away, stopping every few feet to glance back and see if I would forgive her. I saw her turn back a few times, but I didn’t care anymore. She was different now, and almost killing one of her own family wasn’t going to be tolerated. I could tell that she kept on looking over her shoulder, but I had a new family to protect. And if Sitka was like Boss, she was no sister of mine.

            How could I have done that?! What was wrong with me?! The whole time that I followed Skyler, questions like that buzzed in my head like angry hornets. Was I really that much like Boss?! Just thinking about it made fresh tears wet my face again. Skyler glanced over his shoulder and grimaced. I knew he felt bad and uncomfortable. I had been traveling with him long enough to know him, but in a way, I blamed him a little for it too. Finally he stopped and turned around.

            “Come on Sitka” he pleaded. “Do you really want to be in a pack with a brother who’d do that anyway?”

“But he was right!” I managed, looking up through tear- blurred eyes.

Then Skyler nuzzled me, catching me completely off- guard. I stopped crying and gaped at him in amazement.

            “Then we can just be our own pack of two”

I gave him a small smile and followed him. Maybe he was right! Maybe I’d be happier this way.

            My stomach was so big now; it felt like it would explode! It was really easy for me to get tired too, but I knew it was worth it. In a few weeks, I knew that I’d have a beautiful litter of pups and my only worry was that it was still cold out and spring still seemed far away… but I was sure the den would keep them warm… I couldn’t wait!

Tanner, Sasha, Melora, Diego, Skyler, Mackenzie, Jade, Jax and Ace © Xion Fan

Sitka, Dakota, Anyu, Aspen and other back round characters © me