It was midnight in the forests of Alaska. It was the middle of a huge snowstorm. Everyone should be in shelter by now; otherwise death due to exposure is nearly certain. However 1 lone wolf braved through the night. The wolf was pitch black with 3 of his 4 paws grey. Although it was hard to tell because of the snow. He had multiple cuts, gashes and scars all across his body. He had obviously being involved in a fight, and a big one at that. He was limping through the strong, stormy wet weather due to his injuries impairing his movement.

‘God I need to find shelter otherwise I’m gonna freeze to death’ He thought. ‘Ugh, I wouldn’t be in this situation if I didn’t get betrayed whilst trying to lead a god damn rebellion’ through the storm, he managed to spot a hollowed out tree. ‘It’ll do for the night’ He crawled into it and settled down to sleep. Although sleep was tough for him. Not due to the extreme temperatures, due to the memories of the list of events that made him end up here.

He felt something kick him in the ass. “Hey, get your own shelter!” he turned his head to find another wolf had settled within the tree.

“Sorry, rough day” the black wolf replied. He got up to leave. As he lifted himself his legs shook because of the injuries.

When he stood up the other wolf could get a good look at his injuries. “What the hell happened to you?” the wolf asked. The black wolf looked at the other wolf. He could get a good look at him now he was standing up. He fur colour was brown. And he looked very trampy.

The black wolf sighed. “…long story” a tear rolled down his left eye.

The brown wolf sighed. “You can set here for tonight if you want. Just stay out of my way”

The black wolf didn’t know what else to do. He didn’t want to risk going back out so he set back down. “Now tell me your story” the brown wolf said.

“Well” the black wolf began, then sighed. “It goes like this”

Flashback start.

Black wolves POV. (Dio)

Some big changes happened in our pack after our alpha mysteriously disappeared. His brother Brandon took over command of the pack. But he very quickly went mad with power. He made up stories so we would do stuff for him that we wouldn’t normally do. He had his hunting parties report fake food shortages just so he could take all the food. He also upped patrols throughout the territory, giving no one any privacy. You couldn’t even go to take a pee without someone noticing. And Brandon wonders why the packs population is in decline. I'm sure no one likes being watched mate.

I held the rank of one of the alpha’s guards. These are the best guards in the pack and they are assigned to protect the alpha and carry out whatever he or she requires.

One day we we’re discussing pack law changes. I didn’t like to get involved in these discussions, because all the new laws seem so unfair and if I tried to step out at any of them, I’d immediately lose my position in the pack and I've worked so hard to get to this point in the ranks.

“Ok then that’s about it for today. You can go now” Brandon said. We all began to head off. “Except you Dio” I froze as he said my name. Everyone else departed, and I just stared straight ahead of me, at no object in particular. “Tell me Dio…have you mated with Trix yet?”

That was quite a surprising question. I usually only get asked that kind of question by my friends. Trix was my girlfriend. To me she was the prettiest wolf in the world. I was going to ask her soon if we could start a family. We’ve only been together for a few months, but I felt ready and I felt like she was ready. “No sir, I have not” I replied.

“Good” replied Brandon. “Because I was going to ask you a favour Dio”

He walked up to me. “I am the alpha and as an alpha I should make sure my children are next in line for leadership of the pack. Unfortunately I have no mate and therefore, no children” I wonder why? “So I was wondering if I could…’borrow’ Trix for 1 night?”

That made me feel angry, but I needed to keep my cool otherwise I’d drop ranks. “I…don’t know what to say”

“Well here’s the deal Dio”  Brandon said. “I don’t want your girlfriend for love. I just need a girl to mother my children. Hell I don’t even need all of them, I only need 1. So I’ll pick 1 of them and then you can have the rest. Deal?”

The more words he said the more I wanted to rip his guts out. I wanted to say no but then I’d probably lose my rank. Then it struck me. I formulated a great plan in my head. “…d-deal” I said. “I'm just gonna go talk to Trix”

I ran back to my den quickly. As usual I was greeted by Trix. “Hey Hun” she said and nuzzled me.

“Hey Trix” I said. She must’ve picked up something’s wrong because of my tone of voice.

“What’s wrong?”She asked.

I sighed and walked to the mouth of our den. “Hey fella’s” I called to the 2 guards that were assigned to guarding our den block. They immediately turned their heads to face me. I signalled for them to come down here. I knew the guys pretty well. I used to talk to them more often than I do.

I invited them into our den. “So what's the problem Dio?” they asked.

I explained them the whole story of what Brandon had told me. Trix was crying on my shoulder. “I don’t wanna have that pathetic excuse for an alpha mate with me” she cried.

“He’s not going to Trix, I’ve got a plan” I turned to the guards. “But I’m gonna need your help”

They looked at each other then 1 of them grabbed me by the scruff of my neck. “You’re under arrest for plotting against the alpha. You will therefore stand down now and maybe we’ll go easy on you”

I slapped him around the face. “Listen guys, for a minute forget your duties to the alpha. Forget about your ranks n stuff. Just look at Brandon as a normal wolf. Do you really like him that much?”

They looked at each other for a long time. Then softly said. “No”

“So will you help me bring him down?” they once again looked at each other. “If you help me and we succeed, I’ll give you 2 my current position in the guard” I offered. How can anyone refuse an offer like that?

“Yeah sure we’ll help you” one of them said.

“Great, here’s the plan” I began. “You 2 are gonna take positions guarding the alpha’s den. Then Trix is gonna enter the alpha’s den, like she’s accepted the fact she has to have sex with him.  I’ll hide above the alpha’s den and sneak through the hole in the roof. When the opportunity arrives’ I’ll jump through the roof and attack Brandon. When you 2 hear the sounds of battle, you come in to help me” I looked at Trix. “Don’t worry we’ll be sure to leave some for you” I smiled.

We headed for the alpha den but stopped just short of it. “Ok when you 2 are in guard positions, I’ll move up to the top of the den. When I’m up there I’ll wave to you Trix. That’s when you’ll move into the den and then just wait till the sound of battle starts”

We waited for a few minutes before the 2 guards stood at the alpha’s den entrance, overlooking the perimeter. I looked at Trix and we both nodded. I climbed onto the top of the alpha’s den and found the back way in. I waved to Trix. She nodded and started to head into Brandon’s den.

Brandon noticed her entrance. “Well hello” he said.

“Hello Brandon” Trix said.

“Now is that a way to greet your al-”

“Shut up Brandon let’s just get this over with” she knelt down and raised her tail high.

Brandon was quite easily distracted from the view. So now I felt was a good time to make my move. I jumped through the hole and aimed for his throat. But suddenly he sprung onto his hind legs and slashed against my chest and into the wall. “You did well Dio. And I thought that all my guards where loyal. Today I learned that all my guards are loyal apart from 1” then it hit me. The guards ratted me out. Dammit. “was this seriously the best plan you could come up with?”

I charged at him and bit into his chest. He yelped in pain and tried to slash me off. I fell down from one of his blows and he pinned me to the ground. He bit me on my right shoulder. I yelped in pain but I threw him off of me and onto the floor. Trix tried to run. “Where do you think you’re goin!?” Brandon bit hard at her left hind leg and she felt down, writhing in pain.

“Trix!” whilst I was distracted Brandon jumped up and slammed me against the wall.

The guards came in. “keep that bitch in my den!” Brandon ordered. The guards looked at each other and nodded, and then they started to restrain Trix.

I wanted to help her but I was pretty pinned down myself. Brandon slashed my across my face. I clawed at his underbelly with my hind legs. And when he couldn’t take anymore, I slammed him against the wall, startling him.

I ran to help Trix, but by the time I got to the guards restraining her, they weren’t restraining her anymore. She was lying on the ground…not moving.

Before I could get a better look, I felt something heavy land on my back. In my distraction, Brandon had pinned me again. But then his attention turned to Trix. “What happened to her!?”

“sorry alpha sir, but the hold we had her in was kinda a more you struggle the harder it gets type thing and…well she basically killed herself”

That news wanted to make me feel dead aswell. Trix was dead. I wanted to murder everyone in this room but I was too weak. Brandon had roughed me up quite badly. He got off of me and threw me to his guards. “Restrain him and rough him up until I decide what to do with him!” Brandon shouted.

One of the guards pinned me to the floor whilst the other slashed at me, scratched at me, clawed at me, bit me. Whatever forms of torture he could think of, he did to me.

The agonizing pain went on for what felt like hours and hours and hours. Brandon watched at me getting beaten up with great interest until he finally said. “Right here’s what we’re gonna do “the guard paused to listen to him. “Rough him up for however much more you want then exile him”

The guards continued to beat me up for about half an hour. By that time I was laying in my own little pool of blood. He stopped and said “allright get up” I struggled to get up as I felt like every bone in my body had just broken. I managed to get halfway up then he kicked me in the stomach. “On your feet!” he shouted. I once again struggled to my feet. But this time I managed to make it all the way up.

When I walked I left a little river of blood. I wasn’t even walking I was limping. I was only able to put weight on 2 of my 4 paws. My right hind one and my left front one. Even they hurt like hell. I wasn’t even a black wolf anymore I was a red wolf. My fur looked like it had turned crimson red from the blood. But its blood, it usually just washes out. As I was walking one of the guards kicked one of my good legs and made me collapse over the body of Trix. “Say goodbye to your girlfriend!” the 2 of them laughed.

I used what strength I had left to pull Trix’s cold, lifeless body closer to me. I wrapped my front paws around her head and hugged her tight. “Goodbye Trix” I said softly. Tears started flowing out of my eyes. “I’m so so sorry. It’s all my fault”

“Ok that’s enough!” one of the guards yanked me up by the scruff of my neck, tearing a chunk out of my skin as he did. I screamed in pain but they ignored me.

As we exited the den, a snowflake fell on my nose. “Well would ya look at that. Looks like that snowstorm is about to arrive”

We continued walking until we reached the edge of territory. They quite literally kicked me out of the pack. I landed face first in the snow and they laughed as I did. They started walking back. “This isn’t over! I’ll be back!” I shouted.

I started to limp off as the snowstorm arrived.

Flashback end.

Back to 3^rd person POV

“So I was banished from my pack and here I am now” Dio said.

“Hmm…interesting” the wolf said.

“What about you? What's your story?”

“Not allot really” the wolf replied. “I was abandoned when I was a few months old. Learnt to fend for myself, been a lone wolf ever since. And I think I’m destined to die a lone wolf”

“Hm…I'm sorry” Dio yawned. “I’m gonna hit the hay”

“Yeah me too” the other wolf replied. They both turned over to sleep. “Oh and buddy. This is another wolf packs territory, so you might wanna get the hell outta here early in the morning. Cus I ain’t waking ya”

“Ok got it” Dio replied.  ‘Like I’m gonna survive anyway. With these injuries I wouldn’t be able to make it outta here in time before the wolves turned up no matter what time I woke up in the morning’

The next morning

Dio was awoken next morning by the sun creeping into his eyes. He rolled over to find that the wolf he was sharing the log with last night had gone. He laid his head back and rested. Suddenly he was awoken again. This time by teeth in his tail. He was dragged out of his hollowed out tree by 3 wolves.

“You trespass in our territory. You can either get out now or be bought to the alpha” one of them said.

“Ah just take me to the alpha. My situation can’t get much worse” they started to walk in silence. But the wolves couldn’t help but notice Dio’s injuries.

“What happened to you?” one of them asked.

Over the course of the journey, Dio explained what happened.

“Oh…I…I’m sorry”

“I’m not asking for sympathy! I’m just explaining how I got injured!” Dio snapped.

They made it back to the alpha’s den. Where Dio met the alpha. “You must be the alpha” he said.

“That I am” she started noticing his wounds. “Who are you and what the hell happened to you?”

Dio sighed as he once again had to explain his story.

“I see…if that’s the reason you got exiled, why should we trust you?”

“Listen…what's your name”

“I am Aleu, the alpha of the pack”

“Listen aleu, the only reason I tried to rebel against my previous alpha was because of his obsession with power. You seem like a fair leader; therefore I have no reason to plot against you”

Aleu thought for a minute. “Ok we’ll take you in…I’ll escort you to the healing den”  she started to walk and Dio followed her. 2 of the patrol wolves came and rested on either side of Dio to hold him up. “So surely it wasn’t just you and your girlfriend who wanted to rebel Dio?” aleu said.

“It wasn’t, but no one was willing to stand up to him. I was the only one with the guts to take him on”

“What about your parents”

“…my mother was executed under the suspicion of working with another pack when I was young…and my uncle went missing one night so my father went to look for him…neither of them ever came back”

“Don’t you have any brothers and sisters?”

“I had 2 sisters and a brother. My sisters left for different packs when they found love in them. Similar story with my brother just allot more…violent”

“Oh…I'm so sorry” aleu was beginning to feel awkward, so she decided to change the subject. “So have you ever done anything you’ve been proud of? Like have you been involved in any wars or anything?”

“I've had my fair share of action” Dio replied. “Did you know about that little war over territory along the Alaskan-Canadian Border?”

Aleu nodded and said. “Yeah” at the same time.

“I was in that” Dio replied.

The 2 wolves that where holding Dio up and aleu went wide eyed. “You’re a war vet?” the one holding his left side said.

“Yep, and I kicked Canadian ass. But I’ve been involved in much more than that”

“What was the most painful experience of your life?” the wolf on his right asked.

“What I'm going through now” Dio replied.

“What was the second?”

“…watching my girlfriend die at the paw of my old alpha”

“And the third-”

The wolf on his left kicked the wolf on the right. “Shut up, your gonna make him cry” the wolf on his left said.

Dio blushed slightly as he said that. He felt like crying, but he didn’t want to. He was taken into a den with loads of other injured wolves.

“Settle down anywhere. One of our healers will be with you in a minute” aleu said.

“Thank you” Dio replied and found an empty spot. The place stunk of blood, vomit, death and rotting carcasses. 

The waiting was taking a while so he decided to spark up a conversation with the wolf next to him. “So why are you in here?” he asked.

The wolf turned his head to reveal that his right eye had been slashed out.  “It’s what those goddamn rouges did to me?”

“Uh rouges? Sorry I’m new around here”

“Well basically there are the big major wolf packs, like the one you and I are in now. Then there’s the small minor wolfs packs. There called rouges. And they generally loiter around the outskirts of the big packs territories. They tend to push and pull allot because the balance of power is always unsteady within them”

“I see. So we’re not in any wars then?”

“Not yet, but one day the balance of power between the 4 big packs in this area could tip. And before you know it, we’re on the front lines” the wolf said. “So who are you? I’ve never seen you around here”

“Names Dio, I just came in after getting exiled from my pack” Dio explained his story to the wolf.

“I’m sorry about your girlfriend” the wolf said. “But why you in here?”

Dio rolled over to reveal more of his body and more of his wounds. “Because of this” he said.

“Ouch” the wolf said. “So when you said your old alpha roughed you up pretty bad, you really weren’t kidding”

“No. in fact, I’m lucky to be alive. I just about made it through that storm last night”

“Geez you’ve been through tons. You’re lucky” the wolf said. “And I think your just coming to get treated now”

Dio saw a female wolf come up to him. “You must be this war veteran Dio that aleu was talking to me about?” she said. Dio nodded. “Well let’s have a look at you” she spoke in such a slow, calm, caring voice. He rolled back so she could have a good look at him. She started running her paws over his body and he started whining in pain. “I'm sorry, this part usually does hurt”

“d-don’t worry. W-with what I've b-been through, t-this is n-nothing”

She ran her paw across him a few more times before she said. “Well I don’ think you’ve broken anything. There are possible sprains on your right front and left hind legs, but there’s no way I can confirm that. Now all I’m going to do is clean your wounds up”

She started slowly licking his left hind leg. He tensed ready for the pain. “Don’t worry, I’ll be gentle” she said. She slowly started licking his leg and slowly he managed to relax. He laid back and started murring as the pain slowly went away. “Ok I’ve cleaned you all up everywhere apart from your crotch. I’ll leave you to do that”

“No, it ok, I don’t mind” Dio said. Then smiled and winked.

The wolf rolled her eyes “nice try” she said.  “You’re free to go if you want. Just take it slow and easy for a few days”

Dio slowly rose. He was able to put weight on all 4 feet now. “Thanks” he said then started to walk. He was still kinda limping. But he was walking better than he was. He met up with aleu. “I’m a bit better now” he said.

“Good” aleu said.

“Just a few days and I should be back to normal”

“Well just take it easy for now. We’ll look after you”

“Aleu please. I don’t want any charity”

“Please I insist” she said.

Dio sighed. “Allright, but why are you helping me so much?”

“I’m just helping you get back on your feet is all” Aleu Said.

Dio remained quiet for a minute before he softly said. “Thank you”

“Great, now relax for a while. I'm gonna go catch us a caribou I’ll let you share mine” Dio felt honoured. He got to share the alpha’s caribou. Before he could even say thank you she said. “Cya” and walked off.

He didn’t feel like talking to anyone, so he wandered around and found his own little spot in the sun. He cleaned up his crotch like the wolf that fixed him up suggested. Then laid down and rested until Aleu returned.

She and her hunting party returned with 3 caribou’s. Everyone started to crowd around the kills. Dio tried to force his way through but his injuries prevented him from putting up a decent fight for food. He suddenly saw aleu in the corner of his eye and she signalled for him to come to her. He walked over to her and her kill. No one was crowding around this one. “Take what you want then bring it with you back to my den” she said.

Aleu started tearing chunks of meat off it. Dio copied her. He pulled as much as he could into his mouth, which was considerably more than aleu since he was much bigger than her. Then he followed her back up to the alpha’s den.

“Why we eating up here?” asked Dio, Even though his voice was heavily muffled because of the food in it.

Aleu sat down and dropped her dinner. “Because I wanna get to know you a bit better and down there seems awfully noisy” she said.

Dio took position next to her and dropped his dinner. “Well fair enough, whaddya wanna know?” Dio asked.

“Well…nothing really, just wanted to chat” Aleu said.

“What about?” Dio said as he started eating.

“Tell me one of your war stories” Aleu said.

“Hmmm….ok I've got a good one. It goes like this”

Later into the story

“So I sent a couple of wolves down to cut em off on the west side. Then the rest of us attacked straight down the middle of their defences, slicing the pack in 2. With that, moral crippled and from there the enemy pack started dropping like flies” Dio said.

“Wow” Aleu said. “You did all that?”

“Yep” Dio replied. “there was also a time where we got pinned on the edge of a cliff and one of the enemy wolves tried to dive tackle me…all I did was roll out the way, like this” Dio was getting a bit carried away with himself. He tried to replicate the roll he did in that situation a long time ago, but he forgot about his injuries. When he rolled he landed on his scars. He whined in pain and he suddenly remembered his wounds. He landed awkwardly next to Aleu.

He groaned as he sat upright then looked at aleu. They both stared at each other for a few seconds then they laughed. When the laughter had died down suddenly an awkward silence began. It wasn’t helping the awkwardness by the fact that they’re so close together. Dio started to finish off his dinner as a way of trying to hide his blush. Aleu quickly did the same.

When they had finished eating the sun was lower down and it shone right into the den. It made aleu’s fur stand out. ‘She is so beautiful…wait did I really just think that!?’ Dio shook his head then stood up and stretched. “Thanks for the dinner aleu. I’ll best be getting some rest”

“Oh ok. There’s a bunch of free dens down the southern end of our territory. Pick whatever one you want”

Dio nodded then began to walk. Aleu watched him limp out of her den. ‘He is one strange figure…actually I can think of lots of words to describe him. Big, brave, strong, handsome, intelligent- wait did I really just think handsome!?’ she shook her head then laid down.

3 days later

Dio had a similar procedure every day. He would walk around, talk to others in the pack, then for dinner he would go eat with aleu up in her den. His wounds had healed up quite well now. They still left permanent scars all over his body, but he was good to go.

He met up with aleu in the morning. “Morning aleu” he started jumping around. “Look I'm all better”

“I can see. It means it’s about time I asked you”

“Ask me what?”

Aleu took a deep breath. “Dio…considering whether or not you pass the initiation, would you like to join my pack?”

This was unexpected news for Dio. He wasn’t expected to be taken in like a new member of the family. “Uh…yeah I guess. But what's the initiation?”

“Walk with me” aleu said. The 2 of them walked side by side and talked. “For your test you will have to take out a small rouge wolf pack situated north of here. Last time we checked they were about 8 in size”

“On my own!?” Dio exclaimed.

Aleu giggled. “No silly you’ll have some backup…although that is also part of your test”

“Whaddya mean it’s also part of my test?”

“Well…these wolves your gonna be working with…there not exactly the smartest wolves in the pack. In fact, they’re probably the dumbest”

Dio started to understand what she meant. “…right” he said slowly.

“Here they are now” she took him over to them. “Allright Dio this is Nuk, Yak and Sumac. They will be assisting you in the attack. Remember your going to be outnumbered 2 to 1 so pick your strategy wisely. Not that I need to be saying such things to a war veteran” she grinned. “Whether you pass or fail or not will be based on what happens. If anyone of your pack mates dies, you fail. That is all that’s required of you” she started walking off. “Good luck”

Dio turned to his team. “Well let’s get going” he said.

“Well aleu told me that this rouge pack is based north, so…” he was hoping that they’d pick up on the direction. He wanted to know how smart they were.

“Which ways that?” asked Sumac.

‘Ok so they can’t figure it out. Not a problem, I’ll just point them in the right direction…literally’ he looked into the sky. “Well if the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, then north is?” It wasn’t difficult to figure out.

They looked around the sky then looked at each other. It was silent for a few seconds before they all said. “That way!” and pointed in random directions at the same time. Amazingly none of them got it right.

Dio sighed and placed his paw on his face. “It’s that way you idiots!” he pointed north.

“Ohhh” they all said at the same time.

“Right everyone follow me” Dio said as he started to walk.

They wondered into the forest. “Keep low” Dio whispered. “And be quiet”

“Got it Dio” Nuk said.

“What!” Sumac more or less shouted.

“Shut up!” Dio said in a loud whisper. “And stay hidden” he added.

“Easy for you to say, your pretty much pitch black. All you’ve gotta do is stay where the shadows go” Yak said.

Dio looked at him. “How do ya think I'm so good at this?”

They approached a river. “Hey I just figured out how you’re so good at this Dio. You stay in the shadows so you’re pretty much invisible”

Dio sighed and placed his paw on his face. He was amazed that Yak had only just figured that out. “Yes Yak that is exactly how I do it” he looked at the river. “Wade through the water, it helps to cover up your scent”

“But its cold” complained Sumac.

“Look if you don’t wade through it won’t cover up your scent meaning the enemy wolves will find you and kill you. We don’t stand a chance in a head on fight, its 2 to 1…well you don’t stand a chance. If it does come down to a fight I’m the only one with the faintest hope of survival” Dio said. He could tell that they were beginning to lose track of what he was on about. “Just follow my lead”

 Dio walked straight through the water. The current wasn’t that strong but he still had to push against it to remain upright. The water was ice cold but at least it covered his scent a tad better. “Well you guys comin or not?” Dio said.

Nuk, Sumac and Yak slowly followed him. They complained about the cold water but Dio shushed them. They walked a bit more in silence before Dio picked up a scent in the air. “We’re getting close” he said. They came to a big hill. “I think the pack is just behind that hill” he said. He hid at the base of the hill and his pack mates copied him. “We’re outnumbered 2 to 1 so try and kill them quickly and quietly. Do you know how to do that?”

They shook their heads. “Well it’s actually rather simple when you put some effort into it. I need a volunteer to show you the method” he scanned each one of them before he said. “Nuk you’ll do fine. Come over here” Nuk slowly plodded up to Dio. “What you do is you come around the back of them” he walked around to the back of them. “Then you jump on top of them” he jumped on top of Nuk. “This bit always looks gay when you’re demonstrating…then you get either one of your front paws and cover their mouth and nose” he placed his paw gently over Nuk’s mouth and nose. “Obviously you’d squeeze to cut off their air supply. Then you bite into their neck and twist” he did a small demonstration but didn’t actually bite Nuk. “And that’s all there is too it. Any questions?”

Everyone was silent for a few seconds. “Allright then, here’s the plan” he drew a rough circle in the snow. “We’re downwind so we’ve already got an advantage of it being harder to pick up our scent. Now I’m gonna assume that if they do run they’ll run north away from our territory. So Nuk and Yak, you 2 will go around the east side” they looked at him blankly. Dio sighed. “Which is that way” he pointed. “And Sumac, you will come with me west. Which is that way” he pointed. “Any questions?”

“Why are we just hoping they’d run north?” asked Yak.

“Well if they ran south, they’d be running right towards the centre of our territory. I don’t think they’ll risk it”

He shrugged. “Ok if you say so”

“Let’s go” They all started to head off.

Dio and Sumac travelled low along the ground to remain hidden. “Allright Sumac, go take that one down there. I’ll head further up. Just remember to stay hidden and be patient” Sumac nodded and approached the unsuspecting wolf. Dio pressed on forward.

He creped along the border of what he gathered to be their territory, and then he used his natural black fur colour and the shadows to hide him and press deeper into the territory. He found 2 of his targets. 1 wolf was sharpening his claws on a rock; the other was peeing up a tree. He went as low as he could and slowly creped forward. He kept flicking his head back and forth between the 2 wolves to make sure he wasn’t spotted. But eventually he emerged from the shadows but he was still far away from his target. He remained as silent as he could to try and get as close as he could to his target.

Eventually the wolf noticed his presence. “Hey what the-” before he could say anymore, Dio pounced and bit into his neck. He shook him hard until he stopped moving.

“Who the hell are you!?” Dio turned his head to find a wolf had just seen him kill the other wolf. But just as Dio was thinking about attacking him, Sumac snuck up behind him and killed him just how Dio showed him.

Suddenly the other wolf Dio had spotted let out a howl to alert the rest of the rouge pack that they were here. ‘God dammit!’ Dio thought. Before the wolf could finish his howl, Dio pounced him and pinned him to the ground. He bit into his neck and didn’t even bother shaking him. He just applied pressure and lets the bones snap and the windpipe pop. But by now it was too late. The wolf had already howled to tell the rest of the pack.

Nuk had lined up for the kill. He was hidden in a bush and getting ready to kill the wolf that was directly in front of him. But the wolf suddenly ran off after he heard a howl. Nuk followed him but still remained hidden (well at least tried to)

“Plans ruined guys just take em out now!” Dio shouted hoping all of his team would hear him.  He met up with the 3 of them. “Allright guys its 5 on 4. I’ll try and draw their attention and do all the dirty work. You just tie up loose ends.” Dio ordered.

He ran into the 5 remnants of the rouge wolf pack. He didn’t bother trying to stop he just used the body of another wolf to stop himself. One of the wolves pounced to attack him. He dodged to the right and grabbed the wolf by the scruff of the neck and threw him against a rock. Whilst he was distracted, another wolf pinned him to the ground from the back. Dio felt the claws grazing down his back but after what he’d been through this was nothing. Nuk came to his aid and with one swipe of his paw, he knocked the wolf clean off.

Nuk and Dio were being circled but not for long as Sumac and Yak came to assist them. Yak bit at one of the wolves paws whilst Sumac pounced another.

“Nuk squat!” Dio shouted. Nuk looked at him with a ‘what the hell is he talking about?’ expression. “As in squat down!” Dio said and signalled the motion with his paw. Nuk suddenly understood what he meant. He squatted down and Dio jumped onto his back and used it as a springboard. As he flew through the air he caught one of the wolves’ necks and using the momentum it snapped effortlessly.

“Its 4 on 4 now guys. Take whatever one you want!”  Dio said. He approached a wolf and grinned. “You first” he said in a deep, intimidating tone.

The wolf was about to make the first attack any minute but then he stopped. “Wait, I know you!”

Dio relaxed a bit. “You do?” the conversation bought all over fights to a halt.

“Yeah me and my allies where fighting you and your pack about a year ago”

“Does that have any significance alpha?” asked one of the rouge wolves.

“Yeah” he turned around and started running. “IF YOU VALUE YOUR LIFE FUCKING RUN!!!” he screamed.

Dio shrugged then turned to the remaining rouge wolves. They seemed a bit lost after what just happened. Suddenly Nuk, Yak and Sumac bit in their necks and snapped them.

There was a silence for a minute then Dio laughed. “You learn pretty quickly” he said. He looked around. “I’d say that’s mission accomplished. Let’s go home” they started heading back.

When they arrived back the first person who greeted them was aleu. “Well how did it go?” she asked.

“Went well we killed all but 1. He ran away” Dio placed his mouth inside aleu’s right ear. “But please don’t make me work with these 3 idiots again”

Aleu giggled. To Dio her giggle sounded like music to his ears. “Don’t worry you won’t” she said. “But you are now an official member of our pack” she licked his cheek as a friendly gesture. “Congratulations”

For Dio it was one of the greatest moments of his life. “You might wanna get yourself cleaned up. We’re gonna be howling tonight” Aleu said.

“Howling?”

“Yeah, you can howl right?” Aleu asked.

“Of course, I don’t know a wolf that can’t” Dio replied.

“Great cya tonight” Aleu said.

Later that evening.

All the wolves had met within the centre of the territory to howl. Aleu started the pack howl with her own. To Dio her howl sounded more like music than her giggle. Throughout the howl Dio edged himself closer and closer to aleu. He needed to talk to her. When he finally got close enough, he tapped her on the shoulder. “Can I talk to you…in private?” he asked.

“Sure but can it wait?” aleu replied.

“Well yeah I guess it can, but I’d rather get it off my chest now”

Aleu sighed. “Ok meet me at my den” she glanced at the howling pack then walked off.

Dio also glanced at the howling pack then followed her.

They sat at the mouth of Aleu’s den. “So what's the matter?” she asked.

“Well…you know the story of how I lost my girlfriend” Aleu nodded. “Well…I'm a pretty cold hearted guy…I never really felt love or any other similar emotions until I met Trix…and it was my fault she was killed. It was me who planned out that rebellion and my judgement got her killed” tears started rolling from Dio’s eyes.

“Hey hey its allright. There’s nothing you could’ve done. And if that Brandon guy was anything like you said he was, then you where probably right to mount that rebellion in the first place” she licked the tears off of his left eye off and flicked the tears of his right eye off with her tail.

“It just makes me feel guilty. The guilt that I’m responsible for my girlfriend’s death. I don’t think I can trust myself anymore. And if I can’t trust myself, how is the one I love going to be able to trust me?”

“…I…don’t know…I guess if you really love each other, you will find trust within each other. Why who do you love now anyway?”

The wolves of the pack noticed aleu had left but within seconds they spotted her up in her den with Dio. They watched but continued howling normally so it didn’t seem like they were watching.

Dio still head tears pouring out of his eyes like a fountain. Nevertheless, he took a deep breath. “Well…Aleu…I love…you”

Aleu froze on the spot. “Me?”

“Yes” Dio replied softly. “Ever since I met you aleu, you are one of the most beautiful wolves ever seen. Everything about you is perfect…and I've run out of things to say apart from do you love me back?” he slowly walked up to her. 1 paw at a time. Getting closer and closer.

When they were so close to touching aleu took a deep breath and said. “Dio…I love you too” she buried her head in his chest and he rubbed his head across the top of hers. All the wolves suddenly changed their howls to sound more like cheers. Dio still had tears flowing out of his eyes. He didn’t know if they were still tears of pain or tears of joy.

Dio and Aleu slowly got further apart until their noses touched. They smiled. “C’mon lets go finish the howl” she said as she started to walk off.

“Oh and Aleu” Dio said. Aleu paused. “I know I said I'm a pretty cold hearted wolf. Well the truth is I do have emotions but I find it hard to show them sometimes. I just wish I could prove it to you”

“Dio, you’re still crying like a baby. I think that’s proof enough for me” aleu said then giggled. Dio blushed.

The rest of the night was more of a celebration for the new relationship between Aleu and Dio. Soon enough everyone turned in for the night. “Come to bed with me Dio” aleu said with a slight growl in her voice.

Aleu and Dio went into the alpha’s den and settled down right at the back. She cuddled right up to him and Dio pulled her closer. “Goodnight Aleu” Dio said.

“Goodnight my alpha male” Aleu said. “Love you”

“Love you too” Dio replied. He closed his eyes and laid back. He felt the back of her neck on the tip of his nose. He started licking it.

She giggled. “Dio stop it that tickles”

He stopped and leant back. She rested her head on his shoulders. The 2 loving alphas fell asleep.