The supreme dao

A little child was found at the border of a certain pack, a poor child two weeks old, but everything else didn't matter as the beta of the pack decided to adopt him since they didn't have one of their own.

The world outside the den was a mystery to young Aric Tanner, but one that beckoned him with every breath. The moment his tiny body first felt the pull of the fresh morning air, his instincts stirred, pulling him toward the den's edge, where the scents of the forest swirled. The walls of the cave, though comforting, could not contain the boundless curiosity that burned inside him.

The day of his birth rites came and went swiftly, the pack gathering in solemn celebration. The weight of tradition hung heavy in the air as Aric was lifted before them, the name "Aric Tanner" spoken with reverence. The eyes of the pack were upon him, their whispers of envy swirling in the air like an unspoken current. As he was raised to face the skies.

Each day, as soon as his mother's watchful eyes softened with rest, Aric would wriggle toward the light. The forest called to him with a thousand new mysteries, each whispering through the trees, the scent of damp earth and wildflowers mingling with the tang of pine needles. He couldn't yet understand what they were, but his young nose flared at each discovery, imprinting their importance into his mind.

**What is out there?** The thought bloomed in his head, small and fragile at first, but growing stronger each time he stretched his tiny limbs toward the unknown. The world beyond the den was vast, and though he didn't yet understand its rules, he was already beginning to feel them tugging at the edges of his consciousness.

His mother's presence, ever close, brought with it safety and warmth. Her scent was a familiar one, full of love and protection. But even as he curled beside her, feeling the steady rhythm of her breathing, he could hear the distant rustle of the forest. It was as if the wild itself was calling to him, a quiet song that stirred something ancient and primal in his tiny chest. Every so often, his bright eyes would flicker open, and he'd peer toward the entrance of the den, where shadows danced in the moonlight, beckoning him closer.

He could hear his father's deep voice from afar, sometimes echoing from the heart of the domain. Though Aric couldn't yet make out the words, he recognized the weight of them-the pride, the authority, the strength that rolled off his father like waves of power. When his father returned to the den, his broad shadow filling the entrance, Aric's small ears would twitch in anticipation. He could smell the forest clinging to his father's fur, the scents of the wild stronger and more intoxicating than anything he'd experienced at the den's edge.

The moment his father cradled him in his powerful arms, Aric would nestle into the warmth, but his thoughts remained on the world beyond. His father would speak to him in a low rumble, voice brimming with stories of the pack-of the elders, the legacy of their kind, the traditions that would one day shape Aric's path. The words were a blur of sound to Aric, but the meaning behind them settled deep into his bones, making his small body quiver with something unfamiliar yet undeniable.

Even at such a young age, Aric could feel the weight of expectation. When his father spoke, the pack listened, as he was second only to the Alpha, their eyes full of respect. But when they looked at Aric, their gazes shifted to something more-an envy, a longing that the young cub couldn't yet understand. He could sense it, though. A ripple of significance followed him everywhere, as though he was destined for something more than even his young mind could grasp.

When he returned to his mother's side, curling into the warmth of her body, his thoughts remained on the stars. The call of the night, of the wild, was too strong to ignore. One day, he thought, as sleep finally claimed him. One day, I'll be part of it.**

Time moved slowly in the early days of Aric's life, but each passing moment brought new sensations, new lessons. His father would often take him deeper into the heart of their territory, where the trees stood tall and proud, their branches casting long shadows in the moonlight. Though Aric was still too small to walk beside him, he could feel the strength of the land, the pulse of the pack's territory running through the earth beneath them.

The elders would gather there, their ancient eyes watching as the older wolves trained, shifting and running with the rhythm of the forest. Aric's eyes followed their movements with intense focus, his young mind absorbing every detail. He could feel the pull of the change inside him, the way his bones ached with the promise of what was to come. **I'm not ready yet, he would think, but soon, and in the were world you could only shift on your coming of age.

Despite his youth, Aric's curiosity often led him to sneak away from his mother's side. He would crawl to the edge of their den, where the forest's scent was strongest. Mimicking the older pups, he would close his eyes and breathe deeply, trying to distinguish the myriad smells of the forest. The earthy aroma of moss, the sweet scent of blooming flowers, and the musky odor of animals filled his senses, each one a new discovery.

One evening, as the pack gathered for a moonlit ceremony, Aric ventured further than ever before. He toddled through the underbrush, his tiny fingers brushing against the rough bark of ancient trees. The sounds of the pack's chanting echoed in the distance, but Aric was lost in his own world of exploration. He stumbled upon a clearing bathed in silver light, the moon hanging low in the sky. For a moment, he felt a connection to the vast wilderness around him, a promise of adventures yet to come.

These stolen moments in the forest, though brief, were a testament to Aric's budding spirit and determination. Each day brought new experiences, shaping him for the path that lay ahead. In the heart of the Asphalt Were Pack's territory, a young werewolf's future was quietly unfolding, marked by the scents and stories of the ancient woods.