Alpha Dark Different

Adrian looked at the bodies, trying to ignore the foul odor piercing his nostrils. His eyes focused on the arms, where a familiar tattoo stood out— a mysterious inscription that stirred a strange feeling within him. He frowned as if confronting a memory lost in the darkness of his mind.

He approached the Alpha and asked seriously,

"Those who attacked you before... did they have tattoos?"

The Alpha was silent for a moment, then, trying to remember, said,

"I think I saw it on one of them last time. Did you come up with anything?"

Adrian ran his fingers over one of the tattoos, his eyes narrowing in concentration. This symbol... he had seen it before. Not just on the wolves that had attacked them, but somewhere else— in an old memory, or perhaps in a passing conversation. He was trying to connect the dots, but the picture was not yet clear.

He addressed the Alpha,

"It's the same tattoo that was on the wolves that attacked us. Someone is organizing them, and I think this tattoo symbolizes that. I feel like I've seen it or heard about it before..." Adrian said in a low voice, as if the words were surfacing from the depths of his memory.

He was deep in thought while Arcon turned to the Alpha and said confidently,

"We can help you eliminate them if they attack again."

The Alpha shook his head firmly,

"Thank you, but we prefer to defend our territory ourselves, without help from anyone."

He gestured for them to follow him.

"Come with me. We'll eat first, then you'll do what you came for and be on your way."

Adrian and Arcon exchanged glances before following the Alpha. Adrian had a strange feeling that this tattoo was not just a mark, but a key to something bigger... something that could change his entire destiny.

They arrived at the pack house and entered the dining hall, where everyone was waiting for the Alpha to enter before eating. As soon as the Alpha stepped in, all eyes shifted toward Arcon and Adrian, watching them with curiosity. It was clear that strangers were unfamiliar to them, but nonetheless, the Alphas welcomed them into the pack.

As they finished eating, the Alpha spoke up,

"The girls who haven't found a mate are waiting in the designated place. The rest are outside."

Everyone followed the Alpha's orders, and all but the unmated girls left. They began circling around Adrian and Arcon, studying their faces intently, yet their efforts remained unsuccessful, just as before. None of them found a mate.

Adrian looked at the Alpha and said,

"Thank you for taking us in despite everything you're going through. We owe you. If there's anything we can do to help, don't hesitate to let us know. The entire pack won't forget what you've done for us."

The Alpha smiled slightly and replied,

"There's no need for that. I told you before, Alpha Harlan is a close friend of mine, and anyone close to him is welcome among us. Besides, we can defend our territory without help."

As they walked through the pack's exit corridors, the Alpha suddenly stopped and looked at Adrian,

"By the way, I heard that the Klek pack has a special ability to detect lies through scent... Can you do that?"

Adrian paused for a moment before replying slowly,

"I'm not an expert yet... but I can try."

The Alpha smiled lightly, then said,

"Then you have a chance to practice. We have a prisoner from the Ragers, but he won't talk. Maybe you can find out if he's lying or not."

This was a new challenge for Adrian, but he felt a spark of excitement inside. He may not have mastered the skill yet, but this opportunity could be the first step toward a new power— one that might one day save him.

Adrian felt strangely relieved, as if the opportunity had come at the right time. He knew this challenge would give him a chance to develop his abilities. As he followed the Alpha toward the prison, he tried to recall everything he had read or learned about the ability to detect lies through scent. It was a mysterious power, but he knew that his senses were unusually developed compared to other wolves.

They arrived at the prison, where the captive lay on the floor, bound and covered in blood. The Alpha stood beside him and said in a deep voice,

"This is the prisoner. We've tried to make him talk, but he refuses. Perhaps you can find out if he's lying."

Adrian took a deep breath, focusing his senses. The air was thick with the scent of blood, but other smells were mixed in— fear, anxiety— making it hard to distinguish them. But as he concentrated, he sensed something unusual.

He stepped closer to the captive and focused on his scent. His mind raced with doubts and questions. There was an unfamiliar odor— one that hinted at guilt and confusion. But what did it mean? Was he lying, or hiding something much bigger?

Adrian asked the captive sternly,

"Why are you attacking us? Who is behind you?"

As the captive lifted his gaze, Adrian felt a sudden shift in the atmosphere. The scent of fear began to fade, replaced by something more pronounced. The captive's body relaxed slightly, as if his tension had eased. Then Adrian noticed it— a faint scent, barely perceptible, yet strangely distinct from all the others.

This wasn't just a simple lie. It was something more intricate— a deception woven into a much larger scheme. Adrian's heart pounded as he realized this could be the first step in unraveling a greater mystery.

Taking a step forward, his eyes locked onto the captive.

"You know something you're not saying," Adrian said in a firm tone, analyzing every movement, every breath.

The captive remained silent, avoiding direct eye contact. But Adrian wasn't just listening to his words— he was watching his body language, his hesitations, the smallest movements that revealed more than words ever could. A faint scent drifted from his breath— subtle yet sharp, an unmistakable sign of hidden tension.

"Why don't you talk?" Adrian pressed, trying to push the captive into breaking his silence.

But the captive kept his lips sealed, his eyes closing as if trying to shut out the truth Adrian was beginning to uncover.

As Adrian's concentration deepened, he sensed something strange— another scent approaching from afar. It was unlike anything he had experienced before, yet something about it felt eerily familiar...

"The tattoo."

At that moment, Adrian's memory clicked. The tattoo he had seen on the wolves… on the captive… It all connected to the uneasy feeling he'd had from the start. This wasn't just a random attack— there was something bigger behind it.

He paused before turning to the Alpha,

"I think I'm starting to understand. This isn't just an attack. They're following someone. There's an organization behind them."

The Alpha's expression hardened, sensing the weight of Adrian's words.

"Who do you mean?" he asked, his voice carrying a note of concern.

"The talk of an army with those tattoos has always been dismissed as an old wives' tale with no basis in fact," the Alpha muttered, but his gaze suggested he wasn't so sure anymore.