Prologue
A large black wolf was trotting through his pack’s territory, his pawsteps were quick and light. His muscles rippled under his shiny black coat with each long stride. His ears swiveled to each noise he heard and his noise twitched as he scented the air. It seemed he was being wary about anyone following him. He had been traveling briskly since dawn and the sun was now high in the sky, he had stayed in his feral form as he traveled as it was much quicker and more efficient then his humanoid form.
As he neared the border of his territory he would slow down until he stopped right at the border. The scent markers were strong and were renewed frequently, but that’s not why he was here. His ears perked as he waited for a sign that she was here, but nothing came up. The male couldn’t help but feel disappointed, but he wasn’t giving up. Not yet. So he decided to sit and wait, all his senses were tuned in and alert as he sat there holding his breath.
He was about to leave when a scent drifted over to him, he would spring to his feet at the scent and scanned the land beyond his territory. He finally let out his breath as a female padded towards him, she was much smaller then he was and definitely seemed much to small for a wolf, and she was much more lanky then a wolf was. Especially in comparison to the large brute right in front of her. But she wasn’t fazed by the much larger canine one bit, no there was pure unfiltered love in her eyes as she approached.
The smaller canine would bop her head gently into the black wolf’s chest before rubbing the side of her head against him. The large brute would smile down at the smaller female before nuzzling his muzzle against the top of her head. The two nuzzled and licked each other lovingly for a few moments before pulling back. They both held smiles on their muzzles and by their greeting it was obvious they were close.
“I’ve missed you Iwa.” The large black wolf would say, sadness creeping into his voice. “I only wish I could bring you back to my pack. Then we wouldn’t have to meet like this.” Despite how desperately he wanted to being Iwa back he knew better, he knew his pack would never accept her. Not with how she was born or more so who she had been born to.
Iwa just smiled sadly at the larger canine’s words. “My dreams follow your wishes with that Dekoda.” She would say gently, her voice was more gritty then the black wolf’s and she held a slight accent. “But we both know that isn’t possible. However while I may not join you two others may.” There was a mischievous glint in her gaze as she looked up at the larger brute.
Dekoda nodded sadly at the female’s words, he knew she had felt his own doubt and his unfulfillable hope. He had felt her sadness and the hint of anger she had at the world for having them born apart like this. Unable to truly be together as they both dreamed to be. The next words Iwa said caught him off guard, along with the feeling of overwhelming joy and mischievousness. “Oh? Two others? But non of your kin are eligible?” He knew his confusion must be rolling off of him and he knew that Iwa would sense it easily.
Iwa smirked at the confusion Dekoda was displaying. “Oh come now your a big smart Alpha.” She would tease, grinning up at her mate and showing off her sharp fangs. Her teasing only seemed to confuse the black wolf more so she just shook her head with a playful sigh. “And to think you lead a pack.” Her tone was still joking as she spoke but it quickly turned serious with her next words. “Dekoda I’m expecting pups, your pups.” As she said it her untamed joy flooded out from her.
The first thing that hit the large male was shock and then it was the same giddy kind of joy his mate was feeling. “Pups? My pups? I’m going to be a father!” His excitement drowned out any worries he should have had, after all what could go wrong? He wasn’t worrying about what his pups would be like, he knew his pups would be absolutely wonderful. But that wasn’t what he should have been worrying about at all. No he should be worrying about where the pups would go. To their mother’s pack or to his own, they couldn’t be in both after all. But that question, that worry was drowned and buried by the excitement and love that he felt from hearing the news.
Iwa was happy to see her mate as excited as she was about having pups, oh how she couldn’t wait to meet them! She was impatient and wanted to have them now, so she could find out what they would be like, what kind of magic they would have, and so much more. The female was just as blind as her mate was about the large problem that loomed over this entire relationship. Their packs and how this all would work with their two packs being enemies.
Both of their packs had been enemies for as long as stories had been told, the two packs were constantly clashing over territory and raids weren’t uncommon either. Many times the fights that broke out would turn out to be lethal, for both sides. While Dekoda’s pack was of large strong werewolves, Iwa’s pack outnumbered his pack vastly. After all werewolves were dwindling lately. They used to roam in packs of hundreds upon hundreds of wolves. Now only a few packs remained and rarely got over forty members. Dekoda’s pack was only twenty-three members strong.
After a while of silent celebration Dekoda would finally break the silence. “Do you have names picked out for them yet?” The large black wolf would inquire. Though he wished he took those words back the moment he saw his mate’s expression.
Iwa’s eyes narrowed and a snarl formed on her maw. “Of course not!” The female would snap, her sharp teeth flashing at her mate. “You know that my kind’s names are sacred and all hold a meaning! The pups will not be names until they’re born! It’s a great offense to Lunese to name pups before they’re born! Before their names can have a proper meaning!” Iwa rarely snapped at her mate but naming pups was a very serious thing, it was held as a ceremony. It was a way of welcoming them into life, it had to be respected and treated with care and thought. Under no circumstances could if be treated carelessly.
Dekoda dipped his head and lowered his body in apology. “Of course I’m sorry, it had slipped my mind in midst of my excitement. I forgot how important names are to your kind compared to us wolves.” His voice was sincere and he truly was sorry to have disrespected his mate’s beliefs and way of life in such a way. “I can’t believe I forgot, after all your name does mean ‘one that is ablaze’.” He would say with a small smile, while most noted his mate’s name to be connected to her fiery ginger pelt it also did refer to a part of her personality. Though that part of herself she kept very well hidden and locked away, it was only ever revealed to those closest to her.
Iwa let out a small sigh of relief, she could feel the sincerity rolling off of her mate as he apologized. As he mentioned what her name meant she couldn’t help but laugh softly. “Indeed my name does mean that, my parents did good on giving me a powerful and truthful name.” She would say, her gaze clouding for a moment at the mention of her parents but it quickly focused again. “Your name is nice sounding, even if it’s void of meaning.” Iwa would tease.
Dekoda’s head shot up at his mate’s teasing and he let out a playful growl. “Hmph! Well at least my name isn’t in some old foreign tongue.” He would shoot back, his tone obviously teasing and playful.
Iwa just huffed at her mate’s teasing. “If I didn’t have pups to worry about I’d have you on your back praying to Lunese for mercy.” She would threaten lightly, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
“Pray for mercy you say? I think I might end up preying for something... Else.” Dekoda would tease with a cocky smile, he knew all to well his mate would get what he was hinting at.
Iwa felt her mouth drop at her mate’s teasing and suggestion. “Oh can it you tease!” She would growl before glancing up at the sky. A small frown formed on her muzzle as she noticed the sun had set. “It seems it’s time for me to get back now. I can’t stay longer and worry them.” There was sadness in her tone as she butted her head against her mate’s chest in a sign of farewell. “I won’t be able to return until the pups are old enough. But your patience will be rewarded in meeting them.” Iwa would promise, her voice quiet and saddened. She hated cutting it off like this so abruptly but she couldn’t risk staying longer.
Dekoda sighed softly at his mate’s words of farewell before nodding in understanding. “I can’t afford any of my packmates coming looking for me and finding us either.” He hated having to keep his mate secret from his pack, he hated it with every fiber of his being. “Travel safely my little flame, may Lunese guide your paws home.” The black male would whisper in farewell as he felt his mate pull away from him. A coldness creeping into the spot in which she had been pressed up against him. He longed for her to press against him once more, for her warm touch to stay with him forever. But he knew that wasn’t possible.
A pit grew in his heart as he watched her turn and trot off away from his territory, away from him. He stayed there and stared at the spot in which her ginger tail had disappeared into. After a few more moments of silence he finally stood up and turned. With a sigh he trotted back towards his pack. He was an Alpha and that was both a gift and a curse. He was gifted with a pack to lead, a pack that would be ever loyal to him as long as he lead it well. But he was cursed with having to always put the pack first. To put it before his life, his love, and his happiness.
The needs of his pack always came before his own and thus he had to choose them over his mate every time. How he would have loved to run away with her, to not have to hide her. But if he did that then a hole inside him would be gorged out. He would have failed at his one duty, his purpose. To lead his pack. So instead he was forced to secretly meet her, to feel that emptiness that expanded inside him whenever she was away from him.
Why? Why couldn’t he just bring her into his pack? Why couldn’t he have both of the things that made him feel needed, that made him feel whole and completed together? Because the Alpha countless generations before him declared war. They declared war on his mate’s kind and that war had caused unimaginable grief and bloodshed. Now his packmates would never accept one of her kind into the pack. No they would destroy her, tear her apart even if he begged them, ordered them not to. They would take out generations of grief and hatred out onto her and he wouldn’t be able to stop them.
The thought of that Alpha who had started all of this made him growl. It was not his packmate’s faults that their family and loved ones had been ripped savagely away from them due to this war. It was the fault of those two Alphas from rivaling kinds that doomed their packs to hate each other for eternity.
As the scent of his packmates strengthened Dekoda knew he was nearing the camp, the sun had fully set by now and the moon was almost full as it hung low in the sky. The large black wolf had to stop for a moment to take a breath and calm his thoughts. He also looked around to find a field of wildflowers. Without a thought he dove into them rolling over and over again until the scent of his mate was masked with the sickly sweet scent of pollen. Once he was sure the scent of Iwa was fully masked he would take another breath and allow the lingering thoughts of her to drift into the furthest part of his mind.
Without anymore hesitation the Alpha would confidently stride into his camp where he was greeting by his pack. Some of them had gone into their dens to sleep for the night but the ones who were still up and about turned to him with smiles plastered on their faces. He could see their tails wag as they approached him and respectfully welcomed him back home one by one. Once he was finished greeting his pack he allowed his gaze to sweep his camp. It was mostly empty and everything seemed peaceful. Satisfied he was not needed urgently he trotted into his den and curled up in his nest. Now alone and in private he allowed himself to indulge in those lingering memories of his mate, knowing it would be a long while until he saw her again.
