Superstar 832
by CristaeAfter finishing his YouTube livestream, Seo-jun ate breakfast and headed to the action training center.
It was time to shift gears back to the movie.
“Welcome, Jun.”
“Hello.”
Having grown closer to the trainers during the party, Seo-jun greeted them with a smile. After changing into his training gear, he began stretching to warm up safely. His long limbs stretched and bent with fluid flexibility.
“You’re early, Jun.”
“Hey, Jun.”
As the other actors began arriving, Seo-jun greeted them and asked,
“How’s everyone feeling?”
Looking especially energized—whether from a day off or the love from fans—Seo-jun’s presence sent every actor’s survival instincts into overdrive.
Run!!
“…Suddenly, I think I pulled something in my back.”
“My leg’s acting up…”
“You’re all okay? Great! Let’s get started!”
“…He doesn’t even listen anymore.”
The actors exchanged weary looks as Seo-jun smiled radiantly. Just then, a new voice chimed in.
“Can I join the training too?”
It was Hailey Lodge.
Seo-jun, who had been smiling at the thought of another fun day of training, widened his eyes in surprise.
“Hailey? Weren’t you joining us next week?”
According to the schedule, she wasn’t expected to start until the following week.
Hailey, already in her training gear, replied with a grin,
“I always intended to start around now. This is my first time doing real action scenes, so I wanted to be fully prepared.”
She had already arrived early in L.A. with that intention (and managed to attend Seo-jun’s birthday party), but hearing everyone at the party talk about their intense training convinced her she should join in right away.
“And as the female lead, I figured I should work even harder.”
Seo-jun’s eyes sparkled.
A hardworking actor—he loved it!
“Then let’s work even harder today!”
Dan Kendrick patted Seo-jun’s shoulder and said,
“Jun, Hailey’s a beginner. Don’t start her off with something too difficult.”
As the other actors nodded in agreement, Seo-jun smiled brightly.
“Not Hailey.”
“…Huh?”
“I mean us. If the witch is working hard, then we werewolves have to work harder!”
!!
Their survival instincts screamed louder.
Run! Help! Flee!
“Alright! Let’s begin!”
Help!!
A few days later, in the middle of another training session—
“The director’s here.”
Director Wilma Evans appeared at the center.
She sometimes visited to offer advice or pull someone aside to chat, so the actors didn’t think much of it and continued training.
But today was different.
“Could everyone gather, please?”
With a warm smile, Director Wilma called over Seo-jun, Hailey, and the other actors.
What’s going on?
They tilted their heads and walked over.
“I’d like you all to come with me.”
“All of us?” Brian Gudell asked.
“Yes,” Wilma nodded.
The actors looked at each other and shrugged before following her. Since no one had been told in advance, it probably wasn’t a shoot or anything far.
As expected, Wilma led them deeper into the center.
Saaa—
Sunlight streamed in, wind rustled the green leaves, insects buzzed, and the scent of grass filled the air.
Tall trees, wild grass, the hum of nature, and patches of mechanical equipment interspersed throughout the clearing.
It was the outdoor training area—Zone G.
“Wow, there’s a place like this too?”
Hailey, still new to action films and the center itself, looked around in awe. Seo-jun smiled as he took in the fresh air.
“Some productions require outdoor scenes, so we sometimes train here. I haven’t had a chance to yet, though.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, I’ve only peeked in from time to time.”
He’d always wanted to train here one day.
Maybe this was the day.
‘New Eclipse does have forest scenes, after all.’
“Are we going to train here from now on, Director?”
Dan Kendrick must’ve been thinking the same thing. Wilma smiled.
“That’s the plan, but not for today.”
“Then…?”
Everyone tilted their heads in confusion.
—!
A sound rang out.
It sounded like an animal’s cry.
Seo-jun’s eyes widened.
A familiar sound—one he could never forget.
“No way…”
The howl of a ‘former self.’
“Was that a wolf, Director?”
While they might sound slightly different from world to world, the howl was unmistakable.
The other actors gaped. Some even had their mouths hanging open.
Awooo!
The howl rang out again—closer this time.
“…A wolf? Not a dog?”
“They sound similar though, don’t they?”
“There’s a difference, Jun?”
Everyone turned to Seo-jun. He scratched his cheek.
“Hmm. I said it was a wolf because that’s what it sounded like, but if you ask how I knew… it just feels different, I guess.”
As Seo-jun stumbled to explain, Wilma stepped in with a chuckle.
“It’s not a real wolf.”
Of course. No one would bring a real wolf around a bunch of high-profile actors. The risk would be too great.
But… “not a real wolf”?
“It’s called a Czechoslovakian Wolfdog. As the name implies, it’s a hybrid of a wolf and a dog.”
As Wilma explained, several large dogs—each with a leash held by a trainer—emerged from the woods.
Wow.
They looked just like wolves and were as tall as a grown man’s knee. The actors gasped.
“You’re all playing werewolves and interacting with werewolves on screen. So I thought, what’s the most important thing for your performance?”
Wilma looked at each of them.
“It’s hard to portray a creature you’ve never seen. So I figured, if you could experience a real ‘wolf-like’ presence, it might help.”
Everyone nodded, impressed.
“We couldn’t bring in actual wolves, so we brought Czechoslovakian Wolfdogs. They’re the only wolfdog breed officially recognized and safe.”
“There are a lot of wolfdogs?” Hailey asked.
One of the trainers holding the leashes answered, impressively controlling the energetic animals.
“Some breed them deliberately. Sometimes they occur naturally when wild dogs and wolves crossbreed, especially in vast regions like the U.S.”
“In the wild, if you run into one, it might be a wolfdog—and it’s best not to approach.”
“Got it.”
The actors nodded like model students.
It felt like they were in a wolfdog lecture.
“They really look like wolves.”
“Beautiful creatures.”
A few actors who liked dogs crouched down, eyes shining.
“Can I pet one?!”
Brian Gudell was the most eager.
“Yes, but let them smell you first.”
Brian held out his hand as instructed. Everyone watched as the wolfdog sniffed him, then calmly let him stroke its fur.
“Wow…”
The others soon lined up, eager for their turn.
“You’re not going to pet one, Jun?” Dan asked.
Seo-jun was quietly locked in eye contact with one of them, almost like a standoff.
“That one…”
“Yeah?”
“That one’s a real wolf.”
“…What?”
Everyone froze—those already petting the wolfdogs, Dan, even Wilma, who had been chatting with a trainer.
A real wolf?
Was Jun just doubling down after earlier?
But that wasn’t like him.
Then, the trainer holding the leash spoke up.
“How did you know?”
Everyone turned to him. He stared at Seo-jun, impressed.
“We thought it might help your performance, so we brought him. We do wildlife rescue too.”
“…So that really is a wolf?”
Brian Gudell asked in disbelief.
“Yes. He’s still young, but definitely a real wolf.”
The trainer lifted the leash in his right hand. At the end of it stood the same wolf still engaged in a silent battle of wills with Seo-jun.
Everyone stared in shock—just as the wolf averted its gaze and slowly bowed its head before Seo-jun, wagging its tail.
A silent duel between a former-wolf human and a young wolf had ended, unnoticed by the others.
“Oh…”
The trainer gasped.
“He’s normally pretty proud—he doesn’t usually do that.”
Hmm.
Seo-jun could tell the wolf wasn’t exactly humble—he just didn’t feel like dealing with the rest of them.
Still, Seo-jun smiled and said,
“May I pet him?”
He already knew he’d won the dominance battle, but still asked politely.
“Yes, I think that’s fine.”
With the trainer’s okay, Seo-jun reached out and touched the wolf’s fur.
It was a little softer—probably because of the training facility—but it was a familiar, comforting texture.
Maybe it was his gentle touch. Maybe it was the familiarity of a fellow wolf.
Either way, the young wolf wagged its tail happily and rolled around on the ground under Seo-jun’s hand.
“You’d never guess it was a real wolf… he’s adorable.”
The others, who had flinched earlier, now watched with fascination. Director Wilma was focused, analyzing every movement.
“Can I try petting him too?”
“Yes, of course.”
Brian, having gotten permission, stepped closer.
The wolf, who had been happily wriggling under Seo-jun’s hand, looked up as Seo-jun stepped aside.
It seemed to ask, “Where are you going?”
Brian nervously extended his hand.
The wolf stared at it.
Then, just as Brian’s hand was about to make contact—
It moved away.
“…Huh?”
Bad timing?
Brian blinked and tried again.
The wolf dodged.
Their eyes met.
Was it his imagination?
The wolf seemed to say, “You? Seriously?” with a sneer.
As Brian looked stunned and the others began chuckling—
The wolf got up, trotted over to Seo-jun, and flopped down again.
Its tail wagged like a helicopter.
It looked up at him like, Pet me, please.
Seo-jun reached down, and the wolf rolled happily.
Completely different behavior.
“…Bad wolf…”
Brian muttered, defeated, as the others burst into laughter.
#