Thank BG-13 :)

Korra's POV

I was out patrolling with Iroh and Lin. The attacks on both humans and wolves had increased a lot in the past few days. Asami and I had been hanging out very little after she attacked me. That was mostly due to the fact Iroh had me running patrols all night and I was too exhausted to visit her. At least, that's what I told myself. I knew the real reason was because I felt hurt, betrayed.

When I did have a small break I would go and check up on Mako. I knew I shouldn't but…I was concerned for him. I had to make sure he was okay.

As we were finishing our patrol we heard commotion in the woods and quietly went to check it out. I held back a growl at the sight that greeted us.

One of the neighboring wolves was tied up and being electrocuted by a group of Hunters. My eyes widened slightly when I spotted Asami and her father among them. She looked uncomfortable, as if she didn't want to be there at all, like she didnt want to watch the wolf being tortured. Maybe it was because it reminded her of what she had done to me.

'What are we going to do?' I finally asked, still watching Asami.

'We attack,' Iroh replied, readying himself. I could feel the hatred rolling off the black wolf.

Just as a Hunter was going to deliver a fatal blow on the bound wolf we launched ourselves forward and attacked. They went to get their guns but we made sure to destroy all the weapons, crushing them between our teeth and making the Hunters run for their lives.

Iroh had decided to go after them while Lin and I helped untie the wolf. I was doing fine until I saw what Iroh was chasing.

I didn't think. I just reacted as I immediately took off in his direction. Lin barked at me, asking me to stay but I couldn't. The wolf would be fine, he didn't need me anymore but someone else did.

I saw Asami running toward me and I jumped over her, landing between her and Iroh. He snarled at me, baring his teeth, but I stayed between him and his prey. This only served to p*iss him off.

'Get out of my way Korra,' he ordered, his voice a dangerous rumble in his chest.

'No. I won't let you hurt her.' If he wanted to hurt Asami he'd have to go through me first, and I wouldn't go down without a fight.

He snarled again, his eyes narrowing. 'Why are you defending a Hunter?' he asked. 'Theyre the ones that killed your parents. They deserve to die.'

'Asami isn't like them,' I countered.

Iroh tilted his head. 'You know her?" he asked, his voice a fierce growl. I looked over my shoulder at the girl who was on the ground, shaking. She looked terrified.

'Yes,' I answered, looking back at him. 'She's my best friend.' My voice was strong, resolute, like what I'd said was a law that couldn't be challenged.

The large wolf snarled at me just as Lin joined us. 'Let him take care of her,' she said to me, revealing her thoughts about the day Asami had attacked me.

'You protect a Hunter that tried to kill you?' he asked in disbelief.

'It was-' I didn't get a chance to finish.

Iroh launched himself at me, his teeth digging into my fur. I held back a yelp and started to bite him back. We rolled around the clearing, snapping and clawing at each other in a blur of teeth and claws. I went down after his sharp canines dug into my shoulder and he slammed me down into the ground. He huffed at me before he started towards Asami.

The girl looked away, fearing what might happen. I wouldnt let it happen. My teeth dug into Iroh's hind leg and I pulled him away from her, causing him to yelp.

I needed to end this fight. I shut my jaw tighter on his leg and threw him across the clearing. He landed with a thud before struggling to get up, looking darkly at me and snapping at me but not attacking again.

'Stand aside,' he growled, taking a threatening step forward.

I didn't reply, just stood protectively in front of my best friend. 'You won't hurt her,' I growled back, making my voice sound powerful. He snarled again before backing away and running back into the forest, visibly limping.

I made sure he was gone before I turned my attention to Asami, trotting over to see if she was hurt. She stared at me for a moment before patting my head and then hugging me tightly around the neck. "Thank you," my best friend whispered.

I noticed Lin watching me, asking me to come with her. I knew what was coming. I had defied the order of an Alpha and we all knew what that meant: a fight for leadership of the pack. I didn't want to lead the pack, but I couldn't take back my actions. I didnt have a choice. I would have to fight Iroh.

Iroh's POV

Korra crossed the line. How dare she defend those murders! They had been slaughtering our kind for centuries, her parents included yet she would defend them. I'd had it with the little brat. I was going to put her in her place once and for all.

By the time I had reached the island I was fully healed and ready to fight. I called upon all the wolves to be present. A lesson needed to be learned here, and then everyone would see who the true Alpha really was.

Finally, after a few minutes, Korra and Lin arrived. The white wolf sat with the others and I let a low growl escape me. I had enough of her getting through my loopholes. If she wanted to lead them she would have to fight me. I wouldn't step down so that she could protect those Hunters. It was not going to happen.

'You betrayed us,' I spat.

'Asami isn't dangerous,' she answered. 'She isn't like the others.'

'She tried to kill you!'

The white wolf flinched at this. 'It's more complicated than that.'

'You may volunteer yourself as those Hunters' lap dog but I won't tolerate that kind of behavior in my pack,' I said. 'You will stop seeing her and you will kill her if the chance ever arises again,' I ordered, towering over her and meeting her gaze with a glare.

Korra shook her head, standing up. 'I won't hurt an innocent person,' she replied. 'You hate what you don't understand. I've known her for years. Her family background isn't a reason to judge her. She saved my life.'

'And decided to stab you in the back,' I shot at her. 'She's dangerous. You are endangering the pack if she knows about you.'

'She's known about me for years!' Korra yelled.

My ears twitched. 'What?' The girl lowered her head. 'How long have you really been gone?' She whined, suddenly avoiding my gaze. 'Answer me!'

'Five years.'

I let out a snarl before looking at the other wolves. 'You see? She prefers Hunters over her own kind,' I told them. 'She saved the life of a Hunter, one that tried to kill her.' The wolves lowered their heads, looking at her with varying emotions. I returned my gaze to Korra. 'What a loyal guard dog you are.' She snarled at that. 'Do you belong to a hunting party now Korra?'

'You can cut the crap, Iroh," Korra answered. 'I know what you want. Ever since I got back you've been looking for an excuse to fight me. Now you have it.'

I bared my teeth at her. 'It's treason.'

'Bullshit.'

I let out a loud snarl. 'You challenged my authority,' I said. 'Now we will fight. Till death.'

Korra let out a growl before heading towards me. We circled each other, baring our teeth. I was going to enjoy mopping the floor with her. The younger wolf launched herself at me and I did the same, colliding with each other. I snapped at her and she did the same, none of our mouths made contact and we backed away.

I let out a growl as I realized she was holding back. She probably thought she would hurt me. I scoffed at the idea. The only one that was going to get hurt in this match was her. I had been waiting for this moment for three hundred years. I launched myself at her, aiming for her neck but she saw the attack coming and pushed me off her with her hind legs.

'Your father would be disappointed,' I began. 'You're not even half the wolf he was. Him I respected, you…' I trailed off as I saw her bare her teeth at me. I was getting under her skin, making her lose her temper.

'Don't go there, Iroh,' she growled.

I inwardly grinned, so I had struck a nerve. 'Come on, Korra,' I continued. 'Who are you lying to? We all know why you left. You're still that scared four year old we found; the little girl who cried out for Mommy and Daddy.'

Korra let out a snarl before launching herself at me. I grinned and did the same. We rolled around, snapping at each other's fur, trying to sink my fangs into her. My teeth clasped onto her paw and she let out a yelp before limping away. I licked my muzzle and laughed.

'So you do have some fight in you. I thought this was going to be easy.'

'Don't push your luck,' she answered in a snarl. I knew if I kept pushing she would get sloppy, and then I could take her down with ease.

'I thought you loved your parents, Korra,' I taunted. 'But now I see you never did. You might as well have held the bow that killed them both since you're such a Hunter lover.'

I didn't even see her run toward me. The next thing I knew I was flat on my back, a white wolf towering over me, snarling and snapping at my neck. It took all my strength to push her away and all four of my paws. Her assault didn't end there though. She dug her fangs into my leg as well, only letting go when I dug my own fangs into the scruff of her neck and threw her against the trees.

The force of the impact had been so great that the tree snapped in half and trapped her under it the trunk. Korra whined and tried to get up but it was too heavy for her. I slowly made my way to her, knowing this fight was over. I ran towards her and grabbed her by the neck again, tight enough to make her bleed and briskly dragged her from under the tree. Korra cried out at this and tried to fight my hold but I had my jaw set on her. Any tighter and I wouldve punctured her windpipe. But I wasnt done with her yet.

I continued to throw her against the trees before finally releasing her. She morphed back into her human form, letting out a scream due to the pain she was in. She sounded like a wounded animal and I noticed a few wolves flinched at the sound.

I swiped my paw at her and she was tossed into another tree like a rag doll, her side now bleeding from my claw marks. Korra cried out again before trying to crawl away. The other wolves got up, ready to intervene but I ordered them to stay where they were. I slowly walked towards her, ready to deliver the final blow when a reddish wolf suddenly cut me off.

'Katara?' I asked. She hadn't morphed in almost forty years.

'How dare you?' she growled standing tall. I yelped as I was forced to bow by the power in her voice.

'She challenged my authority!' I defended.

'Do you hate her so much that you would kill her?' Katara continued.

'She needed to be taught a lesson.'

'As far as I'm concerned, the only one who needs to be taught a lesson about where their place lies in this pack is you,' the wolf growled defensively. 'Don't forget who in the pack is the true Alpha. You're nothing but the next best choice.'

I had never seen Katara so furious. It was a scary sight to behold. But I would not be belittled in front of my pack. Especially, not in front of that little screw up.

'Always protecting your favorite,' I snapped, my tone furious and outraged.

The red wolf snarled at me readying itself to finish the fight. She might have if it wasn't for Korra's pained whimpering that snapped her attention away from me. "Katara," she called. I looked over and saw that Tenzin already had her in his arms, covered in a blanket, her wounds already healing. The old wolf trotted over and whined, licking her face affectionately like a mother does to her pup.

I growled again. Katara turned her attention towards me. 'I'm warning you, Iroh, if you ever hurt Korra again I'll snap your neck myself.'

With those words the elder, her son, and the brat left. I let out a long snarl afterwards, feeling like I'd been made a fool of.

One day though, Katara wouldn't be there to intervene. And that was the day I'd finish teaching the Hunter lover a lesson.