Hello Readers,
This is a chapter of the Howlington Pack through the eyes of Arnold Howlington. Criticism always welcome and hope you enjoy!
-CG
Arnold Howlington had just made it back home. It was 2 in the morning, and the red Wolf wanted nothing more than to crawl into bed with his mate. He had gotten all of his paperwork done early and been fortunate enough that Saburo came in early that night. The lupine pulled his bright red sedan up to the parking garage of the Howlington Compound. He pushed the fab on his keychain and slowly the metal gate lifted up. Too slow in Arnie's opinion.
He had been married coming up on four years now. Originally a Sawtooth, the red Wolf was told that he couldn't keep his last name if he wanted to live in the compound. Only Howlington's were allowed to reside in the apartment complex. At the time the lupine had been willing to change his last name, not out of loyalty to the Howlington Pack but love for his mate Jackson. Thankfully his father, the Alpha of the Sawtooth's, was more than understanding. Considering the fact that his mother and father left the Old World to specifically be together, Arnie figured he would.
The Wolf pulled into an empty spot and parked the car. He exited the vehicle slowly and trudged to the elevators. There was not a mammal awake, and Arnold was used to the silence of the final leg of his journey. In total there were seven floors in the compound, but the red Wolf's ride wouldn't be long. He and his mate lived on the basement level with other "undesirables" of the Pack. Beatrice and her parents lived on Arnold's floor, as well the rest of the unmarried Wolves. In the Sawtooth Pack Arnie was one of two Beta's, with his eldest brother Francis being the other. The officer willingly stepped down from his position in his Pack and was made a middling Wolf in the Howlington Pack. Unlike Beatty however, Arnie had been able to rise through the ranks. This had nothing to do with his playing of inter-Pack politics, but of his position in Precinct One. As long as he was a Lieutenant, he would rise close to the top.
Arnold struggled to pull his keys out his pocket, his paws not seeming to work corrctly as he grumbled to himself. Finally he yanked the keys out of his pocket, jammed it into the lock and turned the key. The apartment was small, made for the purpose of non-mated members of the Pack. Normally new couples on their Wedding day were moved into a larger apartment to encourage "Pack Growth," but since that was biologically impossible, it was decided against for Anrie and his mate. Still the two had worked hard to make it their home, and it always felt like it when the red Wolf arrived.
The small apartment had a bathroom, only large enough for a shower, toilet and sink. A kitchen that didn't have an oven, a subpar fridge and old cabinets. A small living room big enough for a love seat and bookshelf, and finally a bedroom that fit their bed and one set of dresser drawers. A low hanging pipe allowed for the two to hang up some of their clothes but no closet was available. Arnie slipped off his suit jacket and threw it onto the love seat. He then opened the door to the bedroom quietly and began to unbutton his shirt. In the bed, covered in a comforter and seemingly fast asleep was a white male Wolf.
"That's my favorite part," mumbled Jacks sleepily.
Arnie chuckled, "You could always get up and help me." The white Wolf mumbled something incoherent and pulled the comforter tighter. The red Wolf smiled. He let his pants fall to the ground as slipped into bed in his boxers. "You're making a mess..." sighed Jacks. The Lieutenant curled up behind his mate, "I'll take care of it tomorrow." The white Wolf hummed in response and Arnold pressed his nose into the back of the other Wolf's neck. The smell of his loved one eased the red Wolf as sleep came.
It was 7 in the morning when Jackson's alarm went off. Less than five hours asleep was never enough for Arnold, but he knew he wouldn't be able to sleep until the white Wolf was done getting ready. That didn't mean that he had to leave the comfort of his bed. On the contrary, the Lieutenant groaned as he pulled the blanket over his head. The alarm stopped.
"Sorry about that my love, but duty calls." Arnie felt Jacks shift out of bed. The white Wolf padded out of the room and towards the bathroom. The paper thin walls had the red Wolf listening to the shower begin to run. He knew his mate was in the shower by first humming, then melodic mumbling, until finally the arctic lupine was singing. Arnold knew he should have never fallen in love with a singer, but Jackson pulled on his heart strings all the right ways. As the white Wolf showered, the red Wolf dreamed of first seeing his mate.
A seedy dive bar in Tundra Town that Detective Sawtooth at the time had been staking out for illicit drug trafficking. Imagine his surprise when a handsome Wolf walked onto this dive's stage and blew the officer away with his octave range. Arnold never believed in love at first sight, but lust at first sight definitely existed. Of course after the case and arrest the Detective founding himself coming back every night he could spare. It had taken some coaxing from a sister of his before he finally asked Jackson out. To his surprise, the singer had been waiting for Arnold to make the first move. Apparently coming to almost every single show is a clear sign that someone is interested. After not dying of embarrassment right then and there, the Detective was finally able to get the singer's number and a date was set. Seven years later and the officer still gets embarrassed when they tell the story.
The singing stopped and Arnie sighed contentedly as he buried further into his pillow. A few minutes later the door to bedroom opened quietly, then there was the shuffling of fabric and low cursing. Arnold smiled as he imagined the playing out with Jacks tripping over the officers pants from last night. "That's my favorite part," mumbled the red Wolf happily. Something that felt like his pants hit his head.
"You always make a mess," huffed Jacks, but Arnie could hear the smile in his voice, "Do you want some breakfast? I have some time."
The red Wolf groaned as he pushed himself off the bed. He yawned deeply, smacking his lips together, before opening his eyes. "No thanks, but I'll join you." Arnold shifted his hind paws to the cold floor and slowly stood. He dragged himself into the living room, still in nothing but his boxers and birthday fur. The officer glanced at the kitchen to see his mate bent over in the fridge, white tail swaying back and forth lazily through a pair of dark slacks. As his sleep addled mind still tried to catch up, Arnold grinned wickedly. He stealthily moved behind his mate, a paw in front ready to pinch. Just a he was inches away, he was caught. "If I hit my head again because of you, you're sleeping on the couch." Arnold quickly retracted his paw.
Jacks straightened up, a paw clutching a travel size yogurt. The white Wolf was wearing a dark green button dowm with a lime green clip-on tie. He placed a delicate kiss on Arnold's cheek. "Good boy."
Arnold grinned foolishly and his tail wagged non-stop. He turned to follow his mate to the couch, the white Wolf stopping as he waited for the red Wolf to sit first. The officer slid into his favorite spot with a sigh, soon followed by Jacks who leaned into the other lupine. Jackson was slightly taller than Arnold, but not by much. It was simply the difference in their species. The white Wolf's legs stretched out as the red Wolf lazily laid his head upon his mate's.
"How was work?" asked the white Wolf.
Arnold shrugged, "Crime still happens, but nothing I need to talk about. What do you have planned for the kits today?" A year before they were wed, Jackson was able to get a job as a music teacher for one of the private schools in Tundra Town. The pay wasn't great, but it allowed the white Wolf to continue to fulfill his passion in a much safer environment than seedy dive bars. This also meant that the time the two spent together was little, but also precious. Those days when their time off lined up were always some of Arnold's best memories. It became a ritual for them to spend some time together in the morning before Jacks headed to work.
"I'm going to introduce them to Flyting today." The teacher said between spoons of yogurt, "Try to show that rap battles aren't anything new."
"Do you think it'll work?"
Jacks shrugged, "If nothing else I'll enjoy it."
Arnold chuckled and wrapped an arm around his mate, "As long as the teachers having fun, screw the kits!"
"Why Lieutenant!" Jacks said in mock shock, turning to look at the red Wolf, "that's illegal in Zootopia! I should report you to the proper authorities."
The Lieutenant's response was gripping his paws together and putting the other Wolf in a light chokehold. "Then I guess I'm a dirty cop," Arnold growled playfully into Jacks ear.
"Oh no, whatever shall I do?" the Teacher questioned flirtatiously.
"I can think of something," Arnold responded, kissing the neck of his mate, "or someone." He continued to pepper the white Wolf with kisses, his reward being the hums of pleasure from Jacks. The officer nipped the teacher gently, who moaned softly in return. "Do you have some time?" Arnold asked as he nuzzled against Jacks.
"If only..." sighed the white Wolf as he nuzzled back.
A knock at the door interrupted the two and the red Wolf couldnt stop a groan from escaping. He always disliked when their time together was ruined by others. "If it's Beatty, tell her how much of a knot blocker she's being," Arnonld grumbled. Jacks only laughed and tried to stand. The officer let go of his mate and watched as the white Wolf walked to the door. Instead of the voice of the female, there was no sound at all. Jacks walked back, frowning at an envelope in his paws. "What is it?" The officer questioned cautiously.
When they moved in it wasn't uncommon for the two to be harassed by others in the pack. Coming from a small pack, Arnold didn't realize that this was common behavior in a larger Packs to assert dominance. He saw them as personal insults. Jackson was able to explain to the irate red Wolf that this was not only normal for the Howlington's, but also normal to the white Wolf specifically. Apparently being a gay male singer did not sit well with other members. The direct insults stopped once the red Wolf showed why you don't pick a fight with an officer of the law, but every now and then letters sprayed with Musk Mask to hide any scent were dropped off.
"It's a summons from the Alpha," Jacks eventually replied, frown still present, "and it's addressed to you."
Arnold blinked in surprise. Grandpa Julius never talked to the red Wolf directly outside of work. The old Wolf's belief in the importance of Howlington blood blinding the fool and ignoring all those brought into the Pack by marriage. So for the Alpha to send him a personal summons was not only unheard of, it would be impossible if not for the letter in Jacks paws. The officer stood and grabbed the letter from his mate. The envelope looked correct and it was addressed to Arnold Howlington. He used a claw to break the seal and pulled out the contents of the envelope. The letter was written elegantly, and simply stated:
Precinct One Lieutenant Arnold Howlington shall report to Deputy Chief Julius Howlington's door by 9 a.m.
Arnold looked at Jackson, who appeared just as confused as he felt. "Why does he want to see me?"
Lieutenant Howlington stood outside the Alpha's door. After Jackson left for work, the red Wolf spent the remaining time making himself presentable. Cleaned and brushed his fur, picked out a dark blue professional suit and tied and re-tied his tie several times nervously. Now he stood on the top floor of the compund just on the other side of an door to an area that he had never ventured into or believed he would. The lupine pulled on his blazer and smoothed out invisible creases. He checked his wrist watch, and watched as the seconds ticked up from 8:59 to 9 on the dot. Before he could knock, the door swung open to reveal Alpha Julius Howlington.
The older white Wolf stood dressed in his police uniform, even his badge pinned to his chest. The grey eyes of the Deputy Chief raked over the Lieutenant. He didn't speak, and simply turned and walked further into his personal space.
Arnold stepped tentatively through the doorway, and was amazed. The amount of space was breathtaking, as the living room seemed twice the size of his and Jacks's apartment. Large windows viewed the snowy landscape below. He walked in a daze, noticing the high ceiling and plush carpeting underneath. He caught a glance of the kitchen to his right, which looked as if it could feed his entire floor with storage alone. There were numerous doors in a hallway to the left, all of them closed. Arnold walked into the center of the living room, past several chairs and a couch. As the officer gazed out the bay windows, snow drifted lazily as the frozen tundra appeared to be a winter wonderland.
"Beautiful isn't it?" A voice asked from behind. Arnold turned to see the Alpha standing with two small glasses filled with ice cubes and what the lupine smelled to be Scotch. The elder offered a glass to the younger before stepping next to him and sighing. "I've lived most of my life in this apartment. Every year until I was eighteen, and then when I became Alpha at thirty. Still the view always amazes me." There was the clinking of ice on glass and a sigh of content.
Silence fell between the two Wolves as they gazed out the window, one that was making Arnold increasingly uncomfortable. The Alpha had never been this...courtous to the red Wolf before. The Lieutenant's time in the Z.P.D. had given him the experience to spot when he was being lied to or when to lie. It also allowed him to sense traps, and he smelled one. Normally the best way to deal with traps In the officer's mind was to spring them. Another way he had learned from his time at Precinct One was to simply ignore it and see what happens. "Well this was refreshing," Arnold said with a broad smile to the Alpha, "but I better head out and prepare for work." He turned his back to the white Wolf and started to walk away, planning on putting his untouched drink on the first table within reach. The red Wolf had made it to the edge of the living room before the White Wolf spoke.
"Stop," commanded the Deputy Chief, "and turn around."
Arnold paused, and considered ignoring the Alpha completely. He held no personal allegiance to the crotchety Wolf and only cared for certain members in the Pack. The officer considered talking with Jackson about leaving the Howlington's all together and heading to the Sawtooth's. That had simply been a pipe dream, and withholding a sigh Arnold turned around. "You dare insult me," the Alpha started his tirade as his hackles rose, "I'm the leader of the Pack, and you will respect me. Understood?" Arnold's brow rose. This level of agression was unexpected, and even if it the red Wolf had been rude this was over the top. The younger officer turned his head and exposed his neck, the universal sign of submission for Wolves. The lupine didn't bother with the other steps of folding his ears or trying to make himself appear smaller, he wasn't that submissive.
"Sit down, we need to discuss a dilemma in the Pack."
Arnold went and sat in a comfy looking black suede chair, placing his drink on an end table next to it. He watched as the older Wolf walked closer to him. "My kits are weak." The statement surprised the red Wolf who remained silent as the elder Wolf continued. "None of them are strong enough to be Alpha."
"What about Brian?" Arnold asked tentatively, "I heard he was supposed to be your successor." Brian Howlington was Beatrice's father. The story of the grey Wolf's willingness to give up such a high ranking position in the Pack for his daughter was inspiring. The red Wolf found a kindred spirit in the father as he had sacrificed for the one he loved as well.
"That fool is the reason I'm in this mess!?" snarled the Deputy Chief, "if he didn't give away his spot just to protect that idiotic daughter of his than I wouldn't need you at all!"
"In the short time I've known Beatrice, she has always appeared to be a smart she-Wolf," Arnold replied coolly, "her recent actions and the rumors of her receiving a commendation from the city support that." The red Wolf knew they weren't rumors. A week after the incident with Officer Weaselton, Precinct One started receiving "anonymous" packets of information on corrupt officers in Precinct Six. There hadn't been too many, and some of the evidence was said to be too circumstantial to use, however the Cape Buffalo put together a task force to check on the information. While the lupine hadn't been able to see the information inside, a cursory sniff told him that the little she-Wolf that bugged him to see secret police flies were now creating some of her own! The Lieutenant wouldn't let the Deputy Chief know this, as of course it was an ongoing investigation.
"Bah," waved off the Alpha as he made his way to the chair across from Arnold, "I expect nothing from her."
"And that is your biggest problem," mused the red Wolf as he suppressed a smirk, "you expect nothing from those with the greatest possibility."
"We're getting off topic," commented the Alpha, "I need you to understand my dilemma." Arnold simply waved for the white Wolf to continue, who in turn sipped from his drink. "The city is changing. My kits are weak and there is no Alpha among them. The Howlington's are the largest Pack in Zootopia, yet among the hundred males that live in the building none are worthy of leading." The Deputy Chief pointed a digit at the Lieutenant, "All except you."
Arnold blinked. "Me? How am I even in line?" Even in the Sawtooth Pack he wasnt expected to be the Alpha after his father. Sure he could have challenged his brother for the right, and possibly even won the election, but that didn't mean he ever considered it. He chuckled nervously, "You must be joking. Of course you are. You would never accept a marriage Wolf to be the next Alpha." His smile faded as the elder Wolf's expression remained the same. "You're not joking are you."
"Unfortunately no," the Alpha groused, "and I'm getting too old to keep up with all my duties." He shifted in his chair and leaned forward, "I can feel the change in the air, and I am not sure what to do. All I do know is that if another strong Wolf doesn't become Alpha, than I fear for the continuation of the Pack."
The Lieutenant could see how serious the Deputy Chief was. For all of his faults, the Alpha truly wanted what was best for the Pack, and even if they didn't meet eye to eye on what that meant, Arnold could at least respect that. He nodded, "Ok, but I'm not a Beta so I won't be in line when you do step down."
The white Wolf leaned back, "My brother Remus will be stepping down in a few months. As I sense it, so does he. We are too old to protect the Pack, and both of us want new blood on the council. Foolishly he believes his only son, Thaddeus, will be the one to take his place. The kit is no better than a middling Wolf, and there is no way he would be able to lead." He tossed his head back with the rest of his drink. "You on the otherpaw are a leader by your position alone. Combine that with your mentions in after action reports, and you to be the best possible match for Alpha."
"I don't know what to say sir." Arnold was dumbfounded. He never expected to be even considered for Beta, yet here was the white Wolf almost guaranteeing the Alpha position.
"Say you'll accept." pressed the Alpha, gazing intently at the other Wolf.
The red Wolf smiled, "Of course I will. This is an honor that I never expected."
"Excellent," murmured the elder Wolf, "We'll need to make certain arrangements. First is your transfer over from Precinct One to Precinct Six. The Howlington's can't have an Alpha who doesn't work in Tundra Town." He stirred the ice cubes in his glass, "Next we'll have to find you a proper mate. Since you aren't blood that shouldn't be too-"
"Hold on," the Lieutenant interjected, "What do you mean 'proper mate?'"
"Every Alpha male has an Alpha female," the Alpha said condesendingly, "You can't have two Alpha males, that's ridiculous."
"Why not?" scowled Arnold.
"It's just not done. I know you come from a smaller Pack, but even you must recognize this."
"In that case," Arnold started as he stood, "thank you Alpha for the opportunity, but I must decline."
"Wha...?"
"I am in the Howlington Pack because of Jackson," explained the red Wolf, "even if for some reason I didn't love Jacks enough to promise under moon and stars, I wouldn't use him as some stepping stone." The Lieutenant sighed, he lost precious hours of sleep because of this pointless conversation. "I don't know if you're correct and change is coming, but the the Pack will never change how I feel." He gave a polite bow and turned to leave. "Wait!" A paw gripped hold of Arnold's arm. He looked towards the Alpha.
"I cannot force you to accept the position, but I ask that you reconsider."
Arnold gave a tired smile, "Jackson is my moon, and that is the end of it.."
The Alpha released his hold with a deep frown, "You'll doom the Pack."
"I would doom the Pack further if I left Jacks," countered Arnold, "No one would follow an Alpha who breaks his word."
The Deputy Chief's lips twitched as if to snarl, but instead he let out a heavy sigh. He sat back into his chair. "I am too old to lead the Pack on, but now I see that change may be inevitable." He rubbed paw over his eyes. "The question is, do I let the Pack fall to internal or external change?"
"Why fall, when we can florish?" questioned Arnold. He grabbed his glass and passed it to the Alpha. The white Wolf grasped it and gave the red Wolf a nod in recognition. "If change is coming Alpha, it may be better to get ahead of it." The Lieutenant saluted the Deputy Chief and departed, leaving the elder Wolf to his thoughts.