1 Chapter 1

Bandit, Nightlight and Ava sat on a small hill that looked out across Yellowstone National Park. The three wolves have been friends for the past four months, and together they led a strong pack of fifty-seven wolves. So far they were the largest pack in Yellowstone, and owned about five miles of territory. The elk herds in their lands were big and plentiful, along with a few bison herds. The neighboring pack's weren't as big as theirs, and their territories weren't as big either. Even though they had good land, they didn't dare challenge the pack.

As the four months went by, Bandit and Ava started to have feelings for one another, and soon they began a relationship and became the alpha pair of what they call their pack: The Wild Pack. Since Nightlight had been with them for so long, he was the beta of the pack. Although since the pack was so big, they had more than just one beta. The other two betas, Cinder and Dangerous were just as loyal to Nightlight as if he was their alpha, and not Bandit or Ava. For Nightlight, it gave him a little more passion for being looked up to.

After all, when he was in his father's pack, he was going to be the next alpha when his father's time ended. However, Nightlight knew his old pack-mates too well, and decided to leave and start or join a new pack with unfamiliar faces. He met Ava first, and a month later, Bandit came along. Soon the three wolves were inseparable, and as the weeks passed, more wolves asked to join them, including Nightlight's brothers Atlas and Solar.

When the brothers noticed that Nightlight didn't want to be with their pack anymore, they decided to follow him in hopes that they could all be apart of a pack together once more. Nightlight asked Bandit if they could join, and Bandit accepted them, and soon they both were part of the hunting party in the pack. However as the months flew by, Solar became very ill and he didn't seem to be getting better. Nightlight and Atlas hoped that he would get well soon. The sun was setting over the mountains, and the scouts would be patrolling the borders by now.

Ava had her head leaned against Bandit, enjoying the moment with him, as if Nightlight wasn't there at all. Nightlight looked at them both, the tip of his tail flicking as he rose to his paws, turned and padded away down the hill without a word to them both. Ava turned and watched him leave, as she addressed Bandit. "I'm worried about him Bandit, he's been so quiet and distant since you and I began a relationship." Bandit huffed. "You shouldn't worry about him Ava, he's probably just jealous that you and I are a couple. He'll get over it."

Ava looked at him with stern eyes. "Shame on you...you should feel a bit bad that he has no one, and I think that seeing us together makes him feel...I don't know a bit down." Bandit let his tongue loll, as he looked out to the orange sky. "I suppose you're right about that, but haven't you noticed that one of our pack's females has feelings for him?" Ava thought about it. "You mean Hope, don't you?" she asked. Bandit looked at her with shocked and amused eyes.

"Hope? No, I mean....Pandora. Our newest pack member. One of our patrols. You really think Hope has feelings for him?" Ava sighed. "Yes I do. Matter of fact I know she does. She shows it all too well, and looks at him like he's more than a pack-mate, but I have a feeling Nightlight doesn't love her in return. Secondly, I didn't think that Pandora would have feelings for him. She's so loyal and kind and he's so...well he's himself. How did you figure out that Pandora has feelings for him?"

Bandit's mouth curved into a small yet surprised smile. "Because she told me. She asked me for some advice on how to talk to the one you love, and how you would know if they loved you in return. I asked her why she was asking, and she admitted to me her feelings for Nightlight. I told her to trust her instincts and wait for the right moment. She's smarter than she looks Ava, she can handle it." Ava smiled and nuzzled Bandit's neck. "You're right, you're always right. I love you Bandit." He smiled and wrapped his paw around her. "I love you too Ava, so much."

Nightlight padded through the pack's den sites, looking at his pack-mates as they talked about the daily news and what was being planned. They turned and tilted their heads in a gesture in respect as he passed them. He smiled and sighed as he made his way to his private hollow. He turned in a circle before lying down, resting his head on his paws. Bandit and Ava are so happy together, I just wish I had someone to love. He thought.

Though he had to admit, the whole affair gave him ideas of his own. Seeing how happy Bandit was with Ava, Nightlight wondered if love really did have that happy effect on all wolves. If love could bring happiness to him. And he began to think about a certain she-wolf who had always plagued his heart. Perhaps, with Pandora by his side, things would become alright for him. Perhaps, happiness was a reality he could grasp. And he resolved to talk to Pandora about it the next day. "Nightlight?" he looked up at the speaker. "Oh...hello Pandora. What do you need?"

Pandora bowed her head in respect. "I just wanted to talk to you, that is all." Nightlight rose to his paws, and stretched. "Very well. What did you want to talk about?" Pandora was silent for a moment then said, "I would like to discuss it with you, far from everyone else so no one will hear us. It's a private matter."

Nightlight, confused said nothing at first. "Alright, the river is a good place to talk. Let's go there." She nodded and turned away, they walked to the river in silence, the moon was now beginning to peak out in the east, and the herds would be bedded down for the night. Once they reached the river, they sat down at the edge. "So...what do you want to talk about?"

Nightlight asks looking at her. Pandora looks at him. "I know this is gonna sound odd, but I do believe that Hope has feelings for you." Nightlight looked dumbstruck. "Hope? You're kidding." Pandora shook her head. "I'm serious Nightlight, she shows it all too well. I'm surprised she hasn't said anything to you yet." Nightlight's tail tip flicked. "So am I, but it wouldn't really matter; mostly because I don't like her in that way. Sure she's nice, but she's not the one I love."

Pandora's eyes softened. "Well...is there someone in our pack that you do love?" Nightlight sighed, then looked at the stars for a second, then back to her. "There is someone in our pack yes. That one she-wolf who has plagued my heart for a while is...you. I've always had feelings for you Pandora...but I was afraid of being rejected by you, so I never said it to you. Now you know, I love you." Pandora said nothing at first, then she nuzzled his neck. "I don't know exactly what I feel for you...but I feel it more strongly for you than anyone else... more than my father...I think I love you too..."

Nightlight wrapped his paw around her and gently hugged her. "We shouldn't tell Hope about this...I know she'll be heartbroken but Pandora...just know that I'll never forget this moment; and I'll never forget about you either. I promise." Pandora took a step back and licked his cheek lovingly. "Neither will I. I'll see you tomorrow." She turned and padded back to the dens, and Nightlight watched her go. He looked at the stars and said softly, "Mother, please watch over her. Let her know that she isn't alone, and that I'll always be with her; until the end of time."

He said his peace to the stars and walked back to the dens. He curled up in his own private hollow, and made sure to let Pandora know the next day that she could sleep with him in his den from now on; his main problem now was that he had to deal with Hope, and he knew it would end up badly.