So yes, I do tell you all about grammar and use the word ignorant and everything, but it was out of the best intentions. Because quite frankly, I'm sick of people misusing the word, and the story is about to take a huge turn and I really did not want to get supernatural with this; however, it just seemed probable. It was there, and so I used it, if you've got a problem with that then, you can…stop reading the story! Yeah, that you can do, so it seems to me that Age is engaged to Hayley, J-Dog is the killer, Candu's dead, he had his guts spewed all over the ground, wonderful right? Kate and Humphrey are starting to drift apart because Humphrey is an alpha now, and that just about sums it up. I wonder who's going to die next…oops I may have said too much…

Better Than This

Chapter 14

Heartstopper

In the moments that followed through revealing of J-Dog, no one in the whole park knew what to think. Some were feeling terror, others were feeling petrification, some were just in sheer pain, and yet others were surprised. But all in all, the overall feeling was not good. I figured that would be obvious judging by all the looks on their little dog faces; with the exception of course from Age and Humphrey, because you know they are actually wolves. Even Hutch was at a loss for words, and he usually had a bunch of stuff to say, and he wasn't even an Omega! Kate was frozen stiff with shock, not so much fear, just shock and then as if on cue, a clap of thunder shook the surrounding area overhead scared everybody half to death. It also knocked them out of their stone phase. Of course, Winston was stunned the most of all, if anything it's more like being mad angry then stun, especially since he'd been outwitted by a fool. Well how would you feel if you got outsmarted by some New York dog?

Age seems like he knew what he was doing. His eyes blinked once after the thunder, but then he felt the raindrop fall on his paw. It was a good feeling, like something he needed. "I think… I think we should… get out of the rain, it's no good for us." Winston nodded his head and everybody was, well I don't think I should be using the word disturbed, because that would be nice, everyone was more like rushed back to their dens; everyone except for Hutch, Humphrey, Kate, Age, Hayley, Winston, Eve, Garth, and Lily. Lily was still in her coma, and Garth hadn't left her side, but he had seen who J-Dog really was, so when Winston, Humphrey, Kate, Age, Hayley came back into the den, he just had to say something.

"Really…? That coyote was the killer the whole time? I don't believe… how could we let something that stupid slip through our paws?" Winston shook his head in disappointment, disappointment in himself that is.

"I don't understand either Garth, but that monster has caused enough havoc in this park. This kind of thing is not going to happen, to not to my pack." Hayley couldn't help but hear Winston's sad story to himself, and seeing as how she was Blood's newest victim, or almost victim, she thought it was about time she stepped up; this was because she felt sorry for Lily, and Winston.

"Sir…" She tried to say, but just look in Winston's eyes scared her. "Age and I might know a way to beat him, but were going to have to ask for permission to bring Humphrey, Kate, and Hutch with us." The facts were true, on the way walking back into the head den, while also in the rain, Age and Hayley were talking about everything Age knew about J-Dog, his strengths, his weaknesses, soft spots, and of course, his attitude. Winston just snorted however,

"What makes you think I'll send my little girl out there and my future son-in-law? Not to mention my top Alpha, and your love, like you'd even risk the life of your future mate?" Winston was wrong with his accusation, the whole thing was actually Age's idea.

"Sir Winston, I really don't think it's your place to talk my fiancée that way," He was determined to defend her, even from someone like Winston, "It was my idea. I know J-Dog better than anybody…well maybe not as well as I thought because I didn't know he can do that, but I think you're going to see so long is me and Humphrey are out there, I guarantee J-Dog won't even get near them, because he can't."

Winston was about to say 'no' when Garth pushed him aside and looked Age directly in the eye and demanded "You go out there and kill that mother fucker and you avenge Lily, you got it Wolf boy?" Proudly and assuredly, Age nodded his head, turned to the exit but before he went anywhere Humphrey and Kate walked up to Winston, Eve, and Garth.

Kate was with her Mom and said, "I'm sorry if I ever did anything wrong and I forgot to apologize for…" She was stopped halfway by Winston,

"Don't get all sentimental on this Kate, it makes me feel like you're going to die." At that last remark, both parents hugged gigantic hugs and backed away, Humphrey then walked up to Garth and said,

"Nice to have a brother, I just want you to know that." Garth just nodded very sincerely, smiled, and then gave Humphrey and nice paw bump, to which they giggled a little bit. As Age and Haley walked out into the pouring rain with Humphrey and Kate, the following Hutch just turned around and gave Winston one last salute, and left without a word.

Once out of the den they tried formulating a plan but nothing seemed like it was going to be effective, and they would know by this point. They've seen a bunch of things Blood can do, but now that he and J-Dog were combined they didn't know what they were in for. Because if he was that powerful and keen split into two, the thinking alone made them quiver as to what he could do as one. Humphrey stopped walking and let himself feel the droplets of rain fall on his fur and run down his nose. The serenity sent blast waves of thought through his being and when Kate noticed he stopped, she looked right at him and whimpered. His head was looking down, and he was watching the drops fall off his nose and hit the ground, this was coupled with heavy breathing, but Kate was sure he was just having a moment.

"Humphrey…?" She spoke aloud, and all the group members turned to see Humphrey in his serene position. Age took a notice to his stance, like he was defending from something. After a few seconds without a response, Kate went back to Humphrey and tucked her head up his chin and lifted his head up. "Humphrey…what's wrong?" She was looking at him directly in the eye, and he was looking back, but all the Alpha could say was,

"We need to find a place to talk, the five of us." She nodded in approval, and her ears perked up like she got an idea. She smiled at Humphrey, and he seemed to know what she thinking.

Together the two walked in front of the group of the five wolves; they were on their way to Kate and Humphrey's soon to be den, the cave in the forest away from the rest of the pack. As they walked, the rain and rumble of thunder with the occasional flash of lightning in the sky seemed to mirror how they all felt. It was up to these five wolves to take down one, extremely skilled, supernaturally talented wolf. The team mates didn't have such confidence in themselves. After all, it was composed of very unlikely players to the game of hunter and hunted, figuratively of course.

Humphrey, Omega his entirely life and just recently becoming an Alpha due to his pure wolf blood; he nearly sacrificed his love with Kate to protect the pack from J-Dog and Blood, but he was still a goofy, clumsy Omega at heart. Kate, the best trained Alpha in a long time and an expert at physical weaknesses and perception, she was a valued part of the group. But her instincts as an Alpha always pushed her to do what was best for others and never thought of herself, this was her greatest weakness, and it nearly cost her her love with Humphrey. Hutch, the top Alpha of his patrol team, and one of the finest Alphas Jasper had ever seen, was really not qualified to be a member of this team. But he'll fine that when the time is right, all his skills, especially in hunting and tracking, would become of use to his 'family', he really refuses to admit that he never knows what he's really fighting for. Hayley, Omega from birth and still as so up to this day, she has no skills other than goofing around and playing games. But Humphrey trained himself by playing games in the harsh winter, so over her pup years she very well might've learnt a trick or two. If all came to worst, she could always get some fast training from her future mate, Age. Not so much the leader, but more it's motivation, Age was as shy as he could be until he arrived in Jasper. Sharing in his family's pure wolf blood, he along with Humphrey, has advanced skill, both physically and mentally, most likely making him the most valued member. He's also J-Dog's brother, so living with him must have some contribution.

By the time the cave way came into sight, all five party individuals were soaked, dripping what could turn into rivers if they laid down long enough. As the made a quick and final dash to get out of the rain and ran inside Hayley was the first to shake wildly and get herself mildly dry. After everyone dried off and took a rest, Hutch snorted, trying to get their attention. "Are we just going to let that stray mongrel walk freely around our home? Or are we gonna formulate a plan?" Hutch was very rude, but he was right. In the time in had taken them to walk from the main den, to Kate and Humphrey's, to dry off, and to rest, was around an hour and a half in human time. The all sat in a circle inside the cave and at no one said anything, but then the thoughts began to flow.

"What if we flush him out of the park using fire?" Hayley spat out, but no one said anything. "Right…of course, he can turn into smoke and…" Everyone stared at her, "Disappear into…the…ground…" She finished completely embarrassed. She suddenly realized herself that it was a stupid plan. No one spoke again for more time, but soon Kate began to grow restless.

"I fail to see why we're even having this conversation! J-Dog is a…he's pretty much a wolf god! He can do everything an Alpha can, just ten times better! He knows his way around the wolf body, where all our pressure points are, he's probably even using his keen hearing to listen to this conversation!" Kate was yelling, but she was speaking very loudly. She was speaking the truth, but no one wanted to admit it. Age had heard enough, so it was his turn.

"That may be true Kate, but if we don't do anything then we won't have a plan. And even if he hears it we could just change it as we go along. There's no need to get stressed, we'll all make it out of this, or you can have my head." His offer wasn't serious, but she understood what he was saying.

"So then…?" Humphrey said into the fray, "What's the plan cuz?" He asked his cousin.

"I was thinking that…well first and foremost, we have to stick together. No wolf left behind, even if Joe claims that me, him, and Humphrey are 'real' wolves. Second, I was thinking something along the lines of this…" Age began by tracing with his claw in the dirt of the floor of the den.

And Age told them everything he knew about J-Dog, every last detail. And with this information they put together and mild plan, it wasn't very good in all of their agreed opinions, but it was the best that they had. (See…not even you know, that way you can't tell J-Dog!) After the entire plan was set and confirmed, Hutch's ear twitched and he sniffed the air. "Hey guys…look…" The other four wolves gazed outside the cave and were awe struck. The whole time they were talking about this attack, the thunderstorm outside and the grey skies never ceased to fade, but a few minutes after they were officially done and were on their bellies just relaxing for the moment, because they all got headaches thinking of a strategy taking into consideration all of J-Dog's tactics and abilities, Hutch made them look and they not only heard that the rain had stopped, but the night was quiet, and the northern lights were shining. They danced in the moonlight sky and beckoned for them to come out and look, but they knew better than to do that. The lights were astonishing, but in times like this, these moments never last. Out of a sudden crackle of a bush, and nooby wolf scout came rushing to them, out of breath.

"Kate…Kate…!" He yelled, and she rushed out.

"What's wrong?" She asked with her friends backing her up.

"It's your dad Winston, he's dying!"

Everyone's eyes widened, and without a second chance, everyone one of the five ran right past him and headed for the lead den. As the last one disappeared, and the messenger was left alone, he stopped breathing heavy and sat upright, for he was faking it. A dark smoke formed around the tip of his tail and engulfed the rest of his body, and when it faded, J-Dog was in the wolf's place, he had tricked them yet again. "Just a little taste of the upcoming storm…" He muttered before letting out a snicker, as more than one drop of blood dripped from his fangs.

My apologizes for the long update, but I was recently on vacation and I have to get back into the swing of things. If there are any questions on what's going in the story, review or PM me and I'll answer. To make up for this long wait I also posted a "Madagascar" one-shot with Alex and Gia just for you. I'll update sooner I promise, and the song of the story is near as well!