Anay woke up early and stretched her body, letting out a big yawn. She could hear the rest of her pack getting up, preparing for the hunt and so she got up on her paws, shaking so dust flew around in the air from her fur.
“Waking up I see?” a friendly voice said and she turned her head.
“Oh hi Bru. Yeah seems like the pack is getting ready for the hunt so I thought I better get up so I don’t miss the fun.”
The brown, muscular wolf chuckled and gave Anay a friendly nudge with his nose. “I’m sure you won’t miss anything. After all nothing bad has happened the last few weeks. I suppose our pack is a lucky one who got this territory to hunt on. Lots of caribou still this last of summer.”
Anay was about to say something as Nook, their leader approached them with a seemingly smug smile. “There went your words about nothing bad happening…” she muttered as the leader closed in.
“Ready to go Bruno, Anay?” He said.
“Yes sir.” They answered.
“Good. Now Bruno I think Haven wants a word with you before hunt. Mind seeing what he wants? We’ll accompany you soon.”
“Oh. Yeah umh sure sir. I’ll be right on it.” Bruno started to trot away but turned his head looking at Anay who just did a small nod so only Bruno could see and the brown wolf huffed in answer as he continued towards the hunting group.
“So I assume there’s something you want to talk with me about, Nook?” Anay sighed and there was no way you could mistake her sour voice when she spoke to him.
“Well yes. I’ve been watching you for a while. You seem to be a quite skilled hunter Anay. I like that.”
Anay raised one of her eyebrows in confusion, what was this mutt talking about? Of course she’d heard others complementing her on her hunting, but everyone knew that Nook wasn’t the type of wolf who gave compliments without a reason. Being a leader had often gotten Nook to be superior against others, even though he wasn’t really better than anyone at all. In fact he was one of their worst hunters in the pack. She really didn’t understand why he had become the Alpha of this pack. It must’ve something to do with the fact that his dad had been it before him.
“So?”
“Well look who’s being rude here. Here I am, the Alpha of this pack, giving you a compliment and you don’t even thank me for it? You’ve got some nerve.” Nook snorted.
“Oh.” Anay sighed. “Sorry sir. Forgive me. Thank you.”
Nook nodded. “That’s ok. I was wondering however if you had something planned after the hunt?”
He took a step towards her. “I’d like to talk with you again, a bit more private.”
Cold shills ran down Anay’s spine and she swallowed, slowly backing away from the dark grey, rather big Alpha. “Eh… Nook…. I uh. I don’t know if this is appropriate.”
Nook took a few more steps towards her, almost standing nose to nose with her now. “See that’s why I’d like to talk with you. Alone. Do come to my den after the hunt.” He turned and started to walk away from her.
“Nook, I don’t think I..” the wolfess began.
“It’s an ORDER.” Nook growled low, showing his teeth. Despite how much she disgusted Nook, she knew that you never disobey the Alphas order. If you did you could be badly punished. Anay whimpered and hung her head, her ears back. “Yes…sir…”

 “Sheetan take the left flank! Yori, take Shud with you and run on the right!” Anay shouted the orders as they all proceeded towards the caribou herd that were already running. She had spotted her target, a buck that was a bit limp on his left hind leg. She knew Haven had set his target and was already giving directions closing up on their group’s caribou. Anay sprinted as fast she could with Bruno on her back.
“Bruno, be ready to pierce his throat when I leap!” She shouted back to him and when he nodded in response she hurled herself and leaped towards the buck, her fangs snapping tight around its neck. Immediately Sheetan were on the left on the bucket, biting and forcing it to slow down the pace and soon Yori and Shud were there too, growling and barking and attacking it in order to make it stop. As Anay’s teeth sank deeper into its neck it started to jump, throwing its head from side to side in an effort of trying to get rid of its attacker. Bruno then came from the front, leaping and aiming for its throat. With a powerful snap, he hit the vein and blood poured out from its throat and the buck fell down to the ground. Anay didn’t let go until she noticed that the others had begun to eat already. She loosed her grip and dug into her meal hungrily.
After satisfying her hunger the rest of the pack who had joined them, got their share of food and when Nook entered Anay slinked away silently to sit in the shadows a bit further away. She still remembered his order, but she’d try to stay away from him as long as possible until she really had to meet him. She started licking her muzzle clean from blood. Then the brown wolf came up to her, his muzzle as drenched with blood as hers, and sat down at her side.
“So what did he want this time?” He asked. Anay stopped cleaning herself and her ears went back.
“He wants me to accompany him after this hunt. Alone. In his den.” She shuddered at the mere thought of it and wished she’d woken up earlier, perhaps avoiding that talk with him.
“Oh. Ana don’t worry. He won’t try anything for a while. It’s closing in on winter, he can’t possibly try to hit on you.”
Anay huffed. “Since when does that wolf follow the rules of how a pack is ruled? Yet alone the rules of mating. I swear he was far too close this morning. I’m afraid he’ll try something while you’re not around…”
Bruno nuzzled her friendly and she put her head under his chin. “Don’t worry. I’ll protect you my friend. I’ll stay close around so if it turns out that he’s dumb enough to break the rules of mating I’ll come showing him what’s right and what’s not.”
Anay just mumbled to answer, though she felt a bit more safe having Bruno around. Maybe Nook wouldn’t dare to try anything to her if he noticed Bruno guarding her. The golden-coated wolfess felt a huge relief to have Bruno as a friend. She’d grown up with him being like an older brother and he had treated her just like a little sister. She was lucky to have a friend like him.
“Seems like it’s time to head back to home.” Bruno mumbled over her head and she looked up, seeing the pack gathering again and starting to wander back. She frowned but rose up and with Bruno following at her side they went back home with the pack.

Anay felt nervous and practically nauseous of the thought that she’d have to spend time alone with Nook. Bruno noticed and worried about her but she refused to let him talk with Nook. She’d been given an order and besides she didn’t want to look weak. Especially not in front of Nook. Just as the pack had started to settle down back at the den and minding their own business, Nook approached Anay and Bruno. Anay’s heart sank and her ears lowered.
“Anay. Bruno.” Nook nodded as a greeting and Bruno did the same. Anay felt like she was frozen to the spot. “Anay, I assume you haven’t forgotten what I told you this morning?”
“N-no… sir…” Anay stammered.
Nook nodded. “Good. Follow me.” He headed for his den and Anay stumbled after him. It felt like the walk was the longest she’d ever taken even though it was just a few meters. She tried to gather courage and when he slinked into the den she felt a bit better and promised herself to not let her guard down, no matter what happened.
“Congratulations to the good hunt.” He started out as she came down.
“Thank you sir.”
Nook shook his head and smiled, though his smile seemed to be rather faked. “No need to call me sir, Anay. I think we know each other well enough to call each other by names, don’t you?”
“In fact, I don’t. Sir. Now, was there something you wanted me or what is all this fuzz about?”
“Fuzz? Hm. You sure are a hard one Anay.” The dark grey Alpha sat down, looking at her. “You and your male friend, Bruno. Are you some kind of, mates?”
The question made her jaw drop but she quickly gathered herself. ‘Don’t let your guard down!’ she thought.
“Uh no sir. We’re just very close friends. He’s been like a brother to me since I was a pup.”
“I see. And there’s no one that you consider to mate with either?”
Anay sensed where he was heading with this and felt an urge to prove that this was wrong time for such questions, even though she would never even want to be anything near mate with this mutt.
“Sir I hope you are aware that it’s soon winter. These questions are not appropriate, this situation isn’t even appropriate. So if this is all you’ve got for reason to bring me down here I have to say no and leave.” Anay turned her back to the Alpha and hoped that he’d let her go. But she was wrong.
Before she’d taken more than two steps he had leaped over her, now standing in front of her, blocking the way. He was very big compared to Anay who were more slender but muscular. But her strength could not be measured against