A Tale of Two Packs (Book)

[sunhorsestar]

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A Tale of Two Packs

Kay B.

2020, book 1
Special thanks to online friends who created characters and helped with plot, Viperflare, palmawesome, FrijDom, LucyWiggle13, KestrelTheFireCat, and LittleAron

LIGHTNING PACK:

ALPHA: Shadow- Large, muscular white she-wolf with sky-blue eyes, long, thick fur, and a scar over her left shoulder from a fight with a bear.
ALPHA'S MATE: None yet.

BETA: Cole- Large brown and black male with amber-blue eyes.
HEALER: Aala- Small black she-wolf with brown eyes
HEALER TRAINEES: Accalia- White, black, and brownish she-wolf with aqua eyes

LEAD WARRIOR: Spark- black male with yellowish/tan flecks and yellow eyes.
LEAD HUNTER: Toby- Mottled brown, black and white male with dark amber eyes.

WARRIORS:


Ash- Large, muscular black male with amber eyes, and one ginger paw
Fish- Thick-furred, large grey she-wolf with dark blue eyes, and a scar over her left eye.
Karter- Small, lithe light brown male with blue-flecked hazel eyes, and a scar parting the shoulder and neck fur.
Arnou- Pale white and grey she-wolf with dark blue eyes.

Golli- Large greyish brown male with dark brown eyes.
Hugo- Reddish brown wolf with amber eyes.
Hades- Large black wolf with amber eyes.
Clover- Small brown she-wolf with green eyes.


HUNTERS:

Mick- White male with blue eyes.
Thomas/Jay- Large, dark brown and grey male with brownish blue eyes, and various scars, most noticeably a V shaped scar in the ear.
Star- Light grey and white she-wolf with yellowish blue eyes.
Ember- Brown she-wolf with greenish yellow eyes.
Jupiter- Brownish she-wolf with green-blue eyes.

DEN MOTHERS:


Larnarusna/Naru- Large, jet black she-wolf with green eyes.
Riley- Silvery grey she-wolf with blue eyes. Expecting Pups.


TRAINEES:

(Warrior) Leo- White male with blue eyes, large for his age.
(Hunter) Sandpiper- Brownish grey she-wolf with hazel-yellow eyes.
(Warrior) Smoke- Coarse-coated dark grey she-wolf with blue eyes.
(Hunter) Rusty- Flame red male with emerald green eyes.
(Warrior) Mertle the Turtle- Black and brown male with hazel-green eyes
(Hunter) Flower- Small whiteish grey she-wolf with amber eyes
(Warrior) Aiyana- Mottled brown, white and grey she-wolf with dark amber eyes.
(Warrior) Fern- Misty grey she-wolf with blue eyes.

PUPS: TO COME

Kalen-
June/Faith-
Lily-
Rita-
Hashima-
Nebula-
Alikka-

FIRE PACK

ALPHA: Max- Giant, jet black male with distinctive red eyes and various scars
ALPHA'S MATE: Moon- Almost white she-wolf with misty blue eyes

BETA: Claw- large, pale grey she-wolf with narrow yellow eyes and claw marks over her neck.
HEALER: Jasmin- Light brown and white she-wolf with pale hazel-green eyes
HEALER TRAINEES: Frost- Fluffy-ish pale grey male with ice blue eyes

LEAD WARRIOR: Arian- Small, mottled grey, white and brown she-wolf with dark amber eyes.
LEAD HUNTER: Sira- Lithe red furred she-wolf with white chest, underbelly and paws, and purplish blue eyes.

WARRIORS:


Acero- Large, muscular black male with dark blue eyes
Kai- Small, light brown male with green eyes
Mattias- Small, bright red male with emerald green eyes
Ice- Grey male with bluish eyes
Erle- Large black male with a white chinstrap, and amber eyes
Ares- Blackish brown male with green eyes
Storm- Grey and white she-wolf with green eyes.
Striker- Dark brown wolf with brown eyes.
Rubin: Brownish grey male with amber eyes.

HUNTERS:


Everest- Brown furred she-wolf with emerald green eyes
Opal- Small black furred she-wolf with a white face and green eyes
Temper- Reddish brown she-wolf with green eyes


DEN MOTHERS:

Dune- Dark brown she-wolf with green eyes

TRAINEES:


(Hunter) Tendril- Mottled brown, black, and white she-wolf with a scar in her hind leg, and a small nick in her lip.
(Hunter) Catania- Misty grey she-wolf with cloudy blue eyes
(Warrior) Thunder- Grey and white male with amber eyes
(Warrior) Violet- Dark grey she-wolf with bluish amber eyes

ELDERS:


Vivian: Light greyish-white she-wolf with yellow eyes

PUPS:


Aru
Denae
Moonlight
Blaze
Kinkajou
(Dune's) Sand- Small golden she-wolf, blind
(Dune's) Coal- Black male with hazel-green eyes
June/Faith
Roland
Trey
Naomi
Kioko
Pluto- Grey-white she-wolf with blue eyes.
Oliver: Brown male with greenish eyes.
Amber: Silvery she-wolf with blue eyes.

SCOUT: Talon- brown furred wolf with hazel eyes
SCOUT TRAINEE: Cinnamon- Dark brown she-wolf with amber eyes
OMEGA: Jade- thick-furred grey male with green eyes

STARRIS

Lolan
Grace
Merida
Anna
Willow
Fang
Mano
Alek
Cypress
Cinder
Tala
Maple
Sariel
Addilyn
June the First
Forest
Eleri
Jen

[sunhorsestar]

PROLOGUE

It was a great many years ago that terrible the war of many years first began, and it began with just two individual wolves, branching off to build separate Packs. However, the real war began with the theft of the Jewel of the Moon, stolen from the Fire Pack, and lost somewhere in the woods, not to be seen again, and what followed? A war that would last three generations. Ceaseless, tireless war and spite.

"The sweeping flame, and ceaseless storm, of blood mixed, and loyalties divided. Of division, darkness, destruction, yet also light, this is a tale of two Packs."

Chapter 1

LIGHTNING PACK

The dawn had come once again. No wolves were yet out and about, however, only a few, lazily relaxing in the middle of their camp, in the rare patches of sun granted to them in the cold of winter. Shadow, the Alpha of the Lightning Pack, slid out of her den, shaking out her long white fur to free it off the moss scraps left over from her restless night in her nest. Impossible. I’ll never be free, will I? She realized with dry, faint amusement. No matter what she did, she’d never be free of her past.

However, there was no time to dwell on such things. She was an Alpha, and that meant her Pack came before herself. Her Pack needed to be fed and guarded, and she scented no wolves by the edge of camp, suggesting no border-guards or hunting parties had been sent out since the day before. You'd think these wolves could take a little initiative, and I wouldn’t have to babysit them and feed them orders ALL the time.


"Spark! Take out a border-guard by the north border, take Arnou and Hugo," Shadow ordered. The tan-flecked black wolf stood up and went to retrieve the chosen Warriors.

"Toby, I want a hunting party, take whoever you need," she called.

The calico-coloured Hunter stood up.
"Mick, Ember, Jay!"


They all headed off. Shadow turned as a blur of dark grey streaked past her. Her sky-blue eyes followed it, and finally, the she-wolf just shook her head in exasperation. She had long ago given up trying to get her crazy cousin to do anything...well...useful. Shadow turned away and stalked back to the prey pile.
________________________________________


Fish happily leapt into the river with a joyous bark. Most of her Pack for reasons she didn’t quite understand were not fans of the rushing waters. Fish herself was a strong swimmer, and would be quite happy to just stand in the river or tread water all day! In fact...that was most of what she did, and occasionally catch trout, probably her only regular contribution to the Pack save for when battles happened. However, that particular day, the grey furred she-wolf's peace was disturbed by another.


"Fish, what in the name of the Sky-Dogs are you doing?" This came from Ash, who sighed at her.

Fish blinked up at him.
"What does it look like I’m doing? I’m in the river!" She chirped.

"I can see that. But...why? Alpha Shadow sent me to fetch you out," the black male explained.

Fish stared down at the crystal clear waters, then up again at Ash.
"Why? She’s never bothered me about it before," she remembered.

"Yes," Ash agreed. "But I follow my Alpha's orders, and make myself useful where I can, unlike some wolves in this Pack." His eyes locked on her as he spoke.

"Ash Ash Ash Ash Ash!" Called an excited voice from behind them. "Shadow sent me to find you, who went off to find Fish and-"

Ash groaned to himself. Fish AND Smoke. Great.
"What’s the matter, Smoke?"



Smoke cleared her throat, lifting her head.
"Oh yeah, that’s right! Aiyana is wanting extra training. Shad said she was ready for an assessment."

Fish pulled herself half out of the river.
"Did you just nickname the Alpha?" She yelped, amusement lighting her eyes.

Smoke shrugged.
"Maybe I did..."

Ash growled deep in his throat.
"Get back to camp, the both of you! Smoke, Starris only knows why Alpha Shadow took you on. You should learn some respect for your elders!"

Smoke seemed to consider it, then shrugged, winking.
"Respect? That’s not a word in my vocabulary. Though Elders is!" Then she ran off before Ash could take a chunk out of her ear.

[sunhorsestar]

________


"I’m sorry," said Toby, returning from the hunt with only a couple of rabbits, and Mick with a thin squirrel. "This is all we could find."

Shadow looked up as he spoke. Three bits of prey was better than none.
"Don’t worry. It’s alright," she promised. "It’ll be enough to feed our Healers, and one more."

"You," said Ash, approaching. "You’re the Alpha."

Shadow shook her head.
"Certainly not!" The white wolf admonished. "The Pack comes first. Perhaps Naru. She works hard to serve us."

"What do you want us to do?" Asked Jay, shaking out his thick pelt.

"Take the prey to Aala and Accalia," Shadow ordered. "And the squirrel to Naru. I think she’s awake. She usually is by this time. Though I have yet to see her emerge."

Jay nodded.
"I can-"

Toby cut in.
"I’ve got it! You did your best out there today, Jay. You go get yourself some rest," Toby quickly finished, and scooped up the squirrel after dropping his rabbit, trotting off to the nursery happily.

Jay rolled his eyes.
"You know...sometimes I swear he's in love with her, even though she’s twice his age."

A bit away from them, Star shrugged.
"Who knows? Maybe he is."

LATER THAT DAY...

"Come now, Smoke! I know you can do better than that," Shadow insisted, frowning at her Trainee's halfhearted attempts at pouncing on her shoulders.

"It’s so boring though!" The grey she-wolf complained. "Why can’t we do something more complicated? Aiyana and Ash are!"

Shadow scuffed her paw on the dirt below them.
"Aiyana and Ash have a different style, not to mention Aiyana is older," she pointed out, though her voice was gentle.


For all Smoke's annoying the other wolves and waking them up half the time before the sun had even risen, she reminded Shadow of one of the Pups she had lost, and therefore the Alpha had a soft spot for her. Smoke finally rolled her eyes and tried again, and Shadow noticed with a flicker of pride that the Trainee's attempt this time seemed more fuelled. Probably by her frustration or spite at her trainer, but it was good enough for Shadow. In a real battle, that spite would be a driving point.

Shadow crouched down, then dodged off to the side as her Trainee came at her, easily sidestepping. Smoke had it the hardest, possibly. Before being Alpha, Shadow had carried- rather proudly at that- the title of the Pack's finest Warrior. With the blood of the dire wolf running through her veins, she had additional size and strength to her build, yet had trained herself to still be quick on her feet, and a fast thinker. She hoped that with the proper training, she could make Smoke one of the strongest Warriors in her place. Though with his blood and skill, nobody will ever be quite able to match Ash. She thought, and she found a smile had come to her face. The Pack's greatest Warrior now that she was Alpha, Ash had also been her friend since they were Trainees, and had stuck by her, through thick and thin, and while he rested her with the respect an Alpha demanded, he also still treated her as a friend, and that was something she valued. One of the things she treasured most in the world. Yet despite their closeness, there were things she had not told him, and those things were now lingering on her mind, drawing her away from the present moment, and Smoke was able to pounce again, this time squarely landing on her shoulders, hitting her mark. Shadow instinctively twisted to throw the smaller, younger she-wolf, who landed a bit away, on her feet, however, and Shadow turned to face her. The small she-wolf didn’t even seem injured, and a small smile came to Shadow's face. Yes. The Alpha was proud. She had trained Smoke well.


"Alpha, Alpha!" Called the voice of Hugo.

Shadow turned.
"What’s the matter?" She paused. "Smoke, you are dismissed."

Smoke rolled on her back on the ground.
"But I wanna heaaaaar!" She insisted.

"Smoke."

Reluctantly, the grey she-wolf stood and padded off, then caught sight of her friend a bit away.
"Rusty!" Just like that, Hugo and his news were forgotten.


Shadow faced the reddish brown Warrior.
"What's the matter, Hugo?" She asked again.

"We found Fire scent on our side of the border," he confessed. "We found wolves there too. Claw and-"

That was all Shadow needed to hear.
"Is Claw still there now?" She asked.

"We chased them off, but that wolf is sneaky," Hugo pointed out.

Shadow lifted her head and rolled back her shoulders.
"Take me to where you last saw them. I have business with that wolf."

Hugo frowned.
"The Meet is in two days. The Beta is required to be there. Can’t it wait until a Meet?" He asked.

"It cannot. I’ve waited more than a year for this," she growled. "And do you dare to question the orders of an Alpha?" She asked.

Hugo scuffed his paws on the ground.
"No, of course not, Alpha."


With that said, the two wolves headed off towards the border. Indeed, the scent was where Hugo had said, and it was fresh. He was right. They were chased off, but returned once the border-guard left. Wretched wolves. Shadow narrowed her eyes. There were three scents, all of which she recognized. Claw, Acero, and Kai. One was the Beta, and that was who she focused on. Before Hugo could say another word, Shadow breathed in deeply and began to follow the Beta's horrid scent.

The white furred Alpha was able to track the Beta right into no-man's-land, looking very much like she wanted to sink her teeth into Fire fur. Hugo chased after her, opening his mouth to speak, but she silenced him with a wave of her tail, and he dared not disobey. Surely an Alpha or all wolves knew the Code of Honour. She could not attack the grey furred Bets while they were in no-man's land. Much like the Meet Hollow, it was a place of peace, it was nobody's territory, a place where wolves could meet in peace to rest, or to bargain and discuss deals, a place where blood had never been shed. Then Shadow lifted her head from the ground and saw the Beta with her own eyes. Claw was just few inches shorter than Shadow herself, but with claws twice as long, and a squirrel in her jaws. She made it to no-man's-land, but before she did, she hunted. On OUR territory. She realized. As if sensing she was being watched, although Shadow was well hidden behind a thick bundle of bushes, Claw turned towards her hiding place, the corner of her lip turning up in a smirk. She did not drop the squirrel, as if she was not worried about having been caught. It violated a number of rules. Full-fledged Warriors were not to hunt, as they did not have training, and Claw had been a Warrior before she’d been promoted, though she would argue that the higher-up wolves could do whatever they wanted. She approached the thicket of bushes slowly, leisurely. She said nothing, but Shadow gave in. Knowing for a fact she’d been caught now, Shadow slid out from the bushes and shook the leafy remains out of her thick fluffy fur, dipping her head tensely to the other she-wolf, although she wanted nothing more than to lunge and tear Claw's fur off.


"Alpha Shadow," Claw greeted her, returning the gesture.

"Beta Claw," Shadow returned, fighting to keep a growl out of her voice.

Claw dropped her squirrel, nodding towards it.
"It’s been a long while since I’ve seen you, Alpha. Come, share a meal with me."

Shadow narrowed her eyes.
"How in the name of the Sky-Dogs could I sit down and share a squirrel you caught on our territory with you like we're old friends?" She demanded, the growl finally coming out.

"I see." Claw's voice was low, but unsympathetic. "You’re still angry I carried out my Alpha's orders."

Shadow felt something stirring inside her.
"Max would never order something like that. Even he has more of a heart than that."

Claw watched her.
"Does he? Does any Fire wolf, Alpha? You teach your young how cruel we are. You tell stories of how cruel, and cold, and heartless Alphas Max and Moon are," she reminded her.

"Not Moon," Shadow asserted. "Moon can reinforce Max's orders, and she has a harsh streak, but she can be kind. I have quite a lot of respect for her. She’s only bad-mouthed by wolves for who she has been mated to. I will never understand how she chose him."

Claw's gaze sharpened with interest.
"He took another mate before Moon." She smiled, but it was not a kind smile. "A mate from your Pack."

Shadow turned her gaze away.
"I am fully aware, Claw. I am fully aware."

[sunhorsestar]

CHAPTER 2

FIRE PACK

When Claw returned from her border-guard and mission, she went immediately to report to her Alpha, not even stopping outside the den to ask permission to enter, but simply slipping gracefully inside.

Max was still half asleep, curled around the smaller, pale form of his mate, Moon, who was half awake, gently grooming the three Pups of their first litter, for that day, they were to officially become Trainees. It was long overdue, and had been put off an extra month due to the recent chaos around camp, and the arrival of the wolves Kai and Sira, who had left their Pack of birth for Fire Pack. It had certainly taken them a while to settle in, but once they had, it was like they’d always been there, rather than had come from the enemy Pack to settle themselves amongst Fire's ranks.


"Alpha, I encountered Alpha Shadow in no-man's-land, and myself, Ares, and Kai were chased off by those wretched Lightning wolves," Claw reported.

Max opened his eyes at the sound of the Beta's voice.
"Chaos, for so early in the morning," he muttered in a low, growling tone. "What was an Alpha doing on a border-guard in the first place? Doesn’t she have better things to do?" He sneered.

Claw stiffened.
"She was not on the guard. After so kindly chasing us off for overstepping by a couple pawsteps on accident, they returned home, and she came with one of her Warriors," she explained. "We got the chance to talk, and it seemed no matter what I tried, she was determined it was to be a hostile meeting."

Max growled under his breath and rose to his feet.
"She always was a difficult one, that she-wolf. Ignore her for now. She can deal with me at the Meet if she has words to exchange with us. Has anything else gotten done so far today?" He asked.

Claw glanced at the den entrance.
"I sent Everest to solo hunt, and Sira and Tendril went for training, we took a look at the north border. I sent Striker, Acero, and Ice to the south border. Arian and Ares are discussing battle plans for your next attack after scouting out routes, but that’s about it."

Max watched her, vaguely impressed.
"That’s about it?" He echoed. "You’ve taken care of all the Pack needs done today and then some! I was right to have chosen you."

Claw bowed her head before him.
"Thank you, Alpha."
"You are dismissed," He told her with a dip of his head, and watched in silence as she went off.


There certainly has been no slacking since she stepped into the role of Beta. What is she doing now that I failed to do as a wolf of an even higher rank? He wondered. Of course, he was grateful things were getting done, being managed, but what was that she-wolf doing that he hadn't?
___________________________________________


"Max!" Barked a weak voice.


Max had just stepped into the Alpha den with a pair of rabbits when his mate's voice called out to him from the very back of the den. She sounded weaker than normal, and his heart pounded. He’d known she’d been carrying her first litter, and they weren’t as young as they used to be. That meant it would be harder for her to carry and deliver. Oh why did we wait so long to have our Pups? He wondered, though kept the thought to himself. He was about to ask if it was time and what he could do before the pale grey she-wolf answered both questions before he could even open his mouth.


"Get Jasmin, and quick! The Pups...they’re coming!"


Max nodded and hurried off, calling the Healer's name until finally the greyish brown she-wolf appeared at the entrance of her den, ears pricked and swivelled forward at attention, her posture tensed. She’d heard him, all right, and even more, she had heard the panic in the usually calm Alpha's voice. She wasn’t surprised though. Max had never dealt with Pups before. Jasmin had been keeping a close eye on Moon, making sure she had what she needed. She’d known it would be soon. She didn’t need to ask what was wrong. She simply ducked back inside to grab the herbs she would need, and started off at a brisk pace towards the Alpha den. Max made no move to stop her, but nor did he explain, but that was okay. Jasmin already knew, she’d known for a while it could be any day, and for that long time, she had been ready to help deliver as soon as she was called for.

Moon was laying on her side when they returned, and Max was certain that had not been the case before. Moon was beautiful. Strong. Capable. Yet he couldn’t help but worry. She’d been their strongest and swiftest Hunter for as long as he could remember, then he’d taken her for his mate and she’d given up her Hunter duties to rule at his side, assisting him keep order and keep things organized, though Claw had seemed to take over that duty, and good thing too, now that the Alphas would be new parents! Not that Max had any intention of leaving his Pack behind for the sake of his mate and Pups. They were a part of his Pack. As Alpha, he kept with his duties. He’d simply be more than glad for Claw's help in keeping things running neatly and in an organized way. Max was strong, he was powerful in a number of ways, and many wolves in the forest feared him. He was a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield, and yet now, watching his mate giving birth with the herbs and gentle reassurances of the skilled Healer, for the first time, Max could do nothing, and felt truly and utterly powerless. A year ago, their Omega had been killed giving birth to an illegal litter. He couldn’t forget the cries of her mate when the Omega had died, and then the bloodshed that had followed shortly after. Things would not be that way. Moon was strong, Max was strong. Their family would stay together, they would watch their Pups play and grow, and all would be well. The large black wolf closed his red eyes, unable to watch the scene of blood and herbs in front of him, wishing he could close his ears and be as sealed up and closed off as newborn Pup without their sight or hearing yet developed. Alpha Max was a full-grown wolf thought, and as such, Max could not simply close off his senses, and that meant he could not ward off the horrible sounds of his mate's gradually weakening cries, and the Healer's increasingly worried voice.
_______________


"Max, look at them!" Breathed Moon.


The pale grey she-wolf sounded weak and tired, weary, but the birthing had been a success under Jasmin's care. Moon had borne them a son and two daughters. One black, one black and white, and one a milky grey like her mother. They suckled greedily now, and Moon looked ready to sleep, but she would not. Not yet, for the Pups had been born, and they needed her care, and they needed names.


"They’re beautiful..." Max was rarely awestruck by anything, but these little bundles of fur... were his children. "Do you have names in mind?" He asked.

Moon gently nudged the black and white pup, their only son.
"I wanted to call him Thunder, after my father," She told him.

"It’s perfect," He agreed in a low, rumbling voice. "What about this one?" He gently nosed the small black pup.

"I’ve always wanted a daughter named Violet. I find it a beautiful name, but still strong in its own way. Just like her," Said Moon. "What of our third?" She looked at the wispy grey lump that was more fluff that Pup. "I named the other two. You should name her."


Max looked down at the fluffy Pup, and when she felt his eyes on her, she stopped nursing and twisted towards him, although her eyes would not open for another good while. She stopped and faced him intently, as if she could already see him. Or if not see him, sense him in some other way, despite her lack of sight and hearing. Oh he couldn’t wait for them to open their eyes and see the world that the sky-dogs had provided for them, live the glorious lives they were born into the world to have. He quickly decided that the grey she-pup was his favourite when he stepped forward to touch her head with his muzzle and instead of nursing once more, she reached up and swatted his muzzle.


"Catania," He decided. He didn’t know where the word came from, or why it sounded so right, but it did. He didn’t even know what it meant, if it meant anything at all. "Her name will be Catania."

[sunhorsestar]

CHAPTER 3

LIGHTNING

"What’s bothering you?" Came the voice of Ash outside Shadow's den.


Shadow was silent for a long time. For a brief moment, she debated not answering, pretend oh she wasn’t there, but she suspected he would be able to tell that her scent was fresh, even if she held her silence, pretend not to hear.

She did not wish to let on that her encounter with Claw two days prior had shaken her so much, but it brought back memories. It brought back things in the past she had hoped for forget. Of course I should have known, they’ll never let me forget. She thought bitterly, though kept it to herself. Ash's voice called again, and she sighed heavily. Of all wolves to have found and checked on her. Anyone else, she could send away. Anyone else would leave her alone if she said she wished for peace and quiet, or if she said she was just tired, but Ash knew her better than that. He’d known her since they were Trainees. Shadow loved her Pack endlessly, but she was distant, holding an air of authority rather than one of friendship and warmth, but she had a select few friends amongst her Pack. Of the wolves she had known and grown up with, Ash was undoubtedly her best friend.


"You may enter," She finally told him, though her voice was weary.

Ash stepped into the den.
"Something is bothering you. What's on your mind?" He pressed.

"I...had a run-in with Claw a couple days ago," Shadow admitted, drawing herself up to sit up properly. "She reminded me of the time Max took a mate from our Pack. The time the bloodlines mixed." Her voice was a mix of bitter and regretful.

"Why does it matter what happened years ago?" Ash asked.

Shadow refused to meet his eyes.
"Pups came of Max and his mate, I remember them clearly. Too clearly," She told him. "Because their parents were not of the same Pack, they would’ve been seen as cursed by Starris and Solis. I feel bad for Pups who would be shamed if their heritage was known. Their mother passed the father off as neglectful." She rolled her eyes. "I suppose she wasn’t wrong. I’m not even sure Max knew the Pups existed. He knew his mate was expecting, but I have no idea if he knew the Pups had survived."

"Maybe they’ll tell him one day, and he can be a good father. Be a family again."

"Be a family!" Shadow scoffed. "He has a mate of his own Pack, a she-wolf I quite respect, truth be told," She admitted. "She was expecting their first litter when I saw her last at the Meet. She was trading for painkilling herbs their Healer had not found."

"Perhaps Max's Pups will still tell him so that at the very least he can know," Ash suggested.

Shadow laughed, but it was an empty, humourless laugh.
"Oh Ash, I wish they could. They never will," She declared.

"How do you know that?"

"Because, Ash. They’re dead." She drew her gaze away. "It’s probably for the best. The truth will never come out to their Pack, and they’ll never have to suffer the mockery and disdain of the other wolves who might shame them for being half-bloods."

"Their mother would never let that happen, I’m sure."
"It doesn’t matter now, they’re gone." Her voice was empty. Pups. Pups should never have to die. They were too young for their little lives to end. "Let’s not talk about this, Ash. There are other things to speak of."

Ash paused for a long moment.
"What of your son?" He asked.

Shadow's shoulders tensed.
"What about him?" Her tone became strangely guarded.

"You said to me once that he ran away that day in the forest. You speak so fondly of Pups. Yours might return."

Shadow's gaze hardened.
"He won’t, Ash. He’s lost to me. He was too young to have run away and survived on his own. Every day for three months, I led all the border-guards and looked for him. Every day I wish he was still here. I keep hoping he'll come back, but he didn’t know how to hunt, what to run from, how to fight. He won’t have made it nine months."

Ash bowed his head.
"I’m sorry."