When writing a series of novels about a criminal empire led by a family, I decided to base the organization on a wolf pack. Studying their behavior, I realized the way wolves operate within a pack is analogous to how a crime family could run its business.
This inspired me to give the crime family the surname Villalobos, from a noble lineage originating centuries ago in Spain. The beautiful family crest features two black wolves reared up on their hind legs, which was the perfect imagery for the fictional family.
Once I had the imagery in mind, I began to populate my story according to what I learned about wolves, which are highly social animals. A pack is typically made up of a breeding pair, their offspring, and a few other adult wolves. The pack size can vary depending on the availability of food and territory, but it is usually around 6-8 wolves. This was perfect for my purposes, so I equated each family member with a position in the wolf pack hierarchy.
The alpha wolf – Hector Villalobos, the father and patriarch of the clan
The alpha wolf is the dominant member of the pack. Typically the oldest and most experienced wolf, it is responsible for leading the pack and making decisions. The alpha wolf also mates with the alpha female, and their offspring are the future of the pack. Hector is the perfect representation of this, as he forces his adult children to vie for leadership when he retires.
The beta wolf – Bartolo Villalobos, the heir apparent
The beta wolf is the second-in-command of the pack. It is typically the alpha wolf’s offspring, and it is responsible for helping the alpha wolf lead the pack. The beta wolf also helps to protect the pack and its territory. Bartolo, who was not the firstborn son, undermined his older brother at every turn until he achieved favored status to take over the empire.
The omega wolf – Adolfo Villalobos, pretender to the throne
The lowest-ranking wolves in the pack are known as omega wolves. Omega wolves are often young wolves or older wolves that are not as strong or healthy as the other wolves in the pack. Omega wolves are often submissive to the other wolves in the pack and may be bullied or harassed. Adolfo was actually the firstborn son, but because he lacks leadership qualities—as well as bloodlust—his favored position was usurped by Bartolo.
Other pack members – Siblings, Carlos and Daria Villalobos
The other wolves in the pack play important roles as well. They help to hunt, raise the young, and defend the territory. They also provide companionship and support to each other. Carlos and Daria each believe they are most suited to take over, but they both play the long game, resorting to subterfuge, manipulation, and violence to undercut each other. In the words of Nikita Khrushchev, “If You Live Among Wolves You Must Act Like a Wolf.”
Defending the turf
In the wild, wolf packs are highly cooperative social units, employing teamwork and intelligence to take down large prey animals, such as elk, deer, and moose. They are very territorial and will defend their hunting grounds from other wolves and predators, marking their terrain with their scent and by howling.
The Villalobos crime family was likewise extremely territorial. Other criminals who poached on their turf ended up dead, often in brutal and grisly ways meant to illustrate what would happen to anyone who crossed them. My homicide detective, who embarked on a perilous journey to bring the family to justice, found herself in many deadly situations while she investigated murders they committed.
In some ways, a police department is also like a wolfpack, complete with hierarchy, cooperation, and trust. Juxtaposing these different forces in direct opposition to each other in a creative story added extra layers of complexity to the thriller series.
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