When Veta was first brought into the pack, she was malicious toward everyone. She hated being here! She hated that her old pack had sold her like property! She'd been a good pup! Always listened to the leader and her mother, always shared her food. Why hadn't they wanted her?
It took a lot of time and even more patience with the young she-wolf, but Sabre saw the potential in her, saw a bright, strong pup that would bring the pack to prosperity, if given the chance.
Everything came to a head one stormy night after being trapped in the den for 3 days due to the downpour outside.
Veta snapped at Gabby, the leader's first daughter, after the slightly younger pup had asked to play one too many times. Gabby's mother jumped to her defense and standing over the malicious pup, teeth bared, forced Veta on her back in submission.
"Listen well, Pup," Anamakee stated, her words spoken with sharp precision. "You have been dealt leniency where others would not have been given the chance. If you truly do not want to be here, you can leave at any time." A softness came over Anamakee's features.
"But we want you to stay. We want you to be a part of our pack for the rest of your life. We chose you, Veta. We would love you, if you gave us a chance. But if you do not choose us, then we wish you the best." She stepped away from the dark pup.
Tears rolled down Veta's face as she came face to face with her pushed-down emotions.
"I can't speak for your previous pack, but I think they saw your potential would be best suited for a different pack, one that needs you," Sabre said, stepping from the shadows. "I don't think they let us have you because they didn't want you. I think they let us have you because they loved you so much, they wanted you to shine as bright as possible. We want you to shine. I want you to shine. Out of all the pups that could have entered our pack, I wanted you."
The pack leaders words humbled her. He licked the tears from her small face, this precious pup whose heart was so full of anger and sadness, and watched as the pack's love finally pierced through the fog of negative emotions.
"You're still little," he whispered to her. "And it's still a rainy day. Doesn't jumping in the mud sound like an amazing idea?" They gazed over to the mouth of the den where Gabby, who was watching the rain fall with fascination, stood rapt.
"Yeah " she said, finally smiling up at him. "Yeah, it does. Hey, Gabby! Wanna play?"
The smaller pup looked over at Veta with joy.
"Yeah!"
And the two pups played the rest of the day away and grew to be the closest of friends and sisters.
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