The Reincarnated Wolf

Recruited

[REN POV]

“You’re from Era? Always wanted to meet a wolf from Era.” His voice was as deep as his skin. I hated how comforting his voice felt. He looked up from my paperwork briefly and met my gaze. It took a lot of effort to keep my body from shivering.

“Yes sir,” I said, purposely speaking lower to sound more boyish.

“You must be a well-traveled pup. You’ve been traded a few times. Says you were under the care of an herbalist for the longest. Why did they trade you?” He asked, continuing to look over the documents filled with my made-up life story. I nodded to hide the gulp I took. I wasn’t expecting that question somehow.

“We were attacked. She passed away.” I kept the lie short. He nodded, seeming to buy my tale.

“Herbalists tend to live in seclusion and in dangerous areas to collect rare ingredients. It’s far from the protection a pack offers,” he explained, and I nodded again to hide a nervous swallow.

“It says here that your age is unknown.” The recruiter mentioned with a raised eyebrow.

“Yes sir. I am not even sure of my birthdate,” I said.

“Well, you look around 13 or 14. This could cause issues in a few years, since we don’t know when you will have your first shift,” he explained, looking up from the paperwork once again.

“My record should mention that I was briefly housed in a wolf monastery. While I was there, I assisted with shifting ceremonies. I am familiar with the signs of a wolf that is approaching their first shift, sir.” I lied.

It was true that I had a lot of experience hanging out at our local monastery growing up, and I was very familiar with a lot of ceremony rituals. It was something I’d mentioned when Adam and his crew were helping me weave my background. I didn’t expect that little twist of truth to come in handy this early.

“Wow, a wolf monastery. Most people go a lifetime without ever seeing a Lunar Monk. Yet you’ve lived among them at such a young age. Why did you leave the monastery?” He leaned forward, balancing on his elbows.

“I didn’t want to take the monk’s oath.” I lied. Again, a partial truth.

The life of a Lunar Monk is incredibly restrictive and strict. I truly would not want to take a monk’s oath. On their tenth birthday, those raised at a Lunar Monastery must take the oath and begin their monk training. The recruiter nodded, seeming pleased by my answer.

“A life dedicated to the Goddess and piety isn’t easy,” the man said as he smiled. His teeth seemed impossibly white in contrast to his dark warm skin. I nodded before speaking.

“I am not gullible enough to believe in their pacifist teachings,” I said, and honestly, I meant it.

Before, I believed in the Lunar teachings wholeheartedly. After losing my family, my mate, my wolf, and my own life, I simply couldn’t imagine being a pacifist. My mind has been constantly consumed by thoughts of revenge.

The giant man seemed amused by my statement. His smile still plastered on his stunning face. The smile finally reached his eyes as they seemed to glow. His wolf must be surfacing. I tensed momentarily, realizing I was now under the assessment of his wolf.

“You have good instincts. You knew my wolf was stirring,” he said with a chuckle.

“Your eyes shifted,” I mentioned softly.

“Most boys your age are oblivious to those details,” he said as he began to review the last few pages of paperwork in front of him.

“I’ve learned what I must to survive,” I said as calmly as I could manage.

I met his eyes directly. I didn’t want it to seem like I was challenging him, but I needed to showcase a bit of immature arrogance. It is true that young male wolves tend to be more arrogant and temperamental. I needed to adjust my behavior if I truly wanted to appear as a male. The man leaned forward again, holding my eye contact.

“You’ve stared into the eyes of monsters, haven’t you? How else could you maintain eye contact with an alpha wolf in his prime?” he said in a low voice.

“I have looked into the eyes of every person who killed those I’ve loved, unable to do anything about it. I’m here to ensure that it never happens again. I refuse to be a useless pup anymore.” I felt my voice c***k but managed to hold eye contact.

The large man leaned back in his chair as he stretched his arms, then rested them behind his head. He still held eye contact with me. It felt as though we were in a tug of war of will. Holding eye contact with a stronger or higher-ranked wolf can be seen as provocation. It was interpreted as a challenge in some cases. The weaker wolf is expected to lower its gaze in submission, out of respect. Yet here I was holding eye contact with this impossibly large alpha wolf.

“It is easier to not love at all in our world kid,” he said.

Then he leaned over and signed the last page of the documents he was reviewing. He broke our eye contact first. Is he submitting? I did my best to regulate my facial expressions. I didn’t want him to see the surprise I felt.

“It’s because of that love that I have been able to survive, sir,” I said sternly.

I was pushing my luck by disagreeing, but I would never regret loving my family, my pack. The love I hold for them is what brought me back from the void of death. It’s my love for them that motivates me to get as strong as I can and take my revenge.

“Whatever gets you out of bed in the morning.” He laughed before pushing the paper over to me.

I looked down at the document he pushed over to me. It was a contract. It was my ticket to the military. I signed it without reading the terms. In this life, no words on paper will bind me. I saw a smirk on the recruiters’ face. How many people has this man watched sign their lives away without reading a single sentence of this contract?

“You’re in luck. There’s a convoy heading out to the closest boot camp location nearby. If you make it, you will join the military. If you exceed our expectations, you may be recommended to the academy for elite training. I’ll be keeping an eye on your progress.” He finished with a devious smile. I simply nodded and bowed.

The journey to bootcamp was noisy. There were over 50 of us traveling there together. There were no females. Just a group of male wolves being led by a muscular wolf in uniform. He looked familiar, but I didn’t want to stare and get their attention.

A few of the others tried talking to me, but I barely spoke. I wanted to speak as little as possible. My survival relied on my ability to pass as a boy. This seemed to annoy some of my travel companions.

“The freak doesn’t want to talk, it seems.” One of the bulkier boys spoke. He looked like he was in his mid-teens. He was big for his age, so he assumed he would be a strong wolf once he shifted. I ignored him and kept walking.

“I’ve never seen an Albino person.” Another voice chimed in with a laugh. Albino? I did have white hair and now reddish-colored eyes. Though my skin was not that pale.

“The recruiter said they’re from Era. He might not speak our language.” A lean boy interrupted the laughing of the group.

Calling him a boy might not be correct. He seemed a little older than the rest. His hair was dark and thick. His eyes were icy. He had an air of someone who had experienced more than their years. I didn’t get long to look at him when the warrior leading us turned around to address the group.

“Era? Someone’s from Era?” His voice sent a jolt through my body. I’ve heard this voice.

The realization shook me to my core. This man before us, the one leading me to my future, was one of the men who attacked my pack. I’d heard him taunting one of my pack members as he opened their abdomen. A low growl rose in my belly, but I swallowed it down. I couldn’t act now.

“Apparently, the albino kid.” One of the group spoke while pointing at me.

I’d been trying to blend in with the crowd. I wasn’t sure if the warrior would recognize me. Sure, my hair and eyes were different now, but my face still resembled my face, my mother’s face.

“Albino kid?” The man said confused, then looked at me. He looked me up and down, and I stared into his eyes looking for a sign of recognition.

“I’m not an albino,” I said calmly, keeping my voice low but audible.

“I’d heard people from Era look different from all the magic in the air or something.” Someone in the crowd murmured.

“You’ve definitely been touched by magic kid. Look at how white your hair is.” The warrior spoke as he approached where I was standing.

“My appearance is nothing special where I am from,” I said firmly.

I was slightly concerned this warrior would think I was a mystic wolf like my mother. I was worried he was too dumb to know that mystic wolves appear ethereal and regal in appearance. Like gods among men. They also don’t gain their striking features, like the white or silver hair, until they shift for the first time…until they meet their wolf. I, on the other hand, looked like I was cursed. Like my wolf spirit was a demon not blessed by the Goddess of the Moon.

“Looks like the pretty boy knows the common tongue just fine.” The bulky kid spoke again. Is he trying to provoke me? I didn’t even look in that boy’s direction, just held my focus on the warrior. He was my enemy. I couldn’t afford to let him out of my sight.