At the beginning, you start at a rank of your choice as things progress, you can be promoted or demoted, depending on the choices you make. Challenging and defeating a wolf of the same rank or higher can get you promoted (you can only challenge a wolf as a Beta, Mu, or Omega. For Omegas, they must challenge a wolf of higher rank). Showing weakness or incompetence can get you demoted at an Alpha's discretion. This hierarchy has been set in stone since ancient times.