Chapter 1

Bandit, Nightlight and Ava sat on a small hill that looked out across Yellowstone National

Park. The three wolves have been friends for the past year, and together they led astrong pack of fifty-seven wolves. So far they were the largest pack in yellowstone, and owned about five miles of territory.

The elk herds in their lands were big and plentiful,along with a few bison herds. The neighboring pack's weren't as big as theirs, and their territories weren't as big either. Even though they had good land, they didn't dare challenge the pack.

As four months went by, Bandit and Ava started to have feelings for one another, and

soon they began a relationship and became the alpha pair of what they call their pack: The Wild Pack. Since Nightlight had been with them for so long, he was the beta of the pack.

Although since the pack was so big, they had more than just one beta. The other two betas, Cinder and Dangerous were just as loyal to Nightlight as if he was their alpha, and not Bandit or Ava. For Nightlight, it gave him a little more passion for being looked up to.

After all, when he was in his father's pack, he was going to be the next alpha when his

father's time ended. However, Nightlight knew his old packmates too well, and decided to leave and start or join a new pack with unfamiliar faces. He met Ava first, and a month later, Bandit came along.

Soon the three wolves were inseparable, and as the weeks passed, more wolves asked to join them, including Nightlight's brothers Atlas and Solar.

When the brothers noticed that Nightlight didn't want to be with their pack anymore, they decided to follow him in hopes that they could all be apart of a pack together once more.

Nightlight asked Bandit if they could join, and Bandit accepted them, and soon they both were part of the hunting party in the pack. But as the months flew by, Solar became very ill and he didn't seem to be getting better. Nightlight and Atlas hoped that he would get well soon. The sun was setting over the mountains, and the scouts would be patrolling the borders by now.

Ava had her head leaned against Bandit, enjoying the moment with him, as if Nightlight wasn't there at all. Nightlight looked at them both, the tip of his tail flicking as he rose to his paws, turned and padded away down the hill without a word to them both. Ava turned and watched him leave, as she addressed Bandit. "I'm worried about him Bandit, he's been so quiet and distant since you and I began a relationship." Bandit huffed.

"You shouldn't worry about him Ava, he's probably just jealous that you and I are a couple. He'll get over it." Ava looked at him with stern eyes. "Shame on you...you should feel a bit bad that he has no one, and I think that seeing us together makes him feel...I don't know a bit down." Bandit let his tongue loll, as he looked out to the orange sky.

"I suppose you're right about that, but haven't you noticed that one of our pack's females has feelings for him?" Ava thought about it. "You mean Hope, don't you?" she asked. Bandit looked at her with shocked and amused eyes.

"Hope? No, I mean...Pandora. Our newest pack member. One of our patrols. You really think Hope has feelings for him?" Ava sighed. "Yes I do. Matter of fact I know she does. She shows it all too well, and looks at him like he's more than a packmate, but I have a feeling Nightlight doesn't love her in return.

Secondly, I didn't think that Pandora would have feelings for him. She's so loyal and kind and he's so...well he's himself. How did you figure out that Pandora has feelings for him?"

Bandit's mouth curved into a small yet surprised smile. "Because she told me. She asked me for some advice on how to talk to the one you love, and how you would know if they loved you in return. I asked her why she was asking, and she admitted to me her feelings for Nightlight. I told her to trust her instincts and wait for the right moment.

She's smarter than she looks Ava, she can handle it." Ava smiled and nuzzled Bandit's neck. "You're right, you're always right. I love you Bandit." He smiled and wrapped his paw around her. "I love you too Ava, so much."

Nightlight padded through the pack's den sites, looking at his packmates as they talked about the daily news and what was being planned. They turned and tilted their heads in a gesture in respect as he passed them. He smiled and sighed as he made his way to his private hollow.

He turned in a circle before lying down, resting his head on his paws.

Bandit and Ava are so happy together, I wonder what it's like...

Though he had to admit, the whole affair gave him ideas of his own. Seeing how happy Bandit was with Ava, Nightlight wondered if love really did have that happy effect on all wolves.

If love could bring happiness to him. And he began to think about a certain she-wolf who had always plagued his heart. Perhaps, with Pandora by his side, things would become

alright for him. Perhaps, happiness was a reality he could grasp. And he resolved to talk to Pandora about it.

"Nightlight?" he looked up at the speaker. Speaking of the devil, Pandora was standing at the entrance to his sleeping area. Her light yellow eyes glowed slightly. Even with her black and grey fur, Pandora looked like she glowed under the moonlight. Nightlight shook his head and cleared his throat.

"...Hello Pandora. What do you need?"

She bowed her head in respect. "I just wanted to talk to you, that's all." He studied her for a second, carefully eyeing her. Her eyes were calm and blank, and she showed no signs of hostility. He got his large black paws, stretching out his leg muscles and finally shook his soft thick pelt "Very well," he says. "What is it?"

Pandora was silent for a long moment, then after clearing her throat she said, "I would like to discuss it with you, alone. Away from all the ears we have in this pack,"

Nightlight, confused said nothing at first. He raised a brow, questioning what she was planning. "Alright, the river is a good place to talk. C'mon."

She nodded and turned away, they walked to the river in silence, the moon was now

beginning to peak out in the east, and the herds would be bedded down for the night. Once they reached the river, they sat down at the edge.

"Alright Pandora, I'm all ears. What's going on?" Nightlight asked looking at her. Pandora was gazing up at the stars above, before turning her elegant head to look at him. "I know this is gonna sound odd, but I

do believe that...that Hope has feelings for you." She said it with a hint of anger.. Was that jealousy? Nightlight looked dumbstruck. "Hope? You're kidding." He added a soft chuckle. Pandora shook her head, her gaze stern, "I'm serious Nightlight, she shows it all too well. I'm surprised she hasn't said anything to you yet."

Nightlight's tail tip flicked. "It wouldn't really matter anyway; mostly because I don't like her in that way. Sure she's nice, but she's

not the one I love."

Pandora's eyes softened slightly. "Well...is there someone in our pack that you do love?" her question was straight forward. Nightlight hesitated for a brief moment. Then he sighed, looking at the stars for a second, then back to her. "There is someone in our pack yes," he began.

"That one she-wolf who has plagued my heart for a while is...is you. I've always had feelings for you Pandora...but I was so afraid of being rejected by you, so kept it to myself. But...my feelings aren't just like a simple crush.. Pandora I...I think I'm in love with you,"

Pandora said nothing at first, her face showed all kinds of emotions: Happyness, shock and kne he couldn't place. He simply stared back at her, his gaze never leaving her own. But soon a smile formed on her face, she reached up and buried her face into his soft thick neck, her voice a gentle mutter.

"I don't know exactly what I feel for you...but I feel it more strongly for you than anyone else...more than my father...I think I love you too..."

Nightlight's eyes closed and he sighed, gently wrapping his paw around her, he pulled her closer to his chest. "We shouldn't tell Hope about this...I know she'll be heartbroken but Pandora...just know that I'll never forget this moment; and I'll never let you go. That's a promise."

Pandora took a step back and licked his cheek lovingly. "And I promise to be yours. Listen it's late, I have to be up early for a morning patrol, I'll see you tomorrow."

She turned and padded back to the dens, while Nightlight watched her leave. He smiled slightly then looked at the stars and said quietly.

"Mother...I know you're up there watching over me and my brother's. Please watch over her as well. She means the world to me, show her that she isn't alone, and that I'll always be with her; until the end of time."

He said his peace to the stars and walked back to the inner territory. He curled back up in his own private hollow, he wanted to madk sure to let Pandora know the next day that she could sleep with him in his

den from now on, but now a new thought hit him: How was he going to tell Hope? How would she react?

I know one thing, it won't be the reaction I'm hoping for...that I can sense...