.
"Preschool is work, Father," Chi Cheng corrected, his tone incredibly deadpan. "There are many loud, undisciplined babies there. They do not know how to sit still. They eat dirt. They share their germs recklessly. I have to watch all of them so they do not accidentally kill themselves with blunt scissors during arts and crafts."
Chi Yuan Duan couldn't hold back a low, rumbling chuckle, crossing his massive arms as he looked down at his fiercely serious son.
"Aren't you a baby too, Cheng'er?" Chi Yuan Duan teased gently, highly amused.
The suggestion was deeply, personally offensive to Chi Cheng; his dark brows instantly snapped together in a fierce frown, and his lower lip jutted out into a stubborn, incredibly cute pout that completely ruined his terrifying persona.
Instead of throwing a tantrum to defend his honor, Chi Cheng simply let out a long, heavy sigh. It was a remarkably dramatic exhale, one that seemed to carry the imaginary weight of the entire supernatural world pressing down on his tiny shoulders.
Refusing to dignify the accusation with a verbal response, he turned his back on the towering Pack Leader and faced the long hallway. He clasped his little hands securely behind his back again, resuming his authoritative waddle toward the stairs.
"Someone has to run that place," Chi Cheng muttered under his breath, shaking his head in sheer disappointment as he marched off to establish absolute dominance over the sandbox.
—
Chi Cheng: 9 Years Old
The sprawling eastern courtyard of the Chi Pack ancestral estate had been temporarily stripped of its austere dignity and violently transformed into a loud, chaotic event.
It was Guo Chengyu’s birthday.
As the only son of one of Chi Yuan Duan's siblings—his younger sister—Guo Chengyu was one of the very few pups in the pack who actually dared to breathe the same air as the Heir without immediately dropping to his knees and bursting into tears.
To celebrate his nephew, Chi Yuan Duan had spared absolutely no expense. The courtyard was packed with massive inflatable obstacle courses, towering tiers of expensive pastries, and highly paid human entertainers who were completely oblivious to the fact that the screaming, hyperactive children running circles around them were a mix of humans and werewolves.
Standing entirely apart from the joyful chaos, positioned perfectly in the shade of a massive willow tree, was Chi Cheng.
While the other pups were smeared with mud, grass stains, and cake frosting, Chi Cheng was impeccably dressed in a dark, custom-tailored three-piece suit. He had flatly refused the brightly colored paper party hats at the entrance, viewing them as a profound threat to his authority. Instead, he stood with his hands clasped firmly behind his back, his posture rigid, his eyes meticulously scanning the crowd like a weary bodyguard working a high-risk security detail.
"Chi Cheng!"
A loud, boisterous voice shattered his quiet surveillance. Guo Chengyu came sliding across the polished stone path, his shoes scuffing loudly. Even at this age, Guo Chengyu possessed a cocky, fearless smirk and a chaotic energy that always felt just a second away from a disaster. His shirt was untucked, his hair was a messy bird's nest, and he was holding a massive, sophisticated water gun.
"You're just standing here!" Guo Chengyu complained, wiping a smudge of dirt off his cheek with the back of his hand. "It’s my birthday! You have to come to the trenches. We are ambushing the older kids by the fountain."
Chi Cheng looked down at the bright plastic water weapon, his expression completely deadpan. "I do not participate in amateur tactical operations, Chengyu. Your flanking strategy is severely flawed. You have left your rear completely exposed to the bouncy castle."
Guo Chengyu rolled his eyes, utterly immune to the heavy aura that made the other pups actively avoid this side of the garden. "You're so boring! Come on, I need my heavy artillery!"
Without warning, Guo Chengyu raised his neon-orange water gun and pulled the trigger, firing a high-pressure stream directly at Chi Cheng's chest.
But Chi Cheng wasn't there.
With a fluid, blurring speed, Chi Cheng simply stepped a fraction of an inch to the left. The water sailed harmlessly past his shoulder, splashing loudly against the trunk of the willow tree. Chi Cheng didn't even blink, his hands still casually clasped behind his back, his suit completely dry.
"Your aim is compromised," Chi Cheng stated flatly.
"Not fair! You used your speed!" Guo Chengyu complained, though his cocky grin never faded. Refusing to take no for an answer, he lunged forward. He boldly grabbed Chi Cheng by the sleeve of his blazer and yanked him right out of the shade.
Before Chi Cheng could issue a stern reprimand about the importance of personal space, Guo Chengyu aggressively shoved a secondary weapon—a bright green, pump-action water blaster—directly into his hands.
"Come on, come on!" Guo Chengyu urged, his eyes practically sparkling with chaotic excitement as he dragged Chi Cheng toward the main lawn. "Stop acting like an adult and help me destroy them!"
Chi Cheng stopped, forcing Guo Chengyu to a halt. He looked down at the tacky, neon plastic weapon in his grip. He looked at his pristine suit. Then his eyes shifted towards the fountain, locking onto the pack of older, laughing kids currently reloading their water balloons.
A terrifyingly cold, calculating glint flashed in the young Alpha's eyes. He gripped the plastic handle and pumped the water blaster with a sharp, aggressive click.
"Fine," Chi Cheng muttered, his voice dropping into a deadly serious register. "But if we are engaging the enemy, your flanking strategy is obsolete. We take the high ground by the statues, and we eliminate their strongest targets first. No survivors."
—
Chi Cheng: 12 | Wu Suowei: 6
To say Wu Suowei was excited would be the understatement of the century. He was practically vibrating with a chaotic, uncontainable energy, his little sneakers bouncing restlessly against the floor of his mother's car as they pulled up to the massive, heavily guarded iron gates of the Chi Pack estate.
He had not seen his Cheng-ge in an entire week. Seven whole days! To him, that was an agonizingly long eternity. But today was the day he finally got to visit the giant, fancy house his Cheng-ge lived in, and more importantly, he was going to see his favorite giant puppy again.
The moment the car doors unlocked, Wu Suowei didn't even wait for his mother to unbuckle her seatbelt. He pushed the heavy door open and bolted out into the sprawling, manicured courtyard like a tiny, highly enthusiastic missile.
Standing at the top of the grand marble steps was Chi Cheng.
He had been standing rigidly in that exact spot for the last hour, refusing to move, speak, or blink, waiting for his mate with absolute intensity. But the absolute second Chi Cheng’s golden-crimson flecked eyes locked onto his mate, the suffocating aura vanished entirely.
"Cheng-ge!" Wu Suowei squealed, his bright, bubbly voice echoing through the unnervingly silent courtyard.
Chi Cheng immediately dropped to one knee on the pristine marble. He didn't care about wrinkling his expensive, custom-tailored dark trousers. He opened his arms and flawlessly caught his mate, entirely absorbing the impact as Wu Suowei threw his small arms tightly around the older boy's neck.
"Da Bao," Chi Cheng murmured, his voice softening into a gentle, entirely devoted hum. He wrapped his hands securely around Wu Suowei's waist, lifting him effortlessly as he stood back up.
"I missed you! Mama said I had to wait until Saturday, and Saturday took forever," Wu Suowei babbled happily, squishing his soft, warm cheeks against Chi Cheng's shoulder. "And Cheng-ge, Cheng-ge, your house is so big!"
To emphasize his point, Wu Suowei threw his small arms out in a massive, highly enthusiastic gesture, nearly smacking Chi Cheng right in the face. The young Alpha didn't even flinch. He merely tilted his head back a fraction of an inch to effortlessly dodge the tiny, flailing fist, adjusting his secure grip on Wu Suowei's waist with absolute care so he wouldn't fall.
Having successfully made his grand point, Wu Suowei immediately dropped his arms. He leaned forward and firmly squished his soft cheek directly against Chi Cheng's own. He pressed in close, pausing eagerly because he desperately wanted to hear that low, soothing sound his Cheng-ge had made back then.
When the hum didn't start immediately, Wu Suowei let out a tiny, impatient breath. Seeking that familiar warmth, he began to rub his soft cheek side-to-side against his Cheng-ge’s jawline in a slow, affectionate motion.
Completely oblivious to the profound weight of his actions, he was unknowingly scenting Chi Cheng all over again. With every continuous, gentle rub of his cheek, Da Bao was thoroughly coating the young Alpha in his uniquely sweet, comforting fragrance, claiming his mate all over again in the most instinctual way possible.
The effect on Chi Cheng was instantaneous. Hit by the concentrated wave of his mate's scent and the deliberate, physical marking, his iron-clad control slipped just enough to let his inner wolf respond. A deep, incredibly heavy purr-like growl finally vibrated from his chest, transferring the warm, soothing tremor directly against Wu Suowei's cheek exactly as he wanted.
Satisfied at last by the familiar, heavy hum vibrating directly against his skin, Wu Suowei let out a soft, happy little sigh. Whatever lingering tension he held immediately bled out of his small frame. He went completely boneless in his Cheng-ge’s arms, practically melting as he soaked up the comforting, protective warmth of Chi Cheng's instinctual response. The deep rumble resonated right through him, feeling like a heavy, grounding blanket.
He squeezed his eyes shut in pure delight, a wide, radiant smile breaking across his face.
"Cheng-ge, Cheng-ge, Cheng-ge!" Wu Suowei chanted happily, his bright, bubbly voice contrasting sharply with the low pitch of the young Alpha's growl. He patted his small hands flat against Chi Cheng's chest, thoroughly enamored by the vibration beneath the fabric of Chi Cheng’s shirt. "I love it when you do that. You sound exactly like a big, rumbling car engine!"
Chi Cheng's gaze softened. Although his inner wolf did not like being compared to something so small, so common—and yet, because the words had tumbled so earnestly from his tiny mate's mouth, he completely abandoned his pride. Coming from anyone else, it would have been an insult. Coming from his mate, it was somehow the highest compliment he'd ever received. His inner wolf practically preened under the genuine, unabashed praise, tail thumping somewhere deep in his chest.
Then, Wu Suowei abruptly pulled back. His bubbly demeanor vanished in a single heartbeat, replaced by an expression of extreme, deadly seriousness. His big, doe eyes widened as he looked sharply to the left, then to the right, scanning the empty expanse of the grand marble steps with a frown.
"Where is he?" Wu Suowei demanded in a loud, incredibly dramatic whisper, leaning in close as if they were discussing top-secret intel that the patrolling gaurds couldn't overhear.
Chi Cheng blinked, his expression faltering for a rare fraction of a second. "Who?"
"The puppy!" Wu Suowei gasped in utter disbelief, his tone implying that Chi Cheng was being incredibly dense. He began squirming excitedly in the young Alpha's solid, unyielding grip, trying to crane his neck to look over and around Chi Cheng’s shoulders to scour the perimeter. "You promised! Where is the big, fluffy puppy? Is he hiding from me? Did he miss me too?"
Down by the heavy iron gates of the estate, the tense, disciplined atmosphere maintained by the pack's elite security instantly shattered.
The high-ranking guards, trained to face lethal supernatural threats without flinching, were completely utterly shocked. For the past few minutes, they had been discreetly watching their usually stoic young Alpha practically melting, openly basking in the warm, unabashed affection of his tiny mate. Seeing the ruthless prodigy of the Chi Pack acting so incredibly soft and pliant was a jarring enough sight on its own.
But hearing the sheer, unfiltered innocence in Wu Suowei's voice as he insisted on looking for the ‘big, fluffy puppy’—completely unaware that he had mistaken their fearsome young Alpha for an oversized dog—was the final blow.
A few of the betas suddenly choked on their own spit. Their eyes widened drastically as they hastily slapped hands over their mouths, violently struggling to hold back snorts of amusement. But the dam had already broken. A stifled, collective burst of muffled laughter rippled through their ranks, their broad shoulders shaking as they entirely failed to maintain their rigid, professional composure in the face of the little boy's devastating obliviousness.
They didn't get to laugh for long.
Sensing the unwanted attention on his mate, Chi Cheng shot a single, terrifyingly cold glare directly over Wu Suowei's head. The young Alpha's gaze flashed red in warning, and the ambient temperature in the sunlit courtyard seemed to abruptly plummet by ten degrees.
The effect was instantaneous. The guards swallowed their amusement so fast it looked genuinely painful. They rigidly snapped their heads forward, locking their posture at attention and staring intensely at the brick walls as if their very lives depended on it, utterly terrified of being turned into collateral damage by the fiercely protective young heir.
Satisfied with their absolute silence, Chi Cheng turned his attention back to his Da Bao. The lethal ice in his eyes vanished instantly, melting right back into a pool of pure, utter softness that no one else in the world was ever allowed to see.
"He missed you very much," Chi Cheng said smoothly in a gentle murmur, though the truth was that his powerful inner wolf was currently howling with absolute pride and overwhelming joy inside his chest at the mere mention. "But he is very big, and he gets shy. He doesn't like crowds. I have to take you to the private bamboo gardens in the back to see him. Just you and me."
Wu Suowei gasped, completely starry-eyed by the exclusivity of the mission. "Let's go right now, Cheng-ge! Let's go find him before anyone sees!"
Chi Cheng’s lips quirked upward into a rare smile. Before Chi Cheng could take a single step toward the gardens.
"Suowei," a fond, albeit deeply exasperated, voice called out across the courtyard.
Wu Li Ya had been standing near, silently and amusedly watching the two boys concoct their little escape plan for the past few minutes. She began her ascent up the grand marble steps, the sharp, steady click of her shoes echoing clearly against the polished stone.
In her hands, she carefully balanced a beautifully woven pastry box. As she approached, the rich, mouth-watering aroma of warm, freshly baked egg tarts and sweet, flaky red bean pastries instantly cut through the crisp outdoor air, easily catching the highly sensitive noses of every werewolf in the vicinity.
Reaching the top of the stairs, she offered a warm, effortlessly polite smile to the imposing perimeter guards—who immediately dropped their stiff postures to bow their heads in deep, genuine respect to her.
Then, Wu Li Ya turned her attention back to the two boys, fixing a stern, unmistakably motherly gaze upon her son, who was still happily and completely unapologetically perched in the young Alpha's secure arms.
"Little baobao, what did I tell you about waiting for me?" Mama Wu chided lightly. Because her hands were occupied with the baked goods, she couldn't rest them on her hips, but she gave him a pointed look. Though she tried to sound strict, the warm amusement dancing in her eyes completely ruined the facade. "You shot out of that backseat like a little rocket before the car was even fully in park! What if you had tripped on these hard stone steps? You cannot just run off without looking; it is dangerous."
Wu Suowei instantly deployed his ultimate, foolproof weapon.
He slumped slightly in Chi Cheng's solid grip, puffing out his soft cheeks and looking down at his own light-up sneakers. He blinked his wide, incredibly guilty doe eyes, making himself look as small and deeply regretful as humanly possible.
"I'm sorry, Mama," Wu Suowei mumbled pitifully, his bubbly voice dropping to an impossibly small, sad whisper. "I was just so excited to see Cheng-ge... and the big puppy. I didn't mean to be bad."
Chi Cheng immediately shifted his stance.
His hands tightened protectively around Wu Suowei's waist. He didn't dare glare at Mama Wu—he possessed far too much profound respect for the woman who had brought his Da Bao into the world—but his inner wolf instinctively bristled at his mate's sad, defeated tone. Without even realizing he was doing it, Chi Cheng subtly angled his shoulders, acting as a massive, immovable shield between his mate and the light scolding.
"He is perfectly fine, Auntie," Chi Cheng spoke up. His voice was incredibly polite and respectful, yet it carried an undeniable, heavy promise of absolute protection. "I was watching him the entire time. I would never let him fall."
Mama Wu paused, taking in the sight before her. She looked at her tiny, pouting son, and then up at Chi Cheng who was currently holding him like he was the most precious, fragile treasure in the entire world.
A soft, knowing smile slowly tugged at the corners of Mama Wu's lips, easing the lingering worry in her expression. She let out a helpless, quiet sigh, completely and utterly defeated by the immovable bond between the two boys.
"I know you wouldn't, Xiao Cheng," Mama Wu said gently.
She deliberately tested the new, highly affectionate nickname, watching Chi Cheng’s face carefully to see if the young Alpha would bristle at the casual, entirely un-reverent address. Chi Cheng didn't even twitch; his expression remained perfectly calm, attentive, and respectful.
With a completely natural, fluid motion, she briefly shifted her hold on the woven pastry box. And Chi Cheng’s sharp eyes instantly caught the faint, unmistakable shimmer of warm energy—a subtle, beautifully practiced pulse of her own magic—silently wrapping around the base of the box. The spell perfectly and invisibly balanced the heavy pastries in the air for a fraction of a second, just long enough for her to safely free her dominant hand without dropping the treats.
Reaching out, she affectionately ruffled Chi Cheng's perfectly styled, dark hair.
It was a brazen, incredibly familiar action that would have undoubtedly earned absolutely anyone else a swiftly flashed glare, with sole exceptions. Yet, the young Alpha didn't even flinch or pull away. Instead, his imposing aura remained utterly docile. He leaned into the gesture ever so slightly, his inner wolf practically melting under the warm, comforting touch of the woman who held his Da Bao's entire world together.
She stepped closer, the faint, shimmering trace of her magic dissipating seamlessly as she held out the warm, sweet-smelling box to the young Alpha.
"Here. I baked these fresh this morning for you and your parents," Mama Wu smiled, her eyes crinkling with deep fondness as Chi Cheng respectfully accepted the gift with his free hand. "Go share them in the gardens. But just... try to keep him from running headfirst into the stone walls, yes? He has far too much energy today."
Chi Cheng accepted the warm woven box. Because he now held the delicate pastries, he realized he needed to adjust his hold on his mate to walk comfortably. With immense, calculated care, he slowly lowered Wu Suowei, letting the boy's light-up sneakers touch the polished marble steps.
The absolute moment his feet hit the ground, Wu Suowei crossed his tiny arms. His soft cheeks puffed out, and his lower lip jutted into a devastatingly cute, deeply dramatic pout. His big doe eyes looked up at Chi Cheng in sheer, utter betrayal. He had waited an entire week to see his Cheng-ge, and he firmly believed he belonged right back up in those arms.
"But I wanna be held," Wu Suowei whined softly, digging the toe of his sneaker into the stone, completely unimpressed by the concept of walking on his own.
Chi Cheng's lips twitched with quiet, undeniable amusement. Instead of picking his mate back up the same way, the young Alpha simply turned around and crouched low to the ground, offering his back.
"Hop on, Da Bao," Chi Cheng murmured, his voice laced with utter indulgence.
The devastatingly sad pout vanished instantly. Wu Suowei let out a delighted gasp, thrilled that his absolute favorite mode of transportation had been officially secured. He happily threw his arms around Chi Cheng's neck and scrambled onto his back like a hyperactive little monkey. Chi Cheng stood up effortlessly, completely unbothered by the extra weight. He secured Wu Suowei’s legs firmly with one strong arm, while perfectly balancing the warm, woven pastry box in his other hand.
Standing tall once more, holding the most precious cargo in the world securely on his back, the young Alpha bowed his head just a fraction of an inch. It was a subtle but profoundly significant gesture of absolute respect.
"Thank you, Auntie. My mother will be very pleased," Chi Cheng said smoothly, his tone remarkably mature and composed for a twelve-year-old. He glanced briefly toward the towering main doors. "Both of my parents are currently in the study. They just finished their morning meetings and were expecting you. If you would like, I can escort you to them before Da Bao, and I head out to the bamboo gardens."
From his high, comfortable perch on Chi Cheng's back, Wu Suowei gasped again, his big doe eyes sparkling with sheer wonder. He wiggled excitedly, resting his soft chin directly on Chi Cheng's shoulder. Reaching forward, he pointed a tiny, enthusiastic finger toward the massive, imposing estate.
"Yes! Mama, I wanna see the inside!" Wu Suowei babbled brightly, entirely oblivious to the supernatural that usually governed those halls. "I think it’s even bigger than the outside!"
Wu Li Ya watched the entire exchange with a deep, fond smile gracing her features. Seeing the heir of the Chi Pack acting as a willing, fiercely protective steed for her tiny, chattering son never failed to warm her heart.
"Is that so?" Mama Wu chuckled softly, stepping forward to follow them. "Well then, we certainly cannot keep your parents waiting, and we definitely need to find out if the inside is truly bigger than the outside. Lead the way, Xiao Cheng."