execute dad’s plan, because there is a probability, I would mess so much that my relationship with Maya would be impossible.”

“That’s a logic’s way.” She said, dripping with tears on his shoulder. “I’m walking the path of love. I love you and really want you to be happy.”

“I didn’t deserve for it…” murmured malawolf.

“You deserved for better mate than that cry-baby puppy with…” she exclaimed, but then added with quieter voice. “I’m sorry, I don’t want to offend Maya. She has to be special, if you chose her.”

“Werk!” yelled January. “Whatever I do, I will fail someone! Kaata… please, help me! As my intelligence commander… tell me, what to do.”

“I’m happy to serve you in that way.” She smiled. She shook her tears out, looked in his eyes and said, already with calm voice. “Now, the thing you should do first, is to announce yourself as alpha-alpha. I’ve already made some preparation and…”

January smiled with relief. In spite the world was falling down, he could count on old, good Kaata.

*

At dawn of coming day, almost all wolves involved in Pack and Defensive Coalition gathered on fields of East Bank. Of course not all wolves supporting the fight with Talbourne were there. It was principle of the Pack to involve not more creature that it was necessary. At Presentation came military wolves, leaving their families in dens. Maybe some curious youngsters, but most of audience were combatants, ready to set off on real combat mission just after. And that was January’s idea.

He was standing on rocks, above glade. The meeting place was placed on plateau over valley, so if malawolf turned back, he would see Reindeer Creek and further forests of Talbourne Dominion. But he was looking against the raising sun and watching over three hundred wolves, soon to be over his command.

The spectacle had it’s directors – among many there was Ea, Varjo, Aarre and Kaata, overseeing that all was going smoothly. January thought about silverfurred once again. He felt awful about her. If hybrid could be considered as some kind of prize, Kaata worked perfectly to gain it. She done her best and even more to help malawolf get where he was standing there. “She is a wonderful girl.” Thought future alpha. “Beautiful, intelligent and loving. Extremely cheeky, but no one is perfect… If not Maya, I would felt so happy to be with her… but my heart is simply already given… I hope I will have some means to somehow make it all up to her.”

“I’m so proud of you, my son.” Said Ea. She was quietly crying from emotions, however in the same time carefully overseeing the event, ready to leave role of proud mother and became lady Ea again. When she noticed a bit irritated stare of her son, she added quickly. “Of course, I’m aware that was not my merit…”

“It was, mom.” Replied hybrid. “But now, leave it all to me.”

Kaata gave a signal and all wolves bowed down to hear the new alpha. January gave a triumphal howl and when he finished, looked on his new subjects (“Subjects? I’m fighting for no wolf would be subjected… Or I’m not?”) and called.

“Wolves of Alaska… wolves gathered here… in the Pack! Listen to me, as I’m your new alpha!” A wave of cheering howls burst. When they stopped, January continued. “I’m your leader… but only at the time of war. Because we are fighting not to gain power, not glory… We fight for the liberation of Wolfkind! To free our brethrens, yelling in tyrant captivity of Talbourne Clan. I will lead you to put that to end!” Another wave of calls sounded and January had a while to ask himself, if he was really up to do, what he promised? Because he seemed to be decided to betray thing he had sworn. “That’s right.” He thought. “I’m stomping on someone with every step.” But it was too late – he was already alpha-alpha.

“Wolves of Pack!” he called. “We are going west! To crush our enemies and fulfil our destiny. We fight for return of old laws… We are the future… we are the past… we are the Eternity!”

Thankfully the third wave of howls managed to muffle even hybrid’s thoughts.

*

Varjo caught him, as he was going to vanguards units. RAIA commander was going with Kaata – who seemed to recover almost completely – but it was obvious that he had a ask for alpha-alpha. Seeing father and daughter, January left the road and waited.

“Sir…” started silverfurred male.

“Leave it, gamma-alpha.” Said leader. “Didn’t my mother tell you? I hold no grudge for the plan you made and…”

“I think I deserve the punishment anyway.” Said intelligence leader. “Assignment in front line would be just fine.”

“There is no need.” said January.

“So, let’s try another way… Sir!” called Varjo with decisive voice. “For reward for my long time service… except of last month I must say: perfect service, I ask you for new assignment. I wish to join front line of our forces.”

“What he is up to?” asked malawolf, looking on Kaata. “I know he is plotting something, but what exactly, I have no idea.”

“It’s not like that, my alpha.” Said wolfess. “I tried to persuade him to stop, but he is already decided… He really want to fight in first line.”

“You are an intelligence officer!” yelled January. “Why the heck I should risk your life like that?”

“Because I need my life to risk… for the very first time in my life.”

“I’m lost.” Admitted hybrid. “Hint, please.”

“You know that I was from the pack of Peninsula.” Started Varjo. “From day of my birth I was considered as smart and intelligent, however that my brother was meant to be future alpha… but then Talbourne came. We wanted to defend our soil in alliance with Stardust Pack… but they gave up and we was left totally alone. My father wanted to fight… Girin wanted to fight… But I persuaded all to give up.”

“One pack against the power of Talbourne?” asked January. “I guess that was rational decision to surrender.”

“Perhaps.” Replied Varjo. “But it doesn’t make me less guilty.” He sighed and continued. “I persuaded all pack… except of my father and my brother. They didn’t let Shadow enter our home cave. And he ordered to kill them, as I was standing and watching.”

“Sorry to hear that.” Said January. “I know the case only thanks to your words, but I believe that you had a reason to give up. No pride should demand sacrificing of whole family.”

“I was repeating that for years.” Said Varjo with quiet voice. “But on those almost four years I failed to convince myself.”
”Is risking now would be proper atonement? God dammit! You have a daughter to carry about.”

“That is what I was repeating that for three years.” Smiled RAIA commander with bitter smile. “But no I ran out of pretext. Kaata could take care for herself.”

“Don’t you think, you should interfere now?” January looked on silverfurred wolfess.

“I tried, but there was no use.” Said Kaata. “He actually want it.”

“All right…” murmured January after a while of consideration. “You will replace alpha-gamma Ian of RAIA in charge of his combat pack. That’s still recon unit, but in this mission I guess that we all would see some real action.”

“Thank you, my alpha.” Said Varjo and bowed his head.

“But what about Ian?” asked Kaata. “Won’t he fight?”

“I need him at my side.” Said malawolf. “I have a plan of making our all’s mission a bit less <action>. By the way, Kaata, as you father resigned from his office, the RAIA is up to you.”

“What?” gasped wolfess but in next second she added with humble voice. “Yes, my alpha.”

“So… let’s go!” ordered hybrid and they all stood up from the snow.

Steele’s son let them pass and he waited for another subordinates. He had still few orders to give and few decisions to make. Finally he noticed ones he was expecting. Ian and Flame were marching in soldier’s tempo, in spite that neither Aarre nor January wanted them to go. Scout was in theory able to action, but his freshly injuries were still far from being fully healed. “But whose are?” asked himself wolfdog. “I’m quite beaten up too, not to speak about Kaata. Yet we all are going… And I still am not sure, for what.”

“Ian, madam Flame… come here!” mother and son joined alpha-alpha in his easy walk. No other unit was in sight, so they were marching alone on forest route, just before Reindeer Creek.

“Yes, my alpha?” asked scout. He said it with airy and playful tone. After all he was still like a big brother to his leader. In his voice January could hear a joy and relief. Ian fully reconciled with his mother. And moreover he made Aarre to teach all Pack’s soldiers Istana’s traits. Then Pack’a Prisoner Policy secured safety of whole family.

“Oh, madam Flame…” murmured alpha-alpha. “I have some mission for Ian, but I guess you should stay with the army… or somewhere else. We set with Ian, that you will wait outside the Home Valley and reunite with whatever party wins, giving appropriate story…”

“O, no!” laughed Flame. “You won’t rid off old lady so easily. What is that mission? I could help my son. I march as fast as he do.”

“Ian, judge yourself.” Said January. “I need to be guided to Home Cave… discretely, with no alarm and before our army arrive.”

“Werk!” snorted scout. “That’s hard. Do you have some plan?”

“I prefer not to say it right now, but perhaps we will win this war without a single battle.”

Ian grinned and looked on mother. “I knew it! Actually he did seduce Talbourne princess!”

“No!” called malawolf. “That means… actually: yes, but it doesn’t…”

“Youngsters.” Smiled Flame. “But what we should do? Just to guide you to Home Valley?”

“Yes.” Nodded alpha-alpha. “I will give my orders to Aarre, Kaata and mother. They will manage. In the same time we will infiltrate Talbourne and finish this conflict before it starts”

“Sounds good to me!” exclaimed Flame, hearing that even Pack’s Prisoners Policy wasn’t required to save her family from war-mayhem.

*

And they entered the ice. About five miles south

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