against it. Aleu sighed, looking away. "Um....sorry Dokak....." Aleu said quietly, trying to calm.

     "No....sorry....it's my fault....I shouldn't have-" Aleu stopped him and forced out a smile. "It's ok, Dokak. Don't worry about it. The day's just been hectic....that's all. See you tomorrow?" Without getting his response, Aleu left.

     "Nice going, Do-crack" Krak smirked as he walked over to Dokak. Dokak rolled his eyes then left. Krak smiled to himself, looking after where Aleu was. His eyes shined as the moonlight touched the ground. Krak grinned, not just a grin, but an evil one. His eyes were shining just a little too bright.

     The next morning, Aleu awoke to find a wolf at the entrance of her cave. "Krak?" Aleu asked, her eyes squinting from the bright sun. "Yeah, Krak...you met him yesterday." Krak answered in a soft voice. Aleu suddenly found the bright sun gone. Krak shielded her eyes from the sun with his front paw. Krak gave an extra sweet laugh. "Better?"

     Aleu laughed, blushing slightly. "Um...yeah, thanks Krak." Aleu moved from his shade, her eyes adjusting to the sunlight. "I know you're very busy, Aleu, but......well I thought we could just hang out together," Krak offered. Aleu smiled. "Well.....that sounds great, but who's going to take care of the pack?"

     Dokak suddenly appeared, a smile on his face. "Hey Aleu," he greeted, "I was wondering-" Krak interrupted Dokak. "Dokak can do it. He has so much experience. You can't find anyone better." Dokak gave a surprised face. "Really? That would be great!" Aleu smiled, feeling excitement. "Dokak, could you just watch over the pack while I go with your brother?"

     Dokak's smile faded. "My.....my brother? Oh, where are you going?" Krak glared at Dokak. "Step-brother.....and it's not your business. Better go before the pack wakes up," Krak rushed, walking beside Aleu. Dokak's ears dropped, but he just nodded. He had planned on taking Aleu for a walk or two this morning.

     Krak and Aleu soon became tiny figures in the sunrise. It seemed like a romantic picture of two wolves on a date. Dokak slowly walked away to care for the pack.

     Luitia ran to Karana, seeing everything. "Karana! Karana!" Luitia called. Karana paused. "What? What is it?" Luitia smiled, giving a howl. "It's Aleu! She.....she went on a date!" Luitia exclaimed, breathing hard. A smile spread across Karana's face. "What? With Who?" Karana demanded. Luitia caught her breath finally. "Krak....Tushu's brother!" Karana and Luitia gave squeals of delight.

      Krak and Aleu arrived later that day, laughing as they approached Dokak. "Well.....thanks Krak. I had a great time today," Aleu replied softly. Krak nodded. "So did I, baby.......so did I." Chills of anger and worry slowly went up Dokak's spine. Baby? he repeated to himself.

     Krak left, leaving Aleu and Dokak alone. Aleu still had a smile on her face as she turned to look at Dokak. He looked down, trying to hide his disappointment. Aleu sighed. "Thank you so much, Dokak. I'm so glad I went. We had a great time......your brother's real nice." Dokak's forehead wrinkled. "Step-brother...." he mumbled to himself.

     Dokak put on a smile and raised his head, "Hey Aleu.....um....I was wondering if you and I could go hunting together tomorrow. I heard you have excellent hunting skills." Aleu seemed to be still thinking of Krak. She cocked her head to one side. "Oh, I'm sorry Dokak......it's just your brother wanted to go look around the area with me." Dokak frowned, nodding his head slowly. "Oh...ok, no problem." When he looked where Aleu had been, he saw her walking away. "Maybe another time!" she called out.

     Everyday seemed to be the same. Whenever Dokak would want to ask Aleu out, his brother......I mean step-brother......would always have plans with her already.

     Krak and Aleu came back one night, being gone all day. Dokak sat near a tree, watching them return. He couldn't hear anything, but had a pretty good view of them both. As they said their goodbyes, Dokak saw them nuzzle each other. A growl grew in his throat, full of jealousy. He pounded one paw on the ground, then left without looking back.

     Early next morning, Dokak found Aleu alone at the pond, looking at herself in the reflection. Dokak smiled and walked over to her. Alone.....no Krak.....finally! Dokak thought. He sat beside her, watching his reflection also. "Looking for something?" he asked with a laugh. Aleu smiled, unresponsive.

     She finally tore away from the water to look at Dokak. "Dokak, do you think I have beauty in me?" Aleu asked all of a sudden. Dokak opened his mouth slightly, surprised by the question. "Um....yea.....yea! I mean, I don't think you have beauty in you......I think you just are beauty. You're beautiful." Aleu beamed in delight. "Thanks Dokak." After seconds of silence, Dokak asked, "Why?" Aleu sighed, her eyes glued to the reflection again. "Well.......I don't know.....it's just...last night I asked your brother what he's looking for in a girl. He said leadership, boldness, and mainly beauty. I mean, I think I'm pretty bold and of course I'm a leader......but.....beauty?" Aleu asked again.

     "Psh....that's all you!" a voice said from behind. Luitia smiled, Karana beside her. Aleu smiled, hugging her friends. "Where have you been? We haven't seen you in a looong time!" Karana blurted out. Aleu gave an apologetic look. "Aw....I'm sorry...I've been out with Krak a lot lately." Luitia whistled. "So is he your Mr. Alpha?" Aleu laughed. "Well......I don't know......I'm not sure......maybe..." she replied, turning bright red.

     Dokak felt his body falling. So is he your Mr. Alpha?  So is he your Mr. Alpha? So is he your Mr. Alpha? So is he your Mr. Alpha? The words repeated over and over in his head, and Aleu's answer didn't make anything better. He cleared his throat, but just left.    

     Dokak glanced behind him, looking at Aleu again. He found Krak there, looking Aleu over. Dokak glared but kept going.

     Luitia and Karana left also, leaving Aleu and Krak alone again. Krak watched as they left, a smile on his face. "So, baby cakes.......where you wanna go today?"

     Dokak left, but not all the way. He spied on the two behind some bushes, squinting his eyes while hearing their conversation.

      Aleu tilted her head to one side, "I'd love to go out with you again, but the pack needs me. I'm sorry Krak." A smile spread across Dokak's face in his hiding place. Krak nodded, still smiling. "Ah, no worries, baby. Yeah, I have some stuff I need to catch up on too. Don't worry bout it." Krak began walking away, but he paused for a second. "But hey! It's you and me tomorrow right?" Aleu walked over to him and nuzzled him. "Of course."

     Dokak's smile disappeared from his face. The wrinkled forehead came back and Dokak's heart pounded. His ears rose as Krak walked towards him. Dokak slowly crouched down, hoping Krak missed him. Krak ignored his step-brother's scent and walked right on by. Without thinking, Dokak silently followed him.

     Krak lead Dokak to a gray, dead-looking area. Dokak stayed low, keeping caution not to let Krak see him, but also taking caution for whatever could live in this area. Fog also crept low to the ground, covering Dokak. Krak leaped over a huge boulder, disappearing on the other side.

     There was a whole row of boulders, creating like a large fence. Dokak peeked through a space between two boulders, only to see a pack of wolves.

      Niju, Aleu's former enemy was among them. Krak was in front of all the wolves. He gave an evil, cackling laugh. "We have her, boys. It's like taking candy from a baby!" The wolves joined him in his ridiculous laughter. Dokak's ears perked up. "All we need to do is wait for the perfect time. You boys be ready. When the time is right............we strike! The pack will be mine and Aleu will be dealt with properly...."

     Dokak's eyes widened and he ran off to warn Aleu and the pack.

~TO BE CONTINUED~