Chapter 3 A New Beginning
(POV: Kate)
I woke up, being carried by some random wolf. I had a huge, pounding headache and my side felt as if I was hit by a car. I was having trouble breathing and my vision was blurry. I felt myself being set down and heard the flow of running water, so I assumed I was by the river. I heard someone's voice that I recognized instantly. My mother Eve and my forced husband Garth, who was told to go somewhere, but I didn't hear exactly where. I felt the warmth of a paw on my body. Soon it seemed to be cooling down my side where my injury had occurred. I felt the cooling stop as I was pushed somewhere else. I had no idea where I was, since my eye lids wouldn't let me see. For some odd reason I couldn't get Humphrey out of my mind. I didn't know why I had this urge to be with him, but it was becoming extremely overwhelming. I decided I would give in to the urge, mainly because I couldn't get it out of my head. I don't remember why I wanted to see Humphrey. I don't even remember anything else that happened yesterday. Finally, I opened my eyes to see my mother further down the river washing herself off. I tried to get up, but quickly fell back down. My body was extremely weak. I gathered myself and pushed my legs up for the second time, and had succeeded on getting myself up. I thought of where to go, but decided that she would hear me no matter how silent I was. I was actually really anxious to see Humphrey, but yet again my mind drew a complete blank as to why. I took a deep breath and lifted my head to the heavens and was about to howl, until I heard a distant howl from a ways away it was then followed by a train whistle. The combination of the two made my head start working again. All of the sudden, I remembered my marriage with Garth and how Humphrey had told me that he loved me. I was even more anxious to see Humphrey so I tried to howl, but I couldn't do it. The howl didn't seem to come out. After a couple of attempts, I thought I could visit him tomorrow, but had just remembered he was going to leave. At that moment all my emotions and thoughts for Humphrey came rushing back. My mind flooded like a broken dam. It was built to stop my thoughts about Humphrey, but it was destroyed. Now I remembered everything he ever said and did for me. Mostly all the ways, he looked out for me through all the months we've known each other. I tried one more time and my howl came out exactly as I wanted it to. After a few seconds of howling I stopped and listened intently for a returned howl, but didn't hear anything. I heard my mother gasp when she realized it was me who howled and yelled nearly crying, "KATE YOUR ALRIGHT!" It was as if as soon as she said that, I felt my legs start to shake, and weakness overtook my body. I felt the ground beneath me start to disappear as I fell unconscious on the ground. The last word out of my mother's mouth was my name.
(3rd Person)
Kate awoke with a small pounding in her head. It was like if someone one took padded hammers and started beating on her ear drums. She decided to keep her eyes closed and try to breath slowly, until the pounding started to slow down. After what seemed like an eternity it finally come to a stop. Her mind was slowly coming back online and she started to recall what had happened the previous night. Or so she thought was the previous night. She remembered going to the wedding and starting the ceremony with Garth, but she didn't remember finishing it. Her mind was probably playing tricks on her. She thought really hard trying to remember what had happened, but couldn't seem to figure it out. She just couldn't remember much. She knew who she was, her age, and everything about why she was getting married. She just couldn't remember the most important event of her life, the day of her wedding. She slowly opened her eyes to see where she was. As soon as she did her vision was regained, but blurry. Slowly it started to clear up. She blinked a few times to let her eyes refocus and she noticed light and the commotion coming from outside the den; where wolves were going on with their daily lives. She moved her head and saw that it was the afternoon and thought it was the next day's afternoon. She started taking a whiff of the air, and she smelled the scents of other wolves like: her mom, dad, Garth, and Lilly. Her nose started to pick up on harder things like: the healer's salves and other useful concoctions. After smelling these scents, she realized she was in the healer's den. Kate noticed a bunch of leaves stuck to her head and side. They glued onto her fur with sap and some other ointments and wondered what they were there. She decided she would ask the first person she saw. She slowly tried to get up, but collapsed on her side. Pain was then pulsed throughout her whole body, so assumed she had a bruise. Then as she was trying to get up for a second time a wolf walked in, the pack healer. The Healer stopped for a second before turning around and yelling, "SHE'S AWAKE!" She let out a short, strong howl to notify anyone that was too far off to hear her shouting. The healer then ran to Kate to help her up, and asked her some questions about how she was feeling. Mostly there were about any certain ways she felt. Kate answered her questions and everything seemed alright with her.
The healer was smaller than she remembered, so Kate asked her who she was. The small healer replied, "I am the healers assistant or also known as the future healer in training. My name is Rose." Rose probably got her name from her eyes, they look like actual roses, but not in a mean or evil way. They were more of a nice, warming, and welcoming kind of way. Kate was curious as to why Rose was here and not the original healer Beth. Kate was about to ask here some more questions, but her parents suddenly rushed in and engaged her in a long hug. Kate was surprised and was about to talk, but she let her parents have their moment.
(POV: Eve)
Eve wondered why Kate wasn't talking since they got in and looked to Kate who was almost turning a light shade of blue. Eve realized she was still holding onto her after Winston let go. She realized her mistake and let go of Kate who started coughing and gasping for air. Eve apologized, "Sorry Kate. I'm just so glad to see you."
(3rd Person)
Kate regained her posture and said, "Ok well I'm glad to see you to, I guess." Kate didn't think about what her mom said, until she thought about it. She decided to ask her, since it was making her confused as to why her mom acted like she hasn't seen her in days. Kate turned to Winston and asked, "Dad how long was I asleep?"
Winston looked at Kate, then to Eve, then back at Kate. Winston sighed before saying, "Kate you have been knocked out or 'sleeping' for two days." Kate looked at Eve in disbelief while Eve quickly nodded. Kate just stared at her parents for about a minute trying to remember what happened that made her go unconscious for that long. Kate's mind was racing with questions and managed to quickly ask what had happened.
Winston was about to answer when Eve interrupted and said, "Kate, honey why don't you take a walk with me?" Kate moved towards her mother and they started walking together out of the den leaving Winston all by himself.
"What am I just dead caribou?" He whispered under his breath.
The two females walked into the forest. When they were a good ways away from the pack Eve stopped and turned to Kate before saying, "Sit down for a moment." She sat down and her mother told her about the wedding, the wolf who howled, and how she realized it was Humphrey. Eve asked Kate probably the hardest question she would ever face, "Kate, do you have feelings for Humphrey?" Kate thought about what to say. She didn't want to lie, but she didn't know how her mom would react. Kate thought for what seems like minutes, but in reality they were seconds. She then says, "No." Kate somehow felt like if she had just back stabbed Humphrey, or hurt him like he was right there listening to the conversation.
After saying those words, Kate finally asked on how Garth got her to the den. Eve hesitated for a moment before saying, "Garth didn't save you from the stampede." Kate looked confused at her mother to see if she was messing with her. Eve sensed Kate's disbelief and said "Garth actually didn't do anything to help you."
Kate then asked "Who saved me then, because all I remember is being in the middle of the caribou stampede."
Eve slowly answered her question. "Humphrey did. He ran to you and moved you behind the log." Kate was deep in though trying to think about how he did that. He was an omega and even in the middle of a stampede. "He placed his life on the line to save you Kate. Don't you feel anything for him?"
Kate choked out the words "H... ... How... How did he move me?" Eve then went into detail on how Humphrey saved her. After hearing that it was Humphrey who saved her, and not Garth, she felt resentment towards her new mate, Garth. She thought mates were supposed to look out for each other, but a friend of hers helped more than her new husband. Kate decided to go see Humphrey and thank him personally for saving her.
She asked her mom she was going to go thank him and Eve said "That's fine, but be back before sunset." Kate started walking towards Humphrey's den, but when she got there no one was inside. She started to smell the den, but realized Humphrey hadn't been there for a while. Kate started to quickly walk back to her parents den to see if her father knew anything.
Upon arriving at the leader's den Kate ran into Lilly who hugged Kate and said, "Hey I'm glad you woke up, finally. You had us all worried." Kate hugged her back and thought to herself, 'I haven't even said 'hi' to any of my friends since I woke up. Nor eaten lately. I have been so worried about Humphrey.' Kate said to Lilly she had to go see their father and Lilly said 'Ok.' They both then went there ways, but as Lilly was walking away Kate noticed something strange about the way Lilly was acting.
Kate dismissed it as her being tired or something, because as soon as she turned around Winston called to her saying, "Kate come here please," Kate walked up to her father and was about to say something, but was cut off by Winston "Kate we found out that Humphrey is gone. One of our patrols have found his scent along the train tracks then it disappeared, and yes we have some volunteer alphas out looking for him." Kate took in the information and once again Winston started talking "Go inside a meal is waiting for you. You have not ate in two days." Kate's stomach growled quite loudly at the thought of food.
Kate entered the den where Eve sat in front of a half eaten caribou. Eve greeted Kate with a hug and said, "It's all yours honey, enjoy." Kate began to devour the first food in almost two and a half days.
(Time Skip: 25 Minutes)
Kate finished with the caribou and walked towards the river to wash off. Kate was careful not to agitate the bruised spot on her head and the side. While being careful, she washed the dried blood off of her face and paws. Once she was clean enough she shook dry and walked towards her parent's den to get some sleep. Kate was about to enter her den until Eve said, "Kate don't you think it would be a good idea for you to sleep in your new den? You know you do have a new husband, right?" Eve was putting extra emphasis on the word 'new'. Kate thought about it and decided she was right. She was going to have to face Garth sooner or later. Kate walked down the slope to her new den and was surprised at its size. Kate entered into the den and noticed the presence of another wolf in the back and immediately knew it was her husband Garth.
Garth got up and walked to her for a hug from her new mate. Kate gave him a small hug. "It isn't the same as with Lilly." Garth thought. Garth wished things would have happened differently. He wished he could have married Lilly instead of Kate. Garth walked to the back of the den and laid back down hoping for some sleep. Hoping sleep would calm down his feelings, because he knew he couldn't do anything about it.
(POV: Kate)
I decided to lay down near the back of the den. I found a comfortable spot and put my head down on my paws. I closed my eyes, and thoughts kept on coming back on how I felt about Humphrey. I couldn't take it anymore I forced myself to push Humphrey out of my mind and went to sleep.
(Kate's Dream)
She felt herself waking up, but for some odd reason she couldn't move. She opened her eyes to see Humphrey staring back at her. She instantly remembered where they were, probably the best night of her life. Everything was exactly the same so far, the train, the trees, the wind, and more importantly Humphrey was there. She remembered that when he started howling how she was put in a trance and almost mesmerized about how amazing it was. Just like before Humphrey went to the open side of the car and started howling a long beautiful howl. Kate wanted to walk over to him, hug him, and admit her feelings to him right then and there, but she could not move. Her body forced her to look directly at Humphrey and she said "Humphrey ... what are you doing?" Humphrey responded like he normally did "Oh you know the moon, the moment. Oh come on Kate howl at the moon with me." Kate tried to make her body move to join him and howl her heart out for the rest of the night, but once again she could not control her own body. She opened her mouth to talk, but she did not say what she wanted to say "Why would I ever howl with you? You are nothing, but an Omega you cant do anything right." Kate didn't know why she was saying this, and she could tell she was hurting Humphrey. She wanted stop so badly and tell him sorry, but when she opened her mouth to apologize the opposite came out. "I don't love you, nor would I ever love you. We can only be friends nothing more. Nothing can ever happen between us, and nothing will ever happen." She continued making herself and Humphrey feel worse, "I would never love, or howl with an Omega. Especially one who is as pathetic as you." Kate saw the hurt in his eyes. Kate was silently screaming at him, saying she was sorry while crying harder than she ever thought possible.
Her body was talking on its own. She wanted it to stop, but she could not control her body. She kept on and cut him down. She saw he was on the verge of breaking down. He looked so sad and depressed she barley even recognized him. She kept on going on and on about how she never loved him and that the reason he had no real family was, because they chose to leave him, because he was a disgrace. He then collapsed onto the ground covering his ears trying to stop the talking from entering his mind. Kate knew he was trying to ignore her, but she felt so guilty about him leaving. She wished she would have known before the trip started. She would have acted differently. She just wished she didn't marry Garth and ran to him instead. As Kate was watching Humphrey everything suddenly went black.
(The Nightmare Has Been Vanquished)
She realized it was only a dream, but her heart still ached and she felt like crying again. She felt a paw on her shaking her gently. She opened her eyes to see Garth standing over her with a confused look on his face. Kate feared he was mad at her for waking him up or something, but what he said next scarred her. Not for her own safety, but for Humphrey as well. Garth spoke in a serious, but calm voice "Did you have a dream? I heard you talking in your sleep, you were saying 'Humphrey I am so sorry.' " Kate looked at Garth expecting the worst, but he asked her another hard question which she didn't really know how to answer. "Kate, do you like Humphrey as more than a friend?" Kate blinked a couple times, before she was about to answer; Garth interrupted saying "Tell me the truth it will stay between you and me." Kate knew he already knew the truth, so she wanted to make this easier on the both of them. She slowly answered in a hushed voice, "Yes".
Kate once again expected Garth to be mad or at least upset at her, but instead he went back and laid down a few feet away from her. Kate tried to go back to sleep, but she just felt like she was going to Humphrey and telling him how she felt. She wanted to let her mind and heart be left to rest. Kate wanted to tell Humphrey how she felt. She then got up and ran towards the woods somehow hoping he would hear her, but she knew he was long gone. Kate stopped and took a deep breath and let out a strong beautiful howl to hopefully get him to come to her. Kate ended her howl and decided to take cover from a light rain under a nearby tree. Kate laid there imagining she saw Humphrey in between two trees among the dark, where shadows and monsters seemed to reside at night. Only to tease the eyes of those who gazed upon them. Kate kept on saying in her mind "He is still here he is just hiding. Maybe it was one of his jokes." Kate laid there for at least a few hours and was half asleep when she was suddenly interrupted by the sound of heavy paws behind her. It was Garth, he came up beside her and said, "You should come back to the den now. Your mom would never forgive me if you got sick the first night you woke up after you were unconscious." Kate was thinking it through, until he picked her up on his back and started carrying her back to the den. Kate didn't want to leave Humphrey in case he came looking, even thought she knew he was not going to come. Once inside the den Kate slid off of Garth and left to the back, so she could lay down in peace. Kate then drifted off into an uneasy and restless sleep. Well Kate I hope you learn to forgive and forget. Night Kate.
Revised: ShadowsChange
Written By: Ellispring12345