Chapter 2

The one thing anyone needed to know about Donovan was that, to his credit, he wasn't cowardly like Steele. Unlike the pompous racing malamute, the hunting husky was known for his courage and prowess on the hunt. He was raised with morals and followed that strict code. He never hunted female prey with young ones, and outside of a hunt he only killed animals in self defense and only as a last resort. Needless to say, he wasn't a bad guy, but to Sakari he wasn't all that great.

Don was fairly narcissistic, being a handsome steel gray and snow white husky with the bluest eyes tended to have that effect it seemed. It didn't help that most girls in Nome would do anything to have him. But they were too easy in his opinion. Donovan wanted a challenge and he saw Sakari as the perfect one.

She came back to the sled outside of the meat cutter's shop with her usual bag of books. Donovan rolled his eyes but kept a good face for the samoyed-husky. She made her way towards the back of the sled, obviously trying to stay out of his line of sight. She failed of course and Don turned to face her.

"More books, Sakari?" he asked.

Sakari rolled her eyes and laid down. She wasn't interested in entertaining this dogs feelings today. But of course he wouldn't stop, and she had to play along just to get through it all quicker.

"They aren't just for me, Donovan. Cayle loves them too".

"I see" he kept his blue eyes on her as she put a book on the sled and started quietly reading to herself.

A silence fell between them and he was quick to break it before he thought it got awkward.

"You know you're one of the talks of the town right?"

Sakari sighed. "I know and I don't care".

"You're lying, Kari. I know you a little better than that. As a pup you always wanted to get people to like you. And I think that's part of your problem"

"My problem?"

"You care too much".

Sakari looked over at him. "And what? You don't care at all".

"I don't".

"Easy to do when the whole town likes you. I actually don't mind being the odd one out. They see the world for what it is. I see it for what it could be"

Donovan raised an eyebrow. "I see".

All this was serving to do was attract him more to her. She was such a brainiac, able to problem solve and be all philosophical like. For Don, brains were a turn on.

"Someday…soon….you will be mine" he vowed to himself in his mind.

From the same hill he once watched his home burn, Tempest watched the hunter, Conn Levin and his family. He had a little one, a girl who grew up with huskies and other wolf like dogs. His plan was soon to be put into motion. She was too young to fully realize the difference between the two species. Tempest was joined by another wolf.

"When?" he asked his alpha.

"patience my young friend. These sorts of plans take time. I've waited years for this and we have to make sure it goes completely right".

"And the child?"

"She isn't to be harmed. We use her for bait and nothing more. We'll teach the ignorant human to not screw with a wolf with nothing left to lose".

"Understood. So a retreat is in order for now?"

"For now yes. When next the girl is alone…we strike".

The two took off back into the trees to bide their time. The black wolf turned and looked at the lone cabin.

"Soon Yura…I promise"

Tempest made his way back towards his small packs new territory. His pack hadn't grown much, but they had gone from seven to nine, having brought in a pair of twin orphaned pups, which he was now raising as his own. As he approached the cavern that served as a shelter for the pack, the twin pups, Takara and Nakoma, came running out bursting with energy.

"Oh!" he fell as the pair ran into him and knocked him into the powdery snow.

"Papa!" Takara bounced around him as her sister jumped on to him.

"Poppy!" Nakoma nuzzled his neck with a big puppy smile.

Tempest smiled and licked them both. "How are my girls? I missed you even on patrol"

"We missed you too papa" Takara licked his head.

His tail thumped with the same rhythm as his heart. Tempest loved these two so much, and he was their world. He promised all the time that nothing and no one would ever take them away, for they were his last chance of happiness.

Or, so he thought...