Author's note: Thank you guys for being so patient with my slow updates, and for showing this book so much love! I hope you continue to enjoy my work, both current and future! 

Thank you all so much!! I love you my Jelly Donuts!! <33

ϕ҂⋆*ღ⊀ ❝Chan PᴥV ❞ ⊁≬≭೨⋆*

Stretching my limbs, the sound of each joint popping caused Jisung to look over at me. I started with my wrists, all the way down to my feet, the sound of cracking following. Noticing what I was doing, he must've considered it a good idea because he proceeded to copy me. The only difference was, he- and I have no idea how- managed to crack his spine. The sound was so loud, almost as if he recorded the sound of a potato chip snapping in half and amplified it.

This caused a reaction from everyone in the pack. It felt like all eyes were on him. Being the introvert he is, he realized rather quickly, awkwardly laughing it off. For some reason, this made my throat suddenly feel somewhat dry. A meek cough escaped my throat. All eyes were on me now. The airs on the back of my neck stood up from the silent pressure within the atmosphere.

"So," A voice breaks the silence and, more importantly, the stares. I shifted my gaze, only to meet eyes with the one and only that I was hoping I wouldn't. "What brings you back here, Alpha?" Changbin's tone sounded pissed off, his expressions perfectly suiting his words.

I stopped stretching. "I..." I started, trying to find the right words. Unfortunately, it was to no avail.

That's when Woojin piped up from behind two other wolves, Yunho and Lucas. "Chris-"

Everyone seemed stiff by his sudden attentiveness. It must've been because of our bad history that everyone seemed on edge by our interaction. Just looking at the worried expressions on everyone's face made my heart sink a little. Have I really let them down that badly?

I don't deserve to be Alpha, do I? No, I can't think like that. Father always said that negative thinking is the first thing that leads to a leader's downfall.

"Chris, listen.. I'm sorry," Woojin apologized to me, his eyes staring directly into mine. This action made me rather uncomfortable, causing me to turn my head. "I know we've never been on the best terms. Especially after-"

"Don't say it," I growled at him. He let out a sigh and continued to speak.

"-But please, understand where I'm coming from. After-" I shot him a nasty glance as a warning. Thankfully he understood the message and continued once more. "-you were having a difficult time with it all. We all were. You needed time to get into the right headspace. Meanwhile, I just did what I had to do to keep our pack safe. I didn't have any bad intentions, I promise,"

"Promises are for those with false hope," I retorted, letting out a huff of air in an angered manner.

Jisung, who seemed to be troubled by our arguing, shot me a look of regret. The innocent look in his eyes still hasn't changed, not since we were just pups. I still remember the days that we used to play with the other wolf pups, rolling around in the mud, completely arrogant of the cruel world around us. Look how much we've changed.

I could tell by the look on Jisung's face that he wanted to say something, but couldn't gather the courage to say it. Ever since he was younger, he'd always have that habit; it was like a specific look in his eyes, almost as if he was pleading for something.

"Jisung," I whispered in a low, groggy voice to the anxious wolf. "Say it, or you'll never be able too,"

I couldn't tell if I scared him or not, but still, I watched him. Jisung gulped, the sound of his heart beat pitter-pattered loudly, ringing in my hyper-sensitive ears. All the other wolves could hear it too, you could read it on their faces like a magazine. The sound of his heavy breathing seemed to echo in the still silence of the cave.

"Please, don't fight," Jisung said in a whisper-like voice. If it weren't for our heightened senses, no one would be able to hear him. In a louder tone, he proceeded to elaborate. "You would've clawed the hell out of Woojin if it wasn't for Changbin. You've been gone for so long. Things have changed since you've been gone. And as much as you hate him, you can't keep hiding anymore. He's led us, because you couldn't. Suddenly you come back from nowhere, and you don't even apologize. Did you expect everyone to just accept you back again?"

Now his voice was nothing but pure, passive rage. His eyes were almost lit up in flames. As he spoke, he got louder and louder, and his confidence built up with his momentum.

"You will never understand how much you hurt me, how much you hurt Changbin, and Yunho, and so many other wolves! You left us to fend for ourselves!" Jisung let out a sarcastic laugh. "It's been years, Chris. WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN!? We don't know what you were doing. We didn't even know if you were dead or alive! Did you ever, even just once, stop and think about us, your pack!?"

All of that underlying anger over the years was finally let out. I looked around the cave rather frantically, trying to pinpoint everyone else's reactions. Some shook their heads with shame, others bit their lip anxiously. I had never seen such an aggressive side of Jisung in a long time. The young wolf let out a sign, storming away into a dark corner of the stone structure.

I ran my hands through my hair. It felt as if the stress was finally getting to me, even though it had only been a day or two. I had stopped keeping track. Changbin stumbled over to me in his shocked state. Placing his hand on my shoulder, he stared into my eyes as he spoke.

"As much as you hate to admit it, he's your brother. You can't change blood,"

I shot back. "Half blood,"

Changbin's expression changed from stunned to irritated within a matter of seconds. "Half blood? Take a look at your reflection, Chris. Then tell me who's a half blood,"

I didn't show it. I didn't show how much his words hurt me, but they did. Indeed, I am a half blood; both my father and mother were wolves but my mother was an Omega. She was an outcast. This was because she was a love child between a human and a wolf. Falling in love with an Alpha wolf wasn't a part of her plans for life. But either way, she did, and when the time came and she had me.... she left.

Woojin isn't a half blood. I always envied him because of it. His mother is a purebred wolf. Leaving wasn't a good idea, I already know it wasn't. Not only did I abandon and hurt my pack, I gave Woojin the upper hand. My position as Alpha was at stake because of my stupid decision to run away from life.

You can't run away from problems. They always come up when you least expect.

It was the burden of my father's death that made me run away. If I wasn't late- I could've saved him. He died because of me- he died for me. That's the only reason I was made Alpha. Woojin, from Alpha and normal wolf blood, is powerful. If my father hadn't died that day, Woojin would've been his successor.

Then again, maybe it would've been better if I let him be Alpha. Giving up my position isn't difficult, since I've already jeopardized it once before.

My eyes jetted towards the entrance of the cave. Sprinting in, a wolf stopped in the center of the cave. He then transformed back to his human form. Even as a human he was dripping with water. His sudden actions caught the eyes of everyone, including Jisung, who was still curled up in the corner of our large shelter.

"Hyung," The out of breath wolf spoke in between intermittent huffs of air. "I delivered the groceries to the cottage. Anything else?"

I sighed. Hopefully, Collie was pleased with the delivery. After those rabid beasts attacked, I'm sure she was in a lot of shock. A tiny grin appeared on my lips.

"No, that's all. Thank you, Heochan," I replied. "Go rest, it's been a long day."

I looked outside, past the waterfall that covered the entrance. It was night now. The sky was so dark, it just barely highlighted every star in the galaxy. As a pup, my father always told me stories of how all the stars in the sky were of those wolves who came before us. I remember him pointing to this one bright star and saying, 'That's the northern star. That's where your mother is,' I never understood it until now. Even then, I still couldn't quite wrap my head around it.

"Hey Chan..." Woojin's voice said from somewhere.

A quiet snarl left my mouth from the back of my throat. "Chan? Don't call me that,"

"Chan... I've called you that since the day you were first born," His tone seemed to drop.

I turned around to face him. Thankfully this time all the wolves were conversing among themselves, paying no attention to my social interactions.

Woojin spoke again, his aura seemed so blue. His eyes looked as if he were going to cry. "I know... that's the name your mother gave you..."

"Exactly. So back off,"

"Chan, we're family. You've always let me call you that!" The wolf pleaded. I couldn't even bring myself to call him 'Hyung' again, even if I wanted to.

My breathing became heavy. "Not anymore,"