Chapter 9

Dagger wasn't that far from his territory now, all he was thinking about was his pups. I have to tell Winter... I've been keeping it a secret from her for so long. The only reason he didn't tell her he had another she-wolf is because he knew it'd just end up breaking her heart.

He growled frustratingly, he hated himself for letting it go on for so long. When he reached the western border, Wolfen and Sky were already there, marking the boundaries.

Sky looked up and woofed a greeting to him, allowing him to pass. He nodded to them both, walking in and out of trees, greeting the other patrols as he made his way to the inner circle. When he reached it, the hunter's were resting under the trees, waiting until early dusk to hunt.

Winter was laying on the rock face in front of their hollow, Sparrow was in deep conversation with Rain, and Omega was tending to the growing pups. He took a deep breath, and made his way up to Winter. She turned her head in his direction, greeting him with a affectionate smile.

"Where have you been?" she asks, her ear flicked eagerly. Dagger settled himself down next to her, giving her cheek an affectionate lick. "I've been out... sending word to the other pack's about our son being missing," he replied, crossing his paws with his hips to the side.

Winter growled frustratingly. "You don't have to say no more... it's bad enough we haven't gotten anything decent about his location, and we still haven't found the wolves responsible for killing Chase,"

Dagger sighed, he knew it was a waste of time to look for Chase's killers. They could've been anybody. But that didn't matter, right now he needed to tell her the truth about Faith and Zara. "Winter... there's something I've been needing to tell you,"

She looked at him, confusion in her eyes. He cleared his throat and began to speak. "Before we met again, there was this other thing I was involved in. Something I had no control over. Believe me when I say this...I would never hurt you, but there was that other she-wol---"

His words were cut off by the sound of a warning howl. Aria was running up to them. "Alpha! An intruder has entered out territory!" Winter sprung up immediately, her fur puffed and her lips pulled back. "Where are they?" She asked threateningly. "Lance is bringing them here as we speak Ma'am." "You've done enough Aria, go back and make sure they're brought here."

Aria lowered her head submissively. "Yes Alpha." She turned and trotted away. Dagger got up too and growled annoyed, why did this need to happen now? He made his way to the circle, and saw Lance carrying a white wolf by the scruff in his jaws.

He flopped the wolf down and place a large paw on it's much smaller frame. It whined, both in fear and submission. When the wolf looked up Dagger almost yelped in shock. He immediately recognized the intruder as Peace, the blind she-wolf and Lightblood's litter-mate. Did she follow me here? Why?

Winter lowered her muzzle, and growled in her ear. "State your purpose here loner." Peace was shaking, her ears pulled back. Winter snarled. "I won't ask again!" "I-I want to join your pack! I know stuff that is useful for you!"

Peace stuttered. Lance snarled, "How should we no that? You could be a spy!" "I'm not a spy! How could I be?" "We should just kill her!" Shasta growled. "Yeah! One less competition to deal with!" Arrow agreed. "What else could she be hiding? It's not like--"

"ENOUGH!" Dagger roared, his alpha tone boomed in the clearing. Everyone, including Winter flinched at his voice. He bared his teeth, snarling and glared at them all in warning. Everyone sank to the ground and exposed their stomachs, except for Lance and Winter.

He shook himself. "Now this is ridiculous! Can't you see she's blind? How could she be a spy if she's blind? Don't you see how desperate and scared she is?! You should all be ashamed of yourselves!" Lance bent his head in shame, and the other's whined. "Release her Lance..." He growled and the young dire wolf just that. Peace got up slowly, her ears were fully back and her tail between her legs.

Dagger lowered his head and whined for her to come forward. She slowly moved forward, her body in a submissive posture the whole way. Dagger sighed at how scared she was. What did that pack do to her? If Lightblood was what I thought he was about her, did he not stop it frequently like he was supposed to?

"Th-Thank you," she whined, her blind eyes staring at him like she could see him. "It's okay Peace...I apologise for my pack. We're a little shaken at the moment..." He replied, all alpha hostility gone. Winter looked at him, her eyes wide in confusion. "Wait Dagger...you know her?" Dagger sighed. "Yes...I visited her pack today..." Arrow growled. "Is it the same pack I'm thinking about?" Dagger looked at him confused.

"The Ancient Water Pack! Where Lightblood is alpha!" Arrow growled, more irritated. Dagger looked shocked. He knew the pack? How did he know? "How do you even know that?" Dagger replied. "I followed you Alpha! No leader just leaves without telling their pack where they're going!" Arrow snarled.

Arrow was only a few inches smaller than Dagger, so he could easily keep eye contact with him. Dagger locked eyes with him. With his teeth bared, he raised his head and tail dominantly. Arrow growled, but looked away; knowing his place. "Dagger...why didn't you tell me?" Winter asked, her light blue eyes soft. "I didn't want to worry you..." "And you think that still wouldn't worry me? I was the one who sent Arrow after you!" She growled, a hint of hurt in her voice.

Dagger soften his eyes knowing this would happen. "I'm sorry Winter...I was going to tell you--" "Don't even! I know why..." Her eyes filled with tears, and they slowly ran down her furry cheeks. She turned and ran without another word. "Winter wait!" Dagger ran after her, only pausing to command to his beta. "Sparrow! Lead the pack while I'm gone!" She barked in answer as he bolted off after his mate.

Even though he was bigger, Winter had more stamina because she was only half-dire. She was a black speck ahead, and Dagger was slowing down, panting. "No..." He had to stop, panting. "God damn it!" He huffed. He had to catch his breathe. He'd still be able to find her.

Winter had a different scent from the other wolves. With her half-dire genes her scent was musky, but not dark. He stood up and shook himself. He started to continue, his nose to the ground as he followed Winter's scent. He slowly began to trot, looking up every now and then to make sure he was going the right way and to make sure he wasn't being followed.

He huffed and snorted, cursing at himself now and then for letting this happen. Within the next hour her scent was getting stronger, and he quickly got a look at his surroundings. He was still in the forest, but they were slowly turning into a into a small valley. "Winter?" he called, his ears twitching. There was no answer, so he continued to find her. When it was at it's strongest, he looked up and spotted her.

She was sitting in front of a small pond, her tail to the left of her flank. "Winter..." Dagger said again. She only acknowledge him with a flick of her ear. He whined, and lowered his head, slowly going up to her and sat down next to her. He saw the hurt in her eyes, and she growled sadly. "Who was she?" She asked not looking at him.

"She's Lightblood's sister love...I have no interest in her," "Tell me..." She looked up at him, her light blue eyes downcast. "Was they're someone else before me?" "What do you me--" "Did you have another female before me?" She curled her muzzle. She was upset...it wasn't her fault.

"I...I did. She and I were betrothed secretly to unite Lightblood's pack with my old one. I didn't love her at all, but I had no choice...later she....she and I had a daughter....Zara. I loved Zara, why wouldn't I? But when I saw you again, I wanted to be with you and only you...I didn't want to tell you because I knew you'd assume the worst. Zara is out there with Star and---"

"So you're saying our son is with his sister?" Winter was calming down, like she understood. "Yes... Lightblood ordered them to go kill Slash, then he'd let Star go..." Dagger bent his head and nuzzled her. "I'm so sorry I didn't tell you Winter...I was trying to protect you..." He whined sadly. Winter placed her paw on his, he looked at her with his devil red eyes. "I forgive you...I would've done the same..."

Dagger sighed with relief, he licked her forehead gently. "I love you Winter....so so much." She stood up and rubbed her head into his neck. "Not as much as I love you..." She whispered, giving his neck gentle licks... Dagger growled softly. "What do you say we get back to the pack? They're probably worried by now,"

She giggled softly. "Of course...I feel better." "You two aren't going anywhere...." A brutal voice spoke. Dagger turned around immediately, his face twisted into a snarl. A wolf was standing only a few feet away,and his apprentice almost made Dagger yelp in shock.

The wolf was black as night, he had a thick scar going across his face. His eyes were red...maybe even more red than Daggers. He had a spiked collar, but what was even more shocking was that he had wings...He was bigger than Winter, but he was still smaller than Dagger. The wolf raised his tail and gave an alarming bark.

The trees around them made noises, and soon a whole pack of wolves appeared through the trees... growling and snarling. Winter snarled in turn, putting herself back to back with her mate. "It seems you two showed up in the wrong place at the wrong time...." The wolf's face turned into an evil smiled, and he chuckled. It was deep and dark..."Winter...." He hissed through his teeth, "We're trapped...."