Aleu laughed as three wolf cubs scampered about playing tag. The cubs were orphans and were invited to join the pack only a few weeks ago. They weren't the only ones. Wolves of all shape and size had been joining each week; there was hardly a day when Aleu wouldn't find a stranded wolf to invite to the pack.

    There were over thirty wolves already, but the number seemed to grow. Aleu had become rather close to Tina ad Luitia, two pack members. They were always giving advice and helping Aleu in her troubles.

     They both walked up to Aleu as she was trying to set matters straight with two young wolves. "I'm telling you, Aleu, he cheated! I won the race fair and square! You saw me, Luitia, didn't you?" The other wolf retorted. "I took the exact same route as you did. I just don't have the same stubby legs as you do!"

     Aleu cleared her throat, getting the two wolves attention. "Boys, instead of arguing over the racing, how about you go fetch some mice for the cubs to snack on? Ok? They seem about rowdy." The young wolves immediately forgot about the race. "I'm going to catch a larger one than you!" "No you're not!"

     Their voices faded as they ran, leaping over fallen logs. Aleu rolled her eyes and sighed, sitting beside Tina and Luitia. "Gotta love them," Tina teased. "Aleu, you do so much work in this pack. It's kind of over your head, don't you think?" Luitia asked. Aleu shrugged. "Well....yea, a little bit.....but I like being in charge and caring for everyone. It's fun."

     An elderly, blind wolf was absently making her way to the stream. Aleu leaped up and ran in front of her. "Hey Tantatia.....I think you'll find this spot over here more comforting," she said with a small laugh, gently directing her toward the grass area. "Th-thank you dear...."

    Aleu smiled and headed back to the girls. Tina cocked her head. "You sure can use someone to help you run this pack." Luitia smiled. "Someone.....somebody...some....he-wolf..." "What?" Aleu asked. Tina's eyes widened. "Yea! Yea....you could use an Alpha male, Aleu! And....and Luitia and I can hook you up...it'd be so fun!"

     "An Alpha Male? Girls, you've been trying to get me to say yes ever since you met me! No......no...I don't think so..." Aleu said shyly. "Why not?" Luitia asked, "You so could use one right now! We can get you to fall in love...." Luitia said smugly. Aleu walked a little ways away from them, looking at the ground. "Well yea, you can get me to fall in love.......but....can you get a guy to?" she asked, finally considering their offer.

     Tina gasped. "You don't think you're attractive, do you?" "That's ridiculous!" Luitia exclaimed, "You're a very pretty, caring wolf......a wolf every male wants." Aleu just looked up at them and smiled. "Come on, just give it a chance," Tina pleaded. Aleu sighed. "Please...." Luitia said, battering her eyelashes.

     Aleu laughed. "Fine....we'll......try." "Yes!" Tina and Luitia said together. Tina and Luitia started running away. "We're going to find the perfect one for you!" Luitia exclaimed.

     The very next morning was chaos for Aleu. Almost every male wolf heard the news of Aleu looking for a mate. Many male wolves would come and talk to Aleu, practically giving her a speech.

     The first was Teko, a very shy, nervous wolf. He walked over to her shaking harder than a rattle. "A-a-a-a-a-le-leu?" Aleu blinked a couple of times and stared at him. "Um.....are you alright?" she asked. Teko shook harder, shaking his head everywhere. Aleu couldn't tell if he was saying yes or no. Teko slowly opened his mouth. "I-i-i-i-f.....If I w-w-were t-to b-b-be A......A...." Teko opened his mouth wider, as if the words "Alpha male" were too big to come out. "A...Alpha m-male.....I would m-m-ake sure ev-ev-every o-o-one g-got food."

     "Oh.....you heard about that...." Aleu said. Teko shook his head yes violently. "I-i-i'd b-b-be a v-v-ery good mate," he blurted out. Aleu smiled sympathetically. "Um....look, Teko.....you're a very.....um, nice wolf, but I don't mean this in any bad way, it's just.....well I'm looking for a wolf a little bit different. I'm sorry. Thanks anyway....maybe someday you will be the Alpha of a pack." Aleu smiled.

     "Oh....o-o-o-o-k-k-k-k.....b-b-b-bye!" Teko exclaimed, running away. Aleu sighed, relieved, but then another wolf walked in.

      "Wassup Aleu?" Chako said, looking around at the surroundings. Great....Aleu thought. "Hey Chako..." she replied, trying not to sound annoying. "Oooh! Ya sound so pretty when you say my name." Chako said. Is this his way of flirting? Aleu thought to herself.

     "Anyhoo.....heard ya need an Alpha Male, but did you hear....that I need an Alpha Female?" Aleu rolled her eyes. "No.....actually, I didn't, but did you also hear that I'm not quite interested in wolves who use the words, "Anyhoo" or "ya" all the time? Hmm? Did ya?" Aleu asked poking him with her front paw. Chako stared at her for a second. "You rejecting me or somethin?" Aleu laughed. "Oh, of course I'm not rejecting you! I'm simply.....saying no." Aleu said with a sarcastic smile. "Good bye Chako!"

     Chako mumbled and left, not looking back. That wasn't the end of it though. More and more wolves came, driving Aleu mad. Aleu finally couldn't take it. She climbed to the top of a large boulder, towering over the pack. "Ok, please, everyone listen!" she shouted, "As you probably heard, I'm looking for an Alpha male! Well, guess what? I'm not! So please, don't come up to me and flirt....or whatever it is you call it! Thank you!" Aleu said, slowly walking down.

     Tina and Luitia were there to meet her. "What happened? What's wrong?" Luitia asked with a concerned look. Aleu's  eyes widened. "What's wrong? Haven't you been watching? There are all these annoying wolves coming to give their "wanna be your mate" speech!" Aleu exclaimed.

     Tina shrugged. "So? You have to sacrifice for a mate.......you have to really want him." Aleu sighed, "Well......then maybe you should just forget about everything. I'm not ready for this. I've been handling the pack for over three years; I can still do it now." Luitia and Tina gave her a disappointed look, but nodded.

     The next morning came, way peaceful than the morning before. Aleu awoke before everyone else as usual, taking her stroll toward the lake. As she made her way, three silhouettes of wolves appeared, already at the lake.

     Aleu greeted Tushu, one of the members. She looked at the other two unknown male wolves. "Who are these?" she asked, her smile covering her caution. One of the wolves stepped up to her with a shy smile. "Hey, I'm Dokak, Tushu's stepbrother." The other male wolf gave an obvious look of rudeness. He looked away as if not knowing Aleu had spoken. Dokak glanced at him and rolled his eyes. "Eh......and that's Krak, Tushu's real brother."

     Aleu nodded at Krak. "Are you two visiting or something?" Dokak was the first to answer again, "Um......sort of...we were kind of looking for a place to stay." Aleu laughed slightly. "Well you're welcome to stay here whenever you'd like." Dokak gave a big smile. "Thanks......um?" "Aleu," she answered. Dokak paused, whispering it to himself again. "Thanks Aleu." She smiled and left, walking back to greet the pack.

     Dokak looked after her, then turned to Tushu. "Who was that?" Krak sighed, walking in front of Dokak. "She just told you, Mr. Dreamer." Tushu laughed. "Sorry Dokak, but I don't think Aleu's much into a relationship now. She says she can run the pack alone." Krak froze, looking at Tushu. "She's the alpha?" Tushu nodded. "Pretty good for a girl."

     Krak stopped and looked down at the ground. "An Alpha female.......an Alpha male. An Alpha rules the pack," he mumbled to himself. "Um, yeah.....yeah they do," Dokak replied. Krak snorted at him then sat beside Tushu. "Tell me more about this.....Aleu leader."

      Aleu continued leading the pack by herself, but almost every day new ones would come. Aleu didn't have the guts to scare them off, so she'd always welcome every wolf with open arms.

     Soon the sun disappeared behind the tall mountains, giving way for the moon and stars. Aleu sighed a relief as she was left alone. She sat on top of a hillside, watching the many stars in the sky. "It's beautiful out here," a voice said.

     It was Dokak. He gave a questionable look as whether he could join her or not. Aleu smiled, her eyes glowing in the dark. "Yes.....it's amazing." Dokak sat beside her, following her gaze toward the sky. "You have a nice pack here.......huge." Dokak replied. Aleu nodded, "Mmmhmm......a whole lot of responsibility."

     Silence spread over them for a while, then Dokak looked at her. "You're......pretty young to be running a huge pack like this......isn't it kind of too much responsibility?" he asked, trying to find the right words. Aleu gave him a slightly offended look, "No.....no I think I'm perfectly capable of running this pack. I earned my headship, you know."

     Dokak's ears flattened. "No....no...I didn't mean you didn't have capability.....I just mean.....well you're a girl.....it's kind of-" "Yeah, I'm a girl. So? Are guys suppose to be better?" Aleu backfired. Dokak opened his mouth to say something, but decided against it. Aleu sighed,