Hey guys! Sorry for the late update due to some issues on my internet. I'll be busy with some assignments from school, so i might update late. Anyway, hope you like this chapter and i'm very happy to see more reviews on my story. Have a good day.

Chapter 9 : Ready To Face The Storm

Darren was playing hide-and-seek with his pups in his den, with Princess watching. Darren closed his eyes and counted to ten, then opened and began to search for his pups.

'Ready or not, here I come!' Darren said happily.

His instincts told him that his pups were hiding behind their mother, and he looked towards Princess who was smiling at him.

'I guess they're not here. I should search outside.' Darren said, and winked at Princess before exiting the den.

Their pups watched as he left, and began to run towards the entrance of the den. Light peeked outside and found his father nowhere to be seen. He then turned towards his brothers and sisters.

'Dad's gone.'

'How can he not know that we're hiding behind mom?' Luna asked curiously.

'Oh, did i?' A male voice said.

They turned towards the entrance and found their father staring at them. They screamed and began to run around the den as their father chases them. Princess giggled and watched as her pups hid behind her and giggled playfully, then turned towards her mate who stopped infront of her.

'Where are the pups?' Darren asked, acting foolishly.

'I don't know.' Princess said with a smile.

'Well, that leaves you and me, my beautiful flower.' Darren said as he touches Princess's beautiful face with his soft paws.

Princess giggled and kissed him in the lips. He kissed back and heard the disgusted sounds of their pups. They then leaped at their father, pushing him down to the ground and stood on his body.

'We got you!' They said playfully.

'Well, since when does this game changed its rules?' Darren asked with an eyebrow shot up.

'Since um…' Dusk said as he began to think.

'That means the rules are still the same.' Darren said with a grin.

Their pups screamed and began to run away. Darren got up and began to fling them, one by one, onto his back.

'Now I got all of you.' Darren said.

'That was fun!' Amber said playfully.

'Do that again, dad!' Angel said in excitement.

'Sure.' Darren said, and began to lower his body, allowing them to leap down to the ground.

Just when he's about to continue their game, Mark, Claudette, Humphrey, Kate and Stinky entered the den.

'Hey guys.' Darren greeted with a smile.

'Hi Darren. I have good news and bad news.' Mark said as the four visitors began to sit down infront of him.

'What's the good news?' Princess asked as she walked towards her mate and sat beside him with her pups.

'The good news is, I recovered all of my memory.' Mark said with a smile.

'Congratulations.' Darren said with a smile.

'But the bad news is… my father's sending out assassins to bring me back home.' Mark said with a frown.

Darren was silent for a few seconds, then spoke.

'Well Mark, we have two choices.'

'What are they?' Claudette asked.

'It's either you kept running away from them or you face them and tell the truth.' Darren said.

Mark thought for a while, then spoke.

'But what if they-' His sentence was cut-short when Darren spoke.

'Don't worry. I will stand at your side, and help you in persuading them to let you stay.'

Mark smiled and spoke.

'Thank you.'

'So, what choice will you pick, Mark?' Darren asked.

Mark looked at Claudette who was staring at him, hoping that he will tell the truth to his parents. In the end, she felt relieved when he spoke.

'Tell them the truth.'

Darren smiled and was happy that he didn't pick the foolish choice. He then spoke.

'I'll search for these assassins, and tell them to ask your father to meet us at the valley.'

'Okay.' Mark said, feeling nervous about his choice.

'Well, looks like it's time for lunch. Time to hunt.' Darren said with a smile.

'Yeah. My tummy's growling.' Humphrey said as he patted his upset tummy and everyone laughed.

Runt then came in without Winston, Eve or Tony behind him. They turned towards him as he entered.

'Where's Winston, Eve and Tony, Runt?' Mark asked curiously.

'They told me to let Darren handle this instead of them.' Runt said.

'I see. Runt, tell them to meet us at the valley tomorrow. I'm going to need their help in this.' Darren said.

'Okay, Uncle Darren.' Runt said.

'And don't be late for lunch at the Hunting Ground, Runt.' Kate said.

'Okay, mom.' Runt said and left the den.

'Let's get moving. Be right back, Princess. I'll get lunch.' Darren said, and gave her a kiss before exiting the den with the four visitors.

Darren began to head towards the Hunting Ground with the four wolves, asking Mark for help in sensing these assassins.

'They don't know how I look like without my powers, so I'll be fine. You should be careful. They're highly-skilled.' Mark said.

'Don't forget that I am an assassin too.' Darren said.

'Oh, right.' Mark said with a smile.

When they arrived, Mark and Darren began to sense a powerful aura in their area. They watched as Darren ran into the forest at top speed. Darren then stopped when he saw four white wolves wearing silver armor with lightning symbols on it. He let out a deep breath, and began to approach them. They turned towards him and turned into their fighting stance with electric currents around them.

'I mean no harm, but just to tell you that your future leader is staying at my den and he's safe. I'm taking care of him. Tell your leader to meet me at the valley.' Darren said.

They looked at him curiously, then nodded when he spoke.

'Trust me, I'm not an ordinary wolf.'

They then zapped towards the sky as lightning, and Darren let out a breath of relief, then began to search for a Caribou. He began to stalk a large Caribou and at the right moment, he leaped and slashed it with his extended claws. It collapsed to the ground and died instantly. Darren began to drag his prize back to his den. As he passes by the entrance of the Hunting Ground, Claudette, Humphrey, Kate, Stinky, Runt and Mark looked at him and was glad that he wasn't hurt in sending a message to Mark's father.

On a large cloud

The four lightning assassins stood infront of their leader and its mate with a serious expression. One of them then spoke.

'Sir, a white wolf who lived below told us that our future leader want us to meet him at the valley tomorrow.'

'And why did you believe this wolf?' Their leader's mate asked.

'It's because we sensed a powerful aura from him, sir.' Another of the four assassins said.

Their leader thought for a while, then spoke.

'We'll follow then.'

'Yes, sir.' The four assassins said.

'You are dismissed.' Their leader's mate said, and the four assassins began to walk away.

The leader's mate then turned to its husband and spoke.

'Can we really trust this wolf?'

'I don't know, but I'll bring an army down there if I'm getting my son back.' The leader said.

At Humphrey and Kate's den

Time passes quickly, and it was already night time. Humphrey, Kate, Stinky and Runt were already asleep, except for Claudette and Mark. They were enjoying their time sleeping together for the first time, until Mark noticed a tear flow down from her eyes.

'What's wrong?' Mark asked as he looked into her beautiful eyes.

'I'm just afraid that if your dad doesn't allow you to stay…' Claudette said sadly.

Mark then lied down on the ground with Claudette and gently placed her head on his chest.

'Even if he doesn't, I will disobey him and stay with you, Claudette. Because I love you.' Mark said with a smile.

Claudette smiled and wiped her tears, then gave Mark a passionate kiss. He kissed back and they closed their eyes.

'Good night, Claudette.' Mark said.

'Good night, Mark.' Claudette said, and they fell into a deep sleep.

Unfortunately, a black figure stood out of the dark and placed its paw on Mark's forehead, absorbing his powers…