It was a sunny morning.
David and Cynthia rode into the mountains on Snow Wolf, searching for a gray wolf pack.
Due to having only one snow wolf mount, Cynthia sat in the front while David held her from behind.
With Cynthia's petite frame of just over 1.5 meters, she fit snugly in his embrace.
David glanced at the stoic expression of the little fox girl in his arms and felt a bit relieved—she didn't seem to mind his touch.
With this in mind, he could take his time building her trust and affection until the right moment to make his move.
Snow Wolf let out a long howl, its pace quick and sure-footed.
Even as they traveled through snow-laden mountain trails, it moved with ease, relying on its keen nose to search for gray wolves.
As they entered the deeper parts of the mountains, Snow Wolf slowed, sniffing diligently for any trace of a pack.
Suddenly, a chirping bird flew down, landing on Cynthia's outstretched hand.
Cynthia closed her eyes and began communicating with it.
"There's a pack of gray wolves in the valley just ahead," she said with a smile.
Cynthia's unique ability to communicate with animals extended beyond extraordinary creatures like gray wolves to ordinary wildlife, proving invaluable.
David perked up. Dealing with an entire gray wolf pack required careful preparation.
Though he was a Tier 4 Frost Wolf Knight with the Frost Wolf Contract, contracting such a large group carried inherent risks.
When he first subdued the gray wolf king, it had taken a combination of surprise, Snow Wolf's strength, and a direct assault to succeed.
As they approached the wolf valley, David's enhanced sense of smell picked up the strong scent of wolves.
After orienting himself, he found an elevated vantage point. Below, in the heart of the valley, were over 300 gray wolves.
At the center of the pack, a strikingly white wolf lay—an extraordinary snow wolf and likely their leader.
Snow Wolf's ears perked up, its body trembling with excitement.
David chuckled at the wolf's enthusiasm. "Got your eyes on her, eh? Don't worry, I'll help you bring her home."
Snow Wolf wagged its tail furiously, its excitement evident.
David observed the terrain. The snow wolf was resting deep within the valley, beyond the main body of the pack. A stealthy approach might allow him to bypass the gray wolves and directly target the leader.
Once within range, he could use his Frost Wolf Contract to bind the snow wolf and, in doing so, gain control of the entire pack.
After careful navigation, David descended into the valley unnoticed.
The snow wolf, dozing in the sun, failed to detect his approach.
Channeling his Tier 5 Frost Wolf bloodline, David suppressed the snow wolf with his presence while simultaneously activating the Frost Wolf Contract.
Thanks to his recently enhanced spiritual strength, subduing this Tier 2 snow wolf was almost effortless.
Before the wolf could issue more than a startled howl, David successfully bound it.
When the gray wolves arrived, they found their leader already subdued, cowering before the human in submission.
The wolves hesitated, uncertain of what had transpired.
However, they recognized the undeniable aura of dominance emanating from David, a predator they couldn't hope to challenge.
The snow wolf, following its new master's command, turned and howled at the pack.
Though the wolves were initially unsettled, they eventually lowered their heads in deference to the snow wolf and its new master.
Satisfied, David led the subdued snow wolf to the valley's edge, where Cynthia and Snow Wolf were waiting.
"Success!" Cynthia cheered as David emerged, flanked by the snow wolf leader.
Snow Wolf growled proudly, puffing up its chest as it stood beside the smaller snow wolf.
Despite its usual stoicism, Snow Wolf now brimmed with confidence, reveling in its superior size and power.
The snow wolf, smaller and less dominant, hesitated before nuzzling closer to Snow Wolf.
Before David or Cynthia realized it, the two wolves had grown quite attached, their body language leaving little doubt about their intentions.
Cynthia's ears turned bright red as snippets of their "conversation" reached her sensitive ears. Unlike humans, these beasts were far more direct in their desires.
David, oblivious, noticed her flustered state. "Something wrong, Cynthia?"
"N-no, nothing!" she stammered, waving her hands.
David explained his next steps: they would begin basic training for the gray wolves in the valley before bringing them back to Frost Wolf Ridge.
Once at the Ridge, Cynthia and the snow wolf leader would oversee the wolves' further domestication.
Over the next few hours, David and Cynthia worked tirelessly to accustom the gray wolves to human presence.
Meanwhile, Snow Wolf and the newly subdued snow wolf had snuck off into the forest.
By the time David and Cynthia noticed their absence, the two were already engaged in a rather "playful" game of stack-up.
Cynthia's ears burned again as she silently swore off listening to animal conversations for the foreseeable future.
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