everything.

 

 

 

Farris: Aleu.

 

 

 

Aleu: I just… I was foolish and I wasn’t being a very good leader to any one of you.

 

 

 

Farris: Aleu.

 

 

 

Aleu: I would have never forgiven him if I knew it would come to this.

 

 

 

Farris: (in a louder tone) Aleu!

 

 

 

Aleu: Sorry.

 

 

 

Farris: (in a raspy voice) you don’t need to apologize… I’m the one who should be saying sorry.

 

 

 

Aleu: (confused) what?

 

 

 

Farris: I owe it to you…

 

 

 

Aleu: Why? You did nothing wrong.

 

 

 

Farris: Yes I did… I tried to hurt you…

 

 

 

Aleu: Oh, Farris. That’s ok. Its-

 

 

 

Farris: No it’s not. It’s not ok… I let my anger get the better of me.

 

 

 

Aleu: Farris, I-

 

 

 

Farris: I should have never gotten so angry with him. I should have listened to what he had to say and give him a chance. The only one who needs to say sorry is me… To both you and Niju-

 

 

 

Aleu: Why to him? He’s the one who got you in here. He needs to apologize.

 

 

 

Farris: I’ve already forgiven him…

 

 

 

Aleu: What? But why?

 

 

 

Farris: Because the reason he hurt me was to protect you… to get you out of harm’s way, which I put you in… And that’s worthy of my forgiveness.

 

 

 

            Aleu never took the time to think about it. She was too washed up in her guilt to think that Niju was only trying to protect her. She felt so stupid for thinking otherwise.

 

 

 

Farris: I should have considered your safety… I thought I was in love with you…

 

 

 

Aleu: Farris, you told me before that we were just friends…

 

 

 

Farris: I know I did… but it took me a while to realize how much you meant to me. And now I realize that you must mean a whole lot more to Niju to be the one who considered your safety… 

 

 

 

            Farris was right. She felt like a fool for not seeing it before. She knew before how much she meant to Niju, and how much he meant to her. And she never thought he would do what he did to Farris in order to make sure she didn’t get hurt.

 

 

 

Farris: I would have never guessed that Niju had actually changed… I wasn’t open enough to listen to what he had to say, to think that he would ever change, and I thought he never would… but I was wrong. And what he did to me was all the proof I needed… because he did what he did to protect you.

 

 

 

            Aleu thought about it. She began to see hope in their relationship, as well as feel it in her heart. Maybe it wasn’t over. Maybe the two of them could still be together.

 

 

 

Farris: He deserves you, Aleu… for being the thing that he was once afraid of, he deserves you…

 

 

 

            Aleu began to feel happy. As unexpected as Farris’s reaction was, it made Aleu very glad to know that Farris actually wanted them to be together.

 

 

 

Farris: Do you still love him?

 

 

 

            Aleu knew the answer to that, and some how, she felt like she had always known.

 

 

 

Aleu: …Yes, I do.

 

 

 

Farris: Than go to him, Aleu… You both deserve each other.

 

 

 

            Aleu burst into happiness. She went up to Farris and gave him a friendly nuzzle.

 

 

 

Aleu: Thank you so much, Farris.

 

 

 

Farris: No need to thank me, just go, before you miss him.

 

 

 

            Balto looked at Aleu. She looked so unbelievably happy. And if Aleu was happy, so was Balto, regardless of what happened, or of what was kept secret, or of the kind of person Niju was before this big change took flight, he was happy for her.  His daughter was love, and that’s all that mattered.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 48

 

 

 

 

     Aleu and the clan all gathered around on Balto’s boat to talk. She took it upon herself to owe every single one of them an apology for how she had been acting lately. They were gathered in a half circle with Aleu sitting down in front of them.

 

 

 

Aleu: There are a few things that I need to say to you guys… I know that I haven’t been the best leader to you…

 

 

 

            Everyone in the clan watched and listened carefully.

 

 

 

Aleu: I hid things from you; I lied to you, and most of all I haven’t been acting like a good alpha female…

 

 

 

            Aleu could tell by the look in their eyes that they all agreed with her, and that’s what she expected.

 

 

 

Aleu: Now I can imagine how all of you feel about this. Some of you may be disappointed by it, and some of you may even hate me for it… (sigh) and I don’t blame you.

 

 

 

            A few of the members looked at each other. They didn’t really expect that. They all knew that they didn’t hate Aleu. In fact, they couldn’t imagine who else would be a good alpha besides Aleu. They began to feel guilty for thinking Aleu was acting like a bad leader.

 

 

 

Aleu: And Sarah…

 

 

 

            Sarah looked at Aleu in response.

 

 

 

Aleu: You’re the one I need to apologize to the most… I’ve taken advantage of you… Whenever I was gone, I knew that I could always count on you to keep the clan in line.

 

 

 

            Sarah was surprised, but in a sense flattered at the same time.

 

 

 

 Aleu: And you do such an amazing job. You really do.

 

 

 

            Sarah smiled at her comment. She was proud of what she was able to do in Aleu’s absence, but nothing compared to Aleu’s leadership. She knew that the whole clan loved having Aleu as their leader and she really didn’t want anyone to take her place.

 

 

 

Aleu: And that’s why I’m going to let you decide who will be the alpha in this clan. And whomever you chose, whether it be me or Sarah or anyone else… I’m not going to stop you from making what you think is the right choice… So what’ll it be?

 

 

 

            The clan looked around and at each other. Small conversations took place, quiet enough for Aleu not to hear. Sarah motioned towards them to stop, and they all kept quiet. Sarah stepped foreword.

 

 

 

Sarah: Aleu… we agree with you when you say that you haven’t been the best alpha to us.

 

 

 

            Aleu lowered her head in sadness.

 

 

 

Sarah: And I’m sure we all agree with you when you say that you’ve hid things from us. And I’m sure most of us think that this clan would be a whole lot better off without you as our leader.

 

 

 

            Aleu was shot to the heart. She had never heard anyone in the clan say such a thing to her before, but she couldn’t say anything because she did not blame them.

 

 

 

Sarah: (smiling) but I’m not one of them…

 

 

 

            Aleu looked at Sarah. Did she really mean that? Did Sarah really think that after all she did, she still wanted Aleu to be their leader?

 

 

 

Nuk: Yeah, well, neither am I.

 

 

 

Kima: Me neither.

 

 

 

Kori: Or me.

 

 

 

Yak: Me neither.

 

 

 

Sumac: What are we talking about?

 

 

 

Aleu was overwhelmed. She had no idea that she meant so much to them.

 

 

 

Sarah: (smiling) I don’t think anyone of us sees a better alpha taking your place, Aleu.

 

 

 

Nuk: Yeah. I mean, what would we do without you? If Sarah was alpha than none of us would ever get along.

 

 

 

            An angry look came upon Sarah’s face towards Nuk.

 

 

 

Aleu: (laughing) Easy, Sarah. (turning towards Nuk) Thanks, Nuk.

 

 

 

            Aleu looked at her clan. They were all smiling at her. This made her feel wanted, and loved.

 

 

 

Aleu: Wow… I would have never thought that I mean so much to you guys…

 

 

 

            They all waited for her answer.

 

 

 

Aleu: You know what… I’d love to continue to be your alpha.

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