soon." Wind sighed.

"She needs to hear from me. Mother you don’t need to get in this. I just needed to tell you that’s all." Wind looked ashamed of herself. Rose licked her daughter’s cheek.

"At least you know what you did wrong." Rose smiled and Wind just gave a small smile.

"When I start showing I’m going to go away for a while okay." Wind spoke.

"Wind! I thought you were going to tell your sister!"

"I am. I just…don’t want to face everyone else."

Rose nodded to show she understood. "Thanks Mom." Wind said as she spotted Larkspur coming out of the den. The gray wolf hastily disappeared into the brush.

***

Cocoa decided not to visit Sambe tonight. She wanted to be left alone. Earlier, Wind said she would stay with Mom and Cocoa could have the den to herself. Cocoa was a little confused about Wind’s sudden kindness but she gladly took the offer. Cocoa was nestled inside on her makeshift bed of dry leaves and dirt. The sun had just fallen and she was feeling very tired. Right before she laid her head down there was a little scratching. Her brown head popped up and she gave a warning bark. "Don’t worry Cocoa it’s just me."

"Larkspur?" She cocked her head as the red wolf with white stockings strolled in. "What in the world are you doing here?" Cocoa asked as she looked at Larkspur with questioning eyes.

"Just to say hello I guess." Larkspur replied.

"Right and you’ve been watching me all day long as if something was going to go wrong. So it’s not hello or is it good night." Cocoa spoke and Larkspur blushed.

"Sorry if it seemed as if I was stalking you." Larkspur spoke quietly. Cocoa just smiled. She had to admit she liked the feeling of being watched by someone. As a matter of fact, she had not seen Sambe in a while.

"It’s okay." Cocoa nearly whispered and Larkspur smiled a little.

It was quiet for a bit between the two. It nearly killed Cocoa. "There is something I need to tell you." Larkspur said quietly. Cocoa looked back to his handsome face and waited. He took a deep breath and started. "Cocoa I think that…I…uh…um…err…" Larkspur’s cheeks were redder than his coat and his ears were to the side. His eyes screaming scared.

"What? You think that you what?" Cocoa asked. She tried to remain calm for Larkspur was a little shy. Also she didn’t want to upset herself over something small or so she thought. Larkspur looked away then back at her.

"I think I like you." He quickly answered trying to not make a fool out of himself.

Cocoa’s bottom jaw lowered a little and her eyes wide and her expression blank. "I’ll be going now." Larkspur said hastily and retreated to the cover of night.

"Larkspur wait!" Cocoa called out as she hurried to the entrance. But the red wolf was gone.

***

"Sweetheart what’s troubling you?" Sambe asked the next day. Cocoa shook her head to clear her mind.

"What?"

"What’s troubling you?"

"Oh nothing." Cocoa answered with a smile. She was thinking of Larkspur and why Wind never was around. She was burdened with not only precious cargo but also with the worry of everyone else and how she would be a good mother.

Sambe looked at Cocoa with eyes that made her melt. "Are you worried about the pups?" He asked.

"Yes I am." She lied just a little. Sambe nuzzled her warmly.

"You’ll be the best mother."

Wind watched them from the shadows of the forest as the pair walked through the clearing. She felt like a blender with all types of feelings tossed in. She was happy about being a mother but angry how Sambe and herself could betray Cocoa like that. Worried how she and her pups would live.

"Is it true?" Wind wheeled around to see Domingo.

"What’s true?" She asked quick. Domingo took a few sniffs at her.

"I was speaking with Rose. Well my mother and I. Rose said something happened to you and you would be going away for a while." Wind gasped then looked a little depressed and also a little angry with her mother. Domingo noticed her expression change. "I didn’t mean to offend you or anything like that! I swear, don’t kill me!" Domingo had the deer in the headlights look.

Wind growled. " I’m not going to kill you. It’s okay." She smiled up at Domingo. She had to admit besides Larkspur, Domingo was her best guy friend. She sighed. "Yeah it’s true. I’ll be away for a while."

"You smell just a little different." Domingo pointed out. Wind froze.

"I…um…uh…got to go!" She jumped to her feet and dashed past Domingo.

"Wait!" Domingo cried out. He gave a huff as he watched her run away. He thought for a minute and turned his attention to the clearing where Cocoa and Sambe stopped walking and sat together. He gasped as he thought then he shook his head. "I don’t think Sambe’s that kind of guy and Wind wouldn’t do it. But then again he came out of nowhere and the sisters haven’t been speaking with each other." Domingo spoke to himself. He shook his head again. "Not my problem." He whispered.

***

Wind was starting to show at 3 weeks and she became a little worried and terribly scared. Cocoa was a month along and was large but she would be bigger by the time the second month. "I’ve got to tell her!" Wind thought as she was laying outside of her mother’s den. Rose constantly reminded Wind she had to tell her sister.

"Decided what to do yet?" Wind looked up to see Sambe. She growled.

"Not yet." She replied with a deep tone. Sambe smirked as he sat himself in front of her.

Sambe looked at her mad expression. "You wanted it and so I gave it to you. Not my problem now."

She couldn’t take his so calm attitude that covered his lies. "Shut up! You lied to me! You lied to my sister! You really don’t love her do you?" Wind exploded.

Sambe looked at Wind with not concerned eyes. "I do it for the pleasure not love. It’s how I am." Sambe gave a smug grin.

Wind gasped and growled. "Go away and never come back." She snarled before standing. Her hackles rose and her tail straight back.

Sambe closed his eyes and shook his head. He reopened his eyes to the furious expression of the masked wolf. He chuckled and stood before nuzzling her. "Nope. I’m sticking around. The pups got to know who their father is."

"My pups will never see you!"

"Your pups? You mean ours." Sambe spoke freely before he turned away. Wind growled deeply. "Now I’m checking on the other litter. Good day to you, Mrs. Sambe." Sambe called back over his shoulder. Wind just growled louder, her hackles raised in frustration.

"You will pay for this!" She yelled.

***

Sambe was snuggled up against Cocoa. Cocoa rest deeply as her energy always seemed drained. "How many do you think there will be?" Sambe asked. Cocoa opened her eyes slowly and raised her head to look at him.

"It feels like 20." She responded and Sambe chuckled. Cocoa licked his chin. Sambe smiled and for some reason was remembering what Larkspur told him a while back.

Wind was fuming anger as she made her way to Cocoa’s den. She was going to tell her sister everything and who Sambe really was. She couldn’t lie beneath her guilt anymore. "Hey Wind where are you going?" Cadena asked as the ebony wolf spotted Wind walking past.

"Come with me Cadena." Wind said without looking at her friend. Her tone was deadly. Cadena decided to not question her friend and followed alongside Wind to the den Wind once occupied.

Sambe was licking the top of Cocoa’s head. Cocoa had her head on her paws. "Sambe! Cocoa! Get out here now!" A voice bellowed into the den. Sambe hopped to his feet and Cocoa startled awake. "Wind?" Cocoa asked. She shrugged and headed outside.

"Where are you going?" Sambe hissed. He had an uneasy feeling. "Outside. Aren’t you coming?" Cocoa asked. Sambe growled but followed Cocoa.

"What the hell for all the ruckus?" Cocoa snarled at her sister. Right off the bat she could tell something was with Wind. Cocoa had not seen Wind for a while and she seemed different. Cadena stood behind Wind and popped her head out and smiled weakly before hiding again. Wind was furious as she glared at Sambe. Sambe glared back.

Wind relaxed a little. "Cocoa I’m sorry."

Cocoa was confused. "What for?" She asked quickly.

"Sambe and I…" Wind started.

"Don’t listen to her lies." Sambe whispered to Cocoa.

"Shut up!" Wind shouted and her voice returned to level when Cocoa gave her a nod to go on. "Sambe and I committed adultery. I’m pregnant with his pups. We didn’t force each other. We did it freely. I’m ashamed of myself and disappointed in Sambe for not knowing better. That’s why I’m sorry."

Cocoa gasped and looked from her mate to her sister then back at Sambe. Sambe gave an easy smile hoping to convince her that Wind was lying. Cocoa shook her head as she faced Wind again. Wind looked to her sister in a pleading way to believe her. "Sambe is it true?" Cocoa asked without looking at her mate.

Sambe nuzzled her fondly. "No it’s not true. She’s lying. She’s trying to get us apart so she can have me all to herself." Sambe spoke hastily. Cadena meanwhile sat back watching with