paused then; finally his hardened ice blue eyes softening a bit as he turned to Kiona. “For some reason you were different. I should hate you just like the rest, but you fascinated me, questioned my thinking. It went against everything I ever believed. Maybe it was the wild in you that you never lost being a human’s pet. I still don’t completely know what it was that attracted me so fully…”

The alpha stopped walking, trying to come up with more ways to explain as he gazed outwards. “And my feelings are true, you know that. But that feeling is only for you. Any other dog is just the same in my mind. I feel nothing towards them as I do to you. I can’t change that, and you must understand this.” Achak could of course understand her sympathy, but didn’t feel the same towards the blonde pup as she.

Kiona nodded. She knew she wouldn't be able to change him no matter what she said. Nonetheless, she felt the need to remind him, "Just don't forget that he's still just a child." But she couldn't bring herself to say it. Either way, she didn't expect him to say anything about that and to still keep firm in his opinion. She just wanted what was best for Hokee.

They continued walking, both of them just thankful they weren't fighting anymore. As they made their way back home, Achak slipped in a nuzzle from the side, giving Kiona the pleasant shivers she had always felt when she was near him. She returned the favor, and when they got within eyesight of the pack, she saw the pups playing and said, "Remember how you said your father would take you and your brother and sister around the territory?" Achak smiled, reminiscing.

"Yes, I remember." He knew where she was going with this.

"I think it would be a good idea to do the same with our pups soon." she suggested.

"I think so too." he replied, smiling at her. "I'll take them soon."

"It will be fun." Kiona said as they reached their cave. The pups, being easily distracted, stopped playing and ran to greet their parents. Kiona crouched down low so her head was level with them and they all gave her affection once they reached her. Hokee, however, didn't crash land into such a loving target. He stumbled over his own large feet and fell onto one of Achak's front paws just as the alpha was backing up to move.

Achak's fur bristled and his lips curled into a sneer as he stared down at the pup, who was wise to back off quickly with his tail between his legs. Kiona saw this, but didn't say anything. She wasn't going to be controlling over his, even if it would've worked.

"Daddy has a surprise waiting for you soon," Kiona said to her pups, not noticing Hokee trot off to avoid Achak's angry stare. Achak looked down at his family at the mention of his "new name."

"Really?!" They all exclaimed, jumping over to daddy. "What is it! Huh? Huh?"

"We'll be going there to see it soon," he smiled, chuckling at their curiosity and excitement.

"Is Hokee going too?" Nayeli asked. It was noticed that Nayeli worried more about Hokee "fitting in" than anyone, maybe even Kiona. It was an innocent question, though.

Achak stole a quick glance at the hybrid, wishing that the subject hadn't been brought up. Just the same, he neutrally answered, "We'll see."

Nayeli beamed at the answer, her little tail wagging. Further away, Hokee, still wary of the large alpha, sensing the wolf didn’t like him, hoped he would be included. The pup didn’t know why Achak didn’t like him…what had he ever done to the other? The brown-patched hybrid just didn’t understand. Ever since had been accepted, mostly, into the pack, he had thought of all the members as his own new family. He had grown close to Tonrar, Hinto and Nayeli as well rather quickly. Hokee wanted nothing more to have a father, along with Kiona, whom he pretty much thought of as a new mother. The red hybrid was just like him too, part wolf, part dog.

Suddenly, the blonde pup was knocked down and was seeing the world upside-down. Blinking after hearing giggling, Hokee looked above him to see Tonrar standing above him with a mischievous grin on his face. Grinning back, the hybrid pup pawed at Tonrar as he played back, nipping and play growling as they wrestled.

Nayeli just sat back and watched happily, cheering on Hokee and laughing. With an excited yip, in one of her less common playful moments, she turned and ran up to her father and jumping up to him on her hind legs. The large black and silver wolf smiled and laid down, letting his daughter ‘attack’ his face with love, letting her nibble at his ears. Gently, Achak rolled Nayeli over onto her back, emitting giggles from the smaller black and silver pup, and nuzzled at the soft underbelly. The little female certainly was the most affectionate of the pups, not hesitating to give anyone of the pack members attention.

Kiona gazed lovingly upon her daughter and mate. It was then she realized the blond pup suddenly had a name. He didn't have one before, atleast not to her knowledge. That evening when it was time for the pups to turn in for the night, as Kiona lay in the cave with them trying to get them clean, she asked Hokee about the name.

"So, Hokee," she said. "How'd you earn that name?" Kiona knew of the name's meaning, but now she was just curious as to why he had it.

"Oh! Nayeli and Hinto and Tonrar named me that!" Hokee exclaimed, somewhat modest.

"Uncle Kanook helped us yesterday!" Hinto said as Kiona let him up from being cleaned.

"I see," Kiona said, ushering Hokee between her front legs for his own bath. He, like Nayeli, Hinto, and Tonrar before him, got pretty dirty from the day's play. "So what does Hokee's name mean?"

"It means 'abandoned'." Nayeli explained, for the first time in front of Kiona, sounding sad (due to the knowing of Hokee's current position, which Kanook explained to the pups that day).

"It suited him, but now he's found! Right, Momma?" Tonrar asked, sneaking a play bite to Hokee as Kiona bathed him. Kiona nudged Tonrar under his chest with her muzzle to back him off.

"Settle down," Kiona demanded, nudging Hokee in the same direction. "It's time to sleep." Hokee squeezed in between the two brothers and Nayeli, who sneaked in a goodnight kiss to her blonde friend. Kiona smiled at that, and lay her head down to rest, but she didn't fall asleep, until Achak entered the cave, which wasn't until later when everyone else turned in for the night.

Achak entered the cave with a snuff to his nose, trying to get rid of the new hybrid's scent, which fortunately or unfortunately was beginning to fade within everyone else's scent. He could barely make out where everyone was, due to it being so dark, but Kiona's unmistakable scent guided him to her. Even though the retched mutt was wedged between her and their children, he still slept next to her on the opposite side of them.

Once Kiona felt Achak's body against her own, she nuzzled his face in the dark, as a way to say: "I love you." Achak returned the favor and licked her forehead before they too drifted into a light slumber.

As usual, the pups were up and ready for the next day, waking early, going and pouncing on their pack-mates that still slept, giggling. Good thing everyone was either used to it, or learned to wake before the little wolves did. The four of them got the most entertainment out of Shiro, who almost never woke before them, and didn’t seem to learn. Being bitten, gnawed on and pounced on usually woke him up quickly with a yelp, earning more giggles from his attackers.

Hokee still remained wary of Achak, and the alpha still disliked the pup, avoiding the blonde hybrid when possible. The pup still didn’t know why he was disliked when everyone else liked him, accepted him. Too scared to ask, or even get close to the large silvers streaked wolf, Hokee just tried to stay out of the other’s way.

After eating, the pups went around along their normal ‘schedule’ of playing. They still couldn’t leave the caves, but didn’t care, having fun nonetheless chasing each other around. Laughing, Tonrar, Hinto and Hokee ran past a napping Kiona and Achak, who were lying near the caves. Nayeli, who had been sitting by her parents watching her siblings and Hokee play, got up and ran after them. Near the edge of a steep rocky slope, the pups stopped, Hokee and Tonrar rearing up on their hind legs to paw playfully at each other, trying to knock the other off balance. It was then Nayeli came up around them.

“I’m gonna get ya Hokee!” Hokee shook his head, fighting back and laughing.

“Nu-uh! I’m gonna win!” The blonde pup managed to push Tonrar back some. Nayeli yipped, cheering the hybrid on.

“Go Hokee, you can do it!” Distracted by the encouragement, Hokee couldn’t keep his balance as Tonrar got the upper hand and pushed him back. Still being on his hind legs, the blond pup staggered back, flailing. Nayeli wasn’t fast enough to move in time as her friend knocked into her…and over the side with a cry.

Kiona and Achak instantly awakened when they heard their child cry, and no sooner than they woke up, they were by Nayeli's side. She had landed right on her neck, but before Kiona could tear up, the pup stood, shaking, and whimpered.

"Oh, my god! Nayeli! Are you alright?!” Kiona exclaimed, looking her over, Achak looming to see if there was anything he could do. He saw that she wasn't putting any weight on her front leg.

"M-My leg h-hurts!" Nayeli squeaked as her eyes watered. Her leg was broken, or sprained, no doubt. They couldn't tell, but either way, she had to stay off it. Achak was just thankful it wasn't severe. He looked up the slope to see the boys staring down, wide-eyed, but when Achak made eye contact with Hokee, the cub cowered away, guiltily.

The alpha-male growled and stomped up the slope. Tonrar and Hinto saw this as an opportunity to check on their sister because they didn't like the angry look on their father's face. Hokee tried

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