(Chapter 8)

Kate scanned the clearing, trying to catch her breath, only to have it all taken away when she finally found Humphrey. He was on the ground, his fur matted with fresh and dry blood. He was laying on his side, on top of his broken ribs. Garth was standing over him with a smile. Eve and Winston gasped when they saw what had become of the top male alpha in the pack. Garth stopped looking at Humphrey, to look at Kate." Oh hi" Garth said with a smile, "I've been looking all over for you". Kate's eyes starting to fill with anger again, she looked back at Humphrey, who was looking her dead in the eyes. His eyes filled with tears of pain and sorrow. Kate looked back to Garth.

" Did I not make myself clear back at the den, I want you gone" Kate snapped at Garth, bearing her teeth. Garth smile faded to a small smirk." You don't want me gone, you love me." Garth said back with a smile slowly returning." You just panicked because this, useless mutt showed up" Garth snapped at Humphreys face, swiping his power claws across Humphreys face. Humphrey yelped in pain, throwing his paws up to perfect his face. Garth laughed" wrong move" kicking Humphrey in his stomach, causing Humphrey to cough up blood. "STOP" Kate snarled at Garth. He looked back at Kate, who was in a defensive position. Eve and Winston walked up beside Kate, ready to attack. Kate took a step forward, quickly stopping in her tracks. Garth had backed over Humphrey putting his paw down on Humphreys back leg." I wouldn't do that if I was you" Garth laughed putting pressure on Humphreys hind leg, making him whimper.

Kate looked back at her dad. "Garth, what is the meaning of this, what did he ever do to deserve this" Winston said in a strong yet calm voice. Garths eye shifted from Kate to Winston." Ah dad, nice to see you to" Garth snarled towards Winston." I'm no father to a monster, and you are no mate to my daughter" Winston yelled. Garth looked back at Kate, seeing the hate in her eyes." What could you possibly see in a worthless coyote like him" Garth said looking at Humphrey but not moving his paw. Kate looked at Humphrey, his blue eyes full of tears, his snout covered in blood. Kate began to think of all the good times she had with him on the trip home from Idaho. Humphrey saw a few tears start to run downs Kate's face." Ittsss...okk..katee" Humphrey stuttered, looking straight at her with a small smile trying to cheer her up. Kate snapped back to reality when she heard his voice. Garth looked down at Humphrey who was still looking at Kate.

Outraged that he would dare talk to Kate he leaned over Humphreys head. " don't ever talk to her" Garth snarled, outing all his wait on his paw, making a sickening snap, breaking Humphreys back leg. Humphrey started to yelp but was stopped by garths paw slamming into his snout, shutting him up. Kate's eyes flooded with tears watching Humphrey, the one true wolf she loved, being hurt right in front of her. Eve and Winston looked at each other and back at Lilly who was hidden in the tall grass not wanting to be part of what was happening. Humphreys head rolled from side to side, his world was spinning making him feel sick. Kate saw Humphrey trying to focus but failing. "focus on my voice Humphrey" Kate said in a smooth tear fed voice. Humphrey stopped moving his head and shut his eyes, trying to focus on Kate. He could hear the birds, and the wind blowing through the pine tree s that surrounded them. He could hear the waterfall at the plains, he tried to tune it all out, focusing on Kate's breathing, in and out, she was slowly breathing in and out. Humphrey did his best to match hers calming himself. He felt so much pain. His ribs hurt making it harder to breath and his leg screamed out in pain. Kate saw him start to struggle," its ok Humphrey, I'm here, we all are" Kate said trying to keep Humphrey calm.

He opened his eye looking back at Kate. Her golden hazel eyes, sparkled in the moonlight, almost glowing. Kate was looking right back at his bright blue eyes, tracing the dark ring in them with hers. Garth snarled and laughed like a maniac" enough" he snapped, grabbing everyone's attention. He walked over to Humphreys head and bent down towards his ear. "She so beautiful isn't she" garth grinned seeing Humphreys eyes shift from Kate back to Garth." She wouldn't want you, just look at you" garth said trying to get at Humphrey. "Why do you think she wouldn't talk to you when you got back from Idaho". " she only talked to you so you would help her home" he trailed of looking at Kate, who he knew could hear him. Kate eyes water knowing what garth was trying to do. " why garth" Kate said in a pathetic voice." Why lie to him, why hurt him, why hurt me" she said looking at garth. The last one must have his a cord in his heart, because his smile fade quick. Garth looked at the ground, then at Humphrey. "No" garth shouted his smile started to come back." You think a few words are going to stop me" he said glaring into Kate's eyes. " I want him dead" Garth snarled.

Everyone stopped at the sudden outburst. Garth walked over to Humphrey grabbing his front leg in his mouth and biting, feeling the blood from Humphreys leg in his mouth, made him smile. Humphrey shook violently trying to get his leg back from garth jaw, whimpering at the pain of garths teeth in Humphreys flesh. Garth felt Humphrey shake and smiled as hit bit down hard snapping the bone, dropping Humphrey to the ground. garth turned and looked back at Kate blood running down his face. Kate to this chance to charge garth but she only made it half way to him before garth had Humphreys neck in his jaws. Kate froze, her heart beating hard, looking at garth. Humphrey slowly lifted his head towards Kate with all the strength he had left." I'm sorry Kate I caused you pain, I'm happy to die with you being the last person I see". Kate and her family stared with tears in their eyes.

Garth smiled and started to bite down. As garth dug in Humphrey's eyes went wide but he never stopped looking at Kate. She stared at him with disbelief. Humphrey, unable to speak, mouthed the words" I love you". Garth smiled " good bye Humphrey" he said in a muffled voice. Then out of the woods a white blur slammed into garth, making him drop Humphrey. Garth hit the ground and rolled and tried to stand up, but slipped as his hind leg fell. Looking back he saw he was dangling over a river about a hundred feet in the air. He looked back just as he was hit again by Kate, falling over the edge. Kate's family ran to the edge but saw nothing but water. Kate didn't care to look over, she just wanted him dead. Kate looked at her father he was picking Lilly up off the ground. Winston looked over at eve, " go get the rest of the alphas and for a search party" I want garths body found. Kate skilled at the fact that garth could actually be dead, but it soon faded when her eyes started to water "Humphrey" she yelled turning around to see him on the ground. She ran and was at his side in seconds.