Alpha and Omega: Lone Wolf
Chapter 8: Meeting the Northern pack.
(A/N Hey guys I have just started a new job so my time to get the chapters out has been reduced significantly. This next chapter is back with Humphrey which is two days before the events of chapter 7. Enjoy!)
Humphrey and Natalie walked into a big open space presumably where the packs den were. It had been half an hour since Natalie's older brother Adam left. Natalie was walking right beside Humphrey taking glances at him occasionally but remaining silent.
Humphrey didn't notice he wasn't used to being near so many wolves before and he dreaded to think what would happen; he kept focused on preparing for an attack at any moment.
"Right were here." Natalie stopped and turned to smile at Humphrey.
Humphrey walked past Natalie letting his eyes adjust to the light. He stopped and stared towards a curved cliff face that contained one large cave entrance in the middle with several caves both to the left and right of the larger one.
There were wolves moving in and out of the caves going about their daily lives. Humphrey resisted the urge just to let his jaw drop right then and there. So he just simply stood and took in the sight before him. The cliff face was sturdy made of hard granite and all the caves in the cliff had different families in them; each den faced inwards. There was a small lake in the middle of the semi-circle of caves that had a river running through it.
Natalie came round to look at Humphrey so she was facing away from the cliff and towards him. "Are you alright Humphrey?" she said concerned.
"Yes. Fine. I just never really seen this big a cave before. It is… an impressive sight." Humphrey struggled to make conversation as he was definitely out of practice for small talk.
"Huh, well I guess I'm just used to it. I never saw it as anything that special." Natalie said but continued. "Adam told me to watch you and give you a tour of the pack."
Humphrey smirked "Well you got that first part covered that's for sure." Humphrey winked and rolled his shoulders. Natalie blushed and giggled nervously as she thought Humphrey hadn't noticed her checking him out. Natalie cleared her throat "Right um well should we start the tour?"
Humphrey beckoned Natalie to lead the way with his foreleg. Natalie smiled and walked past him quickly trying to distract herself. Humphrey followed close beside her and to her left.
The tour had been quite relaxing seeing the howling rock and some of the dens and areas for families as well as the common trails the northern wolves used for hunting. In some places other times were tenser.
Humphrey noticed he had many eyes watching him throughout the tour some of them were angry stares while others were just curious. One incident had him walking into a taller male who clearly wasn't looking where he was going. Humphrey just quickly stepped passed him but the male wanted to say his piece.
"Hey! Watch it vagrant!"
Humphrey wheeled around giving the taller wolf the death glare. The white wolf managed to get a good look at Humphrey this time around and it shut him up instantly. Humphrey may have been shorter than the taller male but he made up for that in his thicker body while the other male was thinner. But, it was the scars and cold icy blue eyes that scared the wolf the most, the cuts were deep and the male thought it best to not challenge him as the lone wolf looked like he meant business and probably could tear him apart.
"Uh- sorry I-I should have been looking where I was going. Welcome to the Northern pack by the way I'm Drake." Drake's voice quivered out.
Humphrey felt like making an example of this boastful wolf but decided against it. He ignored the apology and walked back to Natalie and then past her signalling her to follow. Natalie gave a smirk to the wolf called Drake before following after Humphrey.
"Who was that?" Humphrey asked slightly annoyed.
"Oh that was Drake; he's a show off, he's a good alpha but he walks round like he owns the place. Bit of a wimp really if things don't go his way." She giggled "He's already asked me to the moonlight howl twice he just can't seem to get the hint to go through his thick skull."
Humphrey chuckled grimly but then asked "Where are we going now?" As they entered the large cave. Natalie leaned her head back "To my mother and father. They are the pack leaders and would like to speak with you."
They soon entered one of the rooms at the far end of the cave and were greeted by what was presumably the pack leaders who were lying on elevated mounds next to each other on a bed of leaves. The pair was quite old, similar looking to Natalie and Adam but there fur was darker showing their age.
The male wolf started to speak "Hello Humphrey, Adam told me to expect you. My name is Timothy and this is my mate Rachel." Rachel smiled and greeted Humphrey then turned to her daughter "Hello dear, would you mind going and speaking with the pack healer for me? Your Father and I would like to speak to our new guest in private."
Natalie hesitated for a second but then decided to leave "Come find me later when you're finished Humphrey." Which Humphrey nodded to and she smiled and left.
Timothy then smiled at Humphrey gesturing him to a bed of leaves to lie on which Humphrey accepted and instantly felt a lot better. Even though he would never admit it as he would appear weak. Humphrey was tired from his journey and it was a long time since he had laid on a proper bed.
"So what brings you to our pack Humphrey?" Tim spoke like Winston did and seemed around the same age.
"I have travelled from the Northern Rockies following the caribou south."
Rachel eyebrows were raised at this but Tim remained un-phased by the mention of the Northern Rockies.
"Ah that is a hard land to find food I understand why you travelled south. Where did you come from before then?"
Humphrey narrowed his eyes at Tim "Why do you ask?"
Tim shrugged "You just don't seem like a wolf from that area and those scars are more than just battle wounds. They have a story to them and I am curious to know what it is. Plus, I like to get to know people a bit more before I offer them my hospitality."
A deep growl emanated from Humphrey's chest "That's none of your damn business old man." Humphrey put extra emphasis on the last two words.
Rachel started to growl back at Humphrey not liking the way he was treating her mate being only a guest in their territory. Tim held up his paw to calm Rachel which she did and remained quiet while Tim continued.
"Maybe I could help you. I could imagine being out as a lone wolf you haven't had much of an opportunity to share these kinds of stories."
Humphrey shifted awkwardly not knowing how to react to this wise gentle wolf. Tim was right, he wasn't used to it so he decided to give in and let him ask his questions.
"What do you want to know?" Humphrey said defeated. Tim smiled glad that he finally managed to get Humphrey to open up to him.
"The scars how did you get them?"
Humphrey didn't get embarrassed and he had plenty of time to resolve his internal disputes so he answered bluntly. "I was banished from my pack for falling in love with the pack leader's daughter."
Both Tim and Rachel shared confused glances. "Why did that happen?"
"She was an alpha called Kate and I was an omega. She was engaged to be married to a wolf from another pack that's who gave me the scar after someone I thought to be my friend betrayed me by telling her fiancé of my love for her."
"What area are you from?" Rachel asked now curious of what Humphrey had to say.
"Jasper Park just south of here. I was part of Winston and Eve's pack but I never knew my mother and father."
Tim and Rachel both looked surprised "Winston? Eve? Ha small world! We went to Alpha school together all four of us. Me and Winston were always good friends" Timothy said but then added "Though I haven't seen or heard from him in a while."
Humphrey went onto explain about his trip to Idaho where Kate never told him she was engaged to be married and how he thought that she must have thought it was a big joke when she kept leading him on. Tim was getting annoying though as he started asking more probing questions and bringing up 'what if's' and 'maybe's' that were messing with his head and making him doubt his own conclusions.
Humphrey had asked if they could change the subject and Tim and Rachel agreed much to his relief. His relief didn't last long though.
"What is your relationship with our daughter?" Rachel asked politely.
"Pardon." Humphrey was surprised in the change in subject he didn't expect to get it more uncomfortable.
"You heard me."
"It's nothing. As far as I am aware we are just friends."
Rachel sighed "Her body language says quite a different story."
Humphrey was a bit confused to say the least "I wouldn't see why she'd be interested in me. All I am really is a nobody who was banished from his pack."
Tim chuckled before Rachel continued "What you've got to understand here Humphrey is unlike the wolves of a Jasper Park we are much smaller pack, news travels fast around here. We heard about your run in with Drake but in turn so did everyone else in the pack."
Tim then added after Rachel finished "If you wanted to lay low for a bit you've lost your chance."
Humphrey grimaced wondering what they would say next.
"The females in our pack have led quite sheltered lives and most of them are young adults like you. So the idea of an adventuring lone wolf coming to stay-" Rachel gave Humphrey a scrutinizing look up and down which Humphrey shifted uncomfortably under "-and a good looking one at that. Well they will think you are exotic." Humphrey wasn't sure he followed he hadn't been in practise enough to pick up the subtle hints Rachel and Tim were trying to drop him. Tim chuckled and tried a more direct approach "Plus, it will be an early spring this year." Tim chuckled at Humphrey's expression as the young male connected the dots and his jaw hung open not sure what to say.
Tim and Rachel still laughing a bit and said to Humphrey "Now you're welcome, to stay here as long as you like Humphrey and the caribou east of here haven't headed south so you won't have to be worried about finding food for yourself as I assume you would prefer to eat by yourself?" Humphrey gulped and nodded nervously.
Tim laughed a loud at Humphrey as he had caught him in a trap. On one hand the caribou weren't far from his den and resources were plentiful but on the hand he had a bunch of young females going into their first or second heats.
Tim and Rachel gave Humphrey a farewell and he was welcome to stay in their cave in the den across from them when he needed rest. The last thing they told Humphrey was "Good luck." Before sending him on his way.
"Ah what I would give to be young again." Tim sighed.
Rachel laughed "Well I feel as young as I did ever since I left alpha school."
Tim got up and walked over to his wife giving her a quick nibble on the back of her neck getting a surprised yelp from her. "I had fond memories of those times" he said in a low voice "We may be pack leaders now but who can blame us for living a little."
Rachel smiled up at him "You read my mind." She then brought his muzzle down to hers and ended their conversation with a deep kiss.
