I am the lowest-ranking, disabled wolf in the pack. Yet, I still manage to keep myself sleek and well-fed. My secret is simple: shamelessness. Every time Alpha Julian eats, I dare to stick my head right next to his jaws and snatch a piece of meat. Every wolf in the pack believes I will sooner or later be bitten to death or exiled by Julian. Only I know that Julian looks fierce, but he's actually just a paper tiger who only knows how to bare his teeth. Until the blizzard sealed the mountain, and rutting season arrived. In order to steal a bite to eat, I accidentally crawled into Julian's fully enclosed den. Those eerie green eyes lit up in the darkness, filled with a greed I had never seen before. He stepped on my tail, not taking human form, his voice hoarse and dangerous: "My dear Uncle Leo, you've been mooching off me for so many years... this time, which part of your meat are you planning to use to pay me back?" 1 I am the sole disgrace of this wolf pack in the far northern wilderness. Even the pups just weaned can chase rabbits in the snow. I can't. My front left leg was broken once, the bone never set right. I run with a limp, looking like a comical cripple. In this world where the strong prey on the weak, trash like me should have been thrown into an ice hole to feed the fish or eaten by other predators long ago. But I wasn't. Not only am I alive, I'm living better than anyone else. The midday sun shone on the snowfields as the hunting party returned. The massive black wolf at the head was a size larger than the average male. His fur was as black as ink, muscles taut, every step on the snow carrying a suffocating pressure. That was Julian. Our King. And currently, my biggest meal ticket. All the wolves lowered their heads submissively, lying on the ground to welcome the Alpha's triumphant return. Only I, dragging my crippled leg, trotted up to him obsequiously. "My King! You're back! Truly majestic, swallowing mountains and rivers with your presence!" I wagged my big, dusty gray tail, circling Julian with utmost flattery. Julian stopped, his cold, eerie green eyes looking down at me from above. In his mouth hung an ibex that had just breathed its last. That was the Alpha's trophy. According to the rules, only after the Alpha eats do the beta wolves get a turn, and the leftover bone scraps are for omega wolves like me. But I couldn't wait. I was hungry. I stared at that ibex, drooling uncontrollably. But I knew my limits. First, I rubbed my head against Julian's front leg, letting out a soft "awoo," and then, under the horrified gazes of all the wolves— I bit onto one of the ibex's hind legs. Yanked hard! It didn't budge. Julian was biting down tight. I drooped my head and looked at him, meeting those emotionless eyes. A threatening low growl rolled in his throat: "Grrr—" This was the Alpha's instinct to protect his food. The surrounding wolves stirred, all waiting for Julian to crush my skull with one paw. I was panicking inside too. But I was betting he wouldn't. So instead of letting go, I widened my eyes round. Putting on a shameless "even if you beat me to death I'm eating" face, I let out a pitiful "whimper" from my throat. A stalemate for three seconds. A flicker of extremely human helplessness passed through Julian's eyes. Then, he let go. I rolled backward with the momentum, hugging the leg of lamb bigger than me, and happily took a big bite. The scent of blood and meat exploded in my mouth. Julian snorted a jet of hot air from his nose, seemingly cursing something. But I didn't care. As long as I can eat meat, who needs dignity? 2 Actually, I wasn't always this shameless. Two years ago, when the old Alpha was still in power. I was the second-in-command of the pack, glorious and infinite. At that time, Julian was just a young, reckless kid who had just come of age. Although he was big, he was withdrawn and antisocial. I bullied him quite a bit back then. Relying on my seniority, I loved to pull rank in front of him, ordering him around. "Hey, Blackie, go scout the path ahead." "Hey, Little Black, this meat is too tough, I won't eat it, you take it." How arrogant I was back then. Until that tragic "Battle for the Throne." A pack of rogue male wolves invaded, and the old Alpha died in battle. We were losing ground. Seeing the pack facing extinction, Julian stood up. He fought like his life didn't matter, literally biting the enemy leader half to death. At the critical moment, an enemy wolf tried to sneak attack Julian. I don't know what wire crossed in my brain at that moment. Maybe I felt it would be a pity if this kid died, or maybe it was the sense of responsibility as the second-in-command acting up. I rushed over. Took the hit for him. The price was my front left leg was ruined. That bite severed my tendon and damaged the bone. From the high and mighty second-in-command, I instantly fell to the bottom, becoming a cripple who couldn't even catch a rabbit. Julian became the new King. According to our wolf pack's tradition, useless trash doesn't deserve to live. But when I woke up, I found myself lying in Julian's den. He was licking my wounds. Seeing me awake, he said coldly: "Not dead?" I grimaced in pain: "Almost." From then on, my status became very awkward. I was a bottom-tier wolf, but I lived closest to the Alpha. I was useless, but I ate better than anyone. Everyone said Julian was a loyal and righteous Alpha, repaying a debt of gratitude. I deeply agreed. And I decided to "squeeze" this gratitude to the very end. 3 Recently, my days haven't been going too well. Because winter has arrived. The winter in the far north is cold enough to freeze piss into icicles. My injured leg hurts like hell in this weather. Also, I found Julian acting a bit strange lately. He's become very irritable. Before, when I snatched food from his mouth, he would at most snort. Now he stares at me with those deep, heavy eyes, staring until my back bristles. Once, when I was eating happily, I felt a scorching gaze. I looked up to find Julian staring at my butt. Like he was looking at a juicy piece of meat. I was so scared the bone fell out of my mouth. I suspect he's getting sick of me. After all, gratitude has an expiration date. I've been mooching off him for two years; he must think I'm a burden. Plus, food is scarce now. He must be planning how to kick me out, or... eat me for nourishment. A sense of crisis arose spontaneously. I must save myself. I need to find a "next partner." Preferably someone with a good temper, who, although can't beat Julian, can at least protect me, warm my bed, and bring me food. I locked my eyes on the third-in-command of the pack, a male wolf named "Grey." Grey is an honest wolf with a mild personality and has always been polite to me. Most importantly, he is a beta wolf. He doesn't have the suffocating pressure of an Alpha, but has the strength to protect me. After making up my mind, I acted. While Julian was out patrolling the territory, I limped over to Grey's side. Grey was gnawing on a frozen piece of deer hide. I leaned in, sweeping the tip of my tail across his nose. "Hi, Brother Grey." Grey jumped, dropping the hide from his mouth: "S-Second Boss? Something up?" I blinked my big eyes: "I see this hide is too tough, how can you eat it? I have a piece of tender meat stashed away, how about... come to my place to eat?" Grey was flattered: "Th... that wouldn't be good, right? That's what the King gave you..." "It's fine, the King isn't here." I hinted: "We can partner up in the future. Although I can't run, my brain works fine. I can teach you how to hunt with the least effort." Grey scratched his head honestly: "Really?" "Truer than gold!" Just as I was about to succeed in my con and trick Grey back to my little den. A dark shadow loomed over us. The temperature dropped sharply. My tail tucked, I turned my head stiffly. Julian had returned at some point. He stood on a high rock, backlit so I couldn't see his expression clearly. I could only see those eerie green eyes staring dead at Grey, low thunder rolling in his throat. That was a sign of extreme anger. Grey was instantly scared into airplane ears, lying on the ground shivering, then scrambled away: "King! I was wrong! I didn't do anything!" "..." Watching Grey's retreating back, I cursed ten thousand times in my heart. Julian jumped down, walking step by step in front of me. His massive shadow covered me completely. He lowered his head, hot breath spraying on my face, carrying a smell of blood and some indescribable thick musk. "Partner up?" "Find him?" "What about me?" Three questions stumped me. I swallowed, instinctively wanting to retreat, but my legs were weak and I couldn't move. "That... I was just joking." I immediately put on my signature ingratiating smile, rubbing my head against his chin: "I just wanted to tease that fool. In this pack, who can be more majestic and domineering than you? How could I look at him!" Julian didn't speak. He stared at me for a long time, resentment soaring to the sky. Finally, he sneered. "Stay away from him from now on." "If I smell another wolf on you again..." He bared his fangs, his claws making a vague gesture at my neck. "I'll bite off your leg. The other one." I shuddered, nodding frantically: "Got it, got it! I promise to keep myself pure as jade!" 4 Although Julian let me go, the crisis in my heart grew heavier. That was a threat just now, right? Definitely a threat! He doesn't want me to find another partner, does he want to keep me as reserve food? Too sinister! For the next few days, Julian watched me even more closely. I was like a prisoner under house arrest. Moreover, the weather was getting colder and colder, and a blizzard was coming. The scariest thing was, I found Julian's scent getting heavier and heavier, making me dizzy. Other wolves in the pack stayed far away. Even the few female wolves in heat dared not approach. I knew this was a male wolf's "rut." Male wolves at this time lose all reason and act on instinct, extremely dangerous. I must hide far away. But the problem is, I'm hungry. The blizzard sealed the mountain, no prey. My stash was long eaten. Thinking of fat rabbit legs, tender venison, fish in the ice lake... Saliva started to flow disappointingly again. I lay in the cold cave, looking at the snowstorm filling the sky outside, feeling desolate. Am I, Leo the Moocher, a hero of a generation, going to starve to death here? No way. I have to eat something. I thought of Julian's den. As the Wolf King, his den must be stocked with the best food. And I observed, Julian went out just now, probably to vent excess energy. This is a golden opportunity! Wealth comes from danger! Dragging my crippled leg, braving the wind and snow, I quietly sneaked towards Julian's den. That was the driest, most spacious cave at the highest point of the cliff.
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