Chapter 2

The next morning, as the sun was starting to peak over the horizon, Nightlight awoke to the sound of a long deep howl. He knew that howl all too well; and so he stretched, yawned and made his way to Bandit and Ava's sleeping place. When he got there, the whole pack was there with all of their eyes focused on Bandit. The hunters, including his brothers, were sitting in their place at the end of the other groups.

The omegas were in their group on the other side of the hunters. The patrols, including Pandora and Hope were in the middle of the group. The other betas were beside Bandit and Ava on their rock that overlooked the pack.

Nightlight didn't hesitate and made his way up the rock to join Cinder, Dangerous and the alpha pair. "Thank you all for coming. I know this is early for you all, but we have a major problem with the neighboring packs." Bandit began. Nightlight looked at Pandora from his vantage point. She looked worried, but stern amongst the others.

After a moment of silence, Bandit continued, "Apparently, The Haven Field Pack has made an alliance with the Death Keep Pack. Both packs have agreed to make an alliance so powerful to overthrow us and our land. However, they still need the other two pack's to come to an agreement. If we're going to stop this war, we must put a stop to it. Nightlight?"

Startled, Nightlight looked over at his leader. "Yes Alpha?" "I need you to take most of our pack to the hidden forest to claim the collar." Nightlight looked stunned. The collar? Why?" Bandit growled. "Because the collar you're going to get is the lost collar of Zeus. Legends say the collar gave Zeus the power to control all of the yellowstone animals. I need that collar, and you are going to go retrieve it."

Nightlight looked stunned. Did Bandit know that the collar only accepted true Alpha's? Not only that, but the forest where it was located was days away. He wouldn't be able to do it on his own. Hiding his doubt, he sat up straight.

"As you wish Alpha. Who should I take to help me with the journey?" Bandit looked at the pack. "I want Pandora, Hope, Crow, Ashton, Mulch, Sunny, Jasmine and Dagger from the patrol group to go with Nightlight.

And from the hunters I want Atlas, Solar, Lucky, Vince, Moon, Spring, Violet and Sky. You will all treat him with the respect you treat me and the other betas. Any questions?" Nightlight tensed. Bandit was making Solar go even though he was sick.

Why the hell are you making my brothers come? Especially Solar…

Nightlight looked at Atlas from the rock, and it looked like he was thinking the exact same thing. Bandit wasn't expecting any questions, and none came. "Good, you will go now while you still have the chance. You will follow the path outside our territory boundary and follow the stars that form a wolf head at night to the place you need to go. You will find land markers to help lead you. Now go!"

Nightlight jumped off the rock and began to run in the direction of the forest. He could hear the running paws of the sixteen packmates behind him. But his thoughts were everywhere. How was he going to deal with Pandora, and Hope. Not only that, he'd have his sick litter-brother to tend to.

Once they reached the boundary, Nightlight stopped and looked at the long path that led into the mountains. "That's where we have to go, this is going to be a tough journey; but we can do this," He

turned to his packmates. "Are you guys up for it?" They all barked in response. He nodded, and they all started the long journey ahead of them.

The scent of different animals filled Nightlight's nose, and gave him a feeling that he didn't have in a long time. He felt like a pup again, getting to know the new scents in his nose, his mother and litter-mates by his side.

The thought of his mother brought him comfort, but he knew that he wouldn't see her again. He couldn't think of her for too long, he had Pandora to protect, along with his brothers. They were the closest to him, and he couldn't let them down.

If something wants to hurt my brothers and mate, they'll have to go through me first.

The pack stopped running and were now walking; they needed to save their energy in case they needed to do hunts or protect each other. Nightlight was in front; a er all the beta was second in command of a pack, so the wolves had to treat him like an alpha. "So um...Nightlight, I know that this journey will be painstaking, but how will we know if this "collar" is even real like Bandit says?" Atlas calls.

Nightlight looked over his shoulder.

Careful brother, you wouldn't call me Nightlight if Bandit was around...

"I don't know Atlas, but I trust Bandit...and you all should too; a er all, he is your alpha. Make sure you don't forget that." "That's true, but to be honest I'd rather have you as my leader than Bandit. Night, you're not as harsh as he is, and he doesn't talk to us like he does Ava. All he has is this coldness and dark hostility in his voice. And to take it up a notch, most of us fear him. Plus, he forced Solar to come with us! And we know he's sick!" Atlas says.

Nightlight turned his head back around to look at the landscape. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. His brother would rather have him as his leader than Bandit? If only Bandit had heard that come from his mouth.

The pack all gazed at Solar. The skinny male was keeping himself distant from the others, tiredness was all you could see in his eyes. "Wait...so Bandit is making Solar come with us? Didn't he know that you were sick?" Sunny asks. Solar just nodded.

"Honestly, I agree with your brother Nightlight. Bandit is harsh and sometimes he's just downright cruel." Mulch says. "And he makes sure we hardly leave any food for the omegas of our pack. We all know that. Most of them are practically starving." Ashton says.

"I think we all agree with Atlas, Nightlight. Bandit doesn't care about anyone...but Ava. In fact, if it wasn't for Ava, Bandit would be treating us all like shit. And that includes you."

Moon says. Everyone around him was murmuring agreements, it was like he was lost in his own dream. "What I don't understand is that he made Solar come with us...and we all know that he's very, very ill." Vince says. "I'll be fine you guys...you don't have to worry about me." Solar called in a raspy voice. Nightlight tensed with anger and sadness.

How could Bandit make him come? He shouldn't have forced him to go. What kind of Alpha sends a sick pack member?

But he couldn't turn back now, or else it would make Bandit pissed.

"Well, I don't know what to say to you guys, all I know is that I try to be the best at being beta; I didn't think I could've lasted this long, but I have. Anyway, let's not focus on that, we need to get to that hidden forest, and retrieve that collar." Nightlight says.

The pack exchanged glances, but kept silent. As the sun reached the middle of the sky, they reached the mountains. Nightlight found a cave in one of the mountain sides; it smelled like nothing had claimed it. "We can use this to rest for now. We'll continue in 2 days,

however…" He turned around. "I'm going to need a few wolves to scout this area. See if you can find food and water." Crow stepped forward, the dark males tail swished slightly. "Count me in."

Ashton and Mulch stepped forward. "Sign us up. Besides, it'll give us some time to get to know this area." Mulch says. Nightlight nodded and the three males left their makeshift camp

A few days had passed, Nightlight and the pack were lying down and resting while Ashton, Mulch and Crow were out patrolling. Nightlight was laying under the shade of the cave entrance, shielding himself from the sun's heat. As he was gazing at his pack, Hope got up from where she was sitting and made her way over to him.

Great...what the hell does she want?

"Hey Nightlight? Can I talk to you? Alone?" Nightlight looked confused. "Uh...sure Hope.

We can talk in the cave." Hope smiled, and as she passed him, she waved her tail in his face..Pandora's face twisted in jealousy as she watched them disappear inside the cave. They sat down together, and Hope began to speak,

"Nightlight, you're a great wolf with an even greater heart. I have never met anyone like you before." She paused, and took a deep breath. "I...I...uh, care about you...alot actually,"

Nightlight just smiled at her. " I care about you too, Hope. You're a good friend." he says. Hope smiled more. "No, I mean...more than just a friend." Nightlight's smile faltered. "...Oh…" Hope looked at him with so eyes now.

"I don't think I've cared more about anyone as much as I do for you." Nightlight just sat there, lost for words. "Hope, I don't know what to say..." he says. Hope started nuzzling his chest. "Say you feel the same and I'll be happy."

Nightlight backed away and came to his senses. "Hope, I do care about you. But...not like that." Hope looked confused. "What?" " You've always been a wonderful packmate to me and everyone else, and I love you for that, but I...I can't hurt Pandora.

She is my mate now...I'm sorry but...I just can't." Nightlight looked at her with a sad expression. Hope looked hurt. Then her face turned into an enraged snarl.

"I see…" she growls. Nightlight looked at her startled, but before he could say anything Hope ran out of the cave and pounced head on with Pandora. Nightlight was shocked at what he just witnessed, but anger flooded over him as he charged out of the cave.

Pandora was on her back, trying to defend herself, her teeth bared and a threatening growl came from her throat. Sunny and Dagger managed to pull Hope off of Pandora, and were struggling to pin her down. "You?! Out of all the damn females in the whole fucking pack, he had to choose you?! How could you?! You stole him from me you arrogant mutt!!"

Hope howled, hate and jealousy in her eyes.

Nightlight rushed to Pandora's side. He licked her cheek to comfort her. "Pandora? Are you-" "I'm fine Nightlight." She nodded and stood up. Nightlight turned angrily on Hope, "What in the fresh hell is wrong with you Hope?! That was completely uncalled for!!" He snarled.

Hope managed to break free from under Sunny and Dagger. Her voice was hard and unforgiving, "I did it because she doesn't

deserve anyone! Not even you. I'm better than her, and you know that as well as I do.

Besides, I know you're lying to me. You don't love her! She is useless, and doesn't do anything right. She's pathetic!" she snarled.

At those words, everything around Nightlight was gone. Instead, it was taken over by pure rage. With an enraged snarl, and drool spilling from his open jaws, he pounced on Hope so quickly that everyone hardly saw it.

He began biting and scratching at her ears and face. Hope howled in pain and shock as she tried and struggled to get out from under him. Everyone watched with their tails tightly tucked between their legs.

Hope's howls began to be a series of agonizing yelps. Nightlight slammed his front paw on her head, crushing her down into the rocky earth. Pandora wanted to cover her ears.

Stop, she wanted to say. It wasn't that big of a deal.

Nightlight grabbed Hope's left ear in his teeth and ripped it clean off. The smell of blood quickly filled the air, but Nightlight continued his savage assault on Hope.

Pandora couldn't believe what she was watching. She never saw Nightlight this furious, and seeing him this enraged was scary.

Nightlight grabbed one of Hope's hind legs and shook his large head, breaking the bone like a twig. Hope continued to howl in pain as she tried and failed to defend herself. But Nightlight wasn't done.

He grabbed her throat in his jaws, his teeth sinking deep into her skin as he began shaking her back and forth like a rat. Blood and fur flew everywhere, as well as the sound of those horrifying yelps and screams. The pack all watched this, making no movement to stop him.

Pandora however, couldn't stand seeing Hope struggle anymore. With a last effort, and mainly afraid that Nightlight was going to kill her, she bounded toward her struggling packmate, but Atlas from the other side barked at her and gave her a warning glare, she came to a shocking halt. She was sure she didn't imagine the so ness in his eyes.

He doesn't want me to get hurt. He's protecting me!

Trembling, Pandora stepped back and watched. It felt like hours before Nightlight finally clouded Hope on the head and backed away snarling softly. He had blood dripping from his muzzle, his teeth bloodstained.

Hope rolled onto her belly, and tried to crawl away but she could only flopp as a high pitched whimper came from her mouth, and with a broken leg, it didn't make it any easier.

Everyone watched Hope struggle, but none of them moved to help her. Her fur was cut and torn with multiple wounds, and the smell of blood was thick in the air.

"You…" growled Nightlight at the cringing wounded wolf. "Are lucky I didn't do anything more than that. You are also not allowed to talk or come near Pandora or me." "But Nightlight…" Hope's whisper was barely audible.

"And sense you feel inclined to argue with me, you are not allowed to come on the trip with us anymore. You can stay here at this cave until you heal, and then make your way back to our pack's territory. And don't even think about following us either. If I ever see your pathetic face again, I'll kill you…" he said the last sentence darkly.

Hope struggled to li her haunches, visibly submissive with her only good leg. Nightlight turned to the pack, licking his muzzle that was stained and dripping from the blood. "Let's go." he walked past Hope, shoving her to the side.

While the others followed, Dagger stopped and turned to Hope. "You did this to yourself. You shouldn't have talked back like that or attacked Pandora. We'll be better off without you." he snarled quietly and continued to join the others.