A Package Deal

After a few minutes, Mateus collected himself and returned the Alpha to the tattoo. It was a curious sight to see - the chain retracted into his leg and the large beast shrunk down and vanished into his skin.

"Stop wasting time, kid! Bring out the pack!" The captain exhorted firmly, and Mateus nodded quickly.

"A Pack needs to be examined as a group, so we will use the large machine." The operator stated, feigning calm, and set about getting it ready.

Once the machine was prepared, Mateus summoned out the Pack with a thought. Eight beasts jumped out of his leg and arranged themselves around him warily. The female wolves stood beside him like guard hounds, eyeing the captain with caution, while the male cats pretended leisure by lazing before and behind Mateus. Their eyes were sharp with attention, though, ready to act at any moment.

The Pack may have Submitted, but at heart they would always be wild, ferocious beasts.

"Are you confident of keeping these Beasts controlled during the test?" The operator asked worriedly, and Mateus shook his head. How could he be confident trying to control beasts that nearly killed him? "Then you should join them inside the machine."

Mateus nodded, and ordered the pack to step into the large machine with him. After a few minutes, the results were out, and Mateus returned the pack to their home.

"This is curious. According to these results, all your pack members are hybrids that share traces of the Shadow Cat bloodline. The females have Leaping Wolf, Timber Claw Hound, and the female with vestigial wings has a trace of Celestial Wolf. With proper nurturing, this could become an Atavism. By contrast, the males are more mixed, with the only shared bloodline being Cloud Stalker. The individuals have Blazing Tiger, Flying Leopard, and burrow Lynx. The male with fangs possesses a trace of Basilisk bloodline, which could also become an Atavism, but it isn't recommended. Basilisks are generally snakes or lizards - the awakening of these traits could cause mutilation and death from incompatibility. As a pack, they do not give shared abilities to their contractor. Pack Abilities include Pack Tactics, Obedience, Hunting, Den Making, Breed Pairs, Howl, Roar, Shadow Stalk and Hiding. Individual Abilities are Venom Bite, High Leap, Grow Trees, Half Flight, Burning Claw, Earthquake, and Cooperation."

"Not too bad for hybrids." The captain nodded, then dragged Mateus away to get assigned to a proper position within the guards.