Hondo was having a hard time thinking of what to do. He had a soft spot for Alecia but he didnt want to put her on the spot. He knew he loved her both didnt know if she loved him. He shook himself and settled down next to Sneaker. Sneaker already knew that he had a crush on Alecia and he'd promised not to tell. Sneaker gave Hondo one of his mocking looks. "Why are you giving me that look Sneaker?" Hondo asked annoyed. Sneaker looked like he couldnt keep it in. Sneaker busted out laughing, rolling in the grass on his back. "You looking at her like that isnt helping your situation." He said as he rolled back on his paws. "You have to tell her how you feel." Hondo looked away. He didnt want to get rejected but he knew they'd never be mates if he never asked. "And how am I going to do that?" Hondo asked. "By going to her and asking of course." Replyed Sneaker amused. "I saw her heading towards the river." He added and gave Hondo a playful nudge. "Go on, ask her." Hondo nipped at his ear playfully and got up. "Fine" Hondo said "Hopefully if I come back my only friend might not just be you." Hondo trotted towards the river. He could still hear Sneaker laughing behind him. Hopefully she'd accept him.

She had taken to rolling on the rocks. Letting the sun dry her fur out evenly. She went over to the waters edge now dry and looked into her reflection. She couldn't stop thinking about how Hondo had been looking at her. Yes they were raised in the same pack together, everyone knew everyone. She also knew that he had been lacking a mate. No, there's no way. She thought. We havnt spoken since we where pups. The idea was not new to her, for whatever reason she had fancied him. She kept looking into the water, only her Topaz eyes looking back at her. Wait, I don't have Topaz eyes. She gave a small gasp, so lost in thought she hadn't heard him walk up to her. "Hon- Alpha. Good morning." She greeted him and lowered her head as a sign of respect to him. She knew she messed up though, almost calling him by name. His gaze sending shivers threw her body.

Hondo hesitated "G.. Good morning Alecia" he said. Her dark fur was glowing in the bright sunlight. Making his feelings for her rise. Come on you have to ask her he thought. But he was still worried. If she rejected him, he'd feel broken. But not the time to think that. Even though she had almost called him his real name. He shook himself. "So Alecia, I've been thinking," he started "I dont know about you but Ive had a crush on you for along time." He started to hesitate. This is not the time for thinking he told himself, make your move. "I was thinking that we should be mates. But I dont know about you, its up to you." He finnally finished. He waited for her reaction. Either good or bad he knew they'd still be friends, hopefully. Even if she says no, Hondo started thinking, I'll still have feelings for her. No matter what.

With him greeting her now she looked up into his eyes. Sparkling and beautiful. She could tell there was something off. The wolf who ran the pack, was constantly surrounded by his beta and the other leaders was by himself, and he looked nervous. She took notice of how his speech was now all cut up and inconsistent. She didn't dare say it but to her it was endearing and adorable. She tilted her head and sat down, feeling a slight breeze. His next words surprised her. He just confessed to her that he, Hondo, alpha of the strongest pack had a crush on her. Not only that but to be his mate. She sat, mind racing, jaw open. "I-." She hesitated. Still starstruck. She could see how nervous he was. Would his parents approve? Would the pack reject me as alpha? Would I be challenged? What if I let him down and don't live up to everything he wants? She knew she couldn't just not give him an awnser so she composed herself quickly. The feeling was mutual, she would be lying if she said she hasn't thought of him as more then a meal friend or alpha. She finally stood up and walked next to him and sat down. She nuzzle her face into his neck, warm and soft. "A hundred times yes." She said as butterflies filled her stomach.

Hondo felt like his whole world had just changed. Now he, the Alpha of this pack, has finnaly found a mate. His tail started to wag softly, tail thumping the ground. A huge smile came across his face. He nuzzled her face affectionately. "Thank you." They sat there in silence for a few moments. "I love you". He finnaly told her. His whole heart seemed to be beaming. But he knewhe had to go and talk with Sneaker. "I have to go over plans with Sneaker." He told her, "but I'll see you in my den tonight." Him saying these words made him so happy his tail started to wag furiously. Hondo got up. Licked affectionately and then trotted off through the woods. When he hit the clearing where Sneaker was, he bounded towards him tail wagging, tounge lolling out of his mouth. "Guess who now has a mate!" He howled in excitement. "You do!" Howled Sneaker, and they both started playing furiously. Until both there ears perked up. "Whats that sound?" Hondo asked concerned. "I dont know." Said Sneaker, "I dont know."

She sat down, happy to be nuzzle back. She could hear how his tail thumped with happiness and hers started to do the same. "I love you too." She said, her face still buried in his neck. When he pulled away she gave a little whimper, not even realizing she did it. "Do you have to? She didn't want him to go but knew she couldn't keep him. "Okay, tell him I say hi." She gave a nod. "I'll see you tonight then." She said soberly at having to separate from him. As he walked off happily she couldn't help but smile to herself feeling the same. In the distance she could hear him howling, no doubt in joy. She laughed to herself as she walked into the woods. Everything was odly silent. No birds where chirping, no squirrel could be heard scattered about or chasing eachother. She got low and crept around in the thick brush. A larg thing with two legs that smelled like blood and death had and a big metal stick that smelled like metallic dust. She stalked him quietly. Wondering what he could be up to so close to her packs home base.

Hondo turned to the sound. It was coming from the river. He ran as fast as his legs could take him, leaving Sneaker behind. He came up to the rivers edge. His new mate wasnt here and neither was the strange creature. He sniffed around, his tail hung in worry. Soon though he picked up her scent. He followed it tracking fast and carelessly through the woods. He soon found her. "Alecia! What are you doing.. " He barked, but the sound barely came out of his mouth. He stood there stunned at the two-legged creature. A pang of fear went through him. The creature hadnt noticed them just yet. "Alecia come here now, and do it slowly." He stepped forward alittle, and a twig snapped. The creature turned toward them. The metallic stick pointed, not at him, but at Alecia. He didnt think he howled in rage and ran at the creature. "Don't you touch her..." He barked as he jumped, there was a loud 'bang' and a jolt of pain rushed through his forleg. He yelped in pain but still he landed on the human, and bit deep into its throat. It gargled not long before another 'bang' went off, going through the same forleg. He yelped in pain, but not releasing his grip. When he was sure it was dead, he let go, and immediately pain shot through him. Then his world went blank and he collasped in a heap on the forest floor next to the creature.

She followed the human slowly, carefully. Curiosity filling her. It smelled weird, lookedbizarre. It just didn'tmake sense. She sniffed as she followedit. Her ear perked up when she herd her name. "I'm following the..." He cut her off and she obeyed. When the stick snapped she was face to face with the humans metal stick. Panic and fear filled her. Her eyed darted in-between the human, his stick, and her mate, paralyzed in fear. That's when Hondo lept out at the human. A loud sound and the smell of blood filled the air, with the smell of gunpowder. In another second the human was on the second, struggling against the strength and weight of the alpha. Another loud bang and she heard him whimper. The human went still as the smell of his own blood overwhelmed Hondos. She saw wim wiggling and went up to him. His leg badly wounded she nuzzled and poked his nose with her own, blaming herself. She howled furiously filled with anger amd sorrow. She could still feel his heart when she leaned against his chest. Hondo went silent and his eyes where closed, but he wasn't dead. She kept howling and then Sneaker came, following his alphas scent.

Sneaker howled in shock "What happened!?" He ran up to his best friend "Hondo, Hondo, Hondo please tell me your not dead". Hondo started whimpering again. The pain just wouldnt stop. He opened his eyes to see Sneaker standing over him worried. He then saw Alecia, she looked as if she was trying to beat herself up. "Ale... Alecia" he muttered through pained gasps. "Its alright, your safe." His leg throbbed as he said it. "Sneaker." He took a deep breath. "I'm fine, could.. " He whimpered painfully, "could you two help me to my den?" Then listened almost immediately, they were helping him up and they were walking to his den. What was that thing? He thought. Will he ever walk on his own again?

She quickly perked up and slowly crept toward him, poking his nose with her own. She could see the pain written threw out his entire body, each word so close to breaking down. She glanced over to Sneaker who seemed equally as scared for him as her. "It's not alright. Your hurt." She whimpered softly as she helped him up, they were a bit away from camp which made her nervous, she didn't want him to get even more hurt on the way home she stayed incredibly close, monitoring his leg the entire way. Watching him limp. She held back her own whimpers, not wanting to make him more nervous or scared then he already may be.