The blunt force to my side that hit me at full speed knocked the breath right out of me as I rolled and hit a tree. My fangs clanged together painfully in my head while my arms and legs became a tangled mess. Whining in pain, I clutched my abdomen as I tried to take in a breath. What had hit me? I noticed loud growls emitting from all around me as my pain became less mind-numbing. I cracked my eyes open to see massive paws not far from my face. Tracking up, I saw the most beautiful wolf in my entire life baring his massive white fangs down at me. Everything faded as I stared up into his angry black eyes. He was by far the most beautiful creature I had ever seen, with the appearance of soot blotches all over his body and black ears and black tipped tail. Slowly, his lips relaxed and began to cover his fangs, curiosity replacing his rage. Granted, I could understand why he might not be so happy with me at the moment. It probably hadn’t looked good, me chasing the pups through the woods, growling ‘wait’ over and over again. Looking over his shoulder, I realized that he was not alone—there were five other wolves staring at me with anger and disgust. I knew for sure that it was disgust because I’d seen that look so many times in my life before.

“I…” take a deep breath, “wasn’t trying to hurt them.” I gasped a little from my tender ribs. He’d really hit me hard. “I just didn’t want to lose the only chance at finding a pack.”

He stopped growling completely and watched me with calm dark orbs as his pack members kept a defensive stance around us. “How do I know you weren’t just caught?” His deep growling voice was similar to mine. In four form, vocal cords weren’t as strong and voices tended to be deeper, huskier, like that of this beautiful wolf in front of me. His voice captivated me, my heart fluttering pathetically in my chest while my tail tried to wag against the forest floor. I really liked this wolf. He’s so pretty, so pretty. Shit! Focus Ira, stop staring at the pretty Alpha!

“What are you?” he rumbled, completely trumping the last question.

Had to ask the most awkward questions, didn’t he?

“I’m a wolf, but I was born kind of stuck in between. I wasn’t trying to hurt them, I was looking for a new pack and then I saw them and I haven’t seen another wolf in weeks. Anyway, I’m sorry that I scared them, I didn’t mean to...scare them.” I pandered off, a sudden realization sticking a knife into my young budding hopes. What was I doing? A wolf like this would only see what everyone else saw—broken, a mistake. I looked down away from the wolf's strong gaze. Looking into those eyes and telling this beautiful creature I was a mistake was a big slap of reality. What had I been thinking going out on my own to find a new pack? Granted, my siblings would do the same thing, but I didn’t have the luxury of being normal.

There was a distinct pause before his deep voice responded. “You are different,” the ash wolf said with what seemed like surprise.

I glanced up at him and saw his black eyes looking all over my form, caressing every part of me before landing back on my face. I leaned up, still clutching my ribs, and used the tree for support against my back. We continued to stare at each other for some time—him trying to gauge how big a threat I was, and me trying to hold in my hopes. I would do anything to have a wolf like this one look at me like I wasn’t something that shouldn’t exist. I watched as he looked over his shoulder to the pups, who were shivering behind one of the wolf’s legs, their eyes still wide with fear, but otherwise unharmed. “Come,” was all he said as he turned his back to me and walked past the other wolves. One tan she-wolf snarled as she approached the male, her hackles rising.

“Zora, he tried to kill the pups!” she snarled. “You can’t let it near the pack.”

He barked at her, his black ears pinning as he reprimanded her. “Cease, Naga. If a creature that size had intended harm, it could have easily caused it to the pups.”

“I only want to protect the pack,” she growled but backed off from the male wolf.

“Do not question my decisions, Naga.” He looked over his shoulder at me as I stared at the two of them. Did he really mean what I think he meant? Was he giving me a chance? My breaths came in quick gulps as I watched their leader. “Come,” was all he said as he and the group started back into the woods.

With a joyful yip I got up, but then winced when I remembered I had barrel-rolled into a huge oak tree. Thankfully, I was pretty tough. It was the only benefit to being the way I was. Scrambling after them, I made sure to keep them in my sights, but with a good distance between us.

As I watched the Alpha walk away I made myself a promise. No matter what, I would do whatever I had to do—I would make sure the Alpha wouldn’t regret his decision to give me this chance