Duke felt a threatening growl rising up his vocal cords as he squared off with his brother, Jindo. Their father, Arask, had recently announced that he was getting too old to be alpha male and another young male would have to take his place. Both of his sons being dominent, he insisted that it would be only fair if they fought for the coveted role of pack leader.

Duke was outmatched slightly in size, for Jindo being slightly more muscular had the power of size over him. But, luckily, Duke was crafty and swift in battle, he had advantage of the mind. His plan was to tire Jindo out to the point of exaustion and then attack. Jindo was powerful and strong, but simple and it took him a while to realize his enemie's fighting strategy. What Duke was basically doing now was using his surrondings to gain momentum and speed for that final attack as soon as Jindo tired. Every time Jindo decided he would charge at Duke, Duke would nimbly jump sideways on a nearby rock, allowing him to get behind Jindo and he would run to the other side of the "battlefield" while Jindo would narrowly miss crashing and stare blankly in front for a few seconds before turning around.

Not more than ten seconds went by when Jindo came charging at Duke once again, but with less enthusiasm and tensed his muscles ready to spring if Duke decided to attack.

Duke kept waiting, waiting for Jindo's menancing charges to lose their frequency and then BAM! he would tackle Jindo from the back, knocking him down with his built-up speed. 'yes' Duke said to himself 'he's almost at fainting point, now's my chance'.

Duke sprinted at Jindo while he was still is his second long tranceof staring blankly in front of himself when Duke hit like a tornado. The impact knocked Jindo sideways, making him stumble clumsely as Duke was fastening his teeth in the scruff of Jindo's neck. Duke tugged hard at his fur making scraps of fur  litter the ground around the tussling twosome.

Duke soon tasted Jindo's blood from where he must have bitten with his teeth. At the same time, Jindo cried out in sheer agony " Let go, letgo letgo dammit, that hurts, aaaahhh!" Jindo quickly shrunk down to the ground in complete submission. Duke placed his front paw upon Jindo's side and gave a victorious howl to the rest of the pack.

When Duke let Jindo up, his brother slinked away rudely spitting insults and curses back at him. Arask stiffly walked over to congradulate his son. "Well done, you fought well." he said "However, you must keep in mind that being a leader of a pack takes maturity and responsiblity as well as strength and cunning skills."  "I am aware father, and I pledge to lead this pack to the best of my ability." " A few words of advice, you may never know whats coming until it has came, so be on top of your senses at all times." Arask wisely recited.

"Thank you for the advice dad, Im sure it will be of much use to me in the future." Duke said softly. Duke glaced at Jindo and saw a trace jelousy in his eyes. "Don't think this is the last of me, I'm still part of this pack!" "Im well aware of that Jindo, but remember your place in the pack or I'll be ripping your ears off your head next time!" Duke retorted. " Break it up boys, break it up." Sheesla, Duke's mom, commanded as she stepped in between her arguing sons.

Jindo then gave a final growl, stood up on wobbly legs and stalked off wincing with every pawstep. "Duke come with me, and I will explain everything you have questions about." Arask said. "And you, Liza, come with me, seeing that you are Duke's mate, you will be  the new alpha female, we have much to discuss." Sheesla concluded.

"So, your mate, Liza, where did you meet her?" Arask asked Duke. "Oh, in a town, not far away from here, why?" Duke asked. "She didn't have the scent of any wolf pack around here that I know of, that's all." He replied. "Dad, that's cause she wasn't IN a wolf pack in the first place, I met her IN the town." Duke stated. ' YOU went IN a town, Duke?!" Arask asked with a hint of admiration in his voice. "No, she lived as a stray on the outskirts of the town, near the forest, where she hunted, she's not full wolf dad, she's mostly husky but a quarter wolf." Duke explained quickly.

"She's not a full wolf, that suprises me, I would never have thought that she had any dog in her, she has all wolf features, just a little smaller." Arask commented. "Exactly, which made me think she would have fit in with the pack perfectly." Duke said happily.

" She's very nice but have you forgotten about your original female wolf friend, Dayra?" Arask asked." Me and Dayra were JUST friends dad, nothing more, she won't care if I have a mate we'll remain friends no matter what."He assured his father. " I promise."

When Duke and Arask returned it was nearly midnight. Sheesla and Liza had already finished discussing Liza's responsiblilties, and Liza was sitting with Sheesla, Dayra, and Monjo, Dayra's younger brother.

' Hey Dayra, hey Monjo, wow little dude, you've gotten so big since last time I saw ya!" Duke said playfully. " I'm one now, so I get to help out with the hunting every now  and then." '"Next time we go hunting, pick me to go and I'll show you how good I am!" Monjo said, stiffling a yawn. "Well right now you're going to bed, I don't care how old you are, you're still a growing wolf." Dayra said with a scolding tone. 'G' night,  Liza, g' night Duke, Mondo Monjo here is gonna take a trip to slumber land." Dayra said jokingly. "About time for me to be headin' to bed too, good night youngins." As soon as she walked away Liza said "She's so nice, she told me how originally you and Dayra had been set up to be mates, but you wanted to pick a mate on your own and you ran away."

"So what are some other wolves in your pack, I think I saw a pregnant female wolf somewhere, who was she?" Liza asked. " You mean Tiga, an amber colored wolf with a brown stripe on her back?" Yes, she was orange-y colored." Liza said. "Yep, thats her, the fathers name is Fallen, a dark grey wolf, with a white paw, he's a great hunter." Duke said admiringly.

"About pregnant female wolves, um....I thought about the best time to say this....but...I-I-I'm gonna be, uh...honest right now.... I'm pregnant with your pups, Duke, you're gonna be a daddy!"

                   ~To Be Continued..............~