Instantly, the three of them, Gray, Duster and Cherry, raced through the forest.
Cherry held on to Gray's back and Duster ran on his own.
Both of the ran on all fours, bouncing through the trees and soft tropical earth.
Their hearts were enveloped with worry. After all, Werewolves were connected by Bloodline.
There was a reason why Werewolves of the same pack were considered a family.
It was not just those connected by blood.
Gray remembered that his mother, Denver, used to say the Bloodline was a binding spirit on its own, a thread that intertwined the fates of a pack as one.
It was their blessing, but could also be their curse.
Through the Bloodline, intense pain could be shared, and in the same manner, intense joy.
Right now, the kind of amalgamation of pain, sorrow, detachment and loneliness that assaulted his soul was primal.
It felt like it was his own, but he could tell that it wasn't.
Yes, it all belonged to another, it all belonged to their father.
With their good sense of smell, plus easily tracking the path that the older generation had taken, they finally saw it.
Just up in the distance, there were still in the middle of the ritual.
Instantly, Gray applied more pressure to his limbs, kicking even fiercer against the ground.
With his incredible eyesight, he could see the blood flowing from his father's body as well as smell the stench it gave. This excited from him an intense anger and the moment he arrived at the spot, he could no longer back that anger.
It rushed out of him, expressing itself in a loud GROWL.
It was so loud that even some of the weaker Werewolves found their legs going weak.
Everyone instantly froze as all eyes were directed towards Gray who had just made an entrance convincing of his nature.
After all, Gray had been the excuse, the reason for Ironclaw's dethronement.
Denver turned to her son. Her heart was filled with a mixture of both joy, and puzzlement, after all, like the others, she had been there, and Gray had not unlocked his Bloodline.
However, just now, that loud GROWL he gave was something else.
She was his mother and even she felt her blood shiver in response.
Such shiver was usually an instinctive reaction for when a much stronger Bloodline had shown itself.
However, considering that she was levels ahead of him in strength, her bloodline should not have reacted like that.
Even if Gray's bloodline was of the Unique grade like his elder brother Dan, it should not be able to move her's as it did.
After all, Dan's bloodline was a higher grade than her's but he could not suppress hers.
This was because Denver was of a higher level.
However, it was different when Gray roared.
The suppression she felt was ancient. It was obvious that his level was still low, but she felt beneath him.
It was like commoners standing in the presence of a sovereign.
Even though this sovereign was just a child, he was still a sovereign.
Whether it was as a mother or as a Werewolf, she did not know, but she knew at this moment that this son of her's was different.
The silence was for only a few seconds, but with the effect of his commanding growl, it felt like hours.
Gray turned to his father.
The cuts, bites and slashes peppered his skin so much that it was difficult to see any part that had been left intact.
From his face all the way to his knees, the pack had not been merciful in their dethronement of this proud Alpha.
Ironclaw's blood like a silent stream flowed ceaselessly.
Immediately Gray set his eyes on him, he stared in disbelief.
Cherry and Duster unable to hold back, ran to him.
"Papa!" They cried as rushed to hug him regardless of his bloody state.
Their grip on Ironclaw added immerse pain to his hurt. But Ironclaw did not stop them.
Tears watered down the children's eyes.
Gray on the other hand walked up to Ironclaw. Each step heavier than the next.
He could not believe what he was seeing.
After all, he had been in the dome when the first talk of his father's dethronement had been brought up.
All this time, this old man had always talked about family and the importance it had to him.
Gray had never taken him seriously. He had thought he was just an old man trying to teach his kids the right way.
However, there was no better proof of a man's conviction than the willingness to break his own skin and bones for what he believed in.
In Gray's life, or rather in his previous life, he had always been the one standing in front and the others behind.
He had always been the one leading and protecting those he cherished.
It was always his flesh and bones to be broken, and never ever had he regretted it.
This was because for him, it was duty and love for his people.
Even when they were those that betrayed his trust, he still did the same thing.
This, however, was the very first time that someone was stepping out for him.
This was the very first time that another person was showing such love.
To be at the other side was an entirely different feeling.
Gray stopped in front of the kneeling Dethroned Alpha.
"Papa..." this was the first time he said that word and it was not just a title.
"I'm... Sor..."
Gray did not finish his words before Ironclaw stretched his broad hands and pulled him into his embrace.
"Congratulations Gray, You finally unlocked your bloodline, that's my boy!"
Those words were pine needles sinking into Gray's heart.
His hands subconsciously embraced his father.
Ironclaw smiled at him as he roughed his head and kissed him on the forehead.
Gray surprisingly found himself smiling.
However, at this point, they was suddenly a sharp sound and an arrow racing through the air suddenly appeared from the back of Ironclaw's head....