In the Sylvan Pack, tracking was a basic skill that everyone mastered, but the elders of the pack had advanced techniques that few knew about. When Adrian asked, a veteran guide agreed to teach him but warned him:
"Tracking is not just a candle; reading a whole story through the air, the ground, and the earth requires you to get your nose and your brain working together."
Phase One: Distinguishing Between Basic Connections and Odors
The training began by identifying the types of odors: body odor, sweat odor, emotional odor (fear, anger, joy), and the smell of a person's environment.
Adrian was asked to close his eyes and try to recognize nearby wolves only by their scent, without looking at them.
The training then progressed to include the ability to distinguish between a new and an old scent to determine if someone had just passed by.
Phase Two: Long-Distance Tracking
They took him to an area full of trees and shifting winds and told him that a wolf had passed through there two hours ago. He had to find his way using only his nose.
Adrian learned how to use the wind to his advantage, standing in the opposite direction to catch hidden scents.
Temperature and humidity affected the strength of a scent; a morning scent was different from one under the midday sun.
Phase Three: Tracking Individuals in Crowds
A group of wolves was brought in and mixed together, but there was one wolf with a specific scent that Adrian was asked to track.
This test was difficult, as the scents were mixed, and he had to concentrate deeply to isolate the desired scent among the dozens of others.
It took a couple of tries, but in the end, he succeeded, making the trainer smile and say, "You're learning fast, but you still have a long way to go."
Phase Four: Detecting Emotions Through Scent
The trainer asked him to approach several wolves, each of whom was hiding their true emotions. He had to identify which ones were afraid, which ones were angry, and which ones were trying to pretend to be strong.
This ability was important in battle, as he could tell when the enemy was afraid of confrontation and when they were about to pounce.
Adrian discovered that the scent of fear was sharp and quickly fading, while the scent of anger was hot and full of violent energy.
After a long day of training, Adrian was tired but satisfied. It wasn't just training; it was adding to his strength, and he knew that these skills could save him in the future—whether in finding his mate or surviving enemies stronger than him.
Before sunset, he left the pack with a new skill that could save his life.
---
After they walked away, they sat down to rest, but no sooner had they done so than a foul odor hit their noses... Rogues.
They immediately transformed into their wolf forms and stood on all fours, ready to attack. Two wolves emerged from the shadows, their gazes full of evil.
There was no time for words as the Rogues lunged forward. Sivak lunged at one of them, while Lux jumped at the other. A fierce battle ensued, ending with the Rogues dead and Arcon and Sivak slightly injured.
But what caught Adrian's attention was the mark that appeared on the shoulder of one of them when he returned to his human form... Ra'abad had drawn a hazelnut on his left eye.
Adrian realized he had seen this symbol before, but he couldn't remember where or when.
"We have to leave now; there might be more of them around."
Adrian nodded, still trying to remember.
They continued their journey until dawn, and as they approached the next border, a new herd appeared in front of them... Knox's herd.
But this time, the reception was not peaceful.
Surrounded by his wolves, the Alpha stood before them, fangs bared, ready to strike.
"There is no place for strangers here. Go back to where you came from," the Alpha said—more of a threat than a warning.
He and Arcon exchanged glances.
Adrian and Arcon moved back slightly, lowering their heads respectfully in front of the angry Alpha. He snarled in a low voice, reflecting his extreme nervousness, and it was clear that the situation in the pack was unstable. Neither of them tried to look directly into his eyes, as that would have been a direct challenge, which was the last thing they wanted right now.
The Alpha calmed down a bit at their behavior and then said firmly:
"Why are you approaching our borders? What do you want?"
Arcon replied in a calm voice, trying to defuse the situation:
"We apologize if we disturbed you, but we left our pack to look for our two companions, and we couldn't find any trace of them. So, we decided to pass by the other packs."
The Alpha looked at them appraisingly before speaking in a low but sharp voice:
"The situation here is not conducive to taking in outsiders. We have enough trouble already."
At that moment, Adrian smelled the scent of blood in the air. It wasn't strong, but it was clear enough to worry him. He turned his head slightly, trying to analyze where it was coming from, then said cautiously:
"I apologize if we're intruding... but I smell blood here. It's not old, but it's not fresh either. It looks like there are untreated injuries or bodies that haven't been buried yet. Perhaps we can help you... we're from the Click Pack."
The Alpha's expression immediately changed upon hearing the name of the pack. There was a friendship between him and Alpha Harlan. He looked more relaxed, then said:
"You are friends of ours, then... Alpha Harlan is a personal friend of mine. I apologize for receiving you like this. The guard will take you to the pack's headquarters, and I will join you shortly... there is something I need to check first."
---
The guard led them to an old building in the center of the pack and ushered them into a large room with a medium-sized desk, a library full of old books, and rugs that bore the marks of time. Adrian and Arcon sat on the couch, waiting for the Alpha, who was not long in arriving.
The Alpha entered with heavy steps, his eyes reflecting fatigue and tension. He sat down behind his desk, then said directly:
"I had hoped to receive you under better circumstances, but we are being repeatedly attacked by the Rogues, and we don't know the real reason behind it."
Adrian straightened up, his eyes narrowing in concentration:
"How many times has this happened?"
"Tonight was the second attack in less than a week. Each time, we lose some of our people, even though we are stronger than they are. But these attacks are not random... they have a purpose."
Adrian was silent for a moment before remembering what had happened to them before they arrived at this herd. He said:
"This is strange... Shortly before we arrived, we were attacked by two Rogues. We killed them, but I noticed a strange mark on one of them."
The Alpha raised an eyebrow in interest:
"What mark?"
"A tattoo on the left shoulder of a gray wolf with a scar over its left eye. I've seen it before, but I don't remember where or when."
As he finished, he was absentmindedly rummaging through his belongings, trying to recall something.
The Alpha's eyes widened for a moment before returning to his usual seriousness:
"This tattoo is not just an ornament... it is an ancient symbol belonging to an exiled group from Zorkan, a group said to have magical ways of controlling wolves and turning them into mindless killers."
Adrian stood up immediately:
"I want to see the bodies of the Rogues who attacked you. I need to see if they have the same mark."
The Alpha nodded, then said:
"Then follow me."