!MERRY CHRISTMAS! THIS IS A CHRISTMAS PRESENT FROM ME TO YOU ALL, I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS SINCE I POSTED THE CHAPTER ON THURSDAY OR THIS MORNING. PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW OF WHAT YOU THOUGHT.

(POV Kate)

I have been in my new den for the past couple of days, I haven't felt like eating more than enough to live. At times I felt like I am going to die, my heart feels so broken and heavy. As I lay there on the ground I am going over some of the memories I have of Humphrey while also realizing all the things he did for me throughout our lives.

At that moment Garth walked in with a leg of a caribou and said "Hey our hunt was good, we got 3 caribou and no injuries."

I replied with almost no emotion "That's good" acting like I was happy, even though anyone who saw me knew I wasn't happy at all but, still all of my friends said I was sooo lucky to have Garth as a mate.

Garth brought the caribou leg over to me and said "eat, you need your strength and don't worry I'm sure your friend is fine, he probably is just beyond the borders living with some other pack."

I was angry that he could just blow it off like it was no big deal, even though without Humphrey I may not be here today.

"How can you not be worried at all about him, he is the best omega we have and he has been here with this pack since I was born."

Garth seemed to think for a moment not wanting to provoke me any more, he sighed and carefully spoke in a hushed voice "I know he is your friend but when you are in this emotional and rash state it gives some wolves the wrong idea especially since everybody knows how he feels about you, and they are thinking you aren't mentally stable and shouldn't run the pack. I just said you weren't fully recovered from the stampede accident which is partially true, but they haven't seen you for a few days and people are starting to assume the worst. I think you should go make an appearance, talk with some of the pack members and make it seem like your just fine.

"How can I act like I am not bothered at all by something? Out of everybody in the pack He was the only wolf who tried to help me, even you, my own mate didn't help me. He helped me because he knew it was his duty as a wolf and a friend and because he loved me, I don't even know if hes alive, how am I supposed to pretend nothing happened and everything is just fine?! How? Please explain, since you seem so good at pretending everything is perfect and that we BOTH wanted this marriage." I paused because she realized she was rambling and hadn't taken a good breath since she started talking, I was panting lightly and quickly regained my breath.

Garth who was just sitting there like nothing happened at all and like they were having a normal conversation answered calmly " We both have to act normal, even happier than most because now both packs look at us and it keeps everyone under control. We must fulfill our duties to the pack, even though we truly don't want to, we must or there will be a civil war which will leave us vulnerable for invasion, then your friend will be the least of our troubles."

I almost lost it when he said Humphrey was a problem, as if it was somehow his fault the stampede happened and a civil war might break out. I just nodded in agreement because oddly enough I knew he was partially right, there was a chance civil war would break out and I knew if I hadn't fallen in love I wouldn't have had a problem marrying Garth, and no wolf would be suspicious about my true feelings and mentality or power to lead the pack.

"Humphrey is not a problem, he is a friend and I am worried about him only because he is a friend."

"Then why are you acting like this? Like I said it isn't giving a good impression to the rest of the pack as well as the neighboring packs who most likely by now have heard a rumor or two about the daughter of a pack leader being loved by a lone wolf omega who almost got her trampled in a stampede and now she is in an unstable mental state. I think it makes us look weak as future leaders. You need to go out and be yourself again, it doesn't matter if its real or not just try to be yourself and act normal.

I finished eating the caribou leg, I finished it completely down to the bone I felt satisfied with my meal nd realized it was the most I have eaten in days. I slowly stood up and padded my way to where the sunlight was shining through into the den, as I stepped into it I started to feel it warm my fur and its heat soothed me, I took the moment to smell the fresh air as the smell of pine needles wafted through the air.

When I first stepped out onto the rock that overlooked the feeding grounds I saw most of the wolves turn to look at me, I felt their eyes on me like they were drilling through my mask of happiness and saw my inner sorrow and guilt. I made my way down the ramp and was immediately greeted by my mom and dad who must have been on a joy walk or visiting some of the wolf families in the pack.

My mom was the first to speak when she saw me and pulled me into a hug "Kate your outside, we started to think you were going to stay in the den forever, I am glad you pulled yourself together because people were asking questions."

Mom finally let me go and I turned to my dad who just smiled and said they are going to be in their den in anyone needs them. I nodded in confirmation and continued to walk towards the river. I wanted to get myself cleaned up since my fur was dirty and starting to get matted in some areas. As I was getting close to the river I noticed Garth went somewhere and had no idea where. I finally made it to the river and decided to walk up and down it a little bit, so i waited into the edge and started to walk to the best spot on the river, a spot where there was a waterfall and a small pond that fed the river, me and Humphrey discovered it and I only told my sister and a few others about it. When I was within about fifteen yards from the spot I heard voices and didn't know who it was so I kept on moving through the cool river water letting it clean my fur and paws while also cleaning and straightening my fur with the current.

I made it to the spot and walked out of the water to lay on a rock to let my fur dry, I heard the voices again but this time I recognized one of them as a female and a male, Garth and some other unknown wolf. As i got up onto the rock I looked over and didn't see anyone behind the rock so I full stood up and tried to smell the air for their scents, I smelled the scent of Garth and one other wolf but the scent seemed to be clouded by the overwhelming of Garth. I heard a fake clearing of a throat behind me to get my attention. I whipped around and saw Garth standing there at the edge of a rock with a nervous look on his face.

"Garth, what are you doing here?"

"I ... uhhh ... was ummm getting a drink, yah getting a drink."

I gave him a (I doubt it look) and said why not get a drink at the river near the feeding grounds? Why would you come all the way up here?"

"Well ummm I like the water here better becaussssse it's uhhh colder and it tastes better."

I knew he was hiding something but remembered a small but important detail "who where you talking to?"

Garth seemed to choke when I mentioned I heard him talking to another wolf. He said in a quick and almost harsh voice "It was just a friend and it's none of your business anyway!, Cant a wolf get some privacy and so what I talk to another wolf, it was just a good friend of mine."

I knew he was hiding something and I wanted to figure out what it was "Who was the friend you were talking to, I will find out sooner or later so I might as well know now."

"Umm it was my friend Hutch, Yah it was just Hutch he walked here with me because I wanted to talk to him about some stuff."

"What stuff?" anything I should know about, since I am better and fully recovered from the stampede."

"No nothing serious, just the border reports and some stuff that I should tell to Winston."

"Ok well I am going to start heading back to the den and visit some people to let them know I a alright and perfectly fit to lead."

"That would be good, some people were starting to assume the worst."

At that I took my leave and headed back to the main grounds. As I was walking I started to try and have some conversations ready to start to show people I am fine. I started talking to some of my friends but all they asked was, how is Garth as a mate or commenting how amazing he looks, even though his howl isn't the best. No matter what almost all of the conversations seemed to revolve around either Garth or were about Humphrey admitted he loved me. My friends never asked me if I loved him or had feelings for him and I was extremely thankful that they weren't to nosy.

After a couple hours of talking I decided to head for the den, I had visited almost every family and wolf in our main grounds, I was pretty tired and was wanting a good nights sleep. I started to walk to my new den and started thinking about what I should do tomorrow.

I walked up the slope until I reached Garth and I's den and entered expecting him to be inside waiting for me or asleep considering he had alpha duties tomorrow. I called inside the den "Garth?" expecting an answer but got none, I walked in and looked around and he was nowhere to be found. There were no new scents in the den so he hadn't come back yet. I found it odd that he was out this late because normally he is the one who talks about being fit and how important sleep is. I thought about waiting up for him but was worn out from the talking and done earlier that day. I lay my head down on my front paws and thought about the days events and wondered what Humphrey was doing at the moment and if he was even alive.

I knew if I kept these thoughts in my head I would never get some decent sleep. I forced him out of my mind and went into a light and uneasy sleep, I don't know why but I couldn't seem to sleep for long and I kept on waking up. After a few hours I opened my eyes to see if Garth could sleep also. I didn't feel like Garth was my mate, more of a roommate or friend. I looked to where he normally slept but he wasn't there. I wondered where he was at this hour and decided to see if he was sitting outside or something.

I got up and padded out of the cave, while I was walking out I was hit with a bunch of smells of the night, like the pine trees, the night time winds that brought fresh scents from the mountains, and the sound of the crickets making their lullaby to the earth while she slept. I stood watching the moon in a trance, I was thinking about the way my life went and how it could have changed. I was snapped out of my trance by a noise from right behind me. I turned around with great agility ready for to attack or be attacked but saw a soaking wet Garth looking at me confused and surprised.

"Why are you out so late?"

"I should be asking you, why are you wet and you do realize you have alpha duties tomorrow right?"

"Yah I just went for a late night swim."

"Really, why? who went with you?"

"Umm no one, no one went with me I went by myself."

"Ok yah well I am tired I am going to go to bed, you should do the same and you still have your duties tomorrow."

"Ok goodnight Kate"

"Night"

I walked into the back of the den and lay down, Garth who was still kind of damp laid a few feet away from me and went to sleep. For the rest of the night I kept on thinking there was something I was missing or a detail I over looked. I ignored these feelings and finally after many mental battles went to sleep.

I know this isn't as long as the others, but its a small gift. I a going to try to make all the chapters around 3-4k. Please leave a review on what Garth is hiding, or who he was meeting with. As always stay classy and keep reading Ellispring12345 (if you would like to skype add me at ellispring12345)