need you to watch over me.” I growled

“Aw, Riley.” He said, “Riley, Riley, Riley.” He paused, “You are so naïve to think a little fret like you could take care of herself.”

“Excuse me” I growled

“You know, I will excuse you for your attitude toward the beta.” I growled, “Now why don’t you come with me to my den since just right there.”

“Never” I spat in his face.

“I bet if Chinook asked you would.” He said. I stopped growling for a moment and then I got angry again.

“Yes I would, after all we are mates!” I made a big mistake, but I didn’t care. His face lost faith and was confused.

“W-what?” he asked

“You heard me. Chinook and I are mates now, and there’s nothing you can do about it.” I spat again. He was really bewildered.

“Well, well, well.” He repeated his words again, “It seems Riley has been falling for a worthless mutt.”

“Say it again, and we’ll see who’s worthless.” I challenged. He growled and got into attacking stance as I did. Then He lounged at me, slashing his claws. I dodged and pinned him down from behind. He tripped me and I was being choked by him. He was laughing and I was getting dizzy and losing breath. Then there was relief because I heard another growl.

      My vision came back and I saw Chinook pinning him down and his face was in his, “If I ever see you do that again, I’ll end you.” I’ve never seen Chinook so protective. Then our leader came up and pulled them apart. Kolen was still wearing his look of terror.

      Junt was not mad at Chinook at all, he was rather upset with Kolen and I making a fuss in the middle of the night.

“You two, in my den.” He was not in a good mood, “Immediately!”

        Before I made my way to Junt’s den, I ran up to Chinook and hugged him.

“I don’t know what I’d do without you.” I cried. He had saved my life from Kolen. He nuzzled my head and said,

“You’d better get to his den before Junt gets madder at you than he is.” He joked to himself. I giggled also and nuzzled him in gratitude and made my way to the leader’s den.

***

           Junt’s den wasn’t really that special but it looked comfortable for me. All I had was a bed of twigs, but it was worth it because I had Chinook with me. Junt was furious and looked as if smoke was coming out of ears!

          Kolen was at one end of the room and I was at the other and we glared at each other.

“What, in the name of spirit pack were you two thinking?” He asked, “Making a scene in the middle of the night and in the middle of the camp?”

Kolen glared at me and replied, “Don’t worry, next time we make a scene, it’ll be somewhere dark and where no one can hear her screams!”

“That’s enough, Kolen.” Junt growled, “I expected more from a puppy but beta wolf? Inconceivable! You nearly killed a pack mate tonight and made a gnaw wolf protect stop you. What if Chinook didn’t come and save her, where would Riley be now?”

Dead. I would be dead if it weren’t for Chinook.

“In spirit pack, I know!” He growled at his leader. Junt didn’t make a fuss about disrespecting the leader and just kept on with it.

“There is no reason for you to almost kill Riley, or any other pack mate and for that I… I’m taking your beta title away, and you’ll spend a month with the gnaw wolves. You will get to be a hunter, but you will never be beta again am I making myself clear?”

Kolen didn’t make eye contact with him and mutter, “Yes, sir.”

         Junt turned toward me and said, “Riley, I know you’ve been through a lot tonight, and I want you to go to Evangeline to get those scratches healed.” I nodded and headed toward the healer den…again.

***

       I told Emerella all about what happened to Kolen and she laughed harder than any other wolf has.

“Good thing Chinook was there though. He must be a loyal mate.” She said sweetly.

“Yes he is.” I sighed happily to myself. He was a good mate, and deserves a better life.

     Later on that day, Chinook visited me and brought me a rabbit leg for something to eat. I smiled at the thought of how sweet he is. He lied down by me and licked my wounds on my neck.

“They’re not as bad as they were before.” I reassured him. He nodded and I placed my head on his back and fell asleep.

***

          I left the healing den the next day and smirked at Kolen who was in the gnaw wolf area. Chinook stood tall and proud and no one made a fuss because he wasn’t crouching the way he was supposed to.

         My ceremony for being a hunter was tonight and I was excited for it. Emerella told me that it wasn’t really a big deal, but I know that I want the title of being a hunter.

        Emerella moved out of the nursery and back into the den because the puppies no longer needed her for food. She was happy to finally get out of the nursery and was relieved not to hear the little whining any more.

        The evening came quickly and Junt then called for a pack meeting. He stood tall and proud as he always did and started his speech that will make me a hunter. I’d never felt so proud in my life, with a mate at my side and I am finally being accepted into the pack. Chinook licked my ear and reassured me that there was nothing to fear.

***

           I was now a hunter and I thrived in the pack as the new beta. I couldn’t believe how much I accomplished since I came here into the pack. It seemed so long ago when I first came here with Jack and now I am respected to everyone in the pack. It was official, I was having puppies, and they were due in a few short days. Chinook was made hunter and was grateful that he could move out of the den where we met.

          Jack had his own den where he could fit inside for himself. He had learned hunting tricks with a stick and a pointed rock. He brought back a lot of food back for the pack. They gave full respects to him and didn’t think for one moment that he would turn his back on them.

         Kolen’s sentiency was over and he was just an ordinary hunter. He lost all his respects when he tried to kill me and only a few people were on his side. He slept in the back of the room and was just a kill joy.

          Chinook walked up to me and nuzzled my face, “I never regretted standing up for you, all of those months ago.”

        He was talking about when they accepted me into the pack. Some people thought they should have killed me and others said to let me starve to death. But Chinook was the one that accepted me into the pack before anyone else did.

“I love you, Chinook.” I sighed.

“I love you more.” He said. I pulled away from his muzzle and then I felt very bad. My stomach felt all weird and I got all dizzy.

“Chinook, get me to the healers den.” I panicked. They were coming, the puppies were coming right now and I could feel it.

Chinook understood immediately and helped me into the den. Evangeline had passed since I was made beta, but Lira was now a full healer and was ready to help me give birth to puppies.

***

           After hours of struggle and pushing, I had given birth to four beautiful puppies. There were three girls and one boy, and were healthy as horses (not really but you know what I mean). I was giving them milk right after they were ready to have some. Lira was terrific at helping me and took the news as if it wasn’t a new thing for her.

       Chinook was finally ready to see the puppies, “May I come in, now?” he started to become a little restless about having to wait so long.

Lira nodded and left the nursery to make room for our new family. Chinook walked to me and when he saw the puppies he smiled.

“What will we name them?” Chinook asked.

“I named two already and I saved the boy and oldest girl for you.” I said, “The grey little girl is Holly and dark brown female is Miya.”

Chinook nuzzled Miya and Holly, and looked at the remaining two.

“The light brown female, I think we should call her Haelow, and the only male, I’ll name him after my father, Niche.” He licked Niche on the nose and then licked my head. I smiled at our puppies and felt all of their little pelts coming up against me to get milk.

         Chinook laid his head on my back as I gave the puppies milk. I licked his head and he fell asleep. Emerella came in and saw the puppies a little bit afterwards. She adored the puppies and then also said hello to her own puppies who were still in the nursery. Emerella’s daughter, Apollo, wandered over to my litter of