Sound of Silence

SOUND OF SILENCE – PART ONE: Chapter 1

Known as the strongest pack in the eastern part of the country, Silver Pack is home to the second mightiest warriors of the olden era. Until now, they still hold that title. They're not the biggest werewolves, but they're the fastest. That's their most redeeming point and they take pride in it.

Kristoff Rigodon, the current Alpha, has two sons to take the rightful seat as the leader of the pack once he retires. The first son, Kelvin, doesn't have any ambition to take the Alpha position. Secretly, he hides that thought.

The second son, Skylar, is more determined to take the Alpha's seat. He's more alert, more curious, self-assured, and evidently, since his childhood, the one that exuded more confidence and leadership skills than his brother.

One other thing that set the second son apart from his brother—his arrogance. Kelvin has always been down to earth, humble, and kind. Skylar, on the other hand, has displayed quite a few times, his dominance in such a way that it comes out hubristic. Girls seemed to be attracted by it though. They hover around the young man like bees on a flower.

As they grew up, Skylar became more and more the center of attention. Kelvin didn't mind. He loved his younger brother and not once he wished to vie for the title of an Alpha against him. Granted he is the eldest and direct heir of the Alpha, Kelvin believes age shouldn't dictate someone's social rank.

Among the youngsters of this pack, lives a unique werewolf that's become Kelvin's favorite friend. His name is Kinsley. He's two years younger than Kelvin, one year younger than Skylar.

Why is he unique?

"What's this?" The sixteen year old Kinsley asked his best friend when he was handed a box wrapped in red with a white ribbon on it.

Kelvin grinned and sat down next to the younger boy on a school bench behind the high school building. "Happy birthday!" He cheered.

Kinsley pursed his lips, feeling deeply touched by the gesture. No one has given him a birthday gift yet. He knew no one would.

"That's the only model I could afford with my own money." Kelvin said while pointing at the box. "When you're in trouble, you can use it. Call me right away."

Sheepishly, the birthday boy opened the box and found a small device—a mobile phone. A tear fell from his eye as he caressed the brand new gift. He's always wanted one but he's always too shy to ask the Alpha.

The Silver Pack Alpha runs a small company, the primary source of income for the whole pack. Every month, the members especially the non-working younglings would write their wish list and, if agreed by the council, the list can be approved, granting and buying whatever a young werewolf asks. Kinsley however has always kept to himself and not once tried to submit his own list.

"You may not be able to mindlink me, but now you can call." Kelvin wiped the tears that are now freely rolling down the younger boy's cheeks.

It's the thing Kinsley hated about himself. His uniqueness. He can't communicate with any of his pack members through their pack link. He had taken his wolf form when he was twelve, but still, he couldn't talk to anyone through the secret line called the pack link.

"Thank you,” he weakly uttered as he sniffled softly.

Kelvin pulled the birthday boy into a hug. "You're welcome. You're happy, right?" Kinsley nodded vigorously in response. "Good." The older boy chuckled.

From a distance, by one of the windows of the school building, someone is gritting his teeth. "Tsk. He's too happy and crying over an effing phone,” he muttered.

* * *

"The great deaf is here!" One young werewolf announced as Kinsley entered a large room for the monthly meeting of the aspiring hunters, trackers, and warriors, even healers of the pack. The pack members in this group are ages twelve to seventeen, who will soon be given their rank.

There is a monthly meeting and there's bi-weekly training in all areas—fighting, tracking, healing, and even academic tests. Kinsley has grown tired of his bullies so that every time he joins these affairs, he just ignores them. True, he's technically deaf. He can't hear anyone through their link. As a werewolf, that's a disability that made him an outcast.

The sixteen-year-old has lived this life of becoming the center of mockery since he had his premier shift at twelve. He's endured it all. Today, however, he felt that he might not be able to handle it well.

Kelvin is already turning eighteen. Although he didn't have to attend the meetings as a participant, the Alpha-to-be did for Kinsley. With no friend at his side, the young werewolf felt alone and scared.

He does do well in physical training but not on par with his peers. It's mostly because he's not only smaller; he also couldn't hear the instructions of their teachers once they're all in wolf forms.

Kinsley makes up for what he thinks he's lacking by excelling in academics. He figured, if he couldn't be classified as a tracker or a warrior, he could work outside the pack, as a hunter.

Pack members who work regular jobs outside the territory are called hunters. They sort of bring home the bacon and help the finances of the pack, the one big family.

Sitting on one of the chairs, Kinsley could only wonder how he'd be able to survive the training without getting too much attention—that is, getting bullied. He's sixteen now and age comes with harder training. But his bullies are relentless and growing up seemed to be but in their vocabulary.

Right now, the young werewolf is going to have a mock fight with a seasoned warrior from the pack. All of his peers had already shed off their clothes and shifted. He was the last. Kinsley's wolf, Asher, is a mixed brown one, a lot smaller than those his age. But he's very proud of him.

Asher is very fast. That is something he hasn't really shown to anybody yet. Except for Kelvin and his wolf, Tyr.

The brown wolf used his senses as the instructor announced the start of the sparring. Recognizing his opponent, a big copper-brown wolf named North, Asher felt relaxed. Ivan has been a warrior ever since he was fifteen. He heard about him turning eighteen soon and being the next in line to be the lead warrior of the pack. Kelvin had introduced him to Kinsley once.

North gave Asher a small nod. He was giving the smaller wolf the chance to land an attack. An offense. Asher dug his left paw, readied himself for a jump. Bare teeth and fangs, he lunged into his opponent. North watched the leap in awe as it sure was high for the smaller wolf's size. Asher landed into the bigger wolf only to be tackled onto the ground. He scratched his claws on North's underbelly but he couldn't get away.

The fight didn't end even after the instructor announced the victory to the bigger wolf. North had his fangs aimed on Asher's throat. That was the signal that the fight was decided.

Instead of accepting another partner to spar with, the bigger wolf poked his nose into Asher and let him get up. Challenging him for another, North began to circle the younger wolf. Asher, smaller that he was, revolved to his other methods—biting the legs then aim bigger as he goes.

At the end of the training sessions, the young werewolves were given their assessment once they've all shifted back and dressed. Kinsley got a very good praise from Ivan. He blushed as he was congratulated.

One spectator from afar wasn't liking any of it. "Fast. Ingenious. Tsk. But he's still deaf. He's useless."