Alpha and Omega: Lone Wolf

(Authors Note: I'm back. Hope everyone had a merry Christmas and new year! I was going to upload some chapters sooner but I've just moved into a new house and I won't have internet till Friday. Enjoy the chapter!)

Chapter 13: Garth the Tyrant

Garth had succeeded in his master plan. He had told the Western pack of the tragedy that befell their beloved Winston.

*FLASHBACK*

"Garth! What are you doing here? And where's Winston?" shouted Hutch, a western wolf that was Winston's beta wolf. A fierce alpha before reaching such a high position he was stronger than most wolves and his fur pattern was unique. He had black fur on most of his body with a white underbelly and white face. However he had black lines running under his eyes and his eyes themselves were darker around the edges which really brought out the gold in his irises.

Garth was standing in front of Hutch his eyes looking down at the floor. Max and Candu with him and they didn't look any better. Hutch knew something was wrong.

"Garth? What happened?" said Hutch his voice low and concerned knowing that something bad must have happened.

"I-I don't know any way to say this-" Garth paused taking in a shaky breath. "There was an accident. Winston is dead."

A prolonged silence crept in between the group. Hutch looked at the three wolves in front of him in disbelief. That shock quickly turned to anger. "No! You're lying that can't be true!"

Candu moved forward his head bowed in sorrow. "It's true Hutch. Winston and I were in talks with Garth when a log came down the hill and knocked him into the river. It was one of those omega's log sleds. They clearly hadn't thought to secure it when they were playing their stupid game and Winston paid the price for their carelessness" Garth and Max nodded in agreement.

Hutch cried out in anguish at the loss of his leader. He couldn't believe what he was hearing but he knew that there was no denying it. Winston was gone.

"What do we do now? Without Winston we can't settle the terms of the unification of the pack." Hutch hung his head.

Garth then spoke up. "We were close to a breakthrough Hutch. A truce was agreed. Winston's last words were to let me take over the pack… temporarily of course. We had agreed to allow my pack to hunt in the western territory and I would be granted the powers to supervise both packs until a suitable leader to take over the western pack was declared."

Candu continued "We may not have been on the best terms before but I will admit that Garth will be a suitable leader for both packs. Until Kate returns… if she returns."

Hutch smiled weakly, he saw the wisdom in the terms and knew that if Winston had made it then it was the best they could get.

Hutch sighed "I will have to tell Eve the news. Thank you Garth for telling me this, I will relay what you said to the pack. I just wish it was under better circumstances."

Garth thanked him but he felt he had to say something. "I'm sorry that this came to pass. If I was quicker I could have saved him. I was-"

Hutch cut him off. "It wasn't your fault Garth. I will make sure the omegas understand what they have done." Then he bowed a farewell and made his way to the main den to tell Eve the fate of her husband.

*END OF FLASHBACK*

Garth had remained head of both packs for some time now. He asked if Eve was able to lead but she was overcome by grief. The once fierce she-wolf had become a shell of what she once was. She had given Garth more responsibility for the Western pack.

The united packs were now made up of a majority of alphas. The omegas had heard the news about what had happened and to the surprise of Garth had volunteered for alpha training. They were loyal to him now but some members of the pack still looked at the omegas with disdain and disappointment. Some were treated badly but Garth didn't care. This was what he had planned all along.

The land had become scarce for food however. The sudden increase in the number of wolves in the western territory had driven the caribou to stay clear from the area. Garth wouldn't admit it but he was starting to lose his grasp on the leadership. He started putting sanctions on wolves that spoke up against him.

One of those wolves was Hutch. He had said it wasn't right how the omegas were being treated and Garth had too much power. He said that Garth hadn't thought to preserve the caribou for the future; killing them in droves rather than taking the time to let the herds recover. Also, he knew that Garth's top lieutenants that were loyal to him were getting more food than the rest of the pack. He was right but Garth had to maintain the loyalty of those closest to him somehow.

Garth decided to put Hutch on longer patrols so he wasn't poisoning the rest of the united pack against him and his lieutenants.

Garth couldn't kill him even though the thought had gone through his mind a few times. He knew that Hutch wasn't suitable to lead, he was much better at following orders than giving them which suited Garth just fine.

Garth sat in the pack leaders den, a makeshift throne elevating him above the common rabble. Eve occasionally would sit by him but she had grown distant from the pack and the pack knew it. Garth had not taken a mate to keep the packs under the impression he was only a steward and would stand down when the time was right. But it didn't stop him from having some fun. Lily was one of his newest playthings. He knew that she fancied him but he told her that unless she became an alpha he would never be with her. His little ploy seemed to work and she was now under his spell that he was doing everything in his power to help the pack and that he deeply cared about her.

Just then Lily entered the den bowing in respect to Garth. Like most of the omega's willing to change she had grown into a beautiful alpha. Garth admired her determination to be with him. Her body was always beautiful to Garth but she was stronger now thanks to his harsh training regime he put the omegas under.

"You asked to see me G-sir?"

"Yes Lily. Come on a walk with me. We have some important things to discuss." He got off his throne and made his way to the den entrance and Lily followed obediently.

Lily and Garth had been walking for about 10 minutes now through the woods. Lily was happy with her life at the moment. Garth treated her well and let her have days off alpha duties to be with him. She loved him more than anyone. He had always been honest with her even when it came to talking about Kate. Garth told her that Kate had abandoned the pack to go off with Humphrey.

She was angry at Kate because Garth explained that there could have been a chance for her father to be alive if she hadn't left. At first she wasn't sure if she believed what Garth had to say. But the more she listened to his council the more his words had merit. She was now fiercely loyal to Garth and knew he had her best interests at heart… unlike her sister.

Garth stopped and beckoned Lily to approach. "Here we are." He said smiling.

Lily stepped forward and gasped at the sight in front of her.

There was a large waterfall coming down the side of a rocky hill the light from the sun was refracted in the water creating a breath taking rainbow that seemed to meld into the turquoise blue melt-water pool. The first sign that spring was here. The trees in this area weren't like the common pine trees that populated Jasper. They were birch trees, the silky white bark seemed to match Lily's fur perfectly. A thought in the back of her head told her that wasn't a coincidence.

"I brought you here as a present for all your hard work at Alpha training you have definitely become one of us now." Garth smiled.

Lily was shocked but she could feel heat rising on her cheeks. "For me? Thank you Garth-I mean-"

Garth cut her off smiling "Hey, it's ok to call me Garth when it's just us. Anyway I've got a surprise I want to show you. Follow me." Lily blushed.

Garth walked up to the small pond before leaping through the waterfall. Lily giggled "It even has a secret area. Garth is being so romantic and thoughtful."

Lily jumped through to the other side with ease and was pleasantly surprised when Garth did something she always wanted him to do.

Garth was waiting for her on the other side and as soon as she landed brought her into a passionate kiss. At first Lily was surprised but quickly relaxed as she had always relished the idea of being with Garth like this. They continued like this for some time until Garth stopped to look down on the beautiful wolf under his command.

He had reeled her in and now he was going to settle his rightful place as leader of the unified pack.

"Lily, I deeply care for you but this wasn't just about rewarding you for your hard work. I wanted to ask you something that could further strengthen the pack." Garth said confidently

Lily looked up at him her heart was fluttering having the wolf of her dreams pushed up against her. "You can ask me anything Garth." She said smiling.

He kissed her lightly before continuing to speak "You have become a great alpha Lily but you being my subordinate isn't good enough for me anymore." Lily's heart was racing at this point in anticipation for what Garth was going to ask her.

"I want you to be my equal, Lily. I want you to be my mate. Then we will rule the united pack together as it should have always been. Will you marry me?" Garth looked down hopefully into Lily's violet eyes.

Lily was so happy at this moment she wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry. "Garth loves me! I will do what Kate failed to do. We will unite the packs and safeguard our future. Together." Lily had made up her mind.

"Yes."