First and foremost, I should apologize for the very long delay in uploading. I have had a few emails these past few months about needing more, and maybe getting back into writing might help push myself out of this….funk I keep finding myself in. So, my goal is to redo the first two chapters along with a third chapter with the ambition of finishing this completely.

Disclaimer: I under no circumstances own anything asides from my imagination.

Original publish date: May 10th, 2011.

Revived publish date: January 5th, 2019.

Author: Kissedbynight

Summery: The unanswered questions if things had gone differently. And the struggles to overcome obstacles.

Chapter one: The Echo of the Whistle.

Humphrey's POV:

I had to will my paws forward with every step, every part of my being was telling me to stay by her side. So what if she got married she would still need a friend who knew how to have fun, and eventually her pups would need a fun honorary uncle to show them the ropes if tree sledding. But the pain of watching her be a wife and mother to someone else was more than my heart could take, and it wouldn't be fair to her to have me around pining for her love when I know it is beyond my reach and well beyond my station. And I could bare the thought of watching my love for her tear us apart, so it is better that I leave now, while I still have the will power and the precious friendship intact.

Saying goodbye to my life long friends that had become family was hard, but I made a promise to return to visit them when I can.

It was time for the wedding and everyone was moving to the open plain to watch the joining of the two packs. It was my que to leave, I couldn't watch my dreams and heart shatter before my eyes. So as everyone made their way down, I turned to head towards the train tracks. In a quick passing I saw Kate, with my flower still behind her ear, our eyes connect and I feel my heart stop. I smile and raise my paw and wave good-bye, and as if time itself stopped, I see a flash in her brown eyes: a flash that could have keep me here had I stared longer into her eyes had she not been pushed along by her family. What was that emotion? Why should she show something so sad on such a joyous day for her? I shake my head, this was not something I should dwell on, I turn and start to run down the path towards the train.

Kate's POV:

I can't do this. I have to do this. Those were the only thoughts I had as I walked forward. I spent so much time trying to get back here to fulfill my duty to the pack, to unite the packs and bring peace. But how could I marry a wolf I didn't love. A wolf I wasn't sure that could make me smile when I really needed it, or a wolf that would risk everything no matter what for me, a wolf who would put my needs and wants before his own. And how on earth could I marry a wolf that wasn't Humphrey? I sigh as we enter the plain and look on every pack member and swallow my pride, I have to do this, for all of them.

When the ceremony starts I can't help but feel like I am submitting my life away, but then I shake myself out of my inner thoughts and notice how Garth was looking around me as he talked, and like that, it all made sense. So I sit.

"Garth, I don't love you."

And like that, the whole field was silent. Not even a fly was buzzing.

"But, I cannot risk our packs remaining divided and continuing this endless cycle of hunger and war into our next generations. So I know we have to unite the packs in the most concret way that there is. And that is through marriage, as once we are mated, it is for life-meaning only death can break that bond: but to marry someone I do not love would kill me, and I suspect you as well-" At this point my voice was speaking to every wolf there. "I feel hopelessly in love with one of the greatest wolfs I have ever known, and being with him makes me so undeniable happy it almost doesn't feel real-"

"How dare you-"

"Father, enough-I need to hear this...please go on Kate." Garth looked me in the eye, a gleam of hope shining bright.

Nodding with the encouragement I pressed on, "I am in love, and to marry someone who isn't him...is wrong. We are not pawns to be used for peace, we are living and breathing beings, and to force us into this when our hearts are made for another is robbing four hearts of true happiness. But I believe there can still be a marriage that unites us...isn't that right Garth?"

He walked past me and went straight to Lily, just as I expected him to, "Pack traditions be damned, if Lily would allow it, I would marry here right here and now."

And like that our mother collapsed and my father went slack jawed and Garth's father's fur puffed up in a rage.

"How dare you, this isn't tradition-"

Garth turned to face his father, "Isn't uniting the packs meant to break traditions of hunting grounds and territories, why can't we break one more? My marriage to Lily would be the same as Kate's: bond until death, ensuring our tribes connected."

"Well...he isn't wrong…" my father Winston spoke up.

"Isn't wrong? Isn't wrong-I-I-" Tony stammered before he let out a long sigh. "An alpha and an omega, well I be damned. It breaks every tradition but I cannot ignore our children's testimonies. And they are both right...and I as a father shouldn't use my son as a pawn for my pack...I will allow this union."

And like that, Lily and Garth made their way to the center of both packs and accepted one another as mates. I went over to Lily and gave the flower Humphrey gave me and put it behind her ear, holding some of her hair back.

"I am so happy for you Lily."

She nuzzled my lower jaw, "I couldn't have had this happiness without you Kate...thank you so much." she narrowed her eyes, " So...Humphrey huh?"

My eyes bulge and I look anywhere else but her eyes, "Whatever do you mean sister…"

She sat down and pressed a paw to her chest before she cleared her throat, "I am hopelessly in love-"

I press my paw to her mouth, "Shhh! I know what I said! Hearing it again it's embarrassing!"

She just laughed, "I am happy for you Kate, Humphrey is a great wolf, he's kind and caring and not to mention those eyes….just pools of water and night...just dreamy-"

"Hey now…."

She smiled, "What can I say sis, he was really the only suitable option out of the omega's, but he's nothing compared to Garth and his cute little tuft of fur on his forehead.."

"Alright, alright, I get it!"

We laughed together some more, but then we were rushed by members of the now one pack offering Lily with their congratulations and words of advice for a long and happy marriage and asking her when the pack should be expecting a new litter.

I left the moment I could sneak away without too much notice, leaving to go find the group of omega's that had a certain wolf I needed to see.

Finding them was easy enough, they were huddled together taking in whispers on the edge of the forest. Smiling I jump into the middle of the group causing them all the jump backwards all screaming like pups and I couldn't help but laugh.

"Hey guys, is Humphrey here? He hasn't left yet, right?"

Crickets.

"Guys…"

"Kate...he's gone-"

And like that, my world came crashing down. He left, he didn't stay. How was he going to know that I loved him? How was he going to now that I helped unite the tribes because of my love for him.

"He said he was going to catch something called a train-"

I didn't even hear the end of the sentence, I had to leave, I had to go after him, it was the only way. While I was running I didn't take notice of my own father running beside me till he moved in front and cut me off. I had to dig my claws in to stop before I went crashing into him.

"Father-"

"Kate."

I tuck my tail between my legs, and flatten my ears back while he sat, his eyes looking down at me.

"Kate, running away without telling your family where you went, do you wish to send your mother into an early grave?"

"No, I just had to-"

"Had to what Kate?"

"I had to find him...I had to tell him how I feel, I couldn't just-" my chest tightened and I struggled to get get air in my lungs.

"Kate, calm down and breath. Both your mother and I love you, and if this is something you have to do, then go, I will tell your mother, so best make sure you come back unharmed or with grand pups for your mother otherwise she will tear my throat out, and then will go after that wolf of yours-"

Tears formed in my eyes and I moved forward and rubbed my fathers' nuzzel with mine, "Thank you, father, I will be back."

"Good luck Kate, I will miss you."

Humphrey's POV:

I closed my eyes as my head hung out the door of the training, enjoying the feeling of the wind through my fur and the smells as they pass. This journey is bittersweet, leaving behind the memories, feelings and friends that were made in the pack: verses the feelings of excitement along with the dread that comes with starting over.

Opening my eyes as I smell the scent of a water bed, I see the sun setting over a still lake. The trees and mountains of home just shadows on the far edge of the lake, barely even visible to the eye unless you were looking for them.

Sitting up I take a deep breath in; every scent, every memorie wrapped into that air and I let out a howl just as the sun set and the train vanished into a tunnel. A final good-bye to the home I have known all my life.

I lay back down and cross my paws, before resting my head, letting the sound of the track lul me to sleep.

And done.

For those who have followed this story and favorited it, I ask, how is? Does it feel better laid out as far as a base line? Do you like the changes made?

For those new to this story, same question, how is it?

Please read and review.

Kissedbyknight.