He said. “…I’m loyal to my mate. I would still be with her in that case, but that doesn’t mean you’re second best.” He said. “…June… Shasta died… that changed things, I had to move on, you rescued me from my despair. I can’t ever repay you for what you’ve given me. I love you June… just as I loved her, no different.”

          June shook her head. “…what if she came back? I know it’s impossible, but say she did…” She paused and sighed. “You’d leave me to be with her. I know you would. You were happy with her.”

          Dash shook his head. “You’re wrong June.” He said. “It would be great if she could come back… but I’d have to tell her that I was your mate now, that things were different. …and she would understand.” He paused. I’m happy with you too June.” He said finally.

          June smiled. “Dash… really?”

          Dash nodded. “I got to see her the last night.” He said.

          “…Aniu?” June asked.

          Dash nodded. “Yes, and she told me she was happy that I had moved on, that I had you for a companion. She told me to take care of you.”

          June smiled and sniffled. “Dash…”

          Dash nuzzled her and then licked her nose. “I love you June… nothing that could ever happen would ever change that fact.”

          June nuzzled him back and smiled.

          “…don’t worry.” Dash said. “You’ll never be alone again, not as long as I am here with you. I’ll never leave you.”

          June kissed him. “I love you Dash.” She said.

          Dash smiled and kissed her back. “I love you too June.” He said.

          It was silent for a moment before June smiled and nuzzled him. “…so you really want to have pups with me?”

          Dash nodded. “You’re a fantastic mother. You proved that with our last children.”

          June smiled. “Dash… I enjoyed it, I really did. It gave me a feeling unlike any other I’ve ever experienced.”

          Dash smiled. “…then why are you so hesitant to do it again?”

          She smiled and nuzzled him. “…I guess… I’m not anymore.” She said.

          Dash smiled. “Well we still have some time…” He said.

          June smiled and kissed him.

          Dash kissed her back.

          It was late that night when Dash slowly opened his eyes and looked around the chamber.  He looked down at June and smiled, nuzzling her softly. He was glad that they had been able to work through her difficult past, though he knew that she would likely still have issues with it, at least now he could help her through them.

          He kissed her softly. “…we’re a team June.” He whispered. “Together we can overcome anything that comes our way.”

          He stood and walked to the entrance to his chambers.  Then he stopped and turned. He knew that this night could well be his last on Earth if he were caught and if that were true he wanted his last memory to be that of June, lying in his chambers, sleeping soundly.  He turned and walked out of the chamber.

          Dash knew that what he was doing was wreckless. He should have taken someone with him, as Alpha he should at least have one wolf accompany him out of the cave, to guard him. …but he had a good idea of who the traitor might be, though his mind struggled to comprehend it. If it was who he feared he didn’t want anyone else to know of the plot, so he hadn’t said a word to anyone about it, not even June.

He had decided to go find out on his own.

          It only took Dash a few minutes to make it to the Rear Entrance.

          The young wolf standing guard there stood straight up as soon as he saw Dash. “Trius reports the Rear Entrance all secure.” The wolf said. “There is nothing unusual to report at this time my Alpha.”

          Dash nodded.

          “Sir, if I could ask, what brings you down here so late?” The wolf asked.

          “…special circumstances.” Dash said. “…look, go back to the guard’s chambers and go to sleep, wake your relief when it is time.”

          “…but sir, that means…”

          “I know what it means.” Dash said. “…just go.”

          The wolf nodded and turned, walking away.

          Dash looked around and found a good hiding spot, then he crouched low between two rocks and waited.

          Almost an hour later Dash was walking through the woods, struggling to see through the slow falling snow.

          The traitor had come to the Rear Entrance, just as before. The wolf had stayed close to the shadows, so Dash couldn’t see who it was. It had exited the cave and proceeded through the woods.

          Dash had given it a moment to get ahead of him, then he had followed.

          He could see the figure now, almost one hundred yards in front of him. The wolf hadn’t seen him as of yet and had no idea that it was being followed.

          As they neared a clearing Dash started to shake a bit. If the traitor was who he thought it was it meant dire consequences. Consequences he wasn’t sure he could carry out.

          The wolf walked to the center of the clearing and Dash cut to the right, slinking through the bushes on the outskirts of the clearing.

          It was a good thing he did because as it reached the center of the clearing the wolf turned and looked behind it, but by that time Dash was already in a flanking position to the right.

           Dash was conscious of the fact that his ability to remain silent meant everything to his survival of this observation.

          A mouse would have made more noise.

          The figure stopped in front of an outcropping of rocks and said. “…for change.”

          …at least that’s what Dash thought it said. He couldn’t be sure because the wolf was too far away. He spotted a rock sticking out of the ground and crawled to it. He was crossing open ground so he kept low and just prayed that the wolves wouldn’t spot him.

          He made it to the rock and slowly peeked his head over the top.

          The other wolves had joined the traitor by this time and they were talking. Dash came in at the middle of the conversation.

          “…no, there wasn’t even a guard there this time.” The traitor said.

          The three wolves nodded and the traitor stepped forward into a shaft of moonlight streaming down through the clouds.

          Dash’s heart fell from his chest to his paws. He was certain he could feel it beating there. He sighed. “…why?” He thought. “Why you? Why would you do something so stupid.”

          “So were you successful?” The lead wolf asked.

          The traitor nodded. “Dash will follow me out of the cave tomorrow. I came up with an excuse that he bought.”

          The lead wolf nodded.

          “We should wait until