Chapter Twenty-Six

I allow my front paws to hang off the edge of the cliff as the cool air gets under my fur, causing me to shiver. I rest my head against my paws, staring at the lake at the bottom of the cliff.

Though it's cold, the air is refreshing and it helps me think. I feel better after howling and the guilt is slowly fading, though it never fully leaves. The best I can do is live my life to the fullest for her.

I suddenly really start to feel the pain in my leg as the cold hits it and I whimper slightly.

"You probably shouldn't have run away from camp." The very familiar voice echoes in my mind. I choose not to answer and continue staring at the lake. I also take notice of the low fog close to the ground that's forming.

"Probably not" I finally tell him, as he lays down next to me. I shiver as I feel his body heat invade my body. I realise just how cold it is, despite my thick fur. I shift closer to Azaizal, my smaller body stealing some of his body heat.

"Are you okay?" He tentatively asks me, his voice clearly filled with concern. The calmness and gentleness of his tone helps calm me. My mind stills as I focus on the view and the large wolf pressing against me. Ally just purrs in my head.

I turn my head slightly to see him look towards me, his head tilted slightly. " I'm okay, it's just her birthday tomorrow and we always celebrated together" I respond. My voice quiet.

What was she like?" Azaizal asks, still looking at me. I stare at the moon as I think about my best friend.

"She was like my sister" I tell him, watching the stars twinkle and shine. "We met when I was younger and after Zack left, she was the only one to distract me from my parents and the only one to talk to me and be nice to me in the pack even if I was a runt. She also helped me train with Alpha Alec. We ended up practically glued to each other.

She made me laugh and she just was genuinely the bestest friend anyone could have. She was so full of energy, you couldn't be sad around her. Plus she was an amazing fighter.

After she died, everything changed." A tear escaped down my cheek as I remembered how amazing she was. We both stayed quiet and I just stared at my paws.

"She sounds amazing" we laid in silence as we both stared at the stars.

"When my parents died, I didn't know how I'd survive" Azaizal says out of nowhere. I stare at him and my ears perk up in interest. I never expected him to open up about his parents.

"I was only eight years old" my eyes widen in shock at how young he was.

"Despite being young, I understood and knew they were gone. I felt the ache in my chest when our bonds broke" parents and pups have special bonds that can only be broken if one or both dies.

"But then Emily and Beck stepped up. Emily was my mother's best friend, she was like family to us. They couldn't have there own pups so they decided to raise me, even though I could have stayed with uncle Alessio.

They both have loved me so much as if I was actually there own and I feel like I am. I love and appreciate them so much. They both proved that I was never alone even when I felt it." I relax into Azaizal as I listen to him and despite it being about his parents death, I don't feel any grief from him, nor do I hear it.

I nuzzle against his cheek affectionately and he nuzzled me back. I lay my head down and he puts his heavier one on top of mine. "I'm so sorry for what happened, but thank you for telling me."  I softly whisper to him, the aching in my heart lessening.

He just presses himself against me and my ear somehow ends up pressed against his chest. Ally sighs in content. My eyelids droop slowly at the sound of his steady and loud heart beat. My breathing matches his and I believe my heart beat also begins to beat with his.

His neck presses against me more and it warms me. My breathing slows and I feel myself being drawn to sleep.

"There's something about you Ella, and I can't figure out what it is. But I care about you so much." Was the last thing I heard but I was to close to sleep to process what he said.