Final answer:
Akela is a wolf who returned sooner than expected, surprising Mother Wolf. His return is significant as he is the leader of the pack and it impacts the pack's dynamics.
Step-by-step explanation:
Akela is a character in the story who is a wolf. Mother Wolf is surprised by Akela's return because he came back sooner than expected. The significance of Akela's return is that he is the leader of the wolf pack and his return affects the dynamics and hierarchy within the pack.