The more time passes the more Love wants me to be ‘home’ away from the dangers of the outside world. For the past two years, we’ve been fighting more and more. I growled softly as I stalked the next rabbit, I’ve been away from the Pack Den for more than a week on a mission to track down a wolf that has gone AWOL from a neighbouring pack a few towns over. I’m in a Stick Pack meaning I’m the only new Delta in the pack of experienced Delta’s, it’s for experience on future missions. So far I’ve been on 5 Stick missions only two of them were failures.

We’re all assigned code names on the Stick Pack, these code names identify what our job is.

Delta Alpha, is the leader of the Stick Pack. They make all the decisions and where to go. There is only one leader.

Delta Beta, the second in command and the trusted counsellor to the Delta Alpha. Up to two Beta’s, they are Beta Wolf’s Name.

Delta Ace, handles human interactions and commands the Pack into position when the target is found in a human-populated area. Up to four Ace’s, they are Ace North, Ace East, Ace West and Ace South

Delta Point, tracks the scents of the targets. Up to two Points, they are Point Black and Point White.

Delta Hunter, leads the hunt when the target is found. Only one Hunter.

Delta Soul, the remaining pack members. Up to Five Souls and they are Numbered Souls.

My Stick pack has a Delta Alpha, Delta Beta, Delta Ace North and Delta Ace South, Point Black, Delta Hunter and Soul 1 and Soul 2.

I dropped my four rabbits beside Soul 1 whose job it was to cook tonight, shifting to my human form I started to skin the freshly caught rabbits and handed them over to Soul 2 who was cutting them up and handing them to Soul 1. Further ahead with the Hunter and Ace South the Alpha and Beta were speaking with one another.

“We should have brought a better Point or at least another Point,” Beta growled lowly to the Alpha attempting to keep their voices in a whisper. Flicking my ear in annoyance and self-hatred, I can just tell they were looking at me. I’ve lost the scent more than twice and the Stick Pack was getting irritated. How was I supposed to find a Wolf like this I don’t even think anyone can find the scent after a week.

“You have too many scents, they are clouding your soul with its fowl mist,” Soul 2 said in a grizzly growl-like voice I huffed in frustration like this was going to be of any help. “Focus on that one, that one that doesn’t belong in the night. It will linger and go quiet to hunt.”

“How can I find it again?” I tried to keep my voice even hoping that he would help me figure it out.

“Listen to yourself, calm your thoughts and quell that fire in your paws. One breath at a time,” I slowed my breathing down and focused on the scents around me searching. All I smell is the delicious scent of rabbits and fresh pine that I and the rabbits had kicked up in our chase. “It’s in the ground now and only sinking deeper. We don’t have much time Point Black.”

While the Stick ate and rested I searched for the missing Target’s trail keeping in mind what Soul 2 had told me. Removing the scents that belonged to the forest and only focusing on our scent and a different scent that was fading. Was that it? Lowering my nose I took a deeper breath, it was dog and, was that blood? Is the dog injured? Aside from that Soul 2 was right, it really was in the ground and sinking. This was the Target, I’m sure of it!

“Point Black has found something,” I heard Soul 1 bark before I could inform the Stick and soon the Stick Pack was behind me.

“Point Black take point,” Delta Alpha ordered and I started to move swiftly, locked on the fading scent. We kept the pace for the rest of the night until dawn started to rise, I can feel my sore paws starting to tremble with each step my legs threatening to fall beneath me.

“The scent is two, Delta Alpha,” Soul 2 said as we slowed our run but continued so that none of us would collapse from exhaustion, “we gain one more day of wind should catch us up.”

“Point Black, what do you think?” Alpha called to me and I stopped to wait for them to be beside me before I spoke.

“Target is injured, hungry. I would think they’ve searched for shelter to patch themselves up and rest from his pursuers. Close to water or an area with water nearby since travel would be too difficult while Target heals.”

“Understood, Delta Souls scout the area, Point Black track the Target to its shelter...” I turned and started to follow the scent as I was given the order. I ran for an hour and slowed down when the scent was at its strongest. It defiantly was a wolf, our missing Target. I was about to howl until I heard Ace North do it. North moved forward and we waited for the Target to let us in his territory or for the rest of the Stick to reach us. I was so happy that I tracked the Target down and the exhaustion was starting to hit hard.

“What do you want,” a large dark and light grey wolf growled. It looks like we caught him before he could move again. But why met us when they could have just run? This was odd or maybe he was waiting for us.

“Your pack has sent us to retrieve and return you,” Ace North said. The Target snorted but looked at us carefully his gaze lingering on me for a few moments before stating.

“I don’t want to go back,” he growled baring his fangs. Figures, he thinks were weak just because of me and how I look. What does my small size have to do with my strength? Almost makes me want to tear the pelts off of all these wolves just to prove a point.

“We know,” North said not at all bothered by the threatening defensive display of the Target.

“Then why have you come?” I shifted my paws to relieve them from their soreness, now that I think about it I haven’t eaten in 44 hours.

“Negotiations. If you will.” Delta training was surely paying off, any normal wolf would have collapsed from lack of food for so long. The pack was always full-fed no matter what, even during the incident after the Rouge Attack.

“What do I get out of it?” Still don’t know what had happened during that time, if anything I’ll find out later so that I’ll know how to deal with the situation. The effects of it were still lingering, not much food is being pushed out anymore if the small meals Love was making were any indication.

“Your freedom if that is what you want,” I tuned back to the conversation at the word ‘freedom’ surprised that Ace North would say such a thing. We were only supposed to retrieve and return. Weren’t we?

“What do you get?” This was odd, I looked to North wondering what was going on. He never looked at me so I looked at the Target. He was injured, and the pack would wait until he was healed unless it was a small pack where everyone needs to work even the old. Was that it? Because the Target was injured they would leave him to die or kill him upon return. That had to be it, I remember the Delta’s talking that not many packs were as lenient as ours.

“Why you want to be free,” the Target thought watching us wearily then nodded signalling that we can enter. Ace North walked in first followed by myself, Target lead us to his makeshift den and sat outside, Ace North sat down and I took it as my cue to lay down. The travel was starting to catch up with me, every muscle and bone ached my sore pads also complained but were relieved to finally have rest.

“Your Point Blank is very good for not having their heat,” I heard Target ramble some other words but I could hardly hear them. Ace North also said some things but I practically tuned them out and went into Delta Survival mode. That means that any aggression shown towards me or my pack was to be wiped out or taken out immediately.

“Point Black,” I looked to Ace North and waited for my next order. “The Stick has arrived, you were permitted to let them in.”

Nodding I sat up and gave a howl that I figured was weak to my ears, “Sorry, I’m tired,” I stated and laid back down once again switching modes. It was a few moments before the rest of the Stick arrived and I smelled something foul. I looked to North and saw his aggressive posture towards Target and understood what was happening or what I thought was happening. Target was attacking. I stood up and growled at the Target and launched myself at him, it was a mistake and he knocked me down easily. Survival overruled and I took a hold of the loose skin around his neck and pulled him towards me and pushed up with my back legs. I rolled with him and held his neck down with my left, letting the skin fall from my fangs I growled in the Target’s face forcing a submission.

“I-I yield! I’m sorry!” Target submitted and I let him go with a warning growl and a quick snap of my jaws towards his ear. Ace North pushed me away and towards my resting place.

“Never! And I mean, Never challenge a Delta regardless of gender!” North growled in the Target's face, I’m now on alert and listened as much as I could to deduce it was safe to rest. “Most importantly never use pheromones to try and control one either. They are trained to ignore it and take it as a challenge.”

Ah, so that’s what that was. Target was trying to control me. I laid back down hoping to at least get a few more minutes of rest. At the time it never occurred to me to question North’s logic of my ignoring the pheromones. Not until he brought it up when we had reached home.

Growling at the sound of howling so close to my makeshift den I pondered if I should meet with the wolf or run. The thing was I ran for days without rest and my dogs were barking, not to mention my slow healing scrape wasn’t getting any better. I think it has to do with my lack of food around here. Why did I leave my Omega mate behind? I should have forced her with me.

Huffing as I trekked to their last known position, surprisingly they stayed put. I made sure to keep out of their scent range even their best Point Blank will not be able to detect me until it was too late. Looks like an Omega and an Alpha. Strange, the Omega looks weak so does the Alpha. These were not combat-trained wolves of their Delta unit. Are they just passing by and wanted to rest somewhere?

Stepping out I growled at them asking what they wanted. Turns out I was wrong, they are Delta’s but why such a weak-looking duo? They must be the Point Blank and a Direction. Those were the only ones on the pack that was weak.

Allowing them in was easy, and hey since the Alpha was weak I’ll take the Omega as a souvenir for my troubles. At least I hope that weak pup can hunt a good meal, if not then I’ll just make it a meal for my liking.

I sat outside my den and waited for the Direction to speak, a few moments a howl was heard. I really don’t want to bother with them so I let the Alpha do the howling. What was surprising was that the Alpha let the Omega howl. Was this Alpha really that weak to let an Omega do the howling?

When the Omega howled I flinched and it looked like the Alpha did as well. How did such a weak pup like that how such a strong howl?

“Sorry, I’m tired,” the Omega said. Tired? Was that howl supposed to be weak? Or did he think it was weak? What in the world was strong for this pack?

This was the Golden Wolf. Who could pass up an opportunity to have such a rare wolf beside them? I want it.

‘Come to me, Pup. I’ll give you everything you ever want. Come to me and leave your pack behind.’ Oh, the weak Alpha stood up and started to growl. Oh how scary, ‘Get rid of your Alpha, Pup. That’s it come to me,’ I smirked at the Alpha at my victory but it was soon short-lived as the Omega tried to attack me. ‘You need to be taught a lesson,’ I knocked the Omega to the ground easily. Such a weak pup, I’m glad it wasn’t trained. I stepped forward and placed a paw on its neck and growled.

Suddenly the world was on my back and the sky was looking grey. The black wolf growled in my face and I flinched, suddenly feeling the strong paw on my neck. He was trying to suffocate me.

After my surrender I tried not to tremble too much, the Direction barked in my face and I soon understood how strong this pack really was. I should be thanking them that they haven’t been sent here to kill me.

Oh, I’m a terrible host. Food. They need food.

“I shall hunt, you all rest,” I said and stood to go to the forest to hunt something edible down.

“Soul 1 go help him, two wolves are better than one. We’ll leave our Point Black to rest,” the Alpha? Was he allowed to be called that after what Point Blank did? Never mind pack problems, not mine.

I woke to soft dripping and some movement beside me.

“The warmth of the den calls,” the wolf beside me said, I nodded and stood stretching. “The chill is setting swiftness is needed for the pot that calls to the stomach.”

I followed Soul 2 into the den and Target lead me towards the food and a comfy spot in the back of the den. I ate the full rotisserie rabbit comfortably and gave the last few bites to Target as an apology. North also stated that it was so and a few other words that I care not to listen to. Closing my eyes I listened to the soft hum of the rain and soon fell back to sleep.

I woke up and sat at the mouth of the den, it was still raining but it felt so good to be outside of the North Waters border. I haven’t ventured this far from the pack before, it was so beautiful. I heard movement behind me and swivelled my ears towards the approaching sound.

“Good job finding me Point Blank,” it was Target. He had strange names for us, I guess that’s what we're called in his pack.

“Hello, what does Point Blank do in your pack?” I asked.

“It’s what we called the trackers in my Scout Pack. I’m also a Point Blank, could track anyone down with a week-old scent. Two days is your limit at the moment correct? It will be two weeks when you’ve had your first heat. Everything gets stronger after your first heat or rut. How long have you been training yourself to block out pheromones?”

“Classified, what Ace North told you is all you need to know,” I said lying. I’m not supposed to reveal information beyond my Stick or my Pack.

“Understood. Your Direction is a good pup, didn’t think we’d come to an agreement so quickly. Unfortunately, my pack won’t stop until I’m gone, I fear that they are already out there waiting.”

“So that’s what I’m sensing, do worry we’ll protect you. For now rest, because once the rain lets up a battle for your freedom will be held.”

I woke the Alpha and told him what was about to happen from there he and the Beta devised a plan while the rest of us watched when the rain will stop.