Disclaimers on everything that I don't own.

By Winterwing3000

-Snippet Four

"Until Yuujin-sama of the Black Wolf takes me as his mate, I shall take the place as pack leader. I have also decided that Kouga-sama of the Brown Wolf should advise me till then. Are there any objections?" Ayame declared, her voice firm as she announced this above all the wolves, who gathered at the base of the mountain. Few words were spoken and it was a while before an old black wolf raised his hand. Ayame turned her attention to him.

"What is your question, ancient one of the black?"

"I wish to understand why you choose Kouga as your advisor rather than your mate. Would it not be better arranged if you had one who is soon to be bounded to your rather than the one who discarded his duty to his pack?" he said, stepping forward to be confronted.

"Your question is wise, elder, and I would like to say that I've chosen Kouga for a very good reason. Yes, he has discarded his pride and duty as a pack leader over the past four years. However, he has earned my respect and admiration as he honorably went head on to extract revenge for our fallen comrades. And his pack has remained strong and loyal to the Whilte Wolf, so our alliance is stronger. And if I may say… I believe that Kouga-sama would lead me down the path as a leader with his many years of experience. As I have heard, Yuujin-sama has only gained the title as head of the pack recently." She explained, looking over to Kouga to have his reassurance.

The raven head wolf nodded, and she turned back to see that the elder has accepted her brief explanation but another wolf—a brown she-wolf—stood up with a question. At first sight, Ayame didn't really like her. Her eyes were too sharp and filled with a 'mischievous' glint. "Yes?"

"Did you also choose Kouga-sama because you were previously promised to him but now given to another and wished that Yuujin-sama would give up on you so that you are able to reclaim Kouga-sama?" she said innocently, those narrow eyes of her sparking.

Ayame frowned. There were very few who knew of her earlier arrangement with Kouga and it was mainly the Elders and the pack leaders. No common wolf should've known about this… so how did she know?

Chewing her lower lip, Ayame dared not to glance to her right where her ex-fiancée stood, almost as tense and rigid as she was. "…What is your name?" she asked sharply, trying to regain her earlier confidence.

"Iena, Ayame-sama." Iena said almost mockingly.

"Iena… meet me at my den. Anyone else with questions about my authority and decisions? I wish to settle all doubts before this meeting will be adjourned." Ayame looked over the people and when dead silence came as her answer. She closed the discussion and headed back into her den, Kouga following with Iena.

She sat down on the fur covered ground and gestured for Iena to sit. The flaunting wolf sat down and Kouga had chosen to lean against the wall, cross-examining Iena. Sighing inwardly, Ayame proceeded with her interrogation, hoping that all her past, bottled emotions would remain buried until the end of the day. It was painful and difficult to suppress these emotions, and breaking down in front of them would leave a very bad impression as her being as a pack leader.

"Iena… why did you ask suck a question? And where did you hear such a thing that Kouga-sama and I had been previously engaged?"

"Hmm… just some rumors here and there. And I was just curious if you were still interested in Kouga-sama. if not, I wish to pursue him as a mate." She said shyly, her narrow eyes darting to the male adjacent to her. Ayame thought she saw him blanched.

Ayame's evergreen orbs widened for a fraction before closing off completely. "Is that so?" she muttered, nearly inaudibly. "Very well. I hoped that you'll heed my warning. There was an agreement. However, please keep silent on the subject. Should I hear another peep of this, I would not hesitate to have you exiled or worse executed. Understand?" Ayame said pressingly, staring expectantly at Iena.

"Hai, Ayame-sama." Iena bowed and looked suggestively at Kouga. "Kouga-sama… have a good day. I hope to see you sometime."

Ayame held back a small chuckle as Kouga swallowed a lump in his throat and forced a reply. "Aa…"

Iena's tail swayed from side to side, her hips rolling. Ayame sneaked a glance at Kouga and saw a look of disgust on his handsome face. "She seems very interested in you…. Doesn't she?" Ayame said dryly. Kouga held onto silence then sat down, thinking.

The silence was overwhelming as her latest conversations brought up past memories. Her dutiful journey, both gave her hopeful and eager feelings, to find Kouga. Her next two days away from the mountains, meeting new people and developing a much, much deeper emotion toward her childhood savior. Even after more than two years of never seeing him that emotion remained, filling her heart and constantly gave her the will to carry on with her difficult life in the mountains. All the durable trials she went through dragged her down and down, but somehow just remembering him revived her liveliness and pushed her on.

"Why…? Why did you tell her to secret our… previous engagement?" Kouga suddenly asked, bringing Ayame's attention to him.

"I guess… well, you'll be happy to be a wolf free of promises and find yourself a beautiful mate and sire many strong and intelligent pups. After all, you wouldn't want a childish and rowdy wolf princess, who's now already promised to another. You made yourself clear… and I'll have no regrets, letting you go." She concluded, staring reminiscently to the opening of the cave.

Kouga gave her a doubtful look and returned his attention to the ground, processing all her words in his head. "No regrets… huh?"

Ayame was working alongside her pack's healer, ending to the younger pups and some of the rapidly recovering wolves. The other women were preparing large fires to prepare their supper, most of the young males went hunting, hoping to catch enough game to last for three days.

The Black and Brown wolves remained at the mountains since it was in less that four sunsets she would bring the Black and White wolves together. Even though she knew that her only way to break away from her engagement with Yuujin was only to have one stronger and brave enough to challenge him. And the only one she could think of was the Brown Wolf Prince. But Ayame knew that that thought alone was impossible. She already released Kouga from any obligation to her.

"It was for the best for her clan, and his happiness." She repeated in her mind. "And Kouga made it clear that she wasn't what he wanted as a mate." Somehow that thought hurt her mind and tugged harshly on her heart.

"Ayame-sama! Ayame-sama!" the red-head's sharp ears perked up. This was getting old, she chuckled wryly in her mind.

Ginat and Hakkaku rant to her, panting heavily, their scents covered with bear. "Ayame-sama! Come quick! It's Kouga!" they said frantically, pointing in the direction that they came from. Brows furrowed, the wolf leader looked toward the area where Kouga was said to be. She didn't need to sprint to his defense because every time she tired to help him, he ended up getting himself out of it.

Her eyes caught sight of a large crowd. Immediately, she thought of the worse and bolted toward them, jumping into the center of the crowd with a summersault in the air. All the ruckus became silent and Ayame focused her attention on the two other tribal leaders facing each other with fierce expressions.

Kouga say Ayame out of the corners of his eyes and grinned at Yuujin. "Good, she's here. So how about it, are you going to accept my challenge?" he said arrogantly.

"What! What challenge! For what!" Ayame said, confused.

"Fine, I accept your challenge. Defeat me and you'll have Ayame as your mate. But should I win, you hand your pack over to me and step down from your pedestal." Yuujin returned confidently, both males ignoring Ayame, whose mind veered back and eyes wide as saucers.

AN: Cliffhanger! Mwaha! Thanks for sticking with me! And thanks to Beatrix B., ShadowVixen, Neveah Azalea, punkAmaya and wolfcries!