When a royal is born, all wolves can feel it. They bow down in worship and loyalty to the new sovereign no matter where they are. Some might describe it as a chain binding their soul, but in reality, it is a web, connecting all wolves, so none are alone because the pack doesn't leave anyone behind. Royalty are just the focal point. To kill the royalty is to kill the web.

When the Queen is born, all can feel it. All bow down in worship and loyalty no matter where they are. Some might describe it as a chain binding their soul, others might describe it as a web, connecting all to the Queen.

They are both right. It is a chain to those unwilling and it is a web to those compliant.

"Aah-ooooooooh! Aah-ooooooooh! Aahhhh!" The whole Mountain could hear their Queen. Her howls and screams were deafening to those near her. The King lied closest to her, giving her the best support he could offer. Two whole years and some change, she has carried this baby. The old wolf was right. She could hear the heartbeat of the tiny life inside of her. Just listening to it would calm and bring an infatuated smile to her face.

She was giving birth now. The pain was millions of times more than when she had her first three sons.

"Aah-oooooooh!" She screamed out in unbearable pain.

Standing just outside of view were her three sons and the old wolf.

What everyone there failed to notice, possibly because they were family, was that waves of power rippled from the Queen, more precisely from her stomach. All the wolves on the mountain kneeled, unable to move. It wasn't just the wolves either. The trees, the insects, the bears, the foxes, the hares, every living thing kneeled, and even the wind in the forest stopped moving. It wasn't because they feared the power, though they certainly did. A mix of respect and humbleness for a greater being was what made them kneel. A seed was planted in their soul, or to some an anchor for a chain.

Either way, they knew subconsciously it wasn't just another royalty. The power that washed over everyone was different, it was primal. The origin of power.

"You're almost there honey. Just a little bit more. I can see the head," The King was trying to be supportive and encouraging. Unlike his usual aura of power and authority, he now seemed like a cowed husband.

"Ahhhh!" With a final push, the little baby wolf popped its head out and its body followed suit.

An unnatural yet beautiful array of blue and green light emanating from the pup immediately enveloped everyone inside the cave. The light spread across the whole Mountain. Then the entire forest was covered. Soon the whole synestia could witness the light.

The muffled voice of the old wolf could be heard, "Hahaha! I've finally witnessed it! I've seen the birth of the Queen in my lifetime!"

A high pitched screech echoed throughout the cave and the entire Mountain.

"Dear, it's a girl, our baby is a girl!" The king seemed weirdly excited. For one, the old wolf told them multiple times it was a girl. Besides the fact he was happy for the birth of his child, he seemed relieved that it wasn't another boy.

Though tired, the Queen did not rest and started cleaning her pup.

"Honey, rest. I've got this. Our little girl won't want or need for anything in my care!"

The three princes outside were all holding back their tears.

"We've... got to... keep... it together. Even though... father never... treated us so... warmly," Orion tried to take charge to stop their crying, but it only worsened their feelings of resentment. They ran in and immediately asked, "Father, why were you never so-" They started, but could not finish. They looked down upon their cute baby sister and a warm feeling bubbled up, "We shall also make it so baby sis does not want or need anything!"

The day ended with the whole family staring upon their daughter and baby sister warmly as they fell asleep.

Sometimes I wish I had never fallen asleep that day or that I never woke up. If I hadn't, mother wouldn't be dead, father and my new sister wouldn't be missing. My brothers wouldn't be on death's door.

My name is Leo, and I'm the third son of the King of wolves. I was named after the constellation of a lion. Funny huh? A wolf named after a lion. I like to think my parents named me Leo because Leo is a lion of courage and pride and they wanted me to be strong, both physically and mentally. That is why I must stay strong for the Mountain. For my family. In the absence of everyone with more authority than me, I am the new King. At least until my brothers wake up or my father is found.

When I'm not shuffling back and forth between the major packs, trying to calm the people, I often visit the cave where it happened.

The moon had not risen yet, but the dark was all-pervasive.

"Go! Get her away!" I could hear the faint voice of my mother to my side. Her urgent voice woke me up fully. Around me were dead bodies of both humans and wolves. I looked towards my mother and saw long claw marks made by a wolf on her stomach. Though I knew my mother wouldn't stop in a battle, she locked eyes with me for just a moment before she yelled out, "Behind you!"

I turned my head as fast as I could. There it was. A sword as black as night swinging in full force at me. It was too fast, I couldn't avoid it. I saw my life flash before my eyes. The memories I had of mother when I was a baby. The fun times with my brothers. The birth of my baby sister. The hunts I had with father. Where was father? Isn't he supposed to protect us, his wife and children? I started to get angry. I found father out of the corner of my eye, running off. 'A coward,' I couldn't help but to think. I had never known my father to be afraid of anyone, even those stronger than him. Then I saw it. My baby sister, in his mouth.

At that moment all the fear of death, hatred towards my father for being a coward disappeared. The only thing that flashed through my eyes now were the short hours I have known my baby sister. As short as they were, they were precious. She was a new life. An innocent life. She didn't deserve to be brought into a battle to the death, not now, not ever.

The sword was but moments from reaping my life and instead of hatred or grief, all I knew was relief. 'At least she will live.'

I stared my assailant in the eyes but, instead of the pain I expected, my view was covered in white.

And the face of my mother.

She had protected me from the blade.

My vision blurred. The image of my assailant and my mother flashed in my eyes. First the dirty human with black hair and a sadistic grin, then the warm sweet loving face of my mother. My face twitched. My body shook. My emotions were released from their cage once again.

"YOU KILLED MY MOTHER! YOU WILL DIE, SCUM!" My body enlarged bigger than ever before. A dragon would pale in comparison. The face of the human morphed into one of fear. My paw raised up into the air. I slammed it down. *CRUNCH* I ignored the screams of pain and lifted my paw again. I slammed it down. I repeated and repeated until the soft voice of my mother broke my trance.

"Leo. You can stop. He is dead," I could hear my mother say in a quiet voice struggling with each word. I looked down to see not the body of a human but a pool of flesh, bone, and blood. My body felt like collapsing I was so tired, but before I did mother spoke, "Leo, my son. Take your brothers away and escape. There will be more."

"No, I will not escape, I will not leave you mother!"

"Please." I could hear something in her voice I have never heard before. Desperation.

I picked up Orion and Sagi and place them on my back. I looked back at my mother and could see the determination in her eyes. I ran as far as I could, deep into the forest, making sure to not leave a trail. As I ran I could hear the growls and shouts of wolves and humans. But, what rang like church bells in my ears wasn't that, it was the screams of mother.