Under The Stars

Gasping for breath, the grey wolf raced through the trees.
His mate ran alongside him with a tiny pup dangling from her jaws and her yearling son on her heels.
Their pursuiters crashed through the underbrush behind them, gaining ground with each step.
“Keep going!” he barked to his small pack.
Without warning, two wolves stood before them, teeth bared.
As they came to a sudden stop, half a dozen wolves emerged from the forest.
They were quickly surrounded on all sides.
“What do you want from us?” the grey wolf growled, fur rising along his back.
Beside him, his mate laid her ears back...

PROLOGUE
The fresh scent of fox ran up her nose, and the she-wolf lifted her feeble head. It was almost her time to give birth to her first litter of pups. Suddenly, the bushy fur of the fox was visible. The she-wolf growled, and the fox ran.
"Oh, thank Deo!" She cried aloud, the fox wouldn't be trouble. Snow was gently falling outside of the den. As she lay in wait, her first twinge in her belly made the she-wolf yelp, surprised.
The birth was long and horrible. She knew Deo was punishing her for mating outside of her pack. The she-wolf's sides were heaving up and down, pain gripped her belly....