Chapter 2c

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“Are you thinking of trying to join them?” Bruno prodded nosily.

Finbar paused for a moment, before ultimately deciding to share the information. “I am. I mean, I'm fine being alone I guess, but I would prefer to have friends and a family. Real ones this time.”

“Ah, yes. The good old ‘place you belong’ thing,” the carefree fox-dog said in a bit of a sarcastic tone, “Well, I wish you luck. I'm not trying to be mean when I say this, I'm just being a realist, but there is no place safe for a wolf-dog out here. Even wolves aren't safe, but rare; they were hunted to extinction in these parts about a century ago, and the only reason there are some in New Hampshire now is because they came down from Canada, not expecting the ‘above and beyond love and care’ from the locals.”

“They still hunt us?”

“Yep. I should say, actually, that they still hunt wolves… it’s half-and-half what they choose to do to you guys.”

Finbar blinked in confusion. “How so?”

What else could the humans want with him?

“Sometimes they will hunt wolf-dogs, but other times they will be a bit more merciful,” Bruno explained.

“Rescue groups will come out and trap you, taking you to a sanctuary. They’ll feed you for the rest of your life, make sure you’re comfortable, and you will never have to worry about surviving every day. You’d basically be a pet again, but able to live outside full time on a fenced in plot of land. The downside is that they snip you.”

“Snip?”

“They’ll take your balls, my guy.”

Finbar shuddered. He had no words. Why on earth would they do that? Why had it not been done to him? The sanctuary sounded like a great place to call ‘home’, but if the price he had to pay was his gonads, he was all set.

“Speaking of which,” Bruno piped up, “your owner was at least good to you in that regard, I can tell you’re still intact. Be grateful, humans are usually obsessed with taking them away from you.”

“That is true,” he said quietly, feeling it hard to admit , “but why do they like doing that to us?”

“They can’t possibly bear ‘too many’ animals in their precious, lavish spaces. It wouldn’t look good! Oh, and they’d 100% snip me if they found out I existed; I’m the coolest thing since sliced bread, a fox and dog hybrid, but they’d ruin me because I’m ‘not normal’.”

“That’s a shame…”

“It sure is! That’s why I’m going to have as many kits as I can, and try to pass down my genes; that way, if they ever do catch me, my traits will not end with me no matter what they do.”

Finbar was already well on his way to doing the same. He hoped his mate was doing alright, though; a heavy boulder of anxiety still slumbered deep in his belly regarding her.

The conversation between them trailed off after that point as Bruno began to drift into sleep, though the lone white wolf-dog could not find it in him to rest. He laid his massive head down on his paws, his claws longer and sharper than they’d ever been during his domesticated days. He watched the cave’s entrance for what seemed like hours, waiting for any sign of movement, looking for the familiar earthy-colored shape of Willow.

Then, without him realizing it, a peaceful sleep took him.

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“Finbar?” a gruff voice called out among the dark.

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Immediately he was ripped from his sleep and sat up. “Willow?” he responded. “Are you here?”

“No.”

As the white wolf-dog’s sleepy daze wore off and his full consciousness came through, he realized that the voice he had heard was not Willow’s at all, but that of a stranger’s. He looked over to see Bruno still asleep, curled up, warm and dry, where he’d last seen him.

“Who are you?” Finbar growled, feeling unfriendly toward the one who called his name. “How do you know my name?”

An ashy dark brown wolf trotted in through the watery cave entrance, and shook off the droplets. “My name is Luna. I’m here to deliver a message,” she said, monotone with an edge of bitterness. “Willow sent me. You’re lucky I don’t tear you apart right now, outsider. For her sake, I will not.”

Finbar felt uncomfortable with this, unsure whether to trust the strange female. He sniffed carefully, and could indeed confirm that the newcomer had Willow’s scent on her, and… something else that he could not pinpoint. His brain gave him signals that it was important, somehow. “Go on,” he said, carefully, apprehensively.

An aggressive glint flashed in the stranger’s green eyes, yet was controlled and held back. Finbar could tell by her quivering limbs and bristled fur that she wanted to attack, and was using every bit of willpower to stop herself. “Willow has given birth to your pups. Willow asked me to tell you that. But let me make one thing clear: you're not welcome here. You've caused enough trouble for our pack already,” the female explained, hostility soaking her tongue and hatred lacing her words.

Finbar did not know how to respond. At first he felt relief because now he knew Willow was safe, and then he felt happiness because of the joyous occasion; he knew it. His mate would never have just disappeared or abandoned him. He was happy she was doing alright. Then, however, his emotions turned darker; he was a problem for this pack, nothing he hadn’t already anticipated. Would he be allowed to see his pups, or Willow ever again? Would his pups even be allowed to live due to who their father was? Those potential scenarios would break his heart, and surely his mate’s heart too.

“Thank yo-” Finbar began to say but was cut off.

“Don’t bother thanking me,” the stranger wolf said coldly, “Just leave. I’ll tell Willow you decided to do the right thing.”

As the dark furred wolf turned away, Finbar felt panic well up in his heart. He stood up and reached his paw out for her from atop his rock-face bed. “Wait! Please!” he begged with a raised voice, surely causing Bruno to stir.

The wolf stopped, yet did not look back at him. It was as if she was waiting for him to say something of substance, giving him a chance to speak. Finbar took the opportunity as soon as it arose.

“I understand that you might not like me, but I care about Willow and our puppies. I want to do what's right for them,” he said hastily, the frantic worry of rejection clinging to his pelt like thorn burrs, heavily weighted like sodden clothing. “I may be an outsider, and I am so sorry things ended up this way… but, please, don’t make me leave her and our children like this.”

A low growl from Luna could be heard amongst the thunder which peeled back the sky. “You should have thought of that before you went behind Balto's back. You've put Willow in a difficult position, and now our pack is at risk because of your actions.”

“I’m sorry…” Finbar flattened his ears and hung his head, whining submissively. He really had ruined her life, and he felt so terrible for it. He had only loved her, but he was learning that even something so beautiful as love could do some of the worst damage.

“She was betrothed to someone already!” Luna whipped around to glare at him. “Her father, Balto, had chosen the best blood to pair her with, for her benefit and the pack’s benefit. To ensure that the royal bloodline continues with contamination.”

Finbar tilted his head, confused. “Betrothed…?” he asked, nervously. That was a phrase he did not know. He feared Luna’s biting words and did not want to make her angrier than she already was.

“She had a mate, you idiot. They just hadn’t gone through the ceremony yet. We expected that she was carrying Jargoth’s pups, but apparently not,” she reeled back her lips revealing white fangs. “No, you had to go and spread your seed to her, ruining everything.”

“She never told me any of this,” Finbar barked back, feeling a sense of shock and a little bit of hurt. “If she had, I promise that I never would have touched her.”

“If you know what’s good for you, you’ll leave now!”

“I know I made a mistake, but I'm willing to make it right! Can you at least give me a chance to prove myself?” Finbar said with haste, trying everything he could. He knew she was angry, but hoped he could win her over.

“Prove yourself? You think you can just waltz in here and expect us to trust you? You've shown us that you're careless about our culture, and about the well-being of everyone in this pack. Why should we give you this chance?” Luna glared at him.

Finbar took a deep breath and sighed quietly. “Because I love Willow, and I want to do what's best for her and our puppies. I know I messed up, but I'm willing to work hard to show you and everyone that I'll do whatever it takes to make things good again.”

“You love Willow?” Luna narrowed her jade eyes. “You don't even know what that means. You're just a selfish, arrogant outsider who thinks he can do whatever he wants without consequences. Willow deserves better than you.”

“That's not fair, Luna. I know I've made mistakes, but I'm not a bad person. I care about Willow and our puppies, and I want to be a part of their lives. Can't you see that?” Finbar held his tail low, looking at the ashy brown female with a grieving face.