I knew someone was following me, I could feel their presents. I could feel their heartbeat as I glided across the forest floor. The pups were safe, safe in the den with my mate Aerik. I started to panic and quickened my pace looking over my shoulder repetitively. I bolted, but I knew not to run for the safety of my den, my family. No, my tracker would follow me there, he’d hurt my pups. I wasn’t afraid for Aerik, I knew he is strong, he is a great defender, but for some reason I always attracted danger. Like a large neon sign saying ‘HEY EVERYBODY I’M OVER HERE COME AND GET ME!’ I shivered at the thought.

                I skidded to a halt at the edge of a cliff, I was trapped. I faced my tracker. My hackles rose and I a sharp snarl ripped through my throat. He stepped out of the shadows, slowly, not as if a rush at all. A wicked smile flashed across his face. I tried to hide my fear but it shook my voice a bit, “What do you want from me?!”

                He glided across the opening between us, “Oh don’t you recognize me dear child?”

                My eyes closed in on him, his sleek black coat, soulless back eyes, and the white patch that covered his chest. I froze… could it be? Could he have found me after all these years? Sean… he was the murderer alpha of my old pack. I shuddered at the thought, “What do you what Sean?!"

                “I believe that since you made my pack turn on me it’s only fair that I kill you.” He smirked at his words

                “Get off my land!” I gritted my teeth

                “As soon as I’ve ended your life child, you see, you are younger with more strength, but pride will lead to your downfall. But I am older with more knowledge with fighting, and since I knew you from birth I know all your weaknesses.”

                I raised my head, ears forward and alert, “You won’t hurt my family right? All you want is me?”

                “That is correct, and I am glad you are surrendering, it makes my job a whole lot easier.” 

                I sneered, “I’m not giving up, I will never give up.”

                “Very well, it’s your funeral either way, oh and one more thing before I start ripping you apart. Your mother wasn’t dead when we tossed her over the cliff, just sick, hah! We did that to all the sick wolves, we would have done it to your sister too if it wasn’t for your father taking her away just before we would have collected her.”

                I froze, “My mom’s…alive?”

                He tilted his head, “Doubt it, but perhaps.”

                A fierce snarl rung out from me as I lunged going for his throat. He ducked away from my attack and scratched my side. I whined but soon recovered, going again for his neck. I got him this time and didn’t let go. He flung me off and pinned me to the ground, snapping at my shoulder. A flash of fur and teeth, snapping and grinding and ripping with snarling fury. I tore at his ear, satisfied when a chunk came off. He yelped and fell back. I snapped his stomach and pulled and ripped and sunk my teeth in deeper and deeper. Sean groaned in pain. He pushed me off and I slid into a nearby tree. I yelped when my head hit the thick bark, he zoomed to me and head butted me in my stomach. I doubled over in pain. He jumped on top of me and pushed me to the ground, a display of dominance. I snapped at his noise and we fell spiraling down the hill and into the small stream at the bottom. I pushed his head in the water so he had no air, he squirmed and fought, until he finally kicked me off and gasped for air. Sean snarled at me, raised his haunches and scratched at my eyes, my eyes went blurry and it seemed a fog was around us. He soon took advantage of my pause and bit my right front paw, the same paw Steele broke a while back. I cried out in pain and he smiled and spoke throw his teeth, “Want me to just end you the easy way? It’ll only be two seconds; I’ll just snap your little neck…”

                I cut him over and threw my tears screamed, “Never!”

                I whacked his head with my paw and he let go of my other paw. I looked down at it, bloody and broken. I sighed, and limped to him. I couldn’t show weakness, though I would use my bad paw as well in till the fight ended. I put my paw down and held back a whine as I lunged at him, ripping at his throat, he yelped and fought back in till he moved no more. He was dead, I let out a sigh of relive.

                I stumbled my way out of the water and over to the band of the river. I put my head in the water trying to get whatever was off my eyes off but it stayed, and the fog grew darker. I soon collapsed on the sand in agony. Night would be coming soon, so I closed my eyes and let the darkness take me…

*AERK*

                I lopped over to Alex, “Hi’ya kiddo, you seen your mother?”

                The pup shook his head in despair, “Nope, I haven’t seen Momma since yesterday.”

                I ran over to the rest of my pups asking, but they too had no clue. Thoughts about her flooded my mind. Where was my mate? Where did she run off to during the time she was hunting? I dragged a small hare into the den and let the pups eat their fill. I watched as they played with the hare’s fur and bones with joy. They tackled me giggling and I tickled them all into a fit of hysteria. The day soon came to a close, and Brooke hadn’t returned home yet. I panicked, and started pacing. She’s a grown wolf, she’s allowed to go where ever she pleased, but why hadn’t she at least told me? I decided that if she didn’t come home by tomorrow at noon I’d go looking for her.

                I stayed in the pup’s room that night, and soon the dreams came and I fell into a deep sleep.

                The sun blared through the entrance of the mouth of the den, making me blink my eyes trying to adjust. I woke the pups up and scooted them outside to go play. I watched, Alex and Bailey were wrestling, Yukon was sneaking threw the brush getting ready to pounce on Alex and Bailey. Sam and Sage with talking and pawing at some cat tails by the small pond on the side of the den. I looked at the sky…not noon yet. I started pacing again. I looked up…still not noon. I sighed. I tried to distract myself, I jumped into the pond and started splashing around. The pups soon joined me, climbing on my back as I swam in circles. Finally… it was noon. I burst out of the pong, shook my fur dry and rounded up all the pups into their room, “Okay well your mother hasn’t come back yet. So I want to make sure she’s okay, and while I’m gone I want all of you to stay in this room and don’t you dare step one paw out ‘cause I’m gonna known and your gonna be in big trouble. Understand?”

                They all nodded and I smiled. I kissed them all and bounded outside into the hunting grounds. I let my nose drop to the ground and sniffed all around for her sent. I picked something up fast but she seemed to be with a male. They seemed to have been fighting by the looks of the deep tracks they left in the dirt. I followed the trail and it let me to a river. Why would she be here? Why would some male attack her? I looked around for her but saw nothing. I plunged into the water but still came up empty. I saw something floating on the top of the surface in the river. I bounded over to her but skidded to a halt, the males carcasses was bobbing up and down, is eyes a milky white color and his body still. I frowned; I wonder what the male wanted so badly that it caused him to fight to the death for it? I pushed him aside and frantically searched for my mate. I froze in my tracks horrified; I spotted her on the bank on the other side of the river. Unmoving, broken, and bloody. I dashed over to her and nuzzled her, “Please please wake up honey.”

                No response… I felt a tear fall down my face. I nudged her again and again and again, “Wake up! You have to get up please!” I fell beside her and pressed my head into her neck. How could this happen? I layed beside her, my head resting on her neck and prayed.

END OF PART ONE