RATED M FOR LEMONS IN LATER CHAPTERS

This story is co-written by The1Omega and myself. We both hope you enjoy and will leave a review.

From Misery, To Love

Kate, Humphrey, Lilly, and Garth were lying on the edge of a cliff, over-looking Jasper Park. Humphrey was pretty glad that he had finally gotten married to the one wolf that he'd loved. But he was beginning to doubt that he'd chosen the right girl. He could never make her laugh anymore. Lilly had the same problem with Garth. He just wouldn't laugh at any of her jokes and said that her turtle impressions were getting a little old. She was just glad that Garth said it nicely so it wouldn't hurt her feelings.

Garth and Kate just didn't find their jokes funny. What was funny about turtle roadkill? It's a dead animal, it can't be funny. Sure, they killed caribou; but that was for their survival. They'd never like it if they just randomly found a dead turtle in the road.

Humphrey was lying next to Kate, and Lilly next to Garth. All were married, but had no pups yet. They hadn't even talked about having children by this point in their lives. They had just been watching the sunset in silence as it slowly continued down in the horizon, casting an orange glow over Jasper.

"So, how's your marriage going?" Humphrey asked Lilly and Garth.

The two looked at each other and put on a smile as they both answered. "It's going great."

"How's yours and Kate's?" Garth asked.

"Still madly in love," Humphrey answered with a fake smile. Kate smiled and put her head under his chin.

The four wolves fell into another silence and looked back to the sunset. As the sun finished its course and was about to disappear behind the landscape, the four wolves decided it was time to head home for a good night's sleep. They walked together in the direction that their dens were in. Kate and Garth got to talking about tomorrow's hunting, deciding on where the caribou might be so they'd be ready.

Off to the side, Humphrey and Lilly were far enough away for their whispering to be unheard. "Humphrey," Lilly whispered. "I've got something to tell you."

"Yeah?"

"I... I lied about how my marriage is going with Garth."

"What d'you mean?"

"It's not going so good... I mean, we don't actually hate each other, but we're not exactly in love anymore..."

Humphrey thought about that for a moment. "That's... sort of how Kate and I are." Lilly looked to him in surprise. He'd lied too? Humphrey went on. "We sleep on opposite sides of the den almost every night."

Lilly couldn't believe it. Humphrey and Kate looked so happy together. And he'd loved Kate since they were puppies. "What happened?"

"Well, Lilly..." Humphrey said. "I think Kate just loves me for my... I mean, I think Kate loved me for my howl, only."

Lilly looked at Humphrey in disbelief. How could Humphrey have said something like that? It couldn't be true. "Humphrey... That's... That's not right. Not right at all."

"I know. And the reason we sleep on opposite sides of the den almost every night is because our spark; our flame of the relationship has just... disappeared."

Lilly nodded. "That's how me and Garth are...Our spark has just went away... Completely. I'm just so... Miserable these days..."

Humphrey sighed. He knew how Lilly was feeling because it was the same for him. "'Miserable' is a nice way to put how I'm feeling, too."

Lilly stared at her paws sadly, and Humphrey looked at her, not knowing what to do. From beside Humphrey and Lilly, Kate and Garth appeared. Lilly quickly brought her head back up, and looked at Garth. Garth sighed, "Well, are you ready to go to the den, Lilly?"

She nodded, said goodbye to Kate, and told Humphrey she'd talk to him later. Garth also said goodbye, after Lilly did. Then, after the two had left, Kate and Humphrey were left alone.

"Well, Humphrey, I'm really tired..."

Humphrey nodded in agreement. "Me too, Kate..."

Both looked at each other, and without saying anymore words, they both made their way to their den. Once they were inside, Kate went to the left side of the den, like she usually did, and laid down for some well-needed sleep, with her back facing Humphrey.

Humphrey looked at Kate, and started to think about all he told Lilly. Our spark really has gone, hasn't it Kate? Usually you would be sleeping right next to me... And now you're not wanting to sleep next to me at all. We both put on fake smiles when we're out with others, but when we're alone... It's like we're total strangers...

Humphrey laid down to go to sleep on the right side of the den. Neither Kate or Humphrey said goodnight to each other, like they used to when they first got married. Neither kissed the other when they were alone anymore. Neither said 'I love you' when they were alone, like they used to.

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~Shadow Wolf 2013~ and ~The1Omega~