frowned. "...sounds to me like you've already made the decision."

Jack sighed. "Yes well... I'm sorry about that Dash, but given the circumstances... we didn't even know you were alive."

Dash shook his head and sighed. "Jack, right now would be a good time to keep your mouth closed."

Jack nodded.

"...in fact, get out of here Jack." Dash said. "I need to speak to my daughter alone."

Jack nodded. "Yes sir." He said. Then he turned and walked out of the chamber.

Once he was gone June turned to Dash. "Honey, please..." but Dash cut her off. "...not now June." He said. Then he turned back to his daughter. "Sweetie, what happened out there?" He asked. "Did this happen while you were out? Did he drag you out there and force..." Kalia glared at her father and cut him off in mid-sentance. "...don't you dare talk about Jack like that!" She yelled. "He's the nicest wolf I've ever met; he'd never do such a thing! I made the decision myself, *after* I healed up. It's because of him that I'm even alive. You should be thanking him!"

Dash glared back at her. "So that gives him permission to just drag you off alone and do whatever he wants to you?" Dash asked.

Kalia rolled her eyes at her father. "He didn't do anything to me dad. We made the decision together."

Dash shook his head. "I should go out there right now and kill him is what I should do." He said.

Kalia didn't speak for a moment, but when she did her voice held a deadly serious tone. "You do and you'll have to kill me too."     She said.

Dash shook his head. "...what?" He asked. "So you spent a week with him and now you're so convinced he's the one that you would fight me for him?"

Kalia nodded. "If you make me choose between you, then yes, I will."

Dash shook his head and sighed. "How... how sure are you that you're going to be a mother?" He asked.

"I said I didn't know." Kalia said.

Dash sighed and didn't speak for a moment. "He's as old as I am Kalia." He said. "Don't you think that a bit odd?"

Kalia shook her head. "No, I don't." She said. "He loves me, that's all that matters."

Dash smirked. "He loves you." He said.

Dash remained quiet for a moment. "Well I'm holding off on my judgment of that." He said. "I'm not going to make a decision on this until we know for sure whether there are pups involved or not. If there are then they'll need a father of some kind. For now you'll stand down from any duties with your unit and any responsibilities outside the cave. If you are going to be a mother then you need to take care of yourself."

Kalia nodded. "Father, Jack and I wish to have a chamber of our own, may we?"

Dash scoffed. "Well you've done about all you can do with each other so I don't care. There's a chamber free on the left side of the react chamber, enjoy."

Kalia shook her head and chuckled disdainfully. "Thanks a lot daddy." She said. Then she turned and took a step toward the exit of the chamber.

Dash stopped her with his voice. "Hey Kalia."

She stopped and turned.

"If you ever say daddy like that to me again I'll slap that disrespect right out of your head, understand? I'm only thinking about what is best for you."

Kalia nodded and walked away.

June stepped up to her mate's side. "Dash I think..." but Dash cut her off. "Now's really not a good time to talk about this June." He said. Then he turned and walked into the side chamber.

June sighed and turned to follow him.

 

As Kalia exited her father's chambers Jack smiled and took a step toward her, the expression on his face hopeful.

Kalia looked at him, sighed and shook her head.

Jack's ears drooped. He looked at her and started to say something, then stopped, unsure of quite what he should say.

Kalia looked at him and smiled slightly, then she sighed again and tossed her head forward.

Jack began to follow her as she started to walk away from the Alpha's chambers. They made their way slowly down to the Main Chamber. Once they reached the ground floor,Kalia turned and walked past the chamber where one of the wolves on React duty stood guard. She continued on to the the chamber to the left and walked inside. Jack followed her.

Kalia walked to the center of the chamber and turned around. She sat down and hung her head. Her facade of strength crumbled and she closed her eyes as tears began to stream from them. She raised her paw and wiped it across her eyes.

Jack walked up to her and put his foreleg around her back. He let his paw slide up to the side of her neck and pulled her close.

Kalia laid her head on his chest and sobbed. "...why Jack?" She asked. "Why does he have to be such a... such a..." her sobs masked the curse that followed. "...why can't he just be happy for us?" She asked. "...for me?"

Jack sighed. "I don't know Kalia." He said. He leaned down and nuzzled her softly and then began to lick at her cheeks, lapping up her tears. "...but we knew that this might be the way he reacted..."

Kalia shook her head and buried it into the thick fur of his chest. "I know we did." She said. "We even talked about it but..." She stopped and sobbed some more before she finally regained control of herself. "...but I didn't know that it would hurt this bad." She said.

Jack pulled her closer to him and nuzzled her.

She sagged against him and he lowered her to the floor of the chamber.

Her sobs echoed through the chamber and he held her close. Her chest heaved with each breath and her ragged cries were choked by her tears.

Jack sighed. "Kalia... what happened between us..." He smiled and nuzzled her. "It was worth it Kalia." He said. "I like your father, and I like this pack, but... screw them and their thoughts on the matter." He said. "...all I care about is you Kalia, you and our kids."

Kalia's sobs died off a bit and she looked at him, her eyes red from crying. "...you mean that Jack?" She asked. "...with my father being the Alpha things could get pretty nasty."

Jack smiled. "...bring them on." He said.

Kalia smiled weakly and laid her head against his neck. She smiled and looked up into his eyes. "Jack... I love you." She said. "I really, really do."           

Jack smiled back at her. "I do too Kalia." He said.

Kalia's smile grew bigger and some of the strength returned to her face. She looked around the room. "Well, this is it." She said. "Our first real home together."

Jack looked around. "I think it'll be

perfect." He said.

Kalia smiled up at him and hugged him close. "Anywhere is perfect as long as I'm with you."

Jack grinned and leaned over to nuzzle her softly.

When he pulled back Kalia sighed. "Sorry about that." She said.

"...about what?" Jack asked.

"...about my nervous breakdown a minute ago." She said. "I'm not usually like that."

Jack smiled and hugged her close to him. "...it's okay." He said.

She looked up and kissed him.

Jack kissed her back and smiled as she slumped into his embrace, her eyes closing and her breath steadying as she relaxed completely. "...it's okay."

 

Ami was sitting in her chambers when she heard a voice just outside. "Lieutenant Ami, are you in?"

"Yes I am." Ami said, standing. "...please come in."

A large black and silver wolf stepped into her chambers.

Ami smiled. "Lieutenant Achak, what brings you here?"

Achak stopped in front of her. "It's that new transfer you sent me, Nick. He's even worse of a soldier than I imagined."

Ami frowned. "What do you mean?" She asked.

Achak shook his head. "That kid is a mess, and he's going to get someone killed."

Ami sighed. "Achak, specifics..." She said.

Achak laughed. "Well, for starters he seems to have nothing but contempt for me and my orders, or maybe it's just authority he's got a problem with, and then there's the fact that when we were out on patrol he was talking non-stop, never heard of tactical silence I suppose... oh, and then there's this morning. I found him asleep at the main entrance, which he was supposed to be guarding. I've got a patrol this morning, and I'm not taking him with me, not in the afternoon either. He's in no shape for anyone to depend on." Achak stopped. "...look Ami, I know why you had him transferred, and I know you don't want that coming out in the open. I also know that same situation is why Nick is the way he is now, and I know that he will most likely tell Dash if I turn him in for his infractions, so I I'm giving you a chance to get through to him. If you can't... regardless of the consequences I'm going to have to turn him in to Dash for disciplinary action."

Ami nodded. "I'll see what I can do." She said. "Send him here."

"...he's just outside." Achak said. Then he turned and walked to the entrance of the chamber. "Nick, report in to Lieutenant Ami." He said.

Ami could hear Nick's response. "...Aye Sir." he said.

Achak turned and walked away from the chamber.

Nick stepped stiffly into the chamber and stopped in front of Ami. "...good-morning Ma'am." He said. "...Nick, reporting as ordered."

"...at ease Nick." Ami said.

Some of the stiffness left Nick's body, but he still stood erect and tall. "What's this about Ma'am." He said. "...call me here to see if you could rip my heart in any more pieces than it already is?"

Ami sighed. "Nick... what're you doing?"

Nick chuckled. "...what do you mean Ma'am?"

Ami frowned. "...ten hut!" She called.

Nick sighed and slowly stiffened back up, eyes straight ahead.

Ami walked up to him, her muzzle inches from his own. "I tried being nice with you Nick." She snapped. "I tried treating you like an equal, but that doesn't seem to work with you, so maybe some old fashioned military discipline will."

Nick rolled his eyes.

"Nick, you are at attention!" She yelled. "You are at

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