Bloodclot City, Wolf Fort. →
The head of the Ironclaw Family, Da Vinci Ironclaw, was at death's door. As a werewolf, he should have had a limitless lifespan, but Dexal's Curse ensured that no member of the Ironclaw Family lived past two hundred.
He knew he was dying, so he summoned every member of the family to hear his will.
As one of Bloodclot City's four great families, the Ironclaw Family could not be allowed to fall into chaos. He had already decided that his eldest son, Bairangpu Ironclaw, would succeed him as head of the family.
Bairangpu was tall and handsome. Of all his sons, he had the finest combat skills and the best control over the bloodline within him.
Werewolf blood gave them powerful vitality, unmatched healing, and lifespans far beyond those of ordinary people. Without Dexal's Curse, they could have lived forever.
But werewolf blood had its flaws. Young werewolves were often hot-tempered because of the blood stirring within them, and could even lose their reason to rage.
The Ironclaw Family's falling-out with the Fang Family had begun with quarrels among the younger generation. Those conflicts had slowly piled up until the two families became enemies.
Bairangpu's greatest strength was his good sense. He could always restrain himself, and even after taking werewolf form, he was not easily angered. Da Vinci believed that under Bairangpu's leadership, the Ironclaw Family would rise to greatness again and become the strongest family in all of Bloodclot City.
Members of the Ironclaw Family arrived one after another, each wearing a look of grief and reluctance to say goodbye.
Da Vinci Ironclaw looked over his children. When he still could not find Bairangpu, he asked, "Where's Bairangpu?"
"Bairangpu went hunting with Gotra of the Spirit-Scent Family," answered Da Vinci's second son, William