her own tiny steps. A couple of moments later, the canine halted halfway through the main room as he saw a red husky with its head down inside of a mattress-lined doggie bed; flattened newspaper pages were folded over the bed’s edges, weighed down by the canine’s size, but the male gulped after noticing the familiar and the sudden new scents that filled his nostrils.

“T-Tasha?” the brown male stammered out with a whisper. When no one answered, he let out a sudden whine. “Tasha, darling? Are you all right?” 

The canine laying inside the comforts of the bed twitched her two-toned tail slightly as she let out a moan. “Oh, Tundra . . . It’s you . . .” Her head turned towards his own, flashing a soft smile and fluttering her crystal-blue eyes at her beloved mate. “Oh, do come closer, darling. Come and see our new pride and joy.” She gave him a ‘come here’ gesture with her white nose while also moving her large, bushy tail from her ivory underbelly.

Tundra’s face lit up at the sound of his mate’s words as his fears vanished; he trotted up to the end of the room, stopping where she lay with a tiny bundle curled up beside her teat-lined belly. He leaned his head across her body to gaze upon the child and soon turned back to his mate, nuzzling her nose affectionately. 

“It’s a daughter, Tundra,” Tasha murmured to him. “Her name is Jenna.”

“Oh, Tasha,” Tundra, now overwhelmed with happiness and tears trickling from his eyes, sniffled with pride. “She’s so beautiful . . . Oh, our first child, a daughter! The gods be praised for this blessing upon our family!” He nuzzled his mate once more, this time both of the proud parents had tears of joy.  

“I’ve helped birth many a pup before,” the hound assistant commented. “but never before have I witnessed such a easy delivery.” She sat down by Tasha’s side with a smile. “I hardly had to do anything except help her with the breathing exercises during her labor.”

The red mother only giggled politely in response. “I’d witnessed Mother’s last birth, so I knew what had to be done. I just breathed and pushed, and after an hour of contractions and groaning, out she came.” She let out a sigh of relief as she reminisced about her delivering. “I will admit it, the pain of the contractions and pushing hurt like hellfire inside me, but after it’s all said and done, having this little one as the result made the pain worth every moment.” Tasha’s eyelids lowered a bit. “I had always dreamed of having a child of my own, and thanks to Tundra and you,” She turned her attention to each canine when she uttered their names. “that dream has become a reality.” 

“At least I know where she got her looks from.” The brown husky commented once his eyes were dried. “She’ll be an elegant, little lady, just like her mother.”

“Indeed,” the new mother agreed. “Maybe in a few days, we’ll see whose eyes she’ll have.” After giving her mate a loving kiss on the nose, Tasha lowered her head to groom her pup with her tongue. 

The pup’s coat was a dry burgundy hue, just like her dam’s, only with a slight touch of her father’s brown fur in her own. White markings distinctively lined her dainty face and body, and her eyes and ears were shut tight for now, only to open on their own within a matter of days.

Dipsy politely excused herself from the new parents. “I’ll leave you two alone now. You should both get your rest and bond with little Jenna, and I’ll see you in the morning.” She quickly lowered her head in respect of her master and headed for the doorway. 

“Good night, Dipsy,” Tundra bade his family servant farewell. “I’ll watch Tasha tonight so that you can rest as well.” Tasha let out a short bark as the hound dog’s short, gray tail disappeared through the doggie doorway.
 
“Perhaps,” Once Tasha’s midwife and their assistant had left the house, Tundra continued to speak and plan out his newborn daughter’s future. “perhaps she will be lucky enough to continue the strong Capulet legacy that we have brought her in. Especially once we marry her off to some wealthy young husky!”

“Dear, she’s only newly birthed!” Tasha scolded her mate with a tiny nip on his neck. After a moment, she smiled yet again, giving him a light giggle. “Let’s raise her well for now, and then maybe in a year or two, you can find her a decent suitor.” 

Tundra nodded. “All right, I’ll wait until she’s older.” He let out a sigh and sat down beside the woven bed, keeping a vigil watch of the place where his mate and newborn daughter settled down to rest. He lifted his head, his mind deep in thought.

Now with this new branch that has just sprouted from our mighty family tree, Tundra thought with his eyes closed and his pride aglow, within a matter of years, we will defeat those mistakes of nature known as the Montagues once and for all! He opened his brown eyes again, glancing at the sleeping figures of his wife and daughter with a smile.And Jenna, oh, my pride and joy! She will receive only the best of care as she grows from both Tasha and I; she is my treasure, my world, the most beautiful pup ever I’ve seen born into the world!  

I will protect her, and make sure that she continues the good name that we have passed on to her. Hopefully, the best bachelor in town to help expand our lineage! I swear it . . . the birth of our precious jewel is only the beginning of the downfall of the Montagues forever!

We Capulets shall remain forevermore! 

At last, he finally paced around in a tight circle a couple of times before quietly laying on the floor and falling into a deep sleep, knowing full well that his life would never be the same ever again.

The mood was quite the opposite only half a mile away from the home of the Head Capulets. Outside of town, away from the warmth of the Head Capulet home, a chilly breeze greeted a medium-sized tribe of dark-colored wolves. They were closely huddled together outside of a stone-gray cave where they awaited news of their Alpha’s condition.  

A dark-brown male emerged from the cavern, his red and yellow eyes filled with tears and his head and tail lowered in sorrow. His face was marked with light tan, mainly around his eyes, cheeks and the sides of his long muzzle, only to be split symmetrically by a brown blaze between his eyes all the way down to his nose. Without speaking a word, his fellow lupines could sense the sudden announcement that was about to change their lives.

“I bear news, my brethren,” the male murmured in a soft, mournful tone. “My wife has birthed a single child – a son to continue our lineage –”  

At the announcement of the Alpha’s first child, the pack barked and howled with joy. For the past three years, they had awaited the moment that their Alphas would bare a son to carry on the duty of being the leader of their mighty pack; less than two months ago, the Alpha’s mate was deemed pregnant by the pack’s elder and medicine wolf, causing much celebration and rejoicing by everyone.

The dark-brown speaker let out a shrill yelp, calling for silence to complete his message. “But the delivery, I fear, caused too much stress on her body.” Gasps of shock pierced the silent air as the male paused to calm himself, but the news was too much for him to hold back his tears any longer. “I have sad news: I’m afraid . . . she’s passed away after giving birth. The spirits have taken her to a better place so that our son may live . . . Let the mourning ritual begin at once, and let a she-wolf volunteer herself so that my son may receive the nourishment of her teats.” He ordered his pack with a heavy heart.  

Indeed it was easy to see that the dark-brown Alpha was proud to know that a son was born to carry out his family’s namesake, but the loss of his only mate during the birth of their only child was the ultimate heartbreak, even overshadowing his pride of becoming a father for the first time.

Within a matter of minutes, a grayish-white female was handed the newborn heir and carried him away to her own cave to allow the child some time to nurse. Many of the other members of the pack took turns kneeling by the birthing den, while others prepared for the night’s wake and memorial ceremonies for their leader’s mate. The male Alpha approached one of his most favored wolves and sat him down away from the group of mourners in front of the Alpha Female’s birthing den. 

“May I have a quick word with you?” The Alpha asked his friend.

“Yes, of course,” The wolf lowered his head solemnly. “What is it that you wish to speak with me, Monty?” the dark navy-black male asked. His blue eyes gazed at the sight of his Alpha in mourning, although he vaguely showed it. “But first, I’d like to offer my condolences for your loss. She was a brave Alpha, a loyal and true friend to us all. It’ll be hard to move on after losing her.” 

“Yes, it will be a challenge, Niju,” Monty leaned up against his friend’s neck, sniffling every now and then. “but she allowed our only son to be spared from dying along with her. He has a higher destiny now: to be raised up so well that he will carry on our legacy once I join her again.” He looked up at Niju with different eyes, eyes that shone with the promise of a better future. His voice was no longer quiet and mournful, but it sounded strong and deep . . . just like old times. “When he becomes Alpha after me, he will help our Montague Clan overtake those snooty, rich Capulets once and for all! I can feel it in my bones!”

“Hmm,” Niju said after noticing the power of his Alpha’s voice. “As much as I wish for our success in defeating the Capulets as soon as possible, I suggest that you focus more on your son.” He turned his attention to the light-colored she-wolf that laid herself in front of her rocky den, nursing the babe on her belly lined with pink nipples. “With his mother gone,