The howl rang through the air, requesting for him and a spar of annoyance shot through the Roman's body. What was it with wolves summoning him all the time nowadays, couldn't they learn to deal with their own problems on their own. He was running a pack here, for Jupiter's sake, he didn't need to worry about their petty little troubles. Shadow lifted his hind leg and sprayed his scent on the borderline, masking his irritation and frustration with his indifferent, impassive mask and a faint smirk decorating his features. It was the welsh female, Crëyr that had called for him, a note of urgency in her tone. A newcomer? Perhaps so, or she wouldn't have called for him.

Elegance, etherealness and graceful were words to describe the Imperator now, head held high, tail held dominantly over his hindquarters, sterling eyes bright, cold and harsh. His stance proud and strong, lithe and muscular, he strode up to the two females, chuffing a greeting to Crëyr as he stepped in front of her to take charge of the situation. An agouti female with blue green eyes stood, he scanned her, analyzed her with calculating platinum eyes. The faint smirk was the only emotion on his face, the rest indifferent and impassive revealing nothing. "I assume this is why you have called for me?" he said to Crëyr without glancing at her, the Roman's gaze kept on the stranger.

Shadow took a few steps forward, his gaze never unwavering, his stance demanding subordination and respect from the female. "Why have you come by my borders?" he asked softly with a slight cant of his head. It was obvious that he did not want his gray packmate to speak, but rather for the agouti recruit to speak for herself. Hadrian did not want wolves who need others to speak for them, he wanted strong, confident ones and that was the first test she would have to past.

His only reaction to Crëyr leaving was a brief flick of his tail, sharp platinum gaze still on the cinnamon female. She submitted accordingly although not as much as she could have done, he still accepted it, after all, that was better than nothing. "I am in need of a home and was curious if you could give me that. In return i offer the ability to hunt and care for myself. I can do any chore you ask of me if you give me a spot in your ranks." the female spoke, adding that her name was Nikita. The Imperator did not speak, instead analyzed her for a bit more, gaze scanning her up and down, back and forth before he began speaking.

”I do not care if you can hunt and care for yourself, I do not care if you can do any chore I ask you to do. This pack is a family, we are united, we are strong because we do not do things for ourselves but for everyone in the pack. You will hunt for the pack before yourself, care for your packmates before yourself, think about others before yourself. I ask of this of every member of my pack.” he spoke in his trademark soft voice, his tone icy and eyes harsh. Shadow took another step closer.

"What other skills do you have to offer to Noctisardor Bypass. Or is caring for yourself the best you can do?" his tone betrayed nothing, emotionless and cold even if his words were sarcastic and biting. So far, she was not passing the first part of the test, Nikita would have to work harder to gain acceptance among the ranks of the Bypass. Shadow was not those Alphas that immediately accepted all wolves without questioning them, he chose them specifically and made sure they were hardworking and loyal. No, it was easy to get into Noctisardor Bypass, if you were hardworking, loyal, strong and caring to packmates.

He knew Paar wanted to have pups, planned to have children, their children but he wasn't so sure. He felt as if he would make a terrible father, like his own. Brutal, merciless, cruel and probably wouldn't even care about them. Duty before anything was the quote for a lot of Romans, most Romans. Duty before family, before love, before friendship, everything and he knew he was slowly becoming one of them. It wasn't wrong, he supposed, made him more of a real Roman in a way but he didn't want to be a cold heartless wolf. Shadow wanted to be different, he was a leader now, an Imperator and though he was running Noctisardor Bypass like a Roman pack, he was more lenient to them. To everyone, the slaves, the captives etc. He wanted to be better, he did not show his emotions easily and when he did, it was extremely rare, preferring to hide them behind his either emotionless and indifferent mask or his snarky, arrogant sarcastic ones. Only his brothers and sisters, he let them see through it and now Paar could too.

"I am good with children sir. I was always a caretaker for my birth pack's pups." His expression did not change, remaining impassive and indifferent as he gazed at her with icy platinum orbs. "Are you?" he said in a soft, ice-edged tone. "Well, Nikita. It just happens to be that, we do not have children here and probably won't for a long time. Do you have any other better skills to offer my pack? Or are those all you possess?" Again, his words biting and full of sarcasm but his tone never changed, always soft, seemingly dangerous and bored.

Shadow did not need caretakers at the moment, he needed hunters, protectors, warriors for wintertime. He needed healers in case Paarthurnax was sick or something, the last thing he needed were caretakers. He needed diplomats, ambassadors, he needed able bodied wolves for the upcoming season. The Imperator knew that winter would be hard on some southern wolves, like his wife for example. He, himself did not care, as a wolf of the North, he was used to the harsh cold winters and he was sure the captive barbarian russian, Vector was too. They would be able to help. But other than that, were they the only wolves from the North? The descendant of Jupiter decided to ask all of them later, check their abilities and assign them their jobs when the time came.

The Roman shook his head, "I am busy and I do not have time to deal with wolves who have no potential. Come again when you have your tongue and skills back." With that, he turned and went away, harsh but it was the life of a wolf.