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A cold breeze flowed through an ancient forest ruffling the fur of a young gray-wolf. His sensitive nose tested the air for the scent of his prey. Crunchy leaves, scattered loosely across the forest floor, did little to betray the soft steps of the young wolf. Forty yards ahead of him was a rare white eleem. Even with the cold of autumn closing in around the beast it lay comfortably in the breezy forest clearing. For the young wolf this was an opportunity too good to pass up.

The edge of the clearing was still dark with the lingering shadows of the elongated morning. The sun had yet to pierce the naked leafless canopy of ancient trees. The wolf watched from the cover of darkness and gauged his target. This eleem was young and fit. Its long branched antlers still showed signs of growth. The pungent scent of the beast's male musk filled the small clearing; advertising his desire to mate. It was a signal to eager females, but also to hungry wolves.

Before his prey had time to realize how close he had crept the young wolf decided to attack. In one blindingly fast strike he lunged forward, caching the eleem off guard, and sank his sharp fangs into the beast's neck! The sensation of crushing his prey's windpipe, the spray of hot blood into the wolf's mouth, and the tearing of strong flesh between his fangs marked the end for the beast and a victory for the young hunter.

But the eleem was hardly weak prey. Seconds after being attacked it sprang to its hooves, shook the wolf from its neck, and surged towards the tree line. The wolf quickly recovered from the violent throes of the wounded beast. As he gave chase to his dying prey he let loose a triumphant victory howl. The chase was on, but the wolf knew his prey would soon fall. In just a few moments little Paw-Walker would be standing over his first kill!

Paw-Walker chased the wounded eleem for about a half mile before he sensed the presence of his mate behind him. Steel-Fur woofed happily when he saw his young mate, but the elder wolf quickly caught the blood trail of the eleem and his body language changed. Trailing not far behind Steel-Fur was Silver-Fang and Black-Fang. The two wolves had been constant companions ever since the pack had turned Silver into a long-fang.

In another half mile the twins had caught up with them, and not far behind them came the last member of the pack. Swift-Paw was hardly old enough to be out hunting to begin with, but his unnatural growth spurt had earned him the early right to hunt. Walker had been enraged that Steel had allowed Swift-Paw to join their pack. He wasn't even a real gray-wolf, but that didn't seem to matter much when your pack was all that was left of the gray wolves to begin with.

Swift-Paw or not this was Paw-Walker's hunt now! After another quarter mile the eleem finally fell, and the gray-wolf pack descended on it like... like a pack of wolves. Steel, who still treated Walker like he was a cub, placed his mate between his legs and gave him an alpha's pick of the best meat on the beast.

The other wolves ate more than their fill, and when the feast was over everyone had gorged on the sweet flesh of the white eleem. Steel was the first to let loose a call to eat howl for any other wolves around. Walker listened proudly beneath his alpha as Steel advertised Paw-Walker's white eleem. Even a pack of long-fang hunters couldn't eat a whole eleem by themselves! More than one howl echoed from the surrounding forest in response to the news. Pretty soon the whole timber-wolf clan would know Paw-Walker had made his first kill and what sort of beast it was.

Steel reached out with his arms and hand-paws, grabbing the glowing cub and starting to slowly clean the blood out of his fur. Walker protested with an annoyed cub-like yip, but he was hardly strong enough to escape his mate's arms. Steel licked blood and gore from his little mate's fur with the passion of a dedicated lover. Unfortunately, when Steel wasn't around to do it there was always another wolf who didn't mind.

Eventually the timber-wolves, who had been in the immediate area, showed up and had their fill of the carcass. Each wolf congratulated Steel and then Walker before they approached the kill. It was more of a formality than an actual requirement, but it showed the respect the other wolves had for Steel and his mate.

Chapter 1, Pomp and circumstance

Walker stood rigidly still as Dire-Fang, high alpha of Clan Timber-Wolf, dipped his claw into the mysterious black liquid in the ancient stone bowl below him and raised his claw to Walker's face. The pain of Dire-Fang's claw digging into Walker's flesh would have made a lesser wolf cry out, but Walker knew better than to whimper and whine during such an important ceremony.

Instead of focusing on the pain Walker thought back to the days when he had first come to Wolf World. He really had been a cub back then, even if his human mind was ready to be an adult. Four years later Paw-Walker was the youngest wolf to ever hunt a white eleem, and now he was getting his first honor mark! All around him the other wolves had gathered. Moon-Song and her sister Snow-Song sat beside Blue-Brook; looking on proudly as their protégé was recognized as a noble for both his first kill and what the wolves called the hunter's rite.

Killing one of the sacred beasts was considered a feat of great strength and skill. Wolves twice Walker's age didn't have the honor of hunting a rare white eleem. Steel watched his young mate from behind Dire-Fang. Walker thought he could see the pride beaming off gray-furred wolf from where he was standing.

All those days spent hunting and learning the rites and rituals of the wolves seemed to swirl through Walker's mind. Steel had four marks to Walker's one, and Walker still remembered seeing his mate come home bloody and wounded from fighting the Shadow-Clan. Each mark was a reward from a great battle with the coyote. It seemed like only yesterday when Steel and the Timber-Wolves had learned how to fight the shadow-clan with their howls.

Walker's mind returned to the ceremony at hand as Dire-Fang put his hand-paws on the young wolf's shoulder and spoke softly. "Seeing you here today brings us all great hope little Paw-Walker. In these dark times all wolves need to see that no wolf is too small to do great things!"

Walker nodded in respect, but the whole too small part hurt his pride just a little. It seemed like no matter what Walker did he was just destined to be a runt. Sure, he was just as fast and skilled at hunting as the other wolves, but when it came to strength and size Walker was sadly lacking.

Steel said it was because he was small as a human, and that it made him a small wolf in turn. Even after learning how to control his shape better Walker still couldn't grow bigger and smaller like the other long-fangs could.

As the ceremony ended Paw-Walker stood between Steel and Dire-Fang as the other wolves walked by the nobles and congratulated him. After living with the clan for four years Walker was able to recognize almost every wolf he met. Even the other long-fangs seemed to see him in a new light. Walker hoped it might help his standing in his own pack a little. Walker was far from being the omega, but he wouldn't mind some more respect from his pack mates and some of the older wolves around the clan hold.

Once the procession was over Walker went up to the top of the clan-hold with the other nobles. Lately Walker and Steel had been alternating sleeping with the elders and the rest of their pack, but tonight Walker couldn't escape the small party being held for him by his and Dire-Fang's pack. "Looks like that hurt more than you let on," A young brown-furred wolf said as he loped up to Walker.

"I can handle pain," Walker said evenly as he looked at Swift-Paw out of the corner of his eye.

Walker couldn't help but smile as everyone from the two packs showed up along with a few long-fang warriors who had been invited. Dire-Fang's pack consisted of Moon-Song, Snow-Song, Blue-Brook, Black-Paw, and his mate Red-Tooth. Brown-Snout had shown up with his mate and alpha who was called White-Ear. Steel, and the rest of Walker's pack, were there too. Black-Fang and Silver-Fang, who were mated now, the twins Ruff and Tuff, and Swift-Paw, who had only recently joined the gray-wolf pack.

This many wolves on top of the clan hold tended to make a lot of noise, and that gave more than a few other wolves a chance to slip into the party. The wolves on Wolf World had a unique coveted fruit, that only the long-fangs could pick, called Fire Fruit. For special events and parties the long-fangs would pick a ton of the fruits and put it out for the other wolves. Fire Fruit had the same effect as alcohol on the wolves.

The long-fangs would crush the fruit up with rocks and then lap up the juices. Since all the elders could change shape, or were long-fangs themselves, drinking Fire Fruit was pretty normal, but for the other wolves it was a rare treat. Walker had quickly discovered that he didn't care for the stuff, and for some reason most of his pack seemed to avoid it. Something about the taste turned their stomachs. Since his whole pack didn't like the fruit there was plenty to go around.

As much as Walker would have loved to escape to the quiet of the lower warrens, or maybe join a scout out in the forest, his alpha wasn't having any of that business tonight. Steel stood proudly over his mate in the middle of the swirling mass of wolves eagerly trading words with the rest of the clan. Walker almost regretted the whole ordeal now that he had to deal with so much exposure.

While Steel was busy talking to some long-fangs about Walker's hunt earlier that day a familiar and friendly face caught Walker's eye. "Brown-Snout," Walker said as he wriggled away from Steel to say high to his old friend. "I'm surprised you're not nose deep in the Fire-Fruit!"

Brown-Snout crinkled his nose as he turned to sniff in the direction of the fruit, "I never did care for that stuff," he said and turned to the large wolf beside him. "Anyways, I promised White-Ear that I would introduce you to him," Brown-Snout said and turned to his mate.

"By the moons, this is an honor!" The young long-fang warrior said as he stepped forward for Walker to sniff him. Once the introductions were over the excited wolf turned to Brown-Snout and tackled his mate excitedly. "When Brown-Snout told me he was friends with you and Steel-Fur I could hardly believe my ears!"

"It's true, Brown-Snout used to take care of me in the warren when I first came to the clan hold," Walker explained.

White-Ear looked around before he turned to Walker and whispered, "is it true that you come from another land? Some of the other long-fangs tell stories of this world you are from and of the magic they have there!"

Walker almost laughed. There was no magic on earth, but he was sure that from how Steel described their short stay on earth that some things would seem like magic to the untrained eye. "Every word of it," Walker said and grinned, "but do you know what's the strangest part of my home lands?" Walker asked.

White-Ear shook his head and waited in anticipation for whatever Walker said next. Brown-Snout just rolled his eyes at his mate and alpha for acting this way. "What is it!?" White-Ear asked impatiently.

"Back home we have water and light that appears whenever we want them! We live in large wooden dens called houses, and on top of all that you can get food whenever you want it. In fact we eat when we're hungry. Nobody ever has to hunt or kill animals at all," Walker said and smiled at the look White-Ear gave him.

"By the moons, where does all this magic come from?" He asked and looked at Brown-Snout who shrugged.

"It's just how my home lands work," Walker said casually.

"Do you think Steel would let our pack go there one day? If you ever go back that is?" White-Ear asked.

"I don't know," Walker said and cocked his head to the side as he thought about it. "Steel always said that when I was older we could go back to earth and start a clan there."

"We should be going, we can't take up all of young Walker's time," Brown-Snout said and White-Ear was suddenly serious again.

"It was an honor meeting you nose to nose Paw-Walker," he said and nodded to Walker.

"I hope to see you two again sometime," Walker said and nodded as the two wolves made their way back into the crowd.

Seeing Brow-Snout with such a strong young mate made Walker happy. White-Ear was a powerful and muscular long-fang. With Brown-Snout's age and wisdom the two made a great pair. Last Walker had heard they had another four wolves in their pack! They were a young pack, but they had status due to Brown-Snout's experience and his favor with the elders.

Ever since Walker had come to Wolf World the wolves who were directly involved in teaching and caring for him had been given more status. As he had grown the elders had heaped rewards on Brown-Snout and many of the long-fangs that helped watch after Walker while Steel was away fighting. When the warriors were around they took turns teaching Walker. Those who spent the most time around him quickly grew into powerful wolves. Nobody had yet discovered why Walker had that effect on other wolves, but there were some wild rumors traded around the clan hold about him. He tried his best to ignore rumors when he could.

As the morning hours crept closer the wolves began to tire. Eventually Steel and Walker were alone, and like most every night Steel pulled Walker into his arms before curling around him. Usually Walker found sleep quickly in his mate's arms, but tonight something was bugging him. "Steel," Walker whispered, "Steel, are you awake?"

"I am now," the elder gray-wolf growled softly.

"Today one of the wolves asked me about Earth," Walker said and looked at his mate above him.

"What did you tell him?" Steel asked.

"About lights and running water... and fast food," Walker said and frowned.

Steel was silent for a while before he spoke again, "What did they say about those things?"

"It was Brown-Snout and his mate. They seemed interested in earth," Walker said and studied his mate's face for possible insight on what he might be thinking.

Steel seemed to be looking off into the distance but Walker knew he was just thinking. "It has been a long time since we left your home world. We might want the check back in on things now that everything is going well here."

"But if we leave now then who will protect our lands from the Shadow Clan?" Walker asked.

"There are plenty of wolves around who wouldn't mind the extra hunting grounds. We could leave this place to our cousins and start a clan back on earth," Steel suggested more to himself than Walker.

Walker snuggled into his mate's shaggy gray chest fur as a mighty yawn caught him in its grasp. Steel chuckled at the cub-like actions of his mate. Walker never ceased to pull at the strings of Steel's heart. Even when he watched him stalking through the forest like a true wolf Steel couldn't help but to see the cub he had fallen in love with. "Good night Steel," Walker said sleepily.

"Good night Paw-Walker," Steel whispered as he settled down and slept with his head resting on Walker's.

...

Morning crept across Timber-Wolf Hold bringing with it the echoing call of the morning howl. The song started as a few scouts howling on the outskirts of the territory and slowly worked its way towards the clan hold. As the song reached their ears the wolves woke and sang a song known simply as the morning song. It was a sad song bidding the moon goodbye and greeting the new day. Walker awoke to the licks of his mate as his fur was cleaned. "Aw, Steel!" Walker said as he yawned and looked up at his mate who took extra care to lick the black marks on Walker's face. "I'm not a cub anymore Steel!" Walker said and pushed away from his mate.

"You'll always be my cub little Walker," Steel said between licks as he held Walker in his huge furry arms.

A chuckle from the other side of the rock made Walker blush with embarrassment as Dire-Fang and his mate arrived. They were followed by Swift-Paw, Black-Paw, and the three females. Dire-Fang chastised his son with a low growl; "Swift-Paw," Dire-Fang growled at the unnaturally large young wolf. "You dishonor Paw-Walker with your levity."

Walker managed to push his head up through Steel's arms to watch as Swift-Paw tucked his tail and whined a submissive apology to his father and high-alpha. "I meant no disrespect Dire-Fang," he said as he looked down and away from the massive wolf.

"Walker has earned his first marks and is no longer in your station. I have spoken to Steel at length about you joining the gray-wolf pack, and I have decided that you will make a fitting omega for Steel and his pack," Dire-Fang said loud enough for everyone on top of the clan hold to hear.

"It's an honor to be part of such a powerful noble pack," Swift-Paw replied without betraying his inner turmoil. No wolf truly wanted to be an omega in any pack, but Swift-Paw wouldn't dare argue with the high alpha of his clan.

"I know," Dire-Fang growled and looked over at Moon-Song who coyly walked over to her son and his father.

"I see you have grown quite strong," Moon said and licked Swift-Paw once on his nose. "I am pleased to have such a large strong son," she said and looked up at Dire-Fang.

Walker had only recently learned that Swift-Paw was the first born son of Dire-Fang and Moon-Song. He was not noble-born because there had been no females in his litter. His station was that of a warrior, and he had already started training with his father. From what Walker knew of Dire-Fang he could only assume that the elder timber-wolf was a stern teacher. "Your praise honors me mother," Swift-Paw said and seemed to straighten a bit despite his father's stern glare.

Walker wriggled free from his mate while the other wolves talked. He made his way to Swift-Paw and nodded his greeting to the young wolf. "Good morning High-Alpha Dire-Fang," Walker said with perfect poise, tone, and posture required for such a greeting. He walked casually up to the elder in a way that only a noble ever could. Approaching either Steel or Dire-Fang like that would be a death sentence for a lesser wolf.

"Sun's greetings noble Paw-Walker," Dire-Fang said as he looked at and nodded to Walker, "I have some words for you little brother."

Judging by his body language Walker knew Dire-Fang wanted to speak to him privately. Walker nodded respectfully and followed the elder down the side of the clan hold towards the tree line. This early in the morning nobody was really up and moving around except for the morning hunters and scouts. As soon as the two wolves were beyond the tree line Dire-Fang stopped and turned to Walker. "I know you don't care for Swift-Paw," Dire-Fang said in a stern voice as he turned and sat down to look at the smaller wolf before him.

Frankly Walker hadn't been expecting the High-Alpha to bring up the politics between two lower ranking wolves. "He is a strong warrior and an excellent hunter," Paw-Walker said evenly, but his scent revealed that there was more to his feelings than he said.

"He also made his first kill before you," Dire-Fang said and smiled as Paw-Walker cringed.

"I am aware of that," Walker said and looked down to avoid the eyes of the elder.

"I know this may sound strange coming from an elder such as myself, but I was hoping that you would personally turn my son, and welcome him into your pack as your first long-fang son," Dire-Fang said seriously. Walker was at once struck by the gravity in his voice.

"I... it's an honor, but..." Walker stumbled for the appropriate words, "is it not the right of the pack alpha to turn new members?"

"Steel and I both agree that the honor of turning Swift-Paw should be yours. If you are willing that is, little brother," Dire-Fang replied. Dire-Fang put a particular emphasis on Walker's pet name, which only the elders called him by. In the language of the wolves being called "little brother" was similar to being called little wolf or cute wolf.

Walker was so surprised by the request that he lost his usual noble composure. If he had been more observant he would have seen the amused look Dire-Fang gave him. There was no way to decline such a request from a high-alpha and not insult him in the process. As brazen as Paw-Walker could be when it came to wolf politics he had to think about his mate's honor when he dealt with the other elders. "If it is your will I would be honored," Walker replied weakly.

There was a rumor going around that Walker's seed could make even the smallest runt into a powerful long-fang. Dire-Fang had been cautious about exposing his clan to the gray wolves so far, but there was plenty of evidence to support the claims that the gray-wolves were both bigger and stronger than their timber-wolf cousins.

A week after being turned the twins had grown like weeds and were now just as big as Swift-Paw. Back-Fang and Silver-Fang were just a little smaller than Steel-Fur when he shrank his smallest size. Even Paw-Walker was starting to grow a little, but he still felt like a runt. If Swift-Paw turned out to be half the wolf his father was he would become an excellent warrior once he was turned into a long-fang. Joining the gray-wolf pack was an opportunity for the timber-wolves to see one of their own blood given the blessing of Walker's legendary mark.

Dire-Fang seemed to sense the turmoil inside the young wolf standing before him. He knew about Walker's reluctance to accept affection from males. In the four years he had been mated to Steel the small wolf hadn't once submitted himself to his mate, and it was commonly known that the only action Steel got with walker was the occasional opportunity to feed on his mate's seed. Some wolves believed it was because of how young Walker appeared, but the elders knew he was actually a few years older than most of their own cubs. It would be one thing for Walker to refuse mates if he was a lone wolf, but as a mated pair it was unheard of for a subordinate wolf to refuse an alpha's advances.

Neither Steel nor Walker knew the truth of Dire-Fang's intentions, but the elder High-Alpha had given Swift-Paw a direct command when he had told the young wolf that he wanted him to join Steel's Pack. Before Walker left Wolf World to return to his own world Dire-Fang wanted to see him mated properly with Steel in a ceremony known as the Ul-Terra. It was sort of like an official mating in front of one's clan. It was not possible for Steel to have such a ceremony with the state of his own clan. As the closest thing Steel had to a brother, Dire-Fang was determined to see him and Walker properly mated under Luna before they left for another world. In order for Walker to properly perform the Ul-Terra the young wolf would have to ask Steel to attend it, and that meant he would need to learn how to submit and make another wolf submit to him. That was where Swift-Paw came in...

Paw-Walker shifted nervously under the gaze of the timber wolf high-alpha. "So when should I turn him?" Walker asked nervously. "I've never turned a wolf by myself... Steel was always there to help me."

Dire-Fang didn't reveal his amusement to the wolf beside him. "The next full moon is tomorrow night," the high-alpha said and looked up the hill to where his son was sitting while Steel circled around him. It looked like the elder gray-wolf had some things to tell his new pack mate before he let the two young wolves out of his sight. "If you leave today you can reach the gray-wolf clan hold before nightfall," Dire-Fang said sternly. "It is customary for a wolf to be turned in a sacred place. Seeing as we are short on sacred places these days the old hold will have to do."

"Aren't there still coyote past the old clan hold?" Paw-Walker asked hesitantly. He was a good hunter, but he was no warrior.

"Swift-Paw is more than capable as a warrior, and if he cannot protect you than he is not worthy of being part of your pack," Dire-Fang said roughly in a low growl. Paw-Walker was a bit surprised by his words. He had heard of parents throwing their children to the wolves, but for Dire-Fang that was almost a literal saying. If Swift-Paw couldn't be the warrior his father wanted him to be he would never rise in rank or status. As his father's first-born son there must have been a huge amount of pressure on the young wolf. Walker almost felt sorry for the half grown cub standing rigidly on the hill top in respect to Walker's mate. What Walker had been so casually given--love, acceptance, status, and respect--Swift-Paw was expected to earn claw over paw!

There wasn't much else to say. Paw-Walker nodded and Dire-Fang led him back up the hill to his alpha mate. Steel looked more grave and serious than he had before any of the battles he had gone to before. He was even a bit rough when he grabbed Walker by the scruff and carried him like a cub to the tree line where they could share a moment of privacy. "I don't like this," he said roughly with a low and savage growl in his voice. Walker knew better than to interrupt his alpha when Steel was like this, so he just sat submissively before him. "Dire-Fang is scheming something, but he won't tell me what his plans are," Steel growled and pulled Walker closeer to him. "I know I haven't always been the best alpha, and I probably am too soft on you Walker, but I..." Steel trailed off as his eyes softened and his expression shifted to that of an overprotective lover. "...I love you Walker," he said softly and looked into Walker's eyes.

Walker didn't respond. He never did when Steel got this way. Even after four years of living with the wolves a distant part of Walker still held on to who he had been before. He still hoped somewhere in the back of his head that he could go back to how things were before all this mess had happened. When Walker didn't respond to those words Steel resumed his usual cold face and hard stare. This was the wolf Walker knew... the one he thought he preferred.

"You don't have to go," Steel said at last. "You're not a wolf... Ben..." Steel said in a slightly more desperate voice.

Walker... Ben... was confused. Steel NEVER called him by his human name. Steel also had never used Walker's previous life as an excuse to exempt him from his duties in this one. "For the honor of our pack," Walker said softly and looked into his mate's eyes, "I'll do my duty."

Steel didn't seem happy to hear the words his mate spoke, but he nodded regardless and kept his emotions to himself. It seemed that high-alphas were good at that. "I'm sorry," Steel said formally. "I did not mean to let my emotions cloud my thoughts... I should not judge you because you were born differently from my own kind."

Walker was saddened by Steel's words. The familiar warmth and love were gone from the elder wolf and replaced by a cold unemotional exterior. It reminded Walker of how Dire-Fang treated Red-Tooth. There was a formal respect between the pair even when they shared their rare intimate moments. It was nothing like how Steel had treated Walker every day of their lives together. "I suppose I should be going now..." Walker said and looked up at the clan hold through the tree line.

As the young wolf turned to walk out of the trees he didn't notice Steel lagging behind him a few steps. The Alpha's face was momentarily broken by the sort of sadness that you only felt when you loved someone with all your heart and feared that the other person didn't love you back. The look only lasted a moment. A single glance at the smaller wolf in front of Steel made his powerful alpha instincts kick in again. No matter what his inner feeling for Walker were it was his duty to be sure his mate was safe and happy. Even if Walker never truly loved him back Steel just wasn't the sort of wolf who could put his devotion to his lover aside.