him. “I’m sure he’d be gracious for your help.” She watched as her red and white brother made his way to the distraught wolf with a sigh, remembering what they had said to each other.

 

He’s right – had I have died that night, my life . . . and his . . . would have been so much different . . . She thought as her small smile straightened as Shadow bobbed his head at Everest, allowing him to tell his children the news of their mother’s death while giving birth.

 

Saba sighed, closing her eyes in prayer. “O Aniu, is this really meant to happen? Can’t you use your divine grace to bring her back?” Tears fell down her cheek and neck now, her head lifted high towards the unseen heavens of the cavern where they had all gathered. “You used me to return her life when I came back to save the Talbourne; will that power still work now?”

 

She could feel the presence of the lupine goddess within her – a part of Aniu was now a part of her, after all – and heard the warmth of her divine voice.

 

“Nothing is impossible, my child, . . . however, the future for your sister is not set in stone, but there is nothing you or I can do to change the way things will happen now . . .”

 

Saba began to cry. “So . . . there’s nothing we can do for Aleu? She’s really . . . she’s actually dead?”

 

“For now, yes – she is dead,” Aniu only replied. “But, it is Aleu who will be faced to making the final decision on whether to return to life or remain the way she is now.”

 

The white wolf’s presence vanished from Saba, leaving her only in tears. Please, Aleu . . . she thought as she tried to console herself with this saddening news. Please return back to us . . . Make the right choice, Sister – we need you here . . .

 

 

Chapter IV

 

Aleu was still inside the cave, surrounded by the chilled touch of the mist that covered the ground. She had lost track of time, and she had no idea whether she would ever return to her family and those that she loved so dearly. She had no idea that she was dead – to her knowledge, Aleu was merely asleep . . . stuck inside a dream that seemed to never end.

 

“Aleu?”

 

A familiar male voice echoed into her dark-brown ears, causing them to prick up in surprise. That voice . . . Aleu began to lift up her head, standing to her paws. Could it truly be . . .?

 

“Alai?” The name slipped from her lips immediately without thinking.

 

At the sound of his name, the red wolf stepped out of the mist. By his looks, one could think that Alai and Shadow were twin brothers separated from birth – they had the same familiar red coat and equally shared the same love and devotion for the gray-brown quarter-wolf. However, Alai was ultimately meant to lay down his own life to save hers, for Aleu was destined to free his Clan, Aniu’s Clan named the Talbourne, and lead them to greatness.

 

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you, Aleu,” Alai nuzzled her with a smile. “I’ve been thinking only of you every day since first I met you.”

 

Tears fell down her face as Aleu’s nose touched his. “And I you,” She was smiling too. “I missed you, but I’ve never forgotten about everything that you had done for me, Alai. You loved me that much . . .” The image of the red wolf slipping into the depths of the frigid water returned to haunt her mind, causing her to lower her head.

 

“You’re so beautiful . . .” Alai’s muzzle savored her wild scent, making a memory for him to treasure. “Who wouldn’t want to do anything for you?”

 

Aleu felt him nestle against her, but she still couldn’t “I remember that . . . I thought you were the one I was going to spend the rest of my days with . . .”

 

“You know, it’s not too late to start things over, Aleu,” Alai murmured into her ear with a hint of intrigue in his tone.

 

 

 

Everest could hear the fighting barks of the three children of his eldest sister from wolf-lengths away. He had already checked up on his own children, making sure that they were still safe and sound themselves, but now he had stopped before reaching the opening, listening to what they were saying to each other with open ears.

 

“I’ve got you down, Sheik!” That voice was Lima’s. She was Aleu’s only daughter and a furry ball of energy, just like her brothers. Of course, she had grown to be as headstrong and determined like her mother. “You can’t escape me!”

 

“Not so fast!” Thunder, the adoptive brother that Aleu had rescued from a horrible group of hunters with a thirst for revenge on any wolves in sight. He was easily taken in by his new family, most especially the one that had given him a second chance to become a strong wolf like his birth mother. “You forgot about observing your surroundings, Lima!”

 

“Oof!” Lima had fallen victim to Thunder’s surprise attack. Typical boys, Everest chuckled silently at the sound of childish giggling from the males, despite the announcement that he had yet to tell them.Always so playful and rough with the girls, like that, aren’t they?

 

“Hooray! Hooray! Thunder saved me!” Sheik cheered as the three of them celebrated a practice well done.

 

“I can’t wait to tell Mom and Dad about how well we’ve done!” Lima rose to her paws, recovering from Thunder’s pouncing attack. All three of them just yipped and howled in happiness of their achievements.

 

From outside, Everest shut his eyes, trying to keep back his tears and emotions. They sound so happy . . . They’ll be completely distraught by this news, . . . but they have to accept the facts about their mother not coming back . . . He finally gathered his courage, took a couple of deep breaths and stepped forward.

 

“Hey there, you three,” Everest entered the room, trying to be proud of their training, but the thought of what he had yet to tell them only made it harder for him to hide his true feelings. “What are you up to?”

 

“You know, just practicing our fighting and pouncing,” Thunder stood up rather professionally with a toothy grin on his face. “We’re not pups anymore, and we just want to be useful members of the Clan.”

 

“Yeah,” Sheik followed. “Our dad’s been teaching us lots of things, preparing us to guard and fight against any bad guys that want to harm the Clan or our Alpha.”

 

“And of course, Mom will be so proud of us,” Lima concluded. “Then we’ll be able to protect our baby brothers and sisters from anything when Mom can’t. It’s our job as the older siblings.”

 

Everest gulped at those words that Aleu’s children told him. He felt his pulse race nervously, pounding against his white chest. He couldn’t do this . . . it would break their hearts to hear what he had to tell them – But I have to do this, he sighed. If I don’t tell them now, they’ll learn about it in an even worse way . . .

 

“Sit down, you three,” he told them, joining them on the ground at the center of the den. His tone was calm yet it was tensely somber. “I’ve . . . I’ve got something to tell you . . . about your mother . . .”

 

 

 

Aleu’s eyes grew wide at what Alai had offered, stepping backwards in shock. It did sound like a tempting proposal – she had grown smitten for him since he saved her life all those years ago when she had begun her quest to discover her true purpose, and she knew he was to same way towards her – but she knew it just wouldn’t be right. Shadow was her mate now, and if she went to be with Alai, she would be unfaithful to her vow to her mate and her children. “W-w-what? I don’t . . . What do you mean, Alai?”

 

“I have been waiting for so long, Aleu,” Alai whined in an almost loving way, but when he said it, it sounded more like a confession. “I was watching you overcome many struggles, waiting for the day you would return to me, and now . . .” He slinked up towards Aleu with a pinkish tint speckled on his cheeks, while Aleu only stepped back in tune with his own movements. “Now, we can be together . . . forever.” His nose brushed up against hers, causing her to blush a bit as well.

 

No . . . no! I do love you, Alai, but I . . . I just can’t do this! “But . . . but I have Shadow now,” Aleu shook her head. “I can’t be with you . . . I’m sorry.”

 

“But Aleu,” the red wolf grinned, nervously chuckling. “You have no other choice but to stay – You’re . . . you’re dead.”

 

“Again?” The quarter-wolf gasped. “But . . . but that’s impossible! I can’t be dead again! I’ve always come back – Aniu has always let me return back to my family before!”

 

Alai lowered his head, placing his ears against his neck. “I know, I know, but not this time. You’ve been revived graciously by Aniu several times, but most others aren’t as lucky as you have been. Death is a natural process – you know that as well as I do – and this time, it’s time to go into the light . . . permanently.”

 

“But . . . but . . .” Aleu didn’t want to leave her family behind. She had so much left to live for . . . and it was even worse that she had just given birth when she passed. I never would have imagined dying like this . . . “Wait – my sister and niece said something . . . something about Aniu offering me a second chance – do you know anything about that, Alai?”

 

He shook his head sadly. “No, I don’t. That’s something you would have to ask to Aniu herself, I’m afraid.”

 

“I am here, Child . . .” A swirl of mist formed beside the red wolf, causing him to gasp in surprise. “I can take it from here, Alai . . .” Alai gave a quick bow and stepped aside. Surely enough, the White Wolf spirit appeared in front of Aleu, causing her to fall down to the ground.

 

“Aniu, what about the second chance?” Aleu asked,

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