Aleu crouched low in grass waiting for just the right moment to pounce on the group of caribou her and her pack were stalking. About one month had passed since she led a pack of wolves across the ice bridge in search of the same caribou they now watched so closely.
Aleu was just about to give the signal to attack when suddenly a young lone wolf scared them off. The pack reacted quickly, making up for the screw-up caused by the stranger. Aleu, however, went to talk to this handsome new wolf that had just entered her life.
“Who are you?” Aleu asked with a hint of playfulness in her voice.
“The name’s Zohar and yours is?” He asked with the same tone in his voice.
“Oh, it’s Aleu.” Aleu said stammering over ever word she said. Her heart felt ready to burst. She’d never felt this way and she wondered if it was the love Mai would tell her about in the stories about her dead mate. Mai was an older wolf and very good friend of Aleu’s; in fact she was the only friend Aleu had. All of the wolves asked her to tell them what to do; Mai on the other hand gave Aleu advice about everything she needed, but only when the time was right. I’ll have to ask Mai what this strange feeling is later tonight. Aleu thought to herself as she looked this stranger over.
She was snapped back to reality when she realized Zohar was talking to her. “So what do ya think?”
“I’m sorry?”
“I asked what you thing about me joining your pack.”
“Oh….um I …. I guess so.” Aleu stammered. She was caught off guard. She never even imaged that that he would want to become part of pack, and now that she thought about she didn’t know how the pack would react either. She hoped they would accept.
Aleu led the way back the cave her and the pack lived in. The pack had managed to bring down a caribou and were now hungrily feasting upon it. They all look up from their meal when Aleu and Zohar walked in and stared at them with such intensity it made both Aleu and Zohar nervous.
Finally Aleu spoke up “This is Zohar and he’s the newest member of our pack.” The members of the pack looked around at each other then slowly stood up. Aleu was worried that they might attack Zohar but instead they all walked up to him to welcome him to the pack.
Aleu breathed a sign of relief just as Mai walked up behind her. “I need to talk to you…alone.”
“Now?”
“Two minutes ago.” Mai sounded really mad and Aleu didn’t know what she had done to make her so upset. Mai lead the way to a spot by the river where they always went to talk.
“What’s your deal, Mai? Why are you so upset?” Aleu questioned losing her temper a bit. She was hunger and didn’t appreciate the tone Mai had taken before.
“You are. Do you know how big of a risk you took by allowing him into the pack? I can’t believe that you would be so stupid!” Mai was nearly yelling by the time she had finished. Aleu didn’t understand. She knew that allowing him in was a risk, but the pack had accepted him, and it wasn’t like she was in any danger.
“What’s wrong with you? The pack accepted him ever thing is all right.”
“No it’s not! It would have been better if the pack had rejected him! You don’t understand what danger he puts the pack into, do you?”
“He’s not putting anyone in any danger.”
“Really? What do you know about his past? Do you even know him?” Suddenly Mai’s eyes opened wide and she softened her tone as if she had just seen a broader picture of the situation. “You love him don’t you?”
Aleu was caught a bit off guard “I uh… I don’t know. I got this really weird feeling in the pit of my stomach when I looked at him.”
Mai looked a little worried. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and started to talk, her voice calm “O.K. I’ll leave you to make your decisions about this, but the minute I think he’s doing something that puts the pack in danger I want you to chase him off. Do I make myself clear?
“Crystal.” Aleu responded not sure if she should be happy that Mia accepted him or afraid that Mia would be watching him like a hawk. As she walked back to the cave she wondered what her father would say about this. She quickly shook the thought out of her head. She knew that if she thought about it for to long she would start to wonder if crossing the ice bridge was the right choice or not.
That night Aleu dreamed about Zohar. She dreamed that she was his mate and that they led the pack together. But as the dream went on Zohar attacked her one day when they were alone together and blamed it on a lone wolf. Aleu woke with a start only to find everyone asleep. Zohar was on the other side of the cave.
As time went on Aleu forgot about her dream and started to get closer to Zohar and they soon became mates.
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Three months after they started mating Zohar stood outside the cave listening to Aleu whimper in pain. He wished so much that he could help, but Mia had gotten so frustrated with him that she kicked him out.
Twelve hours later Aleu had quite whimpering and Mia came out. Zohar looked at her expectantly.
“She fine.” Mia laughed. She couldn’t believe how worked up he was. “You can go in and se her if you like.” After hearing those words Zohar leap to his feet and dashed into the cave. Mia laughed and went to tell the rest of the pack.
Zohar slowed down when he saw Aleu laying on her side facing the back of the cave. He could hear little yelps coming from her general area. As he walked up to her she looked up and smiled then looked back towards the little fur balls gathered around her belly.
“They’re so beautiful. Just like you.” Zohar whispered afraid to break the quiet that enveloped the cave when the pups began to suckle. He bent over and gently kissed Aleu on the cheek causing her to broaden her smile.
“What do you want to name them?” Aleu whispered back.
“We can worry about that later right now you should rest. I’ll watch them.”
Aleu nodded in agreement. As she closed her eyes she smiled wonder how she if she had ever felt happier in her whole life.
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One month later Aleu and Zohar walked down a hill not far from where the cave was. As she walked Aleu sighed deeply, lost in thoughts of the past and the future.
“What are you thinking about my love?” Zohar questioned.
“Oh, I’m just wondering where the time went. Soon our pups will grow up a have families of their own.” Aleu stated wistfully as if lost in a dream.
“Yeah I know what you mean” Zohar replied adopting the same tone. Just then their oldest pup, Kazuki, came bounding up the hill at full speed.
Kazuki was an athletic young male who loved to run and did so at every opportunity. He loved racing the youngest pup of the litter, Zaila. Zaila idolized Kazuki and because of that they were very close to each other. The middle pups,
Kazuki slowed he paced as he reached his parents. He looked back and smiled as he saw Zaila racing toward him as fast as her little legs would carry her. As soon as she reached him they stood side-by- side and smiled up their parents.
“Well hello to you too.” Aleu said, giggling at her pups. “Where are
“Oh, they’re walking back. We’ll be able to tell you and go back before they even get here.” Kazuki stated.
“Yeah, they’re so slow” Zaila agreed dragging the sentence so as to emphasize how slow they were.
“What are you suppose to tell us?” Zohar asked smiling at how Zaila copied everything Kazuki said or did.
“Mia told us to tell you that the pack said they’re on their way back with a caribou.” Kazuki stated with a nod of his head.
“Yep. She said they would be home soon.” Zaila finished.
“Good. Can you go get your brother and sister and meet us up here? I think we should go wait in the cave for them to come back.” Aleu asked
“K!” the pups replied in unison and dashed off without a glance backwards.
“Can you stay here and wait for them; I’m going to go get a drink.” Aleu asked knowing that when her pups got back they’d be talking nonstop and wanting answers to go with their questions.
“Sure. Meet you back at the cave?”
“Yep.” Aleu started walked in the direction of the river enjoying the time to herself. When she got to the river she bend her head to take a drink but before her tongue even touched the water she felt a sharp pain in the back of her head and then every thing went dark.
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When Aleu woke up she was in a strange cave with a huge black male wolf sanding over her. “Good your finally awake.” He said in a deep rumbling voice. “Now Zohar is going to pay for what he did, and your going to be sorry you ever laid on eyes on him.”