Alpha's Blood (Book One)

A promised future

Nothing. Artemis had found nothing of who the pups mother was or where she had gone. The sun was setting as she headed back to the cave her ears lowered in defeat but her stance still angered. The scent of her mother welcomed her but as she looked to meet the gaze of the alpha she saw anger and dominance. Narrowing her own eyes but not lowering her gaze, she welcomed the challenge. The sounds of the pack stirring among them saw to the whispers forming, the whimpering of pups echoed in the cave. Rosemary stood behind Ashanti with the pup in her jaws, it was clear what was happening.
"What are you doing with my pup?" Her green eyes filled with anger as she lifted her lips in a deep snarl.
"This is Rona's pup. The medic of Silverfalls." Ashanti keep herself poised and calm in the face of her daughters anger. "We are returning her to the pack. You may join if you like."
Artemis felt her anger subside as an idea formed in her mind. If she went with them, she could ask the mother herself why she abandoned the precious pup. Nodding, she looked to Rosemary and let sadness fill her eyes at the sight of Saba. "Only if I carry her."
Rosemary moved forward and handed off the pup to Artemis before going back beside Ashanti. In turn, the alpha female nodded and started off towards the enemy pack. Artemis sighed as she put the pup carefully on her back so the pup could enjoy the ride back at least. She kept her eyes on her mother as she felt the pup's paws move among her back fur. The journey was quiet, but the scent of the border surrounded the white she-wolf and she then lifted her head. Her mother sat still, seeming to wait for a patrol before continuing. Artemis let the pup down and looked to Saba her eyes sad. She pushed it aside and playfully nuzzled the pup before running ahead her tail wagging. Saba laughed and looked up at Artemis who now stood a few feet before her. Snarling playfully, she ran after her as the sun furthered it's setting tone. The pup tackled the white wolf carefully rolling with her in the ground laughing loudly until a sharp clearing of the throat made them stop. Ashanti looked to them with annoyance in her eyes, making Artemis snap her jaws as she stood and moved back to them with the pup walking beside her. A patrol was near, the smell of them called to Artemis as she stood behind her mother, waiting now. The first wolf to appear was a reddish looking male she remembered from before. Azrial. She let her ears fall back as she recognized that Saba looked like the male. So he must be her father. Saba recognized him as well, as she tried to rush forth her tail wagging. "Daddy!"
Azrial looked to the pup in disgust and used his paw to knock her aside before snarling towards Ashanti and the others. "How dare you come in our territory, and bring this weakling here?"
Before Ashanti could speak, Artemis stepped forward a threatening snarl on her lips as she lifted her head in a show of dominance, her own stance growing calm but daring. "Take us to your alpha, that is all we wish." Seeing the sad pup she used her paw to bring the female close to her. "And if you touch Saba again, I'll feed you to the crows."
Azrial pinned his ears back as he snarled, before lifting his tail in signal. His patrol surrounded Artemis, Rosemary and Ashanti before moving forward. Picking up Saba in her jaws she carried the pup with her as she followed the reddish male to the packs denning area. No scent of Hades and now Artemis grew worried. Brock stood in the middle of the dens his eyes cold as she watched the wolves being escorted into his territory. Rona stood beside him, her black and red fur damp and messy. The entirety of the pack looked malnourished and tired most of them carried sickness in their barks and cough. It was clear the pack was dying, yet Brock did nothing for them? She couldn't allow this! She fought back a snarl as her ears pinned back and she met the alpha males gaze. The patrol subsided leaving Azrial before the small group. "They were waiting for us at the border."
Brock lifted his head and snarled, her dark cold eyes baring into Ashanti's. "Why are you here?"
The cream colored she-wolf stepped forward and stood in front of Artemis before she spoke. "A pup was found in our territory, our medic discovered she smelt of Rona, showing she is the pup of said wolf. We have returned her."
Rona growled are the mention of it being her pup. She whispered something to the alpha male who in turn snarled. "That pup was weak. She left it to the crows, how dare you return it!"
Ashanti looked shocked at the words spoken, but Artemis saw it coming. She put the pup down and stood over her with a loud dominating bark before letting growls resonate from her core. "Weak? The only thing I see weak is your pack that is falling apart! We offered help, and you refused, in turn letting your pack suffer! What kind of alpha are you?"
Ashanti snarled a warning but it was too late, Brock had stood and moved closer to the white female his eyes meeting hers and his teeth barred through a gritted snarl. "You'll regret that pup." He swished his tail in a fast motion, having Rona grab the pup before lunging forward to bite at Artemis's neck. She used her shoulder to block the bite taking his teeth into her bone. She returned a bite to his leg and pulled, getting him to the ground before biting into his muzzle causing him to release. A whimper left the male as she lifted her tail in a show of power. She growled through the bite and placed her paw on his neck and pushed down before releasing her teeth and looked up to his pack. "He's too weak to even defend himself! How can you follow an alpha who gets beat by a impregnated she-wolf?!" She let her green eyes fall on Rona, her tone softening a bit. "Stonehaven can protect all of you, we have land, food, water and durable alphas. Don't stay here and suffer, especially if you have pups to care for." She felt a presence at her side as she spoke, a burst of confidence rising in her chest as the smell of Hades overcame her. She didn't let it show as she saw her mother's cold glare, and the enemy pack stir with whispers and whines. Rona and many other moved closer to the group and stood behind them, a sign of joining, while many stayed rooted to their spots. Letting Brock up she snarled at the alpha male. "You had your chance, I will make sure they survive." Artemis turned and guided the wolves back toward her cave, Hades beside her with his head high.