Hello all! So sorry for the late update, all of the places I usually go to update are closed. I'm managing to update from my phone, not used to that ^^" Anyway, thanks for all the reviews, I do read every one of them. As for the question about male healers in jackal society, that is left to the women. The male's job is to protect the pack. And as for bearing pups, that's not something they're involved in other than being the father. It is considered inappropriate for them to be so close to the females in that way. It is also to protect the pups.

As for the ranking order, it is the Alpha and his female, and everyone else falls beneath them.


Kane woke the next morning. He was worried about Spade. He didn't see his friend at all after the incident at lunch yesterday. He wanted to go check on him.

Usually he went to see Lilly first to get ready for the day. But today he felt he needed to see Spade first.

He got out from under the blankets and used the bathroom. He didn't bother fixing his knot of hair though. It was always a mess every morning. He was a heavy sleeper.

He hurried out and down the hallway to Spade and his parents' room.


Rapidly, Kane knocked on the door to their bedroom.

Tempest opened it, "Kane?" She asked. "Is everything ok?"

"Spade?"

"He's still really upset right now." She said gently. Neither she or Jay had been able to get him to get out of bed this morning. He'd just been crying for most of the night, and the morning.

Kane's ears fell back. "I'm sorry," he mumbled.

"It's not your fault," she said with finality. "He's just really overwhelmed right now." She glanced over her shoulder, Jay was sitting in their son's bed, trying to calm him. It wasn't working. She bit her lip, maybe Kane could help. "Why don't you see if you can help him feel better?" She suggested with a small smile.

He nodded, eager to help his friend.

The pup padded into the room. It was dark except for a small lamp on an end table. "Spade?" He asked carefully.

The other boy was curled under his blankets, crying.

Jay stood when he saw Kane. The gray jackal looked up at him, then walked over to his friend.

"Spade?" He asked while nudging his shoulder, "Spade? Are you ok?"

He stiffened. "No." His voice was tired and far away sounding.

"I'm sorry," he apologized and lifted a corner of Spade's blanket to look at his friend's face.

Spade pulled the blankets back over him, "leave me alone."

"I can't," Kane said and lifted the blankets again, "you're my friend. I can't let you go through this alone."

Spade stayed silent.

"You helped me when I was sad."

"That's different," he hiccuped.

"No it's not. You just found out your uncle killed your brother. That's just as big a deal as what my father did to me." He put his hand on his chest, "that hurts deep inside. And it's hard to get back to being you. I still don't feel like me, I don't think I ever knew how. But you do. I want you to be you again. You're my best friend." His own eyes filled with tears, "and I miss you."

He sniffled and sat up, looking at his friend with tears in his eyes. "Thank you." He wiped his face, "I know you don't like hugs, but do you mind? Just this once?"

Kane answered by wrapping his arms around him.

Spade buried his face in Kane's neck. He sniffled as he hugged tight. "Thanks for being my friend."


"Finn?" Anahi asked as she approached him, "it's been a while."

He turned to face her. Memories overwhelmed him at the sight of her. Bella's old healer.

She smiled softly, "how are you doing?" Her voice was sincere.

He scoffed, "how do you think I'm doing?"

Her hand rested on his arm, "I know you are very hurt about a lot of things. Bella, your childhood, and now your sister."

"I can't help but feel what happened to Keelie was my fault." He dipped his head to look at the floor.

"What happened to Keelie was her choice. She chose to do it. That doesn't make it any easier."

His eyes met hers, "do you think she's happy now?"

"I don't know. She wasn't able to cope with the trauma in her life. She tried, but sometimes it's too much for some people. But she was one of them. A casualty to her experiences. I do know this, she isn't suffering anymore."

He sighed. "I guess not."

She patted his hand in a silent reassurance.

"Finn?" Gaia asked while coming into the room. She smiled when she saw him, "there you are."

Anahi turned to see the wolf who had entered. She sniffed lightly, picking up on the fact that she smelled like him. "You are with a wolf too?" She asked him.

He nodded.

Anahi muttered something under her breath, but she didn't say anything negative to them. She gave Gaia a light smile, "well, I'll leave you two alone."


"Anahi," Pierce said as he met her in the hallway.

"Hello Pierce."

"Are you busy?" He asked.

"I was on my way to meet Kinnley, but for you alpha, I will always make time." She smiled knowingly, waiting for him to say he was coming back with her when she left.

"About the pack," he said quietly. "Can I go back with you?"

Her smile widened, "of course. The girls will be so happy to see you again." She took his hands, "you are doing a wonderful thing. Thank you."

He smiled. "Thank you for coming to help Keelie, even though things ended so badly." A soft sadness rested on his face.

She shared the sentiment, "Keelie will live on, in your hearts. In her family. Her memory. These things happen. No one likes them, but they do."

Pierce nodded. "You are going to meet Kinnley for learning to heal?" He asked.

"Not healing, you know there are no male healers. He's chosen to stay in this modern society, and I am simply helping him to learn how to help other jackals who want to join them."

A frown, "he has never said he wanted to stay with non-jackals, he could go back with us."

"He's chosen a chipmunk as his mate, and that alone keeps him from being part of our pack. I hold no ill will for him, or her, but that is the way things are. You know this." She looked at him with slight confusion.

"I guess I just do not want to never see my family again." He looked down at their still joined hands, "would it be alright if my mother came back with us?"

"Of course she can. It would be an honor for Taja to be part of your pack."

He smiled, "I will let her know. When will we depart?"

"One week."

He dipped his head in respect and went to see his mother.


"I'm so sorry baby," Lilly whispered as she rubbed Ace's back.

He was in her lap, holding onto her shoulders. He'd cried quite a bit for his mother and she had too. His forehead rested against hers and she could see the anguish in his eyes.

"I wish I'd told her I forgave her," he mumbled.

She gave him a soft kiss, "I know."

"She was just so difficult to be around. There were even times I wished she wasn't my mother. I feel so awful for ever thinking those things."

"I know she didn't make it easy for you to love her, but you did. Deep inside of you. And I think she knew that. She knew you. You're her little boy." She gently moved his hair from his face. "She took care of you as you grew up. She loved you in the only way she knew how. But she let all the things she suffered destroy her, and that is not your fault."

"If I wasn't here, if she hadn't been forced to have me, she would've been happy. She would've been happy with papa and they..."

Lilly silenced him by placing a finger against his lips, "you don't know what would've happened. She may have still met the same end. So don't ever wish your life away. You have people that love you," a soft smile spread on her face, "like me."

"Thanks Lilly." He blinked back tears, "you're amazing. You know that?"

The albino's face flushed, "I don't know about that."

"You are. Despite all the things you go through, you're always there for me, and Kane. And there's nothing more attractive to me than that." His hands softly held her waist, and he kissed her.


Maybree grinned to herself as she made her way down the quiet halls. It was late evening, most everyone was getting ready for bed. Not her though, she was getting ready to meet Trojan.

She was proud of herself that she'd managed to avoid her papa, so he hadn't been able to have that discussion with her.

"Where are you going?" A voice startled her as she started to open the door.

She whirled around to see Spade and Kane staring at her. "Nowhere," she hissed. "Now go to bed, it's late."

"If it's late for me it's late for you," Spade stated while folding his arms.

"Aren't mom and dad wondering where you are?"

"They're asleep."

She raised a brow and rested her hands on her hips.

He waved her off, "I'm staying with Kane tonight. We're having a sleepover."

The blonde glanced at Kane. He nodded. She huffed, blowing her bangs from her face. "Well you two should probably get back to Kane's room. It's time for little boys to be in bed."

Kane just blinked. She frowned, Kane could be somewhat unsettling. Especially with his eye being messed up so badly.

"No it's not," Spade said firmly. "If it's not too late for you it's not too late for us. So, where are you going?"

Her phone dinged with a text message. She sighed again, Trojan was probably wondering where she was.

"Is it that guy who you're meeting?" Kane asked.

"How did you know that?" She snapped.

He flinched as she stepped closer to him. "Leave him alone," Spade protested. "You're scaring him."

"Look, What I'm doing isn't any of your business, either of you." Her blue eyes glared at the gray pup. Then she turned back to Spade, "just go back to Kane's room."

"I'm telling mom," he challenged.

"You better not," she hissed.

"Unless you let us come with you," he smirked.

"Like heck you two are coming with me."

"Then I'm telling mom." He turned and headed towards their parents' room.

She grabbed his arm, "Spade no."

He grinned, knowing he'd gotten her.

"Can we just go get some cookies like we were planning?" Kane asked.

The other boy sighed, "fine." He looked at Maybree, "can you get us chocolate milk too?"

"Only if you promise not to tell mom."

He grinned, "deal." The two boys hurried down the hall towards the cafeteria.

She sighed and pulled out her phone as she followed them. Quickly, she sent Trojan a text to let him know she would be late. She had a situation to take care of first.


Spade bounced on his toes as Maybree rustled through the cabinet for the tin of cookies.

Kane was eager too, but a bit more reserved in his excitement. He watched, his tail wagged lightly twice.

"Here we go," She announced as she produced the snack.

Her little brother held the tin to his chest as she returned to the cabinet. Kane looked over his shoulder, wanting to lift the lid and eat them now. Spade pushed his hand away, "wait for the chocolate milk."

He pouted, tail flicking in annoyance. But he kept silent.

"Don't be fighting over them now," Maybree teased as she pulled out a bag of potato chips and a couple of glasses. Then she went to the refrigerator and produced a half gallon of milk and a bottle of chocolate syrup. Hershey's.

Spade sniffed eagerly. "The good stuff," he grinned.

The rest of the snacks were placed in his arms on top of the cookie tin. "Make sure you share all that," Maybree said while pointing a finger at him.

He nodded, but clutched the cookie tin a little tighter.

She went to close the refrigerator and Kane looked in. He grabbed the door, "what's that?" He pointed to a plastic tub with yellow goo in it.

"Oh, that's cheese dip," she responded. "Did you want some?" Before he could answer though, she was getting it out, along with a spoon and bowl.

He followed her over to the counter and watched her spoon out a generous amount of the thick cheese. Then she put it in the microwave. "It's best warm," she informed him while getting out some corn chips.

By now he could smell it. He sniffed the air, wanting to try this cheese dip. He stood on his tiptoes as she grabbed a towel to get the bowl out. She held the bowl where he could reach it and handed him a chip. "Here."

He took it and dipped a small amount. Cautiously, he put in his mouth. His good eye widened in delight and he stuck another chip in the bowl, eating that one too.

Maybree smiled and handed him both the dip, and the chip bag. "Now you boys try to stay out of trouble tonight."

Spade grinned, "no problem May, I'm always on my best behavior."

She laughed. "Sure you are."