Fang emerged from the shadows, teeth bared and glistening in the light of the moonstones. Katy darted under my legs, whimpering softly as she trembled against me. I crouched down and growled back at him as Leo did the same.

"What are you doing here, Fang?" I growled as I stood protectively in front of Katy.

He stepped ever closer as he continued to bare his teeth. "You took my family. Where are they?"

At the mention of our family, my ears flicked up in surprise. But I snapped out of it as soon as it happened, returning to a more hostile position. "I didn't take them, Fang. They chose to join my pack," I replied, letting the hint of a growl enter my voice.

He raged at that, snarling back at us, "You're lying! My family would never betray their pack! They would never leave me behind! They would never join a pack that allows runts!"

"Well, you know what?!" I screamed as I took a step closer to him. "They did!"

Fang snarled as he launched himself at us. But I leaped to meet him halfway as we tumbled across the ground in a flurry of claws and teeth. "Get Katy out of here, Leo!" I yelled.

"I'm not leaving you!" He yelled back, his eyes wide at seeing me fight a wolf two times my size.

"Just go!" I snarled.

Leo hesitated for a moment, torn between getting Katy out to safety and leaving me to fight by myself. Finally, he sprang into action, snatching Katy up by the scruff of her neck and running out of the den while Katy screamed back at me, "Mommy!"

Suddenly, Fang jumped away from me to block the path out of the den, growling at Leo. Katy screamed in fright as she struggled in Leo's grip. "Stay still, Katy," Leo said softly, his voice muffled by the mouthful of fur.

I jumped in between them, growling at Fang. "This is our fight. Leave them out of this."

The corner of Fang's lips curled up menacingly. "Why? Wouldn't it be nice to watch that little runt of yours to be freed from here as the abomination that it is as I rip her apart?"

My eyes blazed as I leaped at him again. When he had the opportunity, Leo rocketed out of the den to get help.

With them safe, I was able to focus more on the fight at hand. Fang was a lot stronger than I was, so that was his advantage. But I'm a lot faster and more agile than his big body is. Fang swiped a paw at me, at which I ducked and darted in and out, dealing small slashes here and there.

Suddenly, I slipped on the ground as I darted back towards Fang. His paw came crashing down on me, causing me to yelp in pain. He flipped me over to where he towered over me , pinning me down on my back. I struggled, but I couldn't get out from under him. "Why are you dong this?" I asked, growling softly.

"You took my family from me. You tricked them into leaving! This is all your fault!" He snapped at me.

"You're the one who sent them away! You're the one who changed, Fang!" I yelled back.

Fang dug his claws into my side, causing me to grimace as they pierced my skin. Slowly, he bent down to whisper in my ear, his voice deep and seething. "You would know all about sending others away, wouldn't you? Being a runt and all. Nothing but a filthy, weak runt. That's all you are and that's all you'll ever be-"

He was cut off by the sounds of approaching barks and howls. He growled in frustration before quickly backing off of me and running out of the den. But before he was gone, Fang turned around to glare back at me. "Don't you forget that I'm coming for you, runt. This isn't over." And then he was gone.

I rolled over onto my side, wheezing as blood from my wounds matted into my fur. I closed my eyes as I tried to catch my breathe. In the distance, I could hear someone calling my name, but it seemed like they were so far away.

My eyes slowly fluttered open to see a crowd of wolves in front of me. I think they were calling my name. I shook my head until the ringing in my ears finally subsided. "Someone hurry and get a healer!" Captain Mace yelled over the other Alphas while Leo kept calling my name and asking me if I was okay.

"Leo..." my voice came out quiet and raspy.

Leo crouched down beside me. "Shh...I'm here. The healer is on the way. You're going to be okay."

With that, I let my eyes close, and exhaustion overtook me.

🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾

I sat on the top of the Hot Springs cliff, looking up at the moon. It was almost full, filling the night with its bright light. A gentle breeze blew through my white fur. My side was all patched up with leaves and vines and other healing stuff on my small cuts and wounds. After Fang left the den, he disappeared back to his pack, uncatchable. He dealt me a bit of damage, definitely more than I would have liked.

A sweet, familiar scent surrounded me as Leo sat down beside me, looking up at the moon. I leaned onto his side, letting out a comfortable sigh. Leo chuckled softly.

I tilted my head up at him. "What?"

He turned his deep blue eyes down to meet my hazel ones. I always loved searching them, seeing the sea of emotions there, so much to make me feel like I will drown in them. "You," he replied softly, his deep voice echoing in my ears. "I love you, Kate."

"I love you, too, Leo."

He looked back up at the moon, a gentle smile playing across his muzzle. "We've come a long way from that day we met in the clearing." I felt a smile tug at the corners of my lips. "Even though we've had our ups and downs-"

"-we still manage to stick together," I finished. "I never thought I would be accepted for what I am by someone so amazing."

"What you are doesn't make who you are, Kate," Leo said. "I would love you, runt or not. I would be with you if you had deformed limbs or were the absolutely worst looking wolf in the whole world."

I narrowed my eyes up at him. "Are you calling me ugly?"

Leo laughed. "No, I didn't say that! I said if you were. But you're not. You're the most beautiful wolf to ever exist," he said as he smiled down at me.

"Aww, you're so sweet!" I giggled.

Suddenly, a bush behind me rustled. My ears pricked up and I slowly turned my head-

Then the bush erupted as a small flock of birds flew away. I squealed, unprepared for the onslaught of birds as I tumbled over Leo. The birds disappeared into the distance as I stared down at Leo who was now on his back with me standing over him. He reached up to lick my nose, causing me to giggle. "That tickles!"

He smirked. "It does, huh? Then how about this?" Suddenly, Leo flipped me over, somehow still careful with my injury as he covered my face and neck in licks.

I squealed and squirmed. "Leo, s-stop! Please! I-I'm going to die!" I choked out as my eyes teared up as I laughed. Finally, he stopped and let me catch my breathe. He chuckled as he towered over me. I looked back up at him with a small smirk. "You're going to be the death of me one of these days." We both laughed at that before Leo let me up.

We sat watching the moon again in silence until Leo spoke. "Alpha wants to see you."

I looked at him in confusion. "What do you mean? He wants me now?"

Leo shook his head. "Not right now. He just wants to see you about some stuff. He told me to tell you. You won't be working for a week or two until you're healed, but he wants to talk to you about some changes in your jobs for when you're all better."

I nodded. "Okay, I'll go see him tomorrow. You have the morning patrol and the high sun hunting patrol tomorrow, right?"

"Yeah."

I thought for a moment to gather my thoughts. "Okay, I'll take care of Katy for most of the day until you get back. And then you can watch her while I go see Alpha. Deal?" I asked, glancing up at him with the tilt of my head.

He smiled back down at me. "Deal."

Once again, silence descended upon us. But as I watched the dark night sky, thoughts of Fang creeped into my mind. Specifically...what he had said. "Nothing but a filthy, weak runt. That's all you are and that's all you'll ever be." It played over and over in my head. Even though I've heard it so much in my life, it still doesn't mean that sometimes it did really affect me. I'd be lying if I said it didn't. It's hard growing up as a runt. That's just a simple fact. But...it still hurts.

"Kate." I was jerked out of my thoughts as I looked up at Leo. His deep blue eyes were filled with a familiar concern. "What are you thinking about?"

I sighed softly. "I know sometimes I'm told that all of it isn't true. And a lot of the time, I don't believe it. But sometimes...it really does hurt. It hurts, Leo." My eyes teared up, and my voice began to choke up. "I know I'm not perfect. I know I'm different. I have to try three times as hard as any other wolf to be accepted, and even then, not everyone will ever accept me. Not even my own brother..."

Leo pulled me close to him and rested his head on mine. Just feeling him close brought comfort to me. "I'm not either, Kate. None of us are perfect. And none of us will always be accepted. I know it's hard, and I know it hurts. But you're so strong. You inspire others to be strong, too. Like our daughter. Remember about a year ago when Katy, me, and you were sitting on the cliffs watching the sun rise? Do you remember what she said?"

I sniffled and tried to settle my breathing enough to speak. "Y-you are my real mommy. A-and I will be just like you."

"See? You show others that runts can be strong even when everyone looks down on them. And you know? It's okay to lean on us when you need to like right now. But don't forget you're so much stronger than this. And that I love you no matter what."

I snuggled into Leo's neck as I whispered softly, "Thank you; I love you, too." Sometimes, all we need is a little help to show us that what's on the outside is only a shell of the inside.

🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾

Hey, guys! I finished another chapter! Two days in a row! I am on a roll right now! Holla! Don't worry; I wonder about myself a lot as well 😂 Anyways, hope you guys enjoyed the chapter! The lovely covers above were made by jadewolf334! They are absolutely beautiful, and I am probably going to change my books to these actual covers because I love them so much! Have fun, you guys! Vote and comment! :)