. . But alas, life continues to go on, right? She somehow brought herself to smile at that thought.

 

“I love you too, Aleu,” Shadow said, playfully tackling her until he had his light-brown mate pinned with her back to the floor. He soon kissed her lips, savoring her scent and taste with his muzzle.

 

O Aniu, Aleu thought as she felt her mate’s fur gently touch her own. Her eyes were closed, enjoying the moment of passion using her other senses as she prayed blessings to the wolf goddess that watched over them all. I trust that things will only become even better for your Clan now that my sister has taken my place and that you have taken her under your wing . . . She suddenly felt warm all over as a sharp pain hit her from below – Shadow was completing his duty as a mate to her, she knew that for sure. However, she just ignored what she was feeling, knowing exactly what the outcome was to be. And now, this moment shall only be the start of something great for us all . . .

 

Well, at least I hope so anyway . .

.

 

ACT I – BEGINNING

 

 

Chapter I

 

The former Alpha had collapsed to the ground an hour ago with a loud groan, feeling the pressure and contractions of labor overtake her body. It had been years since her first litter, so she had somehow forgotten how painful delivering pups was.

 

Ohh, it hurts! She cried out inside her mind. O Aniu, please be with me this night!

 

“Aleu!” That was Shadow’s voice . . . she couldn’t see him due to her tightly-clinched eyelids, but she recognized and felt his presence beside her as she tried to endure the early contraction. “Aleu! Hang in there!”

 

Another canine that seemed to almost be a spitting image of the former Alpha ran towards the dark wolf, nudging him on the shoulder. Her coat was more gray than brown, making her wild as the lupine blood within her veins. “Shadow, maybe you should step out for a little while.” She spoke with a gentle voice, despite her wild looks. “I’ll take good care of her, I promise.”

 

“But . . . but I can’t leave her to suffer like this!” Shadow cried back to her. “She’s my mate, and she needs me by her side!”

 

“And she’s giving birth, Shadow,” the she-wolf answered back. “I’m sorry, but this is no place for a male right now – mate or not.” She hushed and tried to calm the pregnant female down with gentle breathing techniques and nudges. “Easy, easy . . . calm down and just breathe, Aleu . . . shh . . .”

 

“No! I won’t leave her! Aleu’s in pain! She’s your own sister for goodness sake!” He retorted. “Can’t you think about that, Melody?”

 

The quarter-wolf was stung slightly by the comment, but she had no choice but to growl back at the wolf. “I can, Shadow, but right now, Aleu needs to stay calm in order to successfully give birth.” She calmed herself, giving him a glare. “If she panics, Aleu may hurt the pups before they’re born . . . their lives, as well as Aleu’s, are at stake, and we can’t take any chances of her getting overstressed right now, you understand?”

 

He did understand what Melody was saying, but he wanted to be there more than anything. “But . . . but . . .” Shadow stammered out, unable to snap back.

 

Melody signaled to a couple of other she-wolves waiting outside the den opening. “Oh, take him out of here for now, will you? We’ve got a litter that’s about to be born!”

 

The she-wolves nodded at Melody’s quick leadership and began to lead him outside, but all stopped when they heard a small voice cry out.

 

“No, wait . . . Shadow . . .”

 

“Aleu?” The male escaped from the hold of the females, returning back to his mate’s side. “Aleu, what is it?”

 

She was resting from a recent contraction now, so Aleu’s tone was calm yet slightly terrified as she breathed. “Shadow, . . . take yourself and Dash . . . to my father. Bring him here . . . I know he’s to be here – oh!” Another contraction gripped her, causing her to cry out in pain. “Hurry! Go now! Ohh . . . ah!”

 

At that noise, the she-wolves moved in, pushing the fighter out of the den. Although he wanted to remain by his mate’s side, Shadow had to do what Aleu had asked of him – he could not fail her right now. If that’s what will make her happy, then so be it, he thought. Fleet-footedly, he ran to get Aleu’s red and white brother.

 

Dash was currently on sentry duty with their dearest friend, Timbre, who happened to be Melody’s mate for many years. His brown and tan fur was indeed wolf-like, much the opposite of the more husky-looking Dash. Both of them had been members of the pack for years – Dash since he was about a year old and Timbre since he was about three or four years old – and were not afraid to risk their lives to protect their Alpha. That was the eternal duty of a wolf nowadays, and life was never easy for either of them.

 

One of Dash’s ears twitched as Shadow approached them, acknowledging the red wolf’s presence. “Hey, Shadow – what’s going on?”

 

“It’s Aleu,” the wolf replied. “She’s giving birth in her den right now, and Melody’s helping to calm her.” Another cry pierced the air, only adding distress to Shadow’s worried face. “Aleu wants us to get Balto.”

 

“Huh? Why?” Timbre joined into the conversation.

 

“I don’t know why exactly, but Aleu told me that he has to be here,” Shadow answered to the best of his ability. “My best guess is that she wants him to see her latest litter . . . which I fear may be her last.” His ears lowered. “Sheik, Lima and Thunder are too old to be treated like babies anymore, and since Saba’s return and has taken her place as Alpha, Aleu has more time to be a devoted mother again.”

 

Both males could understand how it felt to be a parent. Each of them have had pups of their own . . . and had loved and nurtured them to become great wolves.

 

“Ah, I see,” the brown and tan male nodded. Timbre then turned to Dash. “You can go with Shadow – you know how humans are in Nome, and you’ll be able to slip in and out easier than Shadow will.”

 

Dash nodded. “Are you sure you’ll be okay guarding all by yourself, Timbre?” he asked.

 

“Don’t worry about me; just think about how happy Aleu will be when your father sees another litter of grandchildren,” Timbre reminded him with a smile. “Now, go on.” As the two began to walk away, he managed to murmur. “Be careful, you two.”

 

Within moments, Dash and Shadow were on their way towards Nome with no time to lose. Somehow, the moon was shining, beaming down on the deep snow of early spring underneath their paws as they ran. The trip to Nome was about an hour’s run, and neither of them were in much of a talking mood.

 

Wait for me, Aleu, Shadow prayed in his mind as he ran. And Aniu, watch over her. Make sure our pups are safe . . . please.

 

Dash easily sensed the worry surrounding his friend. “Don’t worry so much about Aleu,” he told him. “I’m sure everything will be just fine. Aniu will protect her as she gives birth.”

 

“I hope so,” Shadow replied nervously. “Aleu’s not the youthful young Alpha from long ago, and I’ve heard that females are at higher risk of dying if they give birth at an older age.” Again, his ears lowered. “I knew what the risk was, but . . . but I loved her so much, and I just wanted her to be happy. This is why she gave up her title of Alpha, after all.”

 

“I’m sure things will work out, Shadow,” Dash consoled. “Now, we’ve got to be careful – we’re almost at the outskirts of Nome.”

 

The outskirts were not a place for the weak and careless – strays fought like wild loners for territory, food and rank here, and it was as dangerous out there as it was being a wolf that was always under the threat of being attacked. Thankfully, the two wolves safely passed through without incident this night, making their way into the town of Nome by the sea and the foot of the mountains to the Western border.

 

Balto no longer lived as a loner; some years ago, he was adopted by a human named Luke and got used to being under a human’s care. Thankfully, the man was used to Balto’s constant running-off – probably understanding that the gray-brown dog was half-wild – as well as the visits from strange wolves and the beautiful purebred husky that birthed all of his children, Jenna. Dash was sure that his father would be able to make a trip back into the Talbourne territory to see his beloved first-born daughter once more.

 

Within minutes, they reached the wooden house of Luke. Luckily there were bushes nearby, full of green growth and protection – a sure sign of spring’s flourishing effect on the land.

 

“Hide in there, Shadow,” Dash ordered him. It was strange to give an order to a wolf of higher rank than himself, but it was necessary for Shadow’s safety. He was a wolf after all, and humans had an instinct of shooting wolves in cold blood – they both knew that far too well. Many wolves were lost due to a hunter’s rifle . . . Dash couldn’t bear to have him get killed because of negligence. “I’ll signal when it’s safe, okay?”

 

Shadow replied without a word, leaping into the greenery and peeking his eyes through the tiny leaves. He trusted Dash enough not to argue back, and besides, he had been hit by too many bullets in his life thus far – mainly most always hitting him on or near his shoulder – and he didn’t want to get struck by one again anytime soon.

 

Dash, on the other hand, saw the doggie door attached to the bottom of the entrance and passed through it, hoping to see his familiar patriarch laying by the warm fireplace. Sure enough, the son smiled, seeing Balto fast asleep.

 

Mom must be at

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