Chapter 5: Eternity Isn't Long Enough.

"Nian calm down, he'll be back I promise." Devon was attempting to reassure his alpha. "If your not going to sleep then please just stop pacing, you making me dizzy."

"I'm sorry, I'll try to get some sleep." Nian placed her head on the cold ground and closed her eyes.

Spirit had been gone a day and a half. No one knew where they had gone or if Spirit was still alive, they had all witnessed Mirage's power. Nian eventually cried herself to sleep; she was terrified that he would never come back. Several hours later a tired, panting half wolf spotted the pack. When Nian woke up she could feel fur against her body. She took a glance over her shoulder and was ecstatic to see Spirit sleeping against her.

"Spirit!" she shouted nuzzling against the albino.

Nian's sudden cry had woken almost the entire pack. Spirit opened his eyes slowly and stood up. He knew he wasn't going to get any more sleep today.

"Nian I love you." He woofed as he rubbed himself against her.

"Spirit what happened?" Devon asked, walking towards his alpha.

Once again Spirit found himself explaining how he had survived yet another insane animal. How he had killed another threat to his life. The pack listened in awe of Spirit's story. This was the first time the pack had heard of Spirit's power or his heritage. He had the feeling that some of the pack didn't believe him about Fenrir but no one would say anything, after all he was alpha, his word was law in the pack. Life in the pack was getting back to normal. It was a week after the death of the Mirage when Spirit's life changed again. The pack was skirting a small town careful not to get too close. They stopped a couple minutes away from the town. Nian had decided to explore the area, Spirit didn't really want her to wander off alone but he couldn't stop her. The rest of the pack were enjoying their rest, Spirit however was on edge, he didn't like being so close to humans, especially when he couldn't protect her. He was scared that she would be hurt, or worse. Spirit was snapped from his train of thought. A loud crack cut through the air, Spirit knew it was a gunshot, there was instant panic in the pack, Spirit tried to calm everyone down but it was all in vain, in truth he was more panicked than anyone else. He heard a distant howl of pain; he knew that hunters would soon be looking for the pack.

"Devon lead the pack north, understand?" Spirit shouted to his beta.

"What about you?" The young male replied.

"I'll head them off and lead them east, then I'll meet up with you." Spirit didn't tell anyone the other reason he was leaving.

The pack followed Devon north while Spirit looked for Nian. He searched for ten minutes before he found any trace of another animal. Spirit crouched sniffing the pool of blood, it was Nian's but there was no body. Then he saw the tracks leading away from the pool on the ground.

"She's still alive." He relaxed a little.

He heard growls and foot falls behind him. Gunshots splintered logs and trees as the bullets from the three guns flew past him. The hunting dogs were snapping at his heels as he dodged the gunshots.

He lost the hunters maybe half an hour after the chase began. He was a little injured but nothing major, a few cuts and grazes. He began to make his way back to the pack. Devon had followed Spirit's orders exactly; he had led the pack to a nearby stream. Spirit was less than twenty meters from the others when he caught a familiar scent, what the hell was she up to? Spirit decided to leave the pack for now, they'd be fine without him for a while. He was more interested in what she was up to, at the moment at least. He didn't really know what he would think when he saw her, but she was trespassing in his territory, it was his duty to confront her. It took him nearly an hour to find her, the pack would be worried by now, he started to smell other wolves with her. He was shocked to see her with as many as twenty-five other wolves, he recognized them, they were her pack.

"I can't face a pack on my own." He thought to himself. "I need the others. Aleu what the hell are you doing here?"

Spirit ran to the others as fast as he could, Fenrir had made him stronger but not enough to fight a whole pack. He hoped he wouldn't need to fight but it may be inevitable.

"Devon!" Spirit shouted as he ran towards his pack. The beta walked over to Spirit.

"Spirit what's wrong?" Devon asked.

Spirit scanned the pack looking for Nian before he answered but she wasn't here. "Another pack's entered our territory."

"Right, what are your orders?" Devon was suddenly very mature.

Spirit led the pack to where he had seen Aleu. They had moved on but he could track them. Everyone was on edge; they had never met another pack before.

"Stay here." Spirit ordered before walking slowly towards Aleu's pack.

He was more than a little apprehensive about this. As he walked towards the center of the pack the wolves started to notice his presence.

"I demand to speak with your alpha!" Spirit barked.

He heard her steps as she walked through the line of wolves. His heart ached as he saw her light fur. Their eyes met as she stepped into the center of the circle he was in. Both Spirit and Aleu stared into each other's eyes, he was as surprised as she was when he saw her but for a totally different reason. She immediately looked at the ground to avoid looking in the eyes of the wolves around her.

"Leave us, please." Aleu ordered her pack.

Her pack followed her orders exactly, leaving the two alphas alone. She hadn't turned to look at the pack. Spirit was shocked when she turned back around; he had expected her to be calmer than she was now. He also expected her to be with Sabre.

"Aleu…You have entered our territory… I." He was nervous, anyone could tell just by looking at him.

She turned to face him "I'm sorry Spirit…please forgive me." She was almost begging him, tears dripped from her muzzle as she spoke.

"Al…Aleu calm down, its not that serious." Spirit was confused entering another packs territory wasn't that severe. "It's not that bad, just leave our territory ok."

"I don't care about territory." She said, still sobbing. "I'm sorry… I left you; I never stopped thinking about you Spirit. I… I still love you."

Spirit was shocked at her words he hadn't expected this. Spirit decided he should probably go back to the pack, they would want to know what was going on.

"Listen I need to see my pack, I'll be back I promise." Spirit needed to see if Nian was back, he was worried about her. His mind reeled, he loved Nian but he couldn't deny his feelings for Aleu. After talking to his pack Spirit went back to see Aleu. Their packs were getting along well, too bad they had hardly spoken. He finally decided to talk to Aleu, Nian wasn't coming back, either she was lost or she was dead.

"Spirit, listen I… I'm sorry I hurt you. I know how… how stupid I was." She was still crying.

"So you finally realized what a dick Sabre was." Spirit sounded cruel. "Sorry that was harsh."

"After you left I needed someone, anyone. I was just so scared you were gone." She sounded terrible.

He could tell how sorry she was, it was how he had felt after Arianna was killed.

"Its ok. I don't blame you, I… I know what its like." Spirit nuzzled against Aleu to reassure her. "I missed you so much, I love you."

"You still love me after all I put you through?" She asked.

"Of course, eternity isn't long enough to make me stop loving you." He answered.

Spirit and Aleu walked back to the pack, they loved each other, but would she leave her pack to be with him.

"Listen." Aleu told her pack. "I'm going to leave the pack to be with Spirit. Thank you for helping me."

The pack was sorry to see her leave but they respected her decision. Spirit and Aleu led the pack back south for a week; they were heading back to Nome. Spirit didn't really care where they went, but Aleu wanted to see her parents.

Spirit woke up confused; he had heard someone walking around near the pack. He looked around no one was missing. He suddenly heard a branch snap. Immediately his head jerked towards the noise. He was totally unprepared for what he saw.

"Nian." He whispered. He saw her standing in front of him.

Spirit blinked in surprise. When he opened his eyes she was gone.

"Was she really there, or was it my imagination." He wondered.

He didn't think on this long however. He placed his head back on the soft grass and nuzzled against Aleu. He was asleep as soon as he closed his eyes. He slept better that night than he had in a long time. He was happy, he and Aleu were in love, he was pack alpha and his life was perfect.

"Good morning." Aleu nudged him as she spoke.

"What's up Aleu?" Spirit yawned.

"Nothing just thought you'd want some breakfast." Aleu replied.

After they had eaten, the pack continued the walk to Nome. Spirit was happy to be going somewhere he would be welcomed. Balto and Jenna had always been nice to Spirit and he was a little excited at the prospect of seeing Nome again.

"I love you." Spirit licked Aleu's muzzle as he spoke to her. "Devon, Keep the pack safe."

Spirit and Aleu walked the rest of the distance to Nome alone. As they walked through the streets of Nome many dogs stopped to talk to Aleu. Spirit stopped suddenly as he caught Sabre's scent. His muzzle contorted in anger as he smelt the dog.

"Aleu I'll meet you at your mother's, I've got something to take care of." Spirit said half growling. "Don't worry, I'll be fine." He added.

She was worried about him but she agreed to meet him later. He followed the scent, wanting to "talk" to Sabre. He caught up to Sabre only a couple of streets away.

"Long time no see, dog." Spirit laughed.

Sabre spun round to see who had dared laugh at him. "YOU!"

"Yeah, I see Aleu realized what you are." Spirit was still laughing at the husky.

"What are you doing back?" Sabre growled.

"Me and Aleu are visiting her parents. We'll leave in a couple of days." Spirit responded.

"Oh how cute, the mongrels got back together." This time it was Sabre's turn to laugh.

Spirit decided he had better leave; he didn't want to keep Aleu waiting. The only problem with his plan was that he had only ever been to Jenna's house once. After about a quarter of an hour Spirit accepted that he was lost.

"Dawg. This town's far to big." Spirit thought.

Spirit wandered for another minute before he picked up a familiar scent. He followed the smell to its owner.

"Hey Boris." Spirit barked as he walked up to the goose. Spirit continued. "Ah Boris could you show me how to get to Jenna's?"

The snow goose turned to look at the young dog. "Why you want to see Jenna. I thought you leave Nome and not come back."

"Well when I was in the wild I met up with Aleu, we're back together now." Spirit answered.

"I see, well then I lead you to Jenna's." Boris started to walk into town with Spirit close at his heals.

The two animals walked into the small shed attached to the house. Spirit immediately walked up to Aleu and nuzzled against her. The two dogs told the story of what had happened when they met. Balto, Jenna and Boris listened intently to what they were saying. Spirit and Aleu stayed in Nome for two or three days before they set off back into the wild with the pack. Balto and Jenna were happy that Aleu and Spirit had gotten back together. Both their lives were great now. Neither of them could foresee anything bad in their future. Neither of them could have imagined that the biggest disaster of their lives was still to come.