The deer hovered by the trees beyond as the sounds of the ravening wolves came to them across the grass, their own senses almost frozen in impotent horror.

Throw me to the wolves &I'll return leading the pack.

The tears were there, waiting to make their escape. But she wouldn’t let them. Not this time. She couldn’t. Because if there was one thing she had to do now, it was be strong and brave. She just had to be strong and brave for one week. That was no time at all. And when the week was over and Milo had found his true mate, she would disappear.

My name's Sean, Jem. I'm Sean.

Pack is for comfort when you hurt, I thought, putting my head back down. And for the first time in a long time, maybe the first time ever, I appreciated being a part of one.

The Canis Lupus, both wolf and man, were meant to be a family with one another. We gain strength through our bond with each other.

The world cannot be full of lead dogs, or the pack would pull itself apart.

So she looked upon the wolves, who were dwindling in number, and back at the humans who no longer cared for their own, and combined their spirits. She took the loyal, protective, possessive natures of the wolf and took the intelligence, emotions, and love of the human and brought them together. She designed us to be a pack.

Welcome back, Jem.

And my pack so light I’m sure I’ve left something behind—but only my worry, and only for a moment.