Alpha

One

I sat on the stump, watching over my pack. My mate, Moonwatcher, also Alpha male, sat next to me. One of our pups, Sunlight, just moved out of the nursery to become a delta. Only one pup was in the nursery. 

It was summer, the little pup was born just last week. Hunting season wasn't for a while, so that was good. Prey was rich, these were good times for the pack.

I watched as the little pup tumbled into my den. I chuckled when he leaped out all covered in moss and bracken. Pups don't get their names until their third moon in the nursery, so he didn't have a name yet.

I hopped down to see what damage the little pup did.

Inside the Alpha den, I found that my bed had been shredded by the pup. I sighed and started piecing it back together. I carefully placed the moss in an oval. Then I lined the edges with bracken. Once I finished, I lay down and fell asleep.

I awoke to the sound of Moonwatcher howling. I walked to the edge of the Alpha den and lifted my nose to the sky.

The sound that emerged from my mouth was nothing like an ordinary howl, it was a beautiful song of gratitude, power, and grief. Every full moon at midnight our pack would howl their best howl to our lost ancestors. It was tradition. I relaxed and listened to the sound of us howling. It was a beautiful song, harmonized with the melody of the night.

When we were done, I went back to sleep for a little while. My head was swallowed into dreams. Images of a hawk and the pup collided together in my thoughts. Soon black rushing water filled the world. I jumped awake to find rain leaking into my den.

Moonwatcher was already up patching the leak. I smiled up at him then walked outside. Some of the wolves were already up. Midnight and Stormer, the two Betas, were talking about lone wolves and enemy packs. I walked over to them.

"Are you guys up to a hunt?" I asked.

"Totally!" Midnight responded. Stormer nodded.

"Alright then, meet me by the stump once the rest of the pack starts to wake."

"Ok, see ya then." Midnight woofed.

A little while later, I noticed Koka the Omega emerge from the Omega den.

"Omega." I said in a stern voice. Koka lowered her head. "Hunt. Now. Stump." She nodded. "Yes Alpha."

I met up with Midnight, Stormer and Koka at the stump. The stump is a popular meeting place for wolves in the pack. A long time ago, a tree fell here, the fallen tree becoming the outline of the Alpha den.

"Where to?" Stormer asked.

I thought about it for a moment. "The meadow. There might be a herd drinking at the stream."

We agreed on that, and left the area.

Time to begin the hunt.

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Out in the meadow, Midnight had caught a rabbit and Koka found a nest of baby birds.

We sniffed around a little more. Suddenly Stormer lifted his head and perked his ears.

I could hear it too. The clip clapping of hooves. I smelled that strong, foresty scent. In the distance I saw it's reddish-brown pelt.

I felt my heart thumping in my chest. I could already taste blood in my mouth. "Elk." I whispered.

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We ran. The young elk didn't see us coming. It was only a calf. Easy target.

When we got close, I signaled to my pack to stay. I crouched down, ready to leap. At that moment, the calf noticed me and tried to get away.

But it was too late. I was already in the air. I landed on it's back and saw my pack backing me up, nipping at the elk's heels.

Suddenly I heard Koka yelp in suprise. I whipped around to see An older elk fighting with Koka.

It's leg lashed out and I saw it's hard hoof nearing my head.

I heard a crunching sound and a burning pain shot through my snout.
I fell to the ground as fuzzy dots filled my sight before I blacked out.