Hey guys! Here is chapter 4! It's the longest one yet at a little over 2,700 words... There is a little bit of a time skip in this chapter, as noted by the ages in bold at the beginning of the chapter. It's about 4 weeks time difference...

S/O to L.M.T.O.P! Yes, it's about time Olena put Aleksandor's ass in his place. And I'll try my best to keep Rose as adorable as she is.

Anywho, darlings, here is chapter 4! Enjoy!

~DA2014

Meet Me In The Moonlight

Chapter 4

Olena's pups are now 8 weeks old, Janine and Rhea's are 6.

With her pups and mother by her side, Olena had easily moved on and forgotten Aleksandor. That didn't mean he had forgotten her. Leaving the thought for another day, Olena and Yeva led the pups towards a pond not far from the cave, a few miles or so, in the bright morning light.

Upon arrival, the pups left their mother and grandmother's sides and went to go splash around in her shallow water together. Dimitri had come out of his shy shell some, but not much. Things seemed so tense in the pack, and had remained that way after Yeva's fight with the alpha. There were whispers of an uprising for new leadership, but Aleksandor would cast any challengers away without a fight. He thought it would make him look better as an authorative figure, picking his battles, but soon the pack began to view him as a coward, unbeknownst to him. His control was slipping.

He will come for us one day soon Mother. Olena spoke softly to her mother, so as not to disturb her playing pups.

Let him. I defeated him once, I will do it again.

Olena shook her head and went to go walk along the water's edge, much like she had when she was pregnant with Karolina and then again with Sonya. Olena could remember the pack at a happier time, with a better leader.

But times had changed. The pack's numbers were dwindling, as was the food supply, and there was distrust in the ranks. But here at the pond, with her pups by her side, Olena could let that all slip away and forget about it. She could feel like she was young again, like when she had met Aleksandor and thought she was in love. She let all thoughts of the pack and it's future slip away, and she spent the remainder of the day tromping around in the shallow water, playing with her children.

As they were preparing to leave, Olena noticed that Dimitri was missing.

Mother, have you seen Dimitri?

Yeva just shook her head no before she let any response be given to her daughter.

I'm sure he is fine. He knows his way back to the den.

Olena simply followed her mother back to the den with her other two pups in tow.

Janine had decided to return to hunting with the pack, something she was extremely good at. She left her pups in the care of Rhea Dragomir, who was currently taking them to a rivine not so far away from the cave. They spent a few hours frollicing in and at the water's edge, at least until Rose disappeared.

Rose was more adventurous than her brothers and had already lef the den without Janine or Rhea before, and she knew her way home, so Rhea wasn't to concerned. Just as long as Rose was home in time for dinner, Rhea was fine. Rose was far more adventurous than her brothers by this stage.

With these thoughts trickeling through her mind, Rhea took the rest of the pups and returned to the cave.

Rose had wondered away from the rivine's edge, and away from the watchful eye of Rhea. Rose had formed a close bond with Lissa and Jill, being the only other girls, but sometimes, a girl just needs to have fun. Rose had ducked under a bush a little ways down and started running. To Rose, there was nothing more exhilarating than the feeling of the wind whipping through her fur coat. In the fading rays of daylight, Rose's coat was a burning copper color, flecked with bronze. When the sun set, and the moon had fully risen, her coat was as black as her father's. Rose had somehow crafted a special connection with her father, the pack's alpha. She guessed it had something to do with the fact that she was the only girl born, and his first daughter at that. Rose was tired of Stan as well. He was annoying, trying to boss her around like he was the alpha. Being the oldest, he stood the highest chance, but he had many years to go before that title could be bestowed to him. He had to prove that he was worth it.

After walking for a little while, Rose neared the edge of the forest, and her father's territory. She took a few steps out into the grassy plain in front of her before she began to jump around in the tall grass. She hadn't been paying attention until she neared a peaceful looking river, trickling it's way through the plain. Rose wandered over to it before she stopped at the edge. She loved to listen to the sound of running water. There was something about it that spoke to her.

She was so caught up in listening to the sound of the water running through the rocks in the river that she didn't noticed the big brown wolf behind her. He kept his belly low to the ground and silently crept forward, so as not to alert the intruder of his precence. When he was only a few feet away, his butt rose a little and wiggled before he pounced.

He soared through the air until he hit his target, and knocked them into the river. When Rose looked up, she saw her attacker standing on the river's edge. She had never seen another wolf pup, aside from those she saw everyday. She wasn't old enough to spend time with the entire pack. Seeing the ferocious snarl maring his features, Rose began to back away, fear evident in her eyes. She had never seen a real wolf aside from her parents, Alberta, Rhea and Eric. She didn't know what to do, so she turned tail and tried running, but whoever had pushed her in the river was too fast. He had pounced on her again, knocking her to the ground.

By the amount of weight on top of her, Rose could tell the attacker was male. Her body froze out of fear.

Wait! She screamed, not sure he would listen.

Who are you? And why are you in our territory? Her attacker responded.

Rose rolled over onto her back, showing her belly, a sign of submission. When she did so, she looked up into the most gorgeous brown eyes she had ever seen. Whoever he was, he had a large face, but not in the overwhelming way. It seemed to fit his body build, which was also large. His burning reddish brown coat was long but beautiful.

Answer my questions! He demanded.

I'm Rose. I didn't know there was another pack in the area. I thought this was just a field, I swear. Who are you?

He seemed a little reluctant to answer her, and she picked up on his hesitation.

I just want your name. I want nothing more. I'd like to put a name to the face that attempted to drown me.

This brought a chuckle to her mind, through the wolf telepathy, and it felt nice, tickling her brain. It was a soft chuckle that was full of rough edges.

Dimitri. And I didn't try drowning you. You just weren't paying attention.

Now it was her turn to laugh.

Sure you weren't. You sound like my brothers when we wre-

There are more of you here?!

The stranger, Dimitri, whipped around to look.

No, it's just me. But I have 3 brothers. What about you? Any siblings?

Dimitri appeared as if he wanted to leave her with no answers. He began to turn away but she rose to her feet, after rolling back to her feet, and ran in front of him before stopping, directly in his path.

Please! Don't go!

And why shouldn't I?

My father has started to take my brother's away from me, to train them for protecting the pack and the other girls don't like to wrestle. I don't want to be lonely.

There were other pups born in your pack?

Yes. It's not uncommon. At least, I thought it wasn't. My father has no problem with it.

Who is your father?

Abe Mazur. Who is yours?

At hearing her father's name, and seeing the setting sun, Dimitri tried to leave again.

Wait! Please, just answer my question. I mean no harm.

My father is Aleksandor Contikov. He whispered as if he were ashamed of it.

Upon hearing his father's name, Rose began to back away a little. She had heard many awful things from her father about the man, and her first impression of Dimitri wasn't giving her any indication that he was different, with one exception. Dimitri seemed disgraced to say that Aleksandor was his father. She stopped as she saw him flinch as she backed away.

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you.

You're not the first to flinch away from me because of my father. My brothers and sisters are the only ones who have anything to do with me, and that's only becasue we share the same father. Dimitri said before his head dropped to the ground.

Hey, don't. I'm sure you are a wonderful wolf. I wouldn't mind meeting you again. Nobody in my pack wants anything to do with me, being Mazur's only daughter. Nobdy except Lissa and Jill, but they aren't into the same things that I am. Maybe we can be each other's somebody. Rose said as she pressed her nose to his, trying to lift his head so he would look at her.

At the mention of "each other's somebody," Dimitri's head lifted.

No! If my father ever discovered that I met up with Mazur's daughter and didn't kill her, I would be cast out or killed.

Your father wouldn't kill you, right?

I assure you, he would.

At that moment, they heard corresponding howls, becaning them home. Dimtri stood to go, before Rose stopped him.

Please. Just once, and if it doesn't work out, I'll leave you be.

Where?

Here, by the river, though we could probably go down to the edge of the forest there. This is supposed to be nuetral territory and the underbrush would help cover us.

When?

Tonight, after your pack is asleep. Meet me in the moonlight.

Dimitri thought about it for a few moments before he looked deep into the brown eyes that had captivated him only hours ago.

I'll be there.

Then he left before Rose could stop him. But that wasn't what had sent her mind into a tizzy. Dimitri had agreed to meet her. He had agreed to meet her tonight, in the moonlight. With that in mind, Rose turned and ran back to her pack.

Upon his return to the pack, Olena immediately felt relief flood through her. Olena's biggest fear was that she would find another one of her pups dead. She had already lost so many, and she knew it was the circle of life, survival of the fittest if that's what you call it, but she didn't care. She just didn't want to see anymore pups die.

As Dimitri crawled back into the den to curl up with his mother, she welcomed him back with open arms. He had managed to kill a rabbit on his way back, so he had already eaten, unlike his brothers who were feeding now, nursing from their mother's milk. It wouldn't be long before they were weaned and had no choice but to eat whatever meat they could find.

He waited paciently, curled up between his sisters, while his brothers ate. When they finished, Olena walked over.

Where were you dear?

I was down by a river, in the plains.

Dimitri! You must be careful where you go! If Aleksandor found out you went down that way, he could have you killed.

I know Mama. I heard something down there, so I went to go investigate it. I thought it might have been an intruder, but it was only a rabbit. I killed it and ate already, then washed off in the river.

Olena seemed satisfied with his answer, though she could tell by the look in his eye that that wasn't all he did. She wasn't going to call him out on it, for she didn't care wha the did as long as he returned home each night, safe and sound.

As long as you had fun dear, I'm happy. And as long as you return home each night, that's all that matters. Olena said affectionately before cleaning a little spot off of Dimitri's head. He tried to bury his head under his paws but Olena simply laughed a little before informing Dimitri of the little spot that he missed.

Once finished, the entire Belikov clan curled up together, but Dimitri made sure he secured a spot on the edge, so he could go meet Rose tonight.

Upon her return to the clan, Rose ran to her den to see that her mother had not yet returned, but her father sat waiting.

Where were you?

His voice was a deadly whisper, and Rose instantly feared what would happen to her.

I was down by a river. I got lost trying to find Rhea.

Abe didn't seem like he was going to be inclined to accept this answer, but Rhea stepped up and defended Rose.

Sir, she is soon going to be of age to leave the den freely. And I'm sure she didn't go far. I mean, she is soaking wet!

With Rhea's defending her, Rose was let off the hook, so long as she returned before sunset next time. Rose instantly agreed before settling down to nurse from her mother, who had returned during Rhea's defending. Rose didn't like the taste of her mother's milk anymore, but she still had another week or two before her meat teeth were due to come in. Eating meat with milk teeth was long, tiring, and difficult. But Rose was going to settle for what she could get.

After about an hour, enough time for the pups to eat and be bathed by their mothers, they all curled up to go to sleep. Rose curled up at the edge of the cave, looking up at the moon. She had grown close to Lissa and Jill, who were curled up beside her, but she wanted nothing more than to go meet Dimitri right this second.

When she was sure everyone was asleep, Rose quietly crept from her spot at the mouth of the cave, and took off to her meeting with Dimitri.

Once again, I want to reiterate that this is the LONGEST chapter, as of tonight. I will not be posting chapter 5 until I have written through chapter 7 or so (with room to rewrite for suggestions, if y'all have any. Those ARE WELCOME!) I'm trying to keep up by having at least 2 or 3 chapters done by the time I post one so I don't fall behind.

I also hope that these 2700+ words warrant a review from you lovelies! Leave me some love (and possibly suggestions?)!

~DA2014