A/N: Hey everyone! I hope you're doing well. Here is the next chapter! Enjoy :)

Chapter 8: Is This What Was Destined To Be?

Faye fell far behind the group, walking slower than the rest. Her tail was drooping and her ears were folded back against her head. She hung her head as she felt her paws continue to create markings in the snow. Her green eyes were shut as tears rolled off her nose and dripped to the ground.

She couldn't believe what had just happened. She didn't want to believe it did happen. She turned around. There was nothing to be seen. Nothing to even look at. The slope was miles behind them. The red discolored snow had disappeared as new white masses covered everything. Almost as if nothing had even happened.

But something did happen. A husky had been viciously ripped apart for his blood. Mauled, limbs mangled and torn from his bones. The skin pulled back, the deep bite marks engraved up and down his bloody frame. A dog had been killed. By her pack. The wolves she had been raised with since birth. She thought they knew better. No matter how desperate for food, wolves did not kill a dog.

But she had watched it. She heard it. She smelled it. And even she had to breathe deeply through her nose to keep her own instincts from taking over. And when she saw her friends, these wolves that she knew for years, she had never been more terrified in her life.

Their muzzles, their jaws, their teeth were stained with blood. Speckles of red had been splattered on their fur. Spilling down their necks and dripping down their legs. Ruining the gray, black, brown, tan pelts with the musty dark color. Their paws were caked in dried flakes of blood. Their eyes glowed like a reignited fire as the smell of carnage took over.

These wolves could be kind to one another, respectful and dignified to nature. These wolves worked together in harmony, helping each other in a moment. And in the same moment, these wolves, her pack, had slaughtered a husky. They had gone against everything they had ever known for that taste of blood. That taste of food in their mouths, curing the starvation deep inside them.

She couldn't believe these were the same wolves she looked up to. The same wolves that she had played with as a pup. The same wolves she would give her life for.

Then a moment, a second, she remembered Raune throwing his body into Akeli. She could only watch in horror as she saw the two wolves tumble down the steep drop. The blur of white and brown clashing into each other as they hit gravity in mere seconds. A sickening crack breaking through the harsh breeze.

His skull had been brutally mutilated from the impact of the boulder. A long jagged gash tore his forehead open, exposing the meat inside and letting off a foul smelling odor. Fresh new blood oozed out of the wound and pooled around his body. His eyes were locked open, the pupils shriveling to the size of dust surrounded by dark blue shattered glass. A single tear froze against his cheek. His legs were taut and stiff. His jaw hung open, blood smearing his teeth. And he was cold, painfully cold to the touch.

Faye had closed his eyes with her paw and had shut his mouth gently, feeling the tears streaming down her cheeks. Running off her nose and onto the dark blood that started to paint her feet slowly.

She felt inclined to give Raune a burial. So she started moving snow over his legs and body. It was the only thing she could think to do in that moment. To hide this horrible tragedy from the world. Her legs shook violently as she continued to pile snow on top of her friend. It was a slow going movement as the reality of everything that just occurred sunk in and Faye almost crumbled to her side when she began to sob heavily.

She felt a paw on her shoulder and looked to see a solemn Finn at her side. His orange eyes sunk into her green ones with a silent knowing. He gave her a sad smile and nudged her up with his head. She couldn't fall apart. Not now.

Using his huge paws, he helped her shovel more snow over Raune to cover him. It wasn't a proper burial, but she couldn't just leave him out in the open to be taken by some other starving animal. The pack had started to climb up the slope and a hesitant Faye was helped up by Wren and Finn at her side. She looked back one last time. Raune's body was buried under the snow.

Forgotten.

Her friend was gone. She sniffed back a few tears and felt herself stop moving her feet. She just stood there, letting the wind batter her body around, feeling the cool sink into her paw pads. She didn't want to keep going. She didn't want to keep moving. Not this way.

Finn could sense Faye had stopped following beside him and turned around to see her standing there, frozen in place. Her eyes were empty and distant.

"Hey, you'll freeze out here if you don't keep that blood pumping." Finn jokes, walking over to her. The wind continued to batter their bodies, making their fur come to life.

"Why are we doing this?"

Finn tilted his head at her question, small little snowflakes dripping off his ears.

"Doing what?"

"Following that…..following him after what he just did. Why are we willingly letting him lead us after he killed Raune?" Faye growls, thinking of several choice words to describe Akeli, but she inhales deeply through her nose to suppress the rage building up deep inside her.

"He didn't kill Raune, Faye. Raune jumped. He wasn't thinking." Finn turned around, satisfied with his answer and started towards the group again.

Faye's eyes widen in shock and she rushes in front of Finn to stop him in his tracks.

"How can you even say that Finn? He was defending us! Defending….me. He did it because he wanted to fight for us! And you have the nerve to say he jumped because he wasn't thinking!"

"Woah woah woah!I didn't mean it like that. I mean it's a shame Raune died, but he willingly jumped off that slope." Finn hastily added, shocked by Faye's sudden outburst. She was so close to him that she was almost forcing her nose against his.

He knew Raune for a long time and Raune had been one of the most stubborn, foolish wolves he ever knew. Even after everyone accepted Raune's stuttering, Finn had yet to accept Raune himself. Raune had a tendency to act now, think later.

And he was especially irritating to Finn with the way he acted around Faye. Those two could laugh about anything, talk about the wind, and have such an amusing conversation. He never understood that. He had tried himself to talk to Faye, joke with her, laugh with her, but he couldn't help stumbling when she looked at him with her glossy emerald eyes.

Faye couldn't believe what she was hearing. Her jaw hung open in shock as her eyes pinballed furiously around in her head.

"To get… Akeli! Haven't you had enough of him constantly pushing us around, hurting us when Balto isn't around?"

Finn rolls his eyes and sighs exaggeratedly before spinning around to look Faye directly in the eye.

"Balto won't stand up to him either! Faye, face it. Balto's afraid of Akeli just like we are. There's no way he would go against his brother to defend us."

"I don't believe that." Faye argues back, unable to believe that the alpha, their leader of the pack, wouldn't do everything in his power to protect his pack from Akeli.

"Believe what you want! It's the truth. You know it and I know it. Mira just made him alpha because she favors him over Akeli. I mean who can blame her?" Finn scoffs, his voice cold and stiff. He felt as if he was simply just stating a fact.

"Mira knows what she's doing."

"Does she? Maybe you haven't noticed Faye, but Mira is dying. Maybe this whole making Balto alpha thing was just a rash decision on her part. You know people tend to make those when they're getting ready to go."

Faye twitches her eye in irritation at hearing his words. But deep down, she knew herself, Mira was getting weaker. That's what made her even angrier. The fact that there was some truth in Finn's ignorant thoughts. She watches him begin to walk away from her.

"How dare you speak about Mira that way!" She barks loudly, feeling her fur prickling her skin, standing up from her spine all the way down to her tail.

Finn freezes, one paw lifted up in the air and he turns around.

"Faye, calm down." Finn says, noting a few glances towards them from the others up ahead.

"No! I won't calm down! I thought you had more sense than that Finn! She was once our alpha, you know? And for you to just talk about her with such disrespect….I thought I knew you."

Finn rushes back to her with a big loopy smile taking over his muzzle.

"C'mon, don't be like that! You do know me. Fun loving Finn. You can rent me out for birthday parties! Oh c'mon Faye, you know I was just saying words in the heat of the moment."

"But that's how you really feel, don't you? That Mira has no idea what she's doing. Right? And she put Balto in charge to starve us all? Isn't that right, Finn?" Faye's entire body shakes with rage as she can see by looking in her "so-called friend's" eyes, he really did think those things.

Faye cursed under her breath, realizing Akeli had been right before. Finn wasn't her friend. He was a follower. A follower of the very person who killed her best friend.

Raune was more to her than any other wolf in her pack, but she didn't know how to feel about that. When Raune joined their pack, she found his stuttering adorable. And it hurt her deeply when the wolves that she knew for years, had taunted him and sometimes physically abused him for the way he talked.

She never thought he needed to change. She thought he was perfect the way he was. The stuttering never bothered her. It was how he was different and she appreciated that more than anybody else.

But she knew Raune didn't see it that way. Being short and small was just another factor adding to his low self esteem and she knew deep down, he resented the wolves that teased him. That's why he had to fix it. Going to Mira hadn't been one of his finest moments, but she knew he had been at a loss with what to do.

Eventually, he was accepted into the pack. Not because he fought back, physically and sent stabbing words back to his enemies, but because he took each word, each insult, each harsh shove with a silent tongue. He never tried to stand up for himself. He just treated his enemies with a kindness that they could never even begin to understand. And that had an effect on them all.

Raune had been different and Faye had felt strong feelings for him, but it didn't matter anymore. He would never know. She would never know. They would never know if their hearts were supposed to be mended as one.

A part of Faye had been taken and it laid there, clutching to Raune's corpse under the red snow.

"Faye? Faye? Faye!"

Faye's eyes shot up as she looked up at Finn. He was standing in front of her, a worried look on his face.

"Did you hear anything I just said?"

"N-no."

"I called your name like three times." Finn stated, his eyes studying her face, seeing the tears beginning to well up in her eyes.

"I'm sorry."

"No….Faye, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that." Finn lays a paw on her shoulder. Faye flinches and moves away.

"I can't go back."

"What do you mean?" Finn asks, his eyes wide, knowing what she was saying, but still wanting her to clarify it.

"We lost someone from our pack, and no one has even blinked an eye. No one even cares! So why would I go back with them? I won't! I'm not going back."

"Don't say that. You can't just leave your pack!"

"My pack killed a dog! And they're probably going to rip apart that poor husky!" Faye shouts, her pelt standing ridged against her spine.

Seeing her pack, the wolves she knew since birth, brutally and viciously rip apart that husky in mere seconds had been a horror to watch and she knew she would be haunted by that memory forever. She couldn't even bear to watch them kill this other, smaller husky. Just for blood.

She couldn't get past it. This wasn't something she wanted to be a part of. Knowing they went against the code. The code that all wolves lived by. How could she dare even continue to follow, continue to be part of this?

"And you expect me to follow? To be perfectly fine with everything that just happened? You've all got blood on your paws."

Finn looks down. He did indeed have dried blood caking between his toes and dripping down his paw pads. He hadn't taken a bite out of the mauled husky, but Raune's blood had gotten on his feet when he was shoveling snow over his body. So in a way, he had taken part in what had happened.

"You can't stay out in this! The wind is getting colder! There's no food! You'll starve out here alone if you don't freeze into a block of ice first!" Finn barks, his worry quickly squelching any anger at her decision. He knew she was stubborn, but this was endangering her life. He couldn't let that happen.

"I'll be fine." Faye whispers and closes her eyes when a chilling breeze rushes into her face.

"Faye, Faye please….don't do this." Finn begs, surprising himself with the desperation in his tone.

Faye turns around, stopping in her tracks as she looks out into the absolute nothingness surrounding them. She lowers her head and looks at Finn one last time.

"Goodbye Finn. Take care of yourself." Faye gives him a sad smile, before turning around and walking into the snowy mist.

Finn continued to watch her form until she was nothing, but a gray dot fading into the white fog. He felt the snow pelting his face and felt a sudden wetness on his cheeks. He gasped when he realized he had started crying.

He had lost her. But deep down he knew she had already been lost when Raune died.

Sniffling back tears and furiously wiping at his cheeks, he hurried his pace to catch up with the group.

Akeli felt the wind continue to pound into every inch of his skin as he kept trudging through the snow. He squinted his eyes as the sharp winds ripped through his bones, causing his breathing to come out in short bursts of air that flooded in front of his face. His legs were trembling. The husky laying on his back was sapping any energy he had left to make his way back to their territory.

It didn't help that she was shaking violently above him, causing his entire body to flinch at her tremors. Her claws had dug into his back a couple times, irritating him to the point that he threatened her. Her constant whining echoed in his ears had made him rethink his earlier decision.

Why not kill her here? Get that taste of warm blood in their mouths again. But the reality of the situation hit him and despite the hunger, he knew the pack wouldn't survive in this weather if they stopped to kill the husky.

He took in a shaky breath as he felt his legs sink further into the snow as mere seconds seemed to deepen the white masses around them. He stumbled slightly and Jenna cried out, clutching onto his back again. Akeli barked out in pain and dropped to his side, sending the husky rolling off his back.

Wren rushed up to catch up to Akeli when he saw him fall over in the snow, the bright red fur catching his eye.

"You should slow down." Wren stated, nudging Akeli's shoulder up with his head.

Akeli growled and pushed Wren off him immediately.

"I know what I'm doing!" Akeli snarled, baring his teeth.

"Clearly." Wren said sarcastically with a roll of his eyes.

Akeli dropped his snarl after a few seconds and drew his attention on the husky.

Jenna saw his violet eyes fall on her form. He stood over her, a white mountain, the wind blowing his fur, causing the white coat to float like milky waves. He looked like a white, rushing tornado standing over her, his eyes the only thing illuminating from the white force. She began to shake involuntarily.

"You dig your claws into my back again, and I'll snap your neck right here and have my boys rip you to shreds like we did to your boyfriend!"

Jenna looked up at him, unable to do anything else. Her body was trapped under him, pinned between his two front paws. The mere size of his paws compared to her small mittens caused Jenna to squeeze her eyes tightly, knowing what the wolf could do to her. And the blood staining his jaw, his paw pads, and the emptiness in those sharp, crisp amethyst eyes only made her shiver harder.

"He's not… he wasn't my boyfriend." Jenna corrected slowly, taking a minute to realize Steele, the dog she despised most in Nome and had wished he was dead many times, was actually dead.

After daring a glance up at the large wolf on top of her, she realized how dumb she sounded right after she said it. Why the hell would this wolf care about that? She knew instantly that she shouldn't have spoken.

Akeli dryly laughed and lowered his face to hers, letting his nose touch hers for a split second, the cool moist feeling startling her.

"Do you want to see what happens if I let these guys loose on you?" He whispers in a hushed tone.

Jenna shakes her head furiously and pins her ears back, terrified of what the wolf would do. He had a dark, deep voice and his eyes looked deranged as his pupils dilated to the size of peas as he looked down at her. His warm breath hit her face as he let his jaw hang open, showing his sharp teeth to her, still smeared with the blood of the white and black husky.

"Got an answer?" He asks, amused at the husky's reaction. She had remained silent for a while and he watched as she took him in.

"N-no." Jenna stutters out, shivers coursing through her entire buddy. Her eyes wide and frozen in terror.

"Smarter than I thought." Akeli states, letting his eyes glaze over as he still stalks over her.

"A moment?" Wren asks, his voice softly carrying in the wind, as he brushes up against Akeli's flank.

"I think you know what happens if you try to move, don't you?" Akeli asks, leaning down to meet Jenna's hazel eyes.

Jenna nods her head furiously, smelling the blood on his breath.

Akeli steps over Jenna and walks a few paces to Wren, still keeping his eyes and ears locked on the husky.

"Why don't you take a break? I can carry her for a while. We've still got a long ways to go, Akeli." Wren suggests quietly, so no one overhears.

He knew Akeli did not like to be seen as weak or needing any help around the pack. He had a certain image he prided himself on and he protected it. Obsessively.

He could see that carrying the husky was slowing Akeli down. Taking a lot of energy out of the already worn-out wolf.

"I'm fine." Akeli brushes his paw off at his concern.

"I'm not asking." Wren states, holding his ground. His pale blue eyes shining with determination.

Akeli quirks an eyebrow at his response, slightly agitated, but also considering it. He knew Wren meant well.

Any other wolf that even dared to ask if he needed help would be snapped at and possibly shoved onto the ground. But Wren was his friend. And despite how he acted, for some reason, Wren never abandoned him.

Wren had become a big part of Akeli's life when Mira had devoted all her attention to the new pup, Balto. Mira hadn't had much time for him as she always had to make sure Balto was safe, secure, and loved. And where was he in the picture? Usually off somewhere alone, raging about the new member in his family. He had always resented his mother for never asking him. Balto just became glued into his family. Without his permission or acceptance. So he spent a lot of time alone, lost in his anger and confusion at this sudden change in his life.

Until one day this brown large wolf came and sat beside him.

He didn't say one word to Akeli and Akeli couldn't help but be annoyed at the fact that someone was in his space. And this wolf wasn't just a normal sized wolf, but he was huge and taller than Akeli.

Another factor in determining his annoyance at this silent wolf invading his privacy. Akeli had growled and snapped at him, wanting him to leave. But Wren never left that day. And Wren has never left Akeli since then.

Once his anger blew through his soul like a hot boiling steam, he realized Wren had stayed silent the entire time during his outburst. But that silence was calming for Akeli's racing mind. And to that day, he just decided to always let that silent calm mind enter into his life and somehow give him a peace he could never gain for himself.

"I'm alright, Wren. I can handle it."

Wren smirked and walked in a circle around Akeli, staying silent as he made his observations.

Akeli's legs were shaking and not from the cold wind. He was spent. His breathing was coming out in short bursts of air and his chest was heaving up and down from exertion. His eyes had become dull and no longer held the vibrant spark. His back was caved in slightly from carrying the husky for miles. And his tail was plopped flat against his legs.

"Once again I'm not asking." Wren grinned and held back a chuckle when he saw Akeli's lip curl in disgust at his amusement.

Wren made his way to the husky still shaking pitifully in the snow. He didn't want to scare her anymore than she already was and he hoped to god they wouldn't kill her too. He knew Balto would see to that.

Wren walked over her and once again Jenna felt the huge paws entrap her form between them. She closed her eyes tightly, shivering underneath him.

"Hey, hey it's alright."

Jenna opened one eye, hearing the different voice and the warm tone drew her in.

"We're gonna take you back with us. Okay?"

Jenna looked up at the brown wolf. A black stripe ran up his forehead from his muzzle and it disappeared behind his ears and ran down the length of his body. He had ice blue eyes that held a certain comfort she couldn't quite place.

"Don't give her false hope. She's dead when we get back."

Wren threw a glare at Akeli's direction and heard the husky's whimper reach his ears. He looked down at her with pity. He shouldn't give her false hope, but he had to believe deep down, Balto would stop this. He wouldn't let Akeli and the others kill her.

He had been shocked when they had killed the other husky. He hadn't taken part in the meal, but the smell of blood was overwhelmingly powerful. But he fought against it. It was a code they swore by. Starvation and hunger just distorted the code. He didn't hold it against Akeli, considering how the others just willingly gave in to his demands.

Wren never saw himself as a steppingstone in Akeli's way. He never would go over his head. He didn't always agree with the actions and things Akeli said, but that wasn't his job. His job was to just be there for Akeli. Keeping silent and just listening.

And he knew deep down, Akeli appreciated it. Or at least he would like to think he appreciated it.

Wren looked back down at the husky, her hazel eyes welling up with tears. He sighed, feeling the puff of air escape his jaws and hit her face.

"I'm gonna pick you up now, alright?"

"P…please… d..don't kill me." Jenna stuttered out with sobs, fully realizing that the white wolf was true in his words, if Steele was any indication.

Wren leaned down to Jenna's ear with his muzzle and whispered something softly. Akeli watched curiously as the brown wolf seemed to engulf the red furred husky.

The husky seemed to slightly relax at his words and Akeli watched as Wren gently nudged the husky onto her belly.

The wind whipped around in his face and sent chills stabbing into his legs and eyes as he looked back north. They had to keep going. This wind whispered a storm was coming and they needed to get back to the dens before that happened.

When Akeli looked back, Wren had positioned the husky on his back, her legs hanging off him like a rag doll. He gave Akeli a nod to continue going.

"Alright let's keep moving!" Akeli shouted over the loud, rushing winds surrounding them.

The pack continued on, their faces tucked to the ground, their eyes low as the snow continued to come down heavily, sending sharp winds that cut through their very skin. Their pace was slow, but steady.

Akeli let out a long howl, alerting the pack that they were almost there and letting the ones back at the den know they were coming.

Balto's ears perked up when he heard the howl a few miles away. He practically leaped off the large rock he was sitting on. He had been pacing back and forth for a while, waiting for Akeli and the others to return.

His mother had finally convinced him to stop worrying and to sit down. Her wise words rang in his ears.

"When one stays still, everything else moves."

Those words allowed him to calm his mind and to take a moment to practice patience. So he decided to stay still. Slow his breathing, close his eyes, and breathe in. All the smells and sounds flooded his senses. And he took that moment to observe his pack.

He scoffed at the thought. His pack. It felt odd just thinking it, but that's what it was. He was the alpha. He was in charge. But he couldn't convince his pack, let alone himself.

He let his eyes wander over the edge. He watched as one black wolf rolled around while a rusty colored wolf laughed beside him. He saw Tala's pups running around her as she sat by Mira. Both of them were laughing at something. He let a smile creep on his muzzle. He sat down and his eyes fell on a grey wolf stretching as he arched his back. He observed them all quietly, trying to keep his mind clear.

Nyko and his group had returned several hours ago with no such luck of finding any food. But they did come back with some bad news. Traps were scattered about all over the eastern territory making hunting that much harder.

They were all eagerly waiting for the arrival of the others, in the hope that some food would be brought along the way.

Now as the waiting dragged on and on, the feeling of hope had disappeared. And most of the wolves had resigned to lounging around in their dens. Already knowing this feeling all too well.

Balto could feel the winds ripping through his pelt and chilling his bones as he sat there, waiting and waiting. He had been watching the horizon, waiting for the arrival of his brother and the others.

He looked up at the sky, the clouds forming a huge heavy mass of gray above. The sun had faded away, losing all its power to bring light to the world. The harsh winds were declaring a blizzard would soon be coming and with it, no way of finding food.

Hunting in a blizzard was treacherous. There was no guarantee of food and even if they did manage to find some animal, they may get lost coming back or freeze to death themselves. It wasn't worth the risk in Balto's mind. The pack had shrunken enough as it is when he took place as alpha.

Then a howl, low and long, caused his ears to perk and he leapt off his perch, recognizing the howl immediately. His mother came to his side. All the wolves came out of their dens and waited. All eyes on the snowy fog surrounding them. Tails wagging, eyes bright with hope.

Then Akeli appeared first through the fog, his breath blowing right back into his face. His chest heaving. He looked exhausted.

Wren came beside him, still holding the husky.

Balto's eyes widened at the sight. He watched as the group emerged from the fog and there was something staining their paws and muzzles. He couldn't quite make out what it was.

As they neared, he flinched when he saw it was blood.

"My son, where have you been? Did you find any food…what, what is that? Why did you bring a dog here?" Mira questions, speaking up first. But then she's suddenly terribly confused when she sees the terrified husky clutching onto Wren's back.

Wren lowers to his haunches. Jenna clings onto him with her claws.

"It's okay." He whispers to her.

Jenna shakes violently, but she hesitantly moves off of the huge wolf's back. She falls almost immediately to the ground with a cry of pain as her hind leg gives way under her.

"Akeli, why is there a dog here? What did you do!" Mira questions again, her eyes wide in horror as she sees the caked blood between their paw pads.

Akeli shakes his coat, ridding himself of the snow that had buried itself into his skin.

"We found a deer."

"Why didn't you bring it back?" Balto asks, confused. If Akeli had indeed found food, he was supposed to bring it back so that it could be split apart for the parties taking place in the meal.

That's what they were all told to do. It was the rule because of the hunger and starvation plaguing the pack.

"Guess I forgot. But boy did it taste good." Akeli takes his tongue and runs it over his blood smeared teeth with a smirk on his face.

"You forgot? You know we need food!" Balto barks angrily as his eyes fall on his frail mother standing beside him. She hadn't moved away when he had offered his shoulder to help her stand for support which truly spoke to how weak she was.

"Sorry Alpha. I just couldn't help myself. And don't worry cause I brought dessert." Akeli mocks and his eyes gaze at Jenna.

Jenna looks up at Akeli and shakes in fear.

"Akeli…how, we don't eat dogs!" Balto's jaw hung open, appalled.

Jenna's ears perked up at the dark hushed voice and she dared herself to sneak a glance up. Her eyes fell on a tall grey wolf. He had white fur trailing down his chest, legs, and down the length of his tail. His yellow eyes held fire as he spoke to the white wolf. She could see how tense he was as stood there. His muscles ripped as the wind blew against them. She couldn't help but watch as the conversation continued.

"What did you really do? What did you all do?" Balto's eyes bounced back and forth as he watched the wolves lower their heads, unable to make eye contact with him or Mira. Akeli just sat down on the snow, a smug look on his face.

Jenna's eyes widened when she realized that they didn't know that they had killed Steele. And they hadn't just killed him, they had ripped him apart limb from limb

As a pup, Jenna was always told to stay away from wolves because they were dangerous, and she could be killed. But looking back at this grey wolf, she realized they had some sort of standards. And that killing a dog was wrong, in their eyes. Jenna blinked back tears. There was hope! Maybe they would let her go.

"Akeli, what did you do? Why is there a dog? You didn't kill a deer, did you? That's why none of you can even look at me." Mira steps in front of Balto, stumbling slightly, and walks over so she can look her other son in the eye.

"They didn't seem to have a problem with it."

"Akeli, what… did ….you…do?" Mira emphasizes every word with as much determination she can muster in her body.

"I saved this pack from hunger. Something our alpha here can't even do for us." Akeli snarls out, glaring at Balto.

Mira knew she wasn't going to get anywhere with Akeli so she leaned down to look Jenna in the eye. The horror that was locked in the huskies eyes was enough of an answer.

"What did he do? You tell me, please."

Jenna laid there, looking up at Mira. The wolf standing in front of her was small and short and she could see every bone in her frame.

"I-I…"

Balto's ears perked up at her soft tone and he walked over when he saw his mother stumble again.

"It's okay, you can tell us." Balto says, standing beside Mira to give her support and once again he feels her lean into him.

Jenna can't help, but blush under her fur, seeing the grey wolf up close. His eyes were warm and kind and his tone was so quiet and hushed. She felt herself relax instinctively as he spoke.

"They killed…" Jenna fumbled with her words. What was Steele to her? A menace. A monster. A disgusting person. He wasn't her friend by any means. He wasn't even an acquaintance in her life. She thought of him so little she didn't even know how to describe him.

"T-They killed a h-husky." Jenna stutters out, not really sure what to say.

Balto's eyes shoot up to meet Akeli's, who just shrugs. Balto rushes over and gets right in his face. Akeli's eyes widened and he flinched slightly, not expecting Balto to be right in his face in a mere second.

"You killed a dog! Did you all…" Balto barks angrily and stops short of his question when his eyes take in the full picture. They all had blood on their muzzles, staining their jaws, caked in their paws.

"How could you?" Mira whispers looking over at Akeli.

"How could I? Look at this pack, Mira. We are dying because you decided to make this pathetic excuse of a wolf the alpha. I did what I had to to keep this pack alive! To survive!"

Mira flinches at the fact that her own son couldn't even call her mother. Balto's ears flatten against his head.

"And you! How dare you question me! You think just cause your alpha that everyone here respects you? They listen to me! They do what I tell them! You have no authority here. Heh I pity you, brother." Akeli growls loudly, meeting Balto face to face and walks Balto into a mound of snow, cornering him.

A dry laugh escapes his jaws as he turns around to face his mother.

"I save this pack every…day! And you just don't see it! I save them! And all you care about is him! And whatever he does! You don't care about how much I have sacrificed for this pack!" Akeli bites out, darkly, his eyes reigniting with rage.

A dark smile tugs on his lip as he sits down, lowering his head and looking directly into Balto's eyes.

"So yeah we ate that husky. And that blood, It was satisfying beyond anything you could ever imagine. Too bad you couldn't have a taste."

Jenna's eyes squeeze tightly as she feels her hope begin to dwindle.

"We live by a code, Akeli. And you disregarded it. You broke it. And…." Mira cries out, but is interrupted by Akeli.

"And…and what? Am I the only one who has blood on his paws? Look around. They all willingly took part. I satisfied their hunger. Not Balto. Not your…alpha. And you know what? I bet they would do it again." Akeli's eyes fell on the husky.

Jenna felt his eyes sink into her form and she shivered.

"Looks like we're eating husky tonight, boys!" Akeli laughs darkly.

"No! You will not touch this poor soul, do you hear me!" Mira shouts, rushing over to stand over Jenna. She stumbles almost collapsing on top of the husky.

"You can't even stand. You think you can stop me?" Akeli remarks, noting her gait.

"You're not eating this dog! No matter how hungry we are! No matter how starving we all are! We will not allow ourselves to sink this low ever again!" Balto yells, coming forward.

"And here I thought you ran away with your tail tucked between your legs." Akeli says with a smirk on his muzzle.

"You will not touch this husky." Balto growls, standing right in front of Akeli again.

Mira steps over Jenna, her legs flinching at the movement. Tala rushes over to help her walk back away from the group. But Mira can't help the smile on her face despite needing help to walk.

A prideful feeling swells in her chest as she watches her son, her alpha, stand up against Akeli.

"You know what brother? Since you're so determined to keep me from ripping apart this husky and giving the pack food, why don't you take her?"

Jenna's ears perk up at the word "brother." Could this gentle wolf actually be related to this insane, crazy wolf? But her thoughts are quickly interrupted when she feels a sudden sharp pain.

Before she can even realize what is happening, she feels teeth sink into her foot and she's flying in the air before pounding into something hard yet soft.

Mira and Tala watch in horror as Akeli throws the husky into Balto.

The blur of red and white and grey clashing into each other startles everyone and the wolves quickly jump out of the way.

Jenna shakes her head and opens her eyes after a moment. She can hear the sadistic laughing in the background but then her ears perk up when she hears a groan. His eyes snap open and they lock eyes for a moment. Her hazel ones sink into the depths of his yellow ones.

What felt like eternity had only lasted a mere second as Balto quickly untangled himself from her limbs, apologizing as he did so.

Jenna laid there, unable to move. She watched as the grey wolf made his way back over to the group of wolves and saw the same short frail wolf run over to her along with a tan wolf.

"Dear child, are you alright?" Mira whispers, looking into Jenna's eyes. Her ice blue eyes showing her concern.

Jenna doesn't say anything and hears his voice break through the wind again.

She couldn't think or speak.

"Is she in shock?" The tan wolf asks, examining Jenna's form. Her legs were pinned under her form. And she was still shaking.

"Have you got a name?" Mira questions earnestly.

Jenna looks up at the two wolves standing in front of her. They had warm voices, kind eyes so she rolled herself onto her stomach to meet their eyes.

"J-Jenna." Jenna stutters out, her voice coming out hoarse and tight.

"Where are you from, Jenna?" Tala asks.

Jenna's mind was a muddled mess as all she could hear was his soft voice and imagine those yellow eyes gazing at her.

"I think she's in shock." Tala whispers to Mira when Jenna doesn't answer and remains still, staring blankly into space.

"She's hurt. Let's bring her to the med den." Mira states, seeing the discolored bruising that covered her hind leg. She saw the cuts and scrapes all over the huskies body and all she could wonder was what Akeli had done to her.

Mira tries to help Tala pick up the husky, but she falters, unable to keep her legs from shaking.

"It's alright, Mira. I've got her." Tala says with a warm smile, holding Jenna on her back.

Mira smiles back, but it's short lived when she hears her two sons arguing back and forth.

"Oh Anui, is this what was destined to be?" Mira wonders out loud to the night stars covering the sky.

She follows after Tala, keeping that thought in the back of her mind.

Alright, that's chapter 8! I hope you liked it! I can't wait to hear your thoughts on the chapter! Thank you!