Renegade's Dominion

Ty observed the path. The journey to and from the stream was absurdly far. By human stride, it would take a day and a half just to arrive, not even factoring in the return. Yet in his wolf form, alongside the pack, it barely took thirty minutes for the full round trip.

"Yeah... wolf form is definitely a game-changer."

He couldn't help but be continually impressed by what came with his new bestial body. The speed, the strength, the senses, each feature only reinforced the value of his transformation. That alone had been enough for Ty to reconsider how he treated the wolf pack that had accepted him. To view them as mere beasts, monsters, or dumb animals would be a disservice.

And so, he'd built a proper shelter for the four of them, positioned just beside his own. Initially, his intention was to craft two distinct huts: one for the female wolves, and another for the males. But that idea… "That's just straight-up discrimination," he had mumbled aloud. Though, if he was being honest, it wasn't fairness that changed his mind. Laziness won out.

After finishing the first den, he found his motivation completely drained. On Earth, his days had been consumed by endless work and rigid schedules. Why carry that same burden here, in a world that didn't demand it? Why strain himself when no one could force him to?

That thought alone had made him drop the hammer and wood.

Besides, the wolves hadn't shown a single sign of complaint. Not that they would, even if they could. Their respect for Ty wasn't feigned, it was woven into the very way they looked at him, listened to him, followed him. In fact, they didn't just regard him as an alpha, but something greater.

The title of elder held a deeper reverence. Apparently, an elder was once a pack's alpha, retired, but not forgotten. Respected for wisdom, deferred to for guidance. As the one who named them, and led them since their rebirth, Ty's place in their hierarchy was immovable. His position wasn't just earned, it was etched in stone.

"A bright morning indeed."

The sun had only just broken through the canopy when he finally stirred, rising far later than what most would consider reasonable. But who could scold him now? Rejection had its perks. He grinned, rubbing the back of his neck as he stepped out into the mild light. If the Goddess hadn't thrown him away, would he have ever known peace like this?

He couldn't imagine slaving away under her commands or serving some divine agenda. Just the thought of it sent a shiver through him. He stretched his limbs slowly, a yawn escaping his lips, and his gaze caught something odd ahead, a peculiar scene unfolding not far from his home. The distance wasn't vast, and despite the trees between, he could still make out movement.

He had considered clearing out the surrounding woodland to create a buffer zone for visibility and space. But after some thought, he scrapped the plan. An open area would make him too exposed, an easy target if danger ever came knocking. Not that it ever had. Since the day he first encountered the Blumund wolves, no other being had crossed his path.

No matter how often he wandered or hunted with the pack in his lupine form, he never ran into any new creatures. It was as if the forest deliberately avoided him. And that theory, as bizarre as it sounded, might not have been far from the truth.

The wolf pack often came back from their solo hunts with kills aplenty. Yet, when Ty ventured out alone, he found nothing. No tracks. No sounds. Not even a whisper of a presence.

"Could it be that I stink so badly even monsters don't consider me worth the trouble?" he muttered, curiosity overtaking his initial irritation as he made his way toward the distant disturbance.

He couldn't exactly be blamed if that were the case. Since waking up in this world, he hadn't had the luxury of a real bath. Sure, he'd washed himself and his clothes in the stream, but it didn't compare to an actual soak, with soap and warm water. His standards had dropped drastically.

Still, sooner or later, he'd have to start reaching beyond the forest's edge. He hadn't made it a priority, too focused on adapting to his new life, settling in. But eventually, the unknown would come calling.

Before he could approach the clearing, Bertha darted into view, standing directly in his path. Her sudden appearance startled him, but what caught his attention was her body language. She leapt repeatedly, her movements frantic and urgent.

"Intruders?" Ty guessed, deciphering the nonverbal message from her behavior.

Yet another unexpected gift, he could now understand the wolves' intent and emotions without needing words. A subtle change, but a meaningful one. She had rushed to warn him before he stumbled blindly into a situation.

His pace quickened.

This would be the first encounter with other beings aside from his pack and the notion stirred something inside him. A mix of caution and a dangerous sort of thrill. Finally, something different. Something new. Whether it was trouble or not, he'd soon find out.

As he arrived and took in the sight, he didn't feel fear or anger. No, what surged through him was an almost childlike giddiness. It took every ounce of restraint not to squeal with excitement.

He cleared his throat, trying to compose himself. "Ahem... Ahem." A deep breath. "What brings you to my home?"

He wasn't even sure if the beings could speak.

They looked primitive, savage even, at least by what stories he recalled. But there was intelligence in their posture, in the way they remained still and attentive. He probably should have been worrying about whether there'd be a language barrier.

Then one of them spoke.

"W-We apologize, great one. We didn't mean to trespass upon your sacred grounds."

Ty's eyes widened slightly. 'So I can understand them,' he thought, not bothering to hide his pleasant surprise. Their speech, though slightly trembling, was clear and understandable.

Behind him, the wolves emerged from the brush, gathering silently, protectively. Kaiden stepped in front of him, hackles raised, lips curled in a quiet snarl, fangs bared and ready for the slightest sign of hostility.

"It's alright," Ty said calmly, holding a hand out to keep the pack at ease. "All is well."

He turned back to the strangers. "Just tell me, what brings a group of goblins to my doorstep this early in the morning?"