and friends. “Just one second… just a moment…”

But then happened what he feared of. Fort attacked.

Seeing his opportunity, or just trying to solve a problem quickly, wounded alpha struck on bear’s back, biting him hard. Wolves of pack yelled with fear and grizzly growled with pain. He turned with unbelievable speed, trying to shake irritant away. But Fort always had a strong jaws – he endured that carousel much longer than enemy expected and instead of being thrown from the cliff, he just was hurled into rock wall. Then he fell on the ledge unconsciousness. There was no time to lose.

Glemt pounced from his place, aiming on bears head. After just two metres of flight, he hit body of foe. At the first sight the proportions of potential were dire – dog weighed about forty kilos, bear maybe even ten times that mass. But husky impacted on neck of standing enemy. Huge body of grizzly in that second became a lever, transforming limited energy of pouncing silverfurred into expected result. Giant lost his balance and with menacing slowness started to fall into the abyss. First part of Glemt’s plan worked. Then only that harder part left.

Instantly when dog sensed his success, he bounced on foe’s back and tried to jump back to the ledge. It wasn’t a hard operation, under condition that bear was passive. But giant – seeing he was already doomed – waved his paw with desperate anger, plunging his claws into husky’s side.

Glemt felt terrible pain in his body, but in the same time understood that possibly saved his life. Blow of grizzly added his impetus and dog was thrown away even with greater energy. He hit the rock wall and fell down. But still on the ledge. Shocked, wounded and stunned – but still alive.

Next thing he sensed were distant voices of his pack and warm touch of someone’s tongue. It took him over a minute to discover that one who was licking him was Elske. Then he managed to open his eyes and see pack gathered around two wounded ones.

“Fort?” asked dog with weary voice.

“Hush, it’s all right.” Whispered Elske. “Lay down. He is fine and a moment ago asked for you.” He nodded his head.

“I will be fine… sooner or later.” Said barely. “Just let me lay for a while… and if you could… hold me. You’re so warm…”

*

In the end Glemt wasn’t able to walk himself. Fort had no serious wound and after about hour he was ready to go. But in dog’s side there were four cuts, made by bear’s claws. Injuries fortunately missed any internal organ, but were bleeding, so Tro made a desperate decision to go further. After a short examination and thought, Annen took a lead, replacing disable Glemt. Then was going whole pack, closed by Fort, carrying half-awaken Glemt. Alpha was in condition good enough to carry his saviour but definitely not as good to lead others. So he was stepping on sure, checked part, serving as a transport. It wasn’t easy, nor safe, but possible.

“Pal, it’s one of those moments I don’t regret I’m such a skinny weakling.” Murmured dog. “You can carry me easily.”

“Definitely not a weakling.” Replied alpha. “You have just taken bear down.” He paused for a while, then added. “Thanks again… We made it safe. If not you, it would be a slaughter.” Husky just nodded his head, what wolf not saw, but sensed. “When we are back in cave, we must talk.”

“Yeah, when we are back in cave.” Replied Glemt and lost his consciousness.

*

Vis – old female, grey-hoary furred shaman of Beech Pack – took a short look on dog to get know he was going to survive.

“Nice scars.” She judged. “But he will be fine. Fortune loves fools.”

“He saved Fort.” Said Elske, putting her beloved in side-chamber of pack’s cave.

“Exactly!” smiled shamaness. “If he didn’t, he could be an alpha male now… and you would be an alpha female.”

“Don’t talk such a nonsense!” yelled young wolfess.

“Just kidding.” Replied Vis. “Don’t be huffed. After all I’ve done my job. Now he is yours.” She exited chamber to main part of cave.

Keep of Beech Pack was a moderate cavern in slope of Bear Mountain. It was in about middle of slope, where taiga forest was slowly turning into birch groves. Entrance to the keep was on south side of mountain, shielded from most of freezing winds and well hidden among trees. It was a safe haven for Beeches. However in winter in cave wasn’t too warm, so wounded patient would use some additional heating.

“Ow… Elske…” murmured awaken Glemt with sleepy voice.

“Sleep. I just came to warm you up.”

“I don’t want to sleep and miss it.” Smiled dog. He raised his head and licked female’s muzzle.

Elske was beautiful wolf, with white fur and perfectly shaped features. Only thing that somehow was spoiling that amazing view were nasty scars on her forehead and cheeks. She often cried about those, sobbing it made her ugly. But each time it happened, Glemt was assuring her she was beautiful and licked every single of her scar in their special caress. Dog knew exactly how those wounds were made. In fact he was the one who prevent cuts from being lethal. Over two years earlier, when they were just pups, left in pack sanctuary, they were attacked by lynx. In the moment when cat was literally biting Elske’s head (and reaching with claws to her throat) Glemt came and in one desperate attack bought a moment for his friend. All three – she, he and lynx fell on the grass confused. It took just few seconds to young canines to start their run, but extremely surprised cat gave them a moment of time. So when he finally started a pursue after his eventual dinner, wolfess and dog were speeding thought forest, howling with all their might. Lynx had a badluck – chief Forer and Annen were near, so they interrupted a hunt quickly. Cat died instantly, tore apart by fangs of alpha and his beta. However for Elske it would had been too late if not heroic charge of dog-pup. Since that time they become very close to each other. In two years a puppyish friendship turned to love. Wolfess didn’t care her beloved was a dog. All that mattered that he was her saviour. On his behalf Glemt honestly considered Elske as most beautiful being on the world. Even those scars couldn’t change it.

“You saved the day again.” Murmured Elske, nestling to husky’s side. Carefully and to right side, aware not to touch his wounds.

“I guess that’s a task of guarding dog.” Smiled silverfurred and licked his love again.

“I though you are more like sled dog.” Noticed Elske, then instantly added. “But it doesn’t matter. You are a wolf. My wolf, to be exact.”

“Yeah, doesn’t matter.” Agreed husky. “The point is that you are close.” Then nuzzled again, but in the same moment the chamber entered Fort and Tro. “My beloved family.” Murmured dog, faking irritation. “They know when to came to… be helpful.” But in fact he wasn’t angry on them. Simply – he wasn’t able to be angry on his step-sister. They were more concordant and loving maybe more than any real siblings.

“Ow, sorry…” murmured Fort. “But we must talk with Glemt. Elske, if you could…”

“Right, I’m leaving.” Instantly replied whitefurred, obedient to her brother.

“No, wait.” Said alpha. “It’s not necessary. In fact we want talk about something that might… well… most likely will be concerning you.” Tro nodded her head and laid down next to brother.

“It’s better?” asked, looking on his side.

“I think it could be worse.” Replied dog with smile.

“Worse!” snorted Fort, uneasily walking in chamber. Elske laid on the other side of husky, so all three were looking on leader, coming from one wall to another. “Worse!” repeated chief. “Yeah, it could have been, because of me!”

“Stop it!” called Tro and Glemt in the same time. In spite step-sibling had no common blood, somehow they were very similar, also with behaviour. Wolfess and husky reacted in exactly in the same way. “It wasn’t your fault!” continued alpha, looking on mate. “Just a bad luck.”

“So maybe it’s time to think for whom Ancestors are caring better.” Said leader with angry voice. “That one should be a chief.”

“What the heck you are talking about?” yelled Glemt. “Fort, is something wrong with you? I thought your wounds are just scratches, and you still easily perform alpha’s duties…”

“Yes, I could.” Said Beech leader. “But today I’m not sure if I should.”

A moment of silence came to side chamber where confused Elske and Glemt were looking on Tro and Fort. Finally alphess said with heavy voice.

“Bro… we were talking much about it with Fort, and we came to conclusion that…” she once again looked on mate then said, almost whispering. “It would be best if you take a control of Beech Pack.”

“WHAT?” yelled Elske.

“Calm down.” Said husky. “I doubt if they are serious.”

“We are serious.” Said Fort and stopped before his brother-in-law. “I will willingly step down. Tro agreed on that. Then you will became our leader with Elske on your side, if you still…” Glemt instinctively nestled to whitefurred’s side, to confirm his devotion, however he still was looking on leader with disbelief. “You deserved to be an alpha countless times. I mean not only that what happened on path, but many times before. You are the clearly chosen one. And after all, you are also male heir of great Forer.”

“But not his son…” replied husky, but instantly added. “I mean… I loved my step-father… I loved my step-mother as no one on this world. I’m proud to call myself their son, no doubt of that.” He took a quick look on Elske on his side and added with quieter voice. “But also I’m not a wolf. I’m just a stray dog that was raised by wonderful wolves. I’m their son in heart and mind… but not in blood. I can’t be an alpha!”

“Why not!?” asked Fort.

“I’m not a wolf!” repeated silverfurred. “Tro is true blood-heir of our parents and you are her mate. What is wrong with that? – you lead and let it be this way.”

“Bro, listen to me.” Said Tro softly. “You are part of this pack.