Not going to be much of an author's note one this one, all I'll say is…check this out.

Better Than This

Chapter 12

Of Course

Lances of light started to pierce their way through Age's eyes and through his being. He saw nothing but a dark void with small traces of light shining through and making him stir. As he slowly managed a lifting of his eyelids to see the world around him, he found that, as little as he could see, he was in a cave. Judging from the light coming in from outside he assumed it was about 10 o' clock in the morning, and he also peered at a smaller wolf looming over him. The wolf then nudged their muzzle under his chin and helped him up into a sitting position. After he sat back on his hind legs and sat up, he felt the wolf bury their head into his neck and wrap one paw around his back and hug him tight, as sore as he was, he knew who it was.

"Hayley…you're alive…" He peeped out in a different tone than what he normally spoke in. She rubbed his neck and chin with the top of her head and nose and continued spoke to him without pulling away.

"I was so scared Age, you were brought back to me knocked out. You weren't breathing, and your back was a mess. What happened out there, Humphrey and Hutch didn't wanna talk about it." She asked him, trying not to disturb the serene aura that surrounded them in the moment they officially reunited.

Trying not to whimper, Age recalled everything in his head, quite vividly too. The chase, the strike on Hutch, him being betrayed by his own instincts, and the sudden black out after he hit his head. It was almost too much, but she had the right to know.

"I'm done for my love." Age whispered, and that was when she pulled somewhat away and stared at him in confusion and bewilderment.

"You're done for? What does that mean? Is Blood coming after you?" Age shook his head, and instead sighed as he took her by the paw and tried not to cry.

"I've lost my skills; I'm powerless to stop him now. I tried to fight him, and the perception I always had was just gone. I didn't see his movements, and I didn't know how to counter them, that's why my back was in the condition it was; he bit me and threw on the ground, and I was unable to catch myself from the fall." Some of the most painful words he ever had to tell anyone, but it had to be done.

"So you're just like…everyone else?" She asked in a concerned and shocked tone. He nodded, and Winston walked in out of nowhere with Hutch.

"Ah, finally…you're awake. Come one lad, that killer never rests, and we done want any more deaths here do we?" Winston was right, since the time Age was knocked unconscious, Blood had taken the liberation of taking another life, and by this point, there were only about twenty wolves left in the pack.

"I can't help you sir…"Age breathed out, almost falling to his side, but Hayley caught him and placed her paw on his forehead as he was laid on the den floor.

"Good, then well just be on our…" Winston realized what Age just said, "What do you mean you can't help us?" Hutch stepped in front of Winston and gave him the look of satisfaction.

"I told you sir, the blood wolf we saw somehow took Age's senses away from him and now he's got his own and Age's. I'm sorry to make it official, but Age is no longer any better at hunting, or prowling, or anything really then the other Alphas, maybe even he's got the skills of an Omega now." Hutch explained the whole story to Winston, but Winston refused to believe it.

Enraged and now losing hope Winston snorted and left Age to his condition with Hayley and Hutch. It was a very sensitive moment for Age, because for the very first time in his life he had felt like he was useless. Hutch turned around and looked at his injured friend lying on the ground with his love nearby, and after a quick glance between himself and Hayley, Hutch was keen on the problems at hand, and to him, it seemed as though the war had just taken a turn for the dire, or at least the current fight.

"I'm sorry Age, you were Winston's last hope, but now that you're like this, and with so few Alphas left to defend and hunt, we have no opinions left. He doesn't know what to do; I wouldn't be surprised if he blames the imminent death of our pack on you and your brother." After the sad truth came out of Hutch, Humphrey and Kate walked in and saw their harshly modeled friend.

"This isn't good…I knew it was bad, but I didn't know he was like this." Humphrey reminded himself, since he was there when Age was beaten, badly too. Age, without picking up his head, shifted his gaze to Humphrey and smiled, but everything was still aching.

"I…I'm glad you guys made it back. After I realized I was pummeled down on…" And everyone giggled, even Age himself, "I was nervous he'd kill you guys."

"From what Humphrey tells us, he almost did." Kate threw out, but right after retaliated, "Why would someone with Blood's reputation leave survivors?"

"Age tells me he only kills…mutts." Hayley answered, recalling what Age had told her before his trek into the dangers. "Or at least that's what he calls them."

"Mutts…? What do you mean by mutts?" Kate asked Hayley, but Humphrey came around with the answer first.

"Well, Age told us that Blood only kills wolves he says aren't descended from the real, pure bred wolves who lived a long time ago. According to Blood, as all the other dogs started to mate with the prime wolves, their heightened senses and abilities slowly faded away due to the genes in the lesser dogs. Somehow however, Age and Blood are still in possession of this pure blood, giving them the absolute edge over other wolves like us. The only thing is, wolves that still have this type of power can't fight each other, or else…" Humphrey finished and turned to Age.

"Or else the ancestors take away your power and give it to the opponent you were facing." Hutch finished for Humphrey and turned to Kate.

"Well that's not good, that means that Age is going to be unable to do anything more than we could against this threat." Obviously, Kate didn't hear the shpeal before when Winston and Hutch had the same conversation. Then, as if speak of the devil, J-Dog waltzed into the den and lit up with an evil grin.

"Hey…! My 'lil bro is doin' just fine! Dat's aight, okeyday then Immana be on my way, jist thought I'd be checkin' in on ya, das all, lata!" He came in, and went right back out. Everyone, expect Age, shook their heads and Hutch seemed the most content to spell out what everyone was thinking.

"I can never understand what he says…" Everyone burst out laughing hysterically, even Hayley had a good snicker at the funny remark. Hutch felt somewhat proud of his statement, now he knows what it feels like to be funny and loose once in a while.

But then out of nothing, Age tried sitting himself back and up. Hayley helped him out and was easily concerned for what he was trying to do. Age got up on his legs and tried walking, but he stumbled enough time to make everyone worried. He didn't care; he kept on going out of the den and then turned around to Humphrey and gave him the look of satisfaction and expectation.

"You know…what happens now. See it through…" Age breathed heavy, and at first Humphrey had no idea what he was talking about, but a summarization of the events in his head, he somehow knew what was about to happen. Humphrey bowed his head and told everyone to leave, no knowing why, but out of respect, everyone departed and Age walked, hardly walked really, but limped his way out and continued into the open where everyone could see. Hayley ran up to him, she was starting to tear up, she was upset because she felt Age was pushing himself and in this condition, he was in no position to try something like this.

"Age what are you doing?" Hayley pleaded to him, but he looked at her and he kept going, walking down into the canyon and resting himself on the stone tablet where wedding took place. Hayley walked up to him and just stared, but just then, she noticed there were dozens of wolves around them, almost like the whole pack was simultaneously watching whatever it was he was doing. "Age…what's going on?" Humphrey peaked out of the crowd and nodded his head and waited, just like everyone else. Even Garth was watching from the rim of the canyon, he hadn't left Lily's side the whole time. Everyone was quiet, no one made even a single sound, the time was scaring Hayley, but she felt some kind of warmth in her heart.

"I know…that this is probably very uncomfortable for you right now, but I have to ask you something." Hayley nodded her head, and awaited Age's question. "But before I do, I just wanna say…" She got excited, and her tail started wagging, while Age's was shaking while nervousness and fear. "Hayley, I love you, with my whole heart, soul, body, mind…and other important parts of me that can feel love." She giggled at his attempt to try and say his feelings; it was still entrancing to her. "And…I got this feeling that, when you feel this way about someone, no matter how long you've known them, that it is an omen of something."

"Oh Age; I feel exactly the same way. There just something about you that I feel I wouldn't be complete without." Hayley said, going up to Age and wrapping her paws around his back and burying her face into his side.

"I know Hayley, and I plan on fixing that right now." Hayley pulled away a little, and stared at him in confusion.

"What do you mean?" Hayley asked.

"I mean this…" he said and kissed her deeply, she returned the affection and once he finished he looked her right in the eyes and asked, "Hayley…will you…make me the happiest/luckiest wolf in Jasper…by…by becoming my mate?"

The look in her eyes was astonished, awe, excitement, shock, love, and other assorted positive emotions a girl should feel when they're proposed to. Hayley couldn't even pretend to think about it she wanted to say 'yes' so badly. "Of course Age, I'm yours, and I always will be. I love you."

When they kissed once more, the whole pack went wild and howled in excitement and congratulations. Even J-Dog, as annoying and self-centered as he was, cheered his little brother on and hooted and hollered. Humphrey placed his paw on Kate, and they snuggled whilst they watched as Age and Hayley began to walk through the crowd of wolves. Age had a smiled on his face that could bring more life and light to a planet than the sun, and Hayley was crying so many tears of joy that the sun Age cast would have plenty of blooming plants growing on in. In a way, one could say that together, they were already creating a world of their own to live and to love on. The proposal was done, and she had said yes, Age was now going to get married, and Hayley was going to have a family once more.

A set of distant eyes watched the whole event from a shadow, peering through, and penetrating the joy everyone felt in the moment. "So…you still have some fire left in you?" Blood maliciously said and left his blood struck fangs drip onto the green grass he stood over. "Well then my little friend, seems you've shown me…who I should target next…" He cackled loudly and then ran off around the corner of trees, prowling low and standing clear of the now dispersing wolves. He saw Age and Hayley talking to Kate and Humphrey, and he only grinned once more. "Now that I've got your power, you'll not be able to stop me, not this time Age. Your new betrothed… is dog meat…" He said and crept ever closer to them.

Uh oh…