Rise of the Underdogs: Jasper

Fractures of Ignorance

Snow drifted down off the mountains that surrounded our pack. The largest gathering of our kind in one place was not due to power, but preservation. The Alpha’s family had gathered in the longhouse. A place wherein celebrations and battlements were planned and executed. Mother was angry, her energy swirling as she fought to keep herself from strangling her Mate, the father of her six pups.

He’d done something stupid, something that could cost our entire pack dearly. He’d gone toe-to-toe with a neighbouring Alpha, threatening to absorb the smaller faction into the Arctic Shield. Yet, he’d done it behind Mother’s back, undermining her authority as Alpha and causing a ripple that spoke of war and disaster.

I was staring at my mother as she conversed with the healers and the family who held the power of second sight. Another, an older man with platinum hair and deep, emerald eyes, stood beside his daughter and her Mate. Eileen, one of the few who carried the blood of the original Arctic wolves and the earliest settlers, was standing half-embraced in shadows as the Elders spoke in hushed tones.

Elieen’s blood carried with it the memory of the earliest whispers from the Goddess, echoes of the time when wolf and human first came together. This union was not forged for pleasure or out of mere pretense, but born from necessity—survival, as the tundra grew increasingly cold and the nights stretched longer. Within her veins ran the old tales, the stories handed down through generations, of the first human and the first wolf, who entered into a sacred pact. Their joining was a deliberate act, a merging of two distinct souls, meant to protect their shared home against the boldness of the outside world, which constantly threatened to strip away their freedom and agency.

The Arden family, known for their distinctive golden eyes, were deeply engrossed in their studies, examining ancient scrolls and old, dusty, leather-bound books. These texts chronicled the many hardships faced by our people, specifically recounting the devastation wrought by the forces of Lust and Greed. Through generations, the Arden lineage has consistently produced a Seer—an individual gifted with the extraordinary ability to perceive multiple paths and foresee diverse outcomes. This unique gift allowed them to guide our pack through times of uncertainty, offering insight and wisdom rooted in the knowledge of their ancestors and the lessons preserved within those treasured tomes.

My siblings, clothed in the attire of our ancestral home, stood with me, while our baby sister was motionless in my arms. Her head resting sleepily against my shoulder as she slept off the excitement of the Festival des Lumières Boréales – the Borealis Festival of Lights.

All of us had pale blond hair intricately interwoven with glacial blue highlights that marked us as the Alpha’s children.

On my left stood my brother, Levi. Second-born son, his ice-blue eyes changing colour depending on how the crystalline orbs caught the light. On my right, was River, the third-born son, with midnight-coloured eyes that reflected the vastness of the night sky like twinned mirrors of blue light.

To Levi’s left stood one of our youngest brothers, Carson. On River’s right stood Carson’s twin, Quinton. Both Quint and Carson’s eyes were glacial blue – bold and cutting. Akita, our sister and the baby of the family, was the only child who inherited our mother’s warm, honey-brown eyes while each of us boys inherited some version blue from our father’s line.

Akita had eyes rooted in power and legacy. The boys held eyes like water, but me? I was the exception. I was the Warrior born to guard the next Alpha of our pack with onyx eyes that saw clean through all sorts of bull and fanatical talk.

At seventeen, I stood taller than my brothers, almost matching our father’s giant-like height of six-foot-two. I was lean, as were all the wolves in our pack, but I was the one who stood between the next Alpha heir and the coming storm. My wolf spirit was named Kavik, and he and I could move like ghosts through the surrounding land. Due to our unique features, we were able to blend with the landscape as we joined the ranks of Warriors who kept the pack safe.

Levi clenched his jaw, glaring at our father, who was tied with Wolfsbane-infused ropes to the central pillar of the Longhouse. The ropes were created to weaken, to call forth a calmer version of the person facing justice. At sixteen, he’d just received his wolf, Anuk, and was itching to try out his skills. Yet, I held the line, not to challenge, but to protect my hot-headed younger brother. “This is not how I imagined my first month as a shifted wolf.”

I said nothing. There was nothing to say after what had been done.

Cars and Quint locked eyes, speaking in their own language – the language of twins. Mother said they were the embodiment of the sword and shield of the north. The defenders of our world. Though identical, Carson had a small scar above his left eye from an accidental run-in with a tree branch while playing. He raised his eyes to me before letting them fall to our sleeping sister. “Whatever comes, we have to protect Akita.”

“No matter the danger to ourselves, she needs to live on, and we need to clear that path for her.” Quint muttered.

Though only thirteen, they understood that Akita was the next Alpha of the Arctic.

No, I’m not kidding. In our pack, the tradition has always been to appoint female Alphas. This choice was not made because of any stereotype about emotions, but rather due to a deeper understanding of protection. Women, when it comes to defending the next generation, are the most volatile and formidable guardians. Their unwavering resolve ensures the safety and future of our pack.

Our history with male leaders has shaped this custom. When men held the Alpha position, their arrogance and greed often led to more chaos than order, making things worse instead of better. That is not to say women are immune to greed, but they possess the wisdom to avoid treating other Alphas with contempt. This approach fosters respect and stability among the packs, safeguarding our legacy and unity.

Father had shattered that peace with one move, and now our mother was scrambling to fix the mess he made before anything happened. The calm that once held our family together had been broken, leaving us on edge and uncertain about what would come next. Our mother, ever vigilant and protective, moved quickly, determined to restore balance and ensure the safety of every member of our pack. Her actions were driven by urgency and love, as she worked to repair the damage and shield us from further harm.

River, at only fifteen, had been absorbing every detail of the tense scene before he moved quietly to stand in front of Father. His voice, steady yet charged with emotion, broke the silence.

“Why?” he demanded, eyes locked on our father. “What possessed you to put your children at risk? To put the pack in harm’s way? What purpose did it serve but to stroke your ugly ego?”

Father’s face twisted in anger, his jaw tightly clenched as he responded to River’s accusation.

“You speak like your peace-loving maman. We were meant for battle!” he growled, his voice rough with frustration and wounded pride. There was a wildness in his expression, a refusal to yield, even as the Wolfsbane-infused ropes sapped his strength and held him fast. His words cut through the tension, echoing off the Longhouse walls and reminding everyone present of the deep divide between old traditions and the new path the pack was trying to forge. The atmosphere thickened with the weight of his defiance, underscoring the struggle that now threatened to tear the family, and the pack, apart.

Levi stood firm, his words resonating with conviction as he addressed the tension in the room.

“We were born to hold the line,” he asserted, his voice unwavering. The gravity of his statement was amplified by Anuk, whose presence seemed to send vibrations through the air, lending additional weight to Levi’s declaration.

The reminder was clear and urgent. He spoke of the ever-present threat posed by Rogues. Those outsiders who watched the pack closely, waiting for any indication of weakness or division. Their intentions were malicious. They sought to exploit moments of confusion and fracture within the ranks, striking when the pack was at its most vulnerable.

In this charged atmosphere, Levi’s words served as both a warning and a rallying cry. He urged everyone to remember their responsibility. To stay united and vigilant. The message was unmistakably straight-forward. Holding the line was not only a birthright, but also a duty in the face of danger.

Someone sighed, and I turned to see Mother shaking her head sadly. “Very well. Prepare the elderly and the pups for retreat to safer grounds. The Seer and the Clairvoyant bloodlines must continue into the future. Eileen Forrest, I want you and your family to gather what’s needed. Yours and the Arden family must leave immediately to avoid possible capture. This land is no longer safe. Not until we settle this rift caused by my own Mate.”

“As you wish, Alpha,” Eileen murmured, moving with the silent grace of her line. She and Anika left to complete Mother’s orders.

I waited further instruction, still holding my sister. Mother turned, her eyes softening as she spoke. “Jasper, my precious first-born, I need you to hide your siblings. Guard them from forces that would otherwise destroy our lineage.”

“Where will we go?” I asked.

“Follow the stars south. Go to the Grand Alpha and tell him what happened,” she said, pulling me and the boys into a fierce hug. “King Henry will offer guidance as he holds our people in high regard. Until safety reclaims what ego has ruined, protect your brothers and sister.”