Hel✒️

"There are now enough heirs to ensure the pack will have a leader when I'm gone, and so I want to ask you all to hold off on having pups unless you're certain that they will go to a different pack," the alpha was standing in front of her family and their spouses. Tola looked disappointed, Lusse was expressionless, while Ull and Skade nodded in understandment. Of course they would support such a selfish decision! Hel stormed off into the woods. She reached the river where she trampled her paw angrily at the glimmering dark water. The moon didn't have a reflection in this constantly moving water. Hel could sense someone approaching.

"You're so-" she growled as she turned around to face the alpha, but stopped in her tracks. It wasn't the alpha, it was her mother. Hel turned her face away and huffed.

"I knew you'd be like this. Hel, listen to me," Hel turned her face toward Skade unwillingly, "You do not growl at the alpha."

"It's unfair!" Hel shouted, "Even Lusse has a pup! I want one too! She's so selfish, she had a second litter when she was fine as it was!" 

"You shouldn't question her, it's her pack."

Hel got no say in it and now held a grudge against her own grandmother. Yes, her mormor was now her enemy.

-

She waited patiently under a tree by the river, the sun was shining and warming her dark fur.

"Hel? Am I interrupting you?" Gulls deep voice caressed her ears. Hel looked over to him, pretending to be surprised to see him, and piercing him with her fiery yellow eyes, the same ones as her grandmas. She blinked innocently and stood up to smile at him.

"No of course not! I wouldn't mind some company, actually.." She got closer to Gull, "It's such a beautiful day."

The male couldn't help but sniff the air as she came to his side. She was in heat, and she knew of Gulls old crush on the alpha, and she knew the alpha didn't want her heirs breeding with him.

"Would you want to lay with me in the sun?" She innocently nuzzled his cheek, "Or maybe join me for a swim?"

-

The two wet wolves got out of the water and shook in an attempt to dry, then they laid in a sunny spot on the grass. Hel licked water droplets off of Gulls cheek.

"I wanted to talk to you.." Hel looked up at the much older male. He nodded but let no specific emotion show on his face, "Maybe you know, I didn't go to anyone for my first two heats.. I still haven't. I really wanted to find a good male but.. no one could live up to the male I already knew."

Hel was lying, she had never looked for a male as she hadn't wanted to have pups at that age. But a little innocent lie was okay, because it was a part of her plan, and her plan worked. Shortly after, the herbalist could confirm that she was pregnant.

-

Years passed, both Tyr and Gull died, can you believe it, they got together in the end! Hels pups all grew up and left the pack, or left the pack before growing up, whatever. Ever since her fights with Tyr and the others, she felt alienated, maybe a little ashamed of her actions as she grew up. She had a good friend in Tola, who always listened. Maybe too much, was this friendship a one way street? Eh, Hel didn't want to bother with it.. And the years went..

-

"Hel," Lusse peeked his head into the clearing before stepping in. Hel was lounging in the tall grass, listening to the sound of the stream nearby, and she nodded at Lusse, so he continued, "I have something to ask of you."

"Tell me what it is and I'll consider it," Hel said playfully, and sat up to be attentive, this was a welcomed surprise!

"You know, my son?" Lusse began and Hel nodded, he was talking about the newest pup he had, but why was he making sure she understood that? He must be nervous, and Hel became concerned, "well don't you think it was weird that he was born as a lone pup?"

"Hm," Hel hadn't thought about it before but it was sort of weird considering her brothers usual litter size, "I guess, maybe?"

"And well, I tried to get him a surrogate sibling, like Gerd did for Gadd, you know?" He was indeed sounding nervous, talking faster than usual, and Hel kept nodding, "that pup.. it died."

"Oh, I'm so sorry for your loss. Damn, how is the pupper doing?" Hel moved closer to console her brother, but strangely enough he seemed to look more nervous or scared than sad about the death, weird.

"He's doing well," Lusse seemed to stop himself from saying something, because he stopped to think over his next move, "I guess they hadn't gotten to know eachother that well yet."

Hel nodded again and patted her brother on the shoulder. She remembered the little pup, she had met it a few times. Lusses voice rose up again and he sounded more serious this time.

"Maybe I made the wrong choice of mate, should I have gotten a female with firey eyes to complement my cold ones?" Lusse had never seemed so insecure before and Hel shook her head, and she noticed he knew what she was going to ask, "the pup was born alone, with cold white eyes like mine. He has no sunshine to guide him through life like I do."

Lusse was looking into her eyes now and Hel had never felt so important. At once she remembered all the times in their youth when they had indeed spent time together and been there for eachother.

"I think he needs someone like that," he looked away for a second but then back at her, "so I came here to ask you if you would be okay with spending more time with him? You're his aunt after all.."

Hel didn't know what that last part was supposed to mean, but she nodded once more, of course she would help her brother. Well, especially after those compliments!

Hel kept her promise, she spent time with the little male, and somehow it was like she found the meaning of life again. She wanted to protect him and take care of him, and so she would.