SO I am currently in a roleplay where I am alpha, but I have a wolf who is bigger, older, and super defiant causing some strife. How, as alpha, would I properly handle that? I can usually handle it but he's being pretty persistent in being defiant and I'm kind of stuck with how to handle it

I guess you could fight and assert your dominance. But if you fail, he becomes the new alpha.

Alternatively, you can kick him out of the pack or kill him if the rest of the pack feels he's dangerous.

How much older is this troublesome wolf anyway? I'm surprised he's not the alpha already, unless he's too old to hunt?

Doesn't want the position as he prefers his armor making, but feels the need to demean the alpha and his choices anyway

@SirenofSilence You've got wolves making armour, I'm pretty sure the common logic of an alpha wolf doesn't really apply here.

questioned it from the beginning as do others but he insisted

In the case of defiance, the most "honorable" open way to handle it is to directly give him a (reasonable) order, and when he refuses, make him declare his loyalty or opposition and handle the case accordingly. If your wolf is smart/cunning/not inclined to do the aforementioned tactic, you could maneuver him into a position where he offends something far bigger than himself and then deny association. In other words, let him fuck himself up as he goes rambo while doing backchannels with those he goes rambo to.

"This guy's crazy, so just heads up, he wants to break into your place tonight..." or some such.

I suppose the big question is, are you strong enough to take him out?

Don't know how well this stands up as far as wolf hierarchy ideas go these days, but I remember once hearing that betas were usually the biggest, most boisterous and troublesome in a wolfpack. Always ensuring that everyone knew their place and that the alphas were still fit to be the alphas. So, that's what this situation makes me think of: that your armour making badmouther is forcing the alpha to prove himself in order to make sure the alpha remains suited to the position. Not because they're being an ass (though they could well be that too) but because it's for the good of the pack to make sure the alphas are capable.

I honestly have no idea how to deal with that though, cuz I'm sure it can get a bit tiring. But in order to keep things from escalating, that's how I'd try to spin things, so that the alpha simply doesn't need to back down, rather than having to put this smith in his place. Sort of a... oh here we go again routine.

He actually just challenged the Beta, known for beating everyone BUT the alpha, and interfered with the Beta's training so it may work itself out

No holds barred fight where you rip that old bastards throat out with your wolf mouth.