Alpha and Omega: Lone Wolf
(A/N: Hey guys! New chapter done I was going to get it done earlier but the Christmas festivities got in the way. Hope you enjoy the chapter!)
Chapter 12: Love will find a way.
Kate was desperate to find Humphrey she had been searching the woods for an hour already and had no idea where he could have got to. "I hope I haven't lost him again." she thought out loud.
She could hear the sound of a thunderous waterfall not far from where she was. The sound seemed to bounce of the trees amplifying it; making it sound as if the water was moving past her in all directions.
When Kate finally reached the source it was a bit unimpressive. A small waterfall trickled off the edge of a cliff where it collected in a stream that seemed to cut its way through the forest. Sitting with his back to her staring into the pond was Humphrey.
"Hi Kate." he said quietly not turning around to greet her. His face was hidden from view but he sounded tired and his voice rasped a bit.
Kate walked up to him slowly sitting down on her haunches with him. She found she actually had to look up to him to see his face. Humphrey had changed dramatically.
His scars made him look more serious but his body was thicker and broader at the shoulders. Kate knew it was the wrong time to be admiring his body as she had just had a massive shouting match with him but she couldn't help herself. She now noticed he had smaller scars on his legs and body that were only visible up close. He looked like he'd been through hell since he left Jasper.
"Y-You look good Humphrey." Kate tried to break the awkward silence that hung in the air. He turned his head to look at her quickly scanning her body before smiling weakly "You too."
"I'm sorry about what I said earlier. I shouldn't have shouted at you it wasn't your fault." Humphrey said quickly now staring with cold eyes to somewhere off in the distance.
"It's alright Humphrey I understand that you were upset its ok… I forgive you." Kate said plainly. That seemed to agitate Humphrey but he seemed to be driving it all towards himself.
"What? Just like that? I called you a bitch Kate! My old self would never dream of doing that. You were right about me I'm not the omega you remember."
"No Humphrey, your still the same omega I know, you're just out of practice is all."
Humphrey seemed to become a bit more spirited at that. "There is a moonlight howl tonight do you want to come?" he blurted.
Kate blushed at how Humphrey was suddenly so blunt he seemed to notice too and cursed under his breath. Kate leaned on Humphrey's shoulder letting her head push into his fur. Humphrey tensed for a moment but then relaxed again.
"I'd love to. But don't they have rules here the same as Jasper?" Kate said frowning up at Humphrey.
Humphrey smiled this time "Not here. I've been told up here the wolves don't take their ranks seriously and everyone does a bit of both duties seeing that it is a smaller pack."
Kate was astonished but it made her happy knowing there wouldn't be any problems with them howling together not that Humphrey looked like much of an omega these days.
"So how is Jasper? I assume an agreement was agreed if you didn't marry him." Kate didn't even have to guess who Humphrey was referring to.
"Yeah it's ok. After I… well publicly beat up Garth a different plan had to be made. Last I heard Tony and my dad were still in talks about it but they both agreed on a peaceful agreement." Kate said thinking what could be going on in Jasper.
"What about my friends?" Humphrey asked his voice going quiet remembering how he acted the last time he saw them.
"They're ok Humphrey. They miss you. I'm sure there the same old omegas they ever were. Salty doesn't blame you y'know." Humphrey lifted his head up at that he was happy to hear his friends were ok but there was one thing Kate said that Humphrey thought he misheard.
"Wait… did you say publicly beat him up, what did you mean?" Humphrey said curiously.
Kate chuckled and blushed "I found out what happened to you on my wedding day and I clawed Garth's face open in front of both packs on the wedding stone."
Kate screamed in surprise as Humphrey moved to bring her into an embrace. Kate wasn't expecting how heavy he was and toppled back laughing as they fell.
Humphrey was now grinning down at Kate "Really?"
Kate giggled and said "Yeah I think I ruined his only asset." She laughed but was surprised but overjoyed of what happened next.
Humphrey cut her off by bringing his muzzle down to meet hers bringing her into a passionate kiss. Kate moaned happily as she leaned up into Humphrey. Humphrey was feeling like he was about to explode with excitement. Here he was kissing the girl of his dreams and she was kissing him back. He moved away from her so he could look into her eyes. Kate whimpered slightly as she missed the contact with the wolf that she realised now she was madly in love with.
"I-I love you Kate." Humphrey said smiled down at her. "Thanks for standing up for me."
Kate couldn't believe what she was hearing. She had got her omega back. "I love you too Humphrey. I wouldn't have it any other way." Humphrey let Kate get up nuzzling at her neck as she stood.
"I should probably go and apologise to Adam and his mate… what was his name?" Humphrey asked trying to ask plainly but came out guiltily as he knew he shouldn't have insulted the pair.
"Leo… I'm sure they will forgive you. They don't seem like wolves to hold a grudge." Humphrey was about to leave when Kate coughed to get his attention.
"You mind telling me where to go? Tim didn't tell me where the pack's den was." Kate said smiling.
"Oh, sure." Humphrey said telling her to follow him.
They walked through the woods and then suddenly Adam and Leo were walking towards them in the other direction.
"Well this is a pleasant surprise, you two ok?" Leo said to both Humphrey and Kate his cheerful personality made what Humphrey had to say easier.
"I'm sorry for what I said earlier Leo… to both of you." He turned to Adam. "I wasn't thinking straight and I apologise." Humphrey said embarrassed to admit his little tantrum.
"Its fine Humphrey, we understood you were upset and Kate told us about what you used to be like before you left Jasper. I hope to see more of your fun-loving personality in the future and less of this cold hearted persona you conjured up." Leo said smiling.
Humphrey chuckled nervously. "Speaking of which I think you should also go and apologise to my sister in the way you acted towards her. She didn't deserve it." Adam said sternly he wasn't as quick to forgive Humphrey for what he said earlier.
Humphrey nodded telling Kate where the pack den was located and that he would meet her later on.
At Natalie's den
Humphrey found Natalie in her den she was still sobbing slightly but he slowly approached her and made himself known. "Natalie?"
"Go away! I don't want to talk to you." Natalie said her voice shaking.
"I came here to apologise for the way I acted. I'm sorry." Humphrey said gently.
Natalie looked up her eyes red from crying. "Dad told me about Kate. Do you love her?"
"Yes." Humphrey said simply.
"Why?! Why do you love her and not me?! You even ignored me and went after my best friend! Am I not good enough for you." She shouted tearfully.
Humphrey sighed "Natalie you say you love me but you don't even know me. If you asked I might have told you but you didn't. Sure, you were attracted to me but those are two different things. I ignored you because I wanted to be your friend. I wanted to get to know you better. I'm sorry but I've loved Kate ever since we were both young. I just don't think of you in the way you want me to."
"Was that the case before Kate arrived?" Natalie asked calmer.
"Yes. I hope you find someone who will make you happy but that someone isn't me."
"I…I understand. Can… can we still be friends?" Natalie said quietly sniffing her tears back.
Humphrey smiled "Of course."
Natalie smiled back weakly and then got up and left when she reached the entrance Kate was walking in. Kate smiled at the younger female but Natalie lowered her head and snuck past her without another word.
"Is she ok?" Kate asked concerned.
Humphrey turned to see Kate standing in the den-way. "Yeah she'll be fine. She said she loved me but I turned her down." He said honestly.
"Oh." Kate turned to look at Natalie's retreating figure. "She is beautiful."
"Yes." Humphrey agreed "But, I just never saw her that way even before you got here." He said in a solemn tone. He paused but then continued "What have you been up to? Did Adam give you a tour?"
"Yes, he did. This place is amazing I've never seen a cave so large before. I love how you can go through all the tunnels and see the hustle and bustle of the pack."
Humphrey chuckled "Yeah that was pretty much my reaction too. It's nothing like Jasper." As he looked around the small alcove that was the den admiring the hard stone. It wasn't cold in either character or temperature. It was warm and cosy and it simply looked… lived in.
"Right I'm going to go and get ready for tonight Kate. I'll see you later on." Humphrey gave her a quick lick on her muzzle and left.
Kate stood stock still committing the feeling of Humphrey's hot tongue on her muzzle to memory before sighing happily and quietly saying out loud "I look forward to it."