Chapter 55: The Ruse (written August 15th through August 16th, 2013)

"Are you ready yet, Henry?" asked his mother, Terra.

"Not quite," he answered. "Arthur is almost done combing my tail."

"I still can't believe my youngest son is on his first date. This is so exciting!" Terra greatly showed her excitement.

"Mom, you're embarrassing me," said Henry.

"Only because I love you, sweetie."

"Is this a punishment, mom? 'Cause I don't want to be here when you two have conversations like this," said Arthur.

"You can go now, brother. I think that'll be enough. I'm ready." And Henry was indeed ready.

"Alright then, don't keep her waiting," said Hannah. "Oh, one more thing." She gave him a bloody caribou leg. "This is your dinner. Now get 'em, dog."

"Right." He then left.

He went to the place where Autumn said to meet but she wasn't there. He waited in the designated area until finally, she arrived a while later, all clean. At least physically...

"Hi, Henry."

"Hey, Autumn. I... I brought us some dinner." He dropped the leg from his mouth.

"Thank you."

"What's the matter? You seem down?" he asked.

"I am a little but I don't want to talk about it." She went and took a bite out of the caribou leg in front of her. "So could you tell me about yourself?" she asked after she chewed and swallowed.

"Well, I've always been a bold wolf. Ever since I was a pup, my dad would always remind of the responsibility I had. I, myself, don't ever want to ruin that for him so I set a resolution for myself to always behave and listen repectively." Henry didn't want to brag.

"Wow. You are very resolute. You're life is a lot like mine. Besides you being the Alpha male, of course. What is your aspiration?"

"I really don't have one. I guess... currently it would be... to date you again."

"Oh, Henry. You are very affectionate and I wish I could affiliate with you but... that won't happen."

"Why not?"

"I can't really explain."

"Oh, I see how it is." There was a long silence after that. It was soon broken by a question.

"Aren't you going to eat your meat?" Autumn asked.

"I'm not hungry anymore."

"You know, it isn't much of a date when you're no longer committed to it," she reminded.

"Is it a date, Autumn? Or is a test?"

"Well, of course it's a date, right?"

"Is it really? Because I wonder..."

"Are you enjoying it?"

"I was... Look, I'm sorry about the way I acted. I was just disappointed."

"*sigh* I think I have a surprise that might cheer you up." Autumn knew what she must do now-and she didn't like it. It was hard...

"Really?"

"Yeah. Come follow me." She and Henry walked eastward, towards Stone's Pack...

Later...

"Alright. Wait right here," she ordered.

"Okay." Henry stayed put as Autumn disappeared in the shadows.

Just then, he heard a loud snicker. Then out of nowhere, two wolves jumped on his back and pinned him to the ground. "Ow! Who are you wolves?! Let me go!" He heard the snicker again and froze. Autumn and Stone came out of the shadows. "Stone," he whispered.

"That's right. Good work, Chance and Cody," he thanked.

"What do you want from me?!" Henry demanded.

"Temper, son. No need to bear teeth." Stone spoke softly. "It's simply not what I want from from you, it's what I'm going to get from you. You can thank Autumn here, my little actress, for helping me lure you." Henry was astonished.

"Autumn?! You're with them?!" He started crying.

"Put him in Simon's den," Stone ordered, "where I'll give him his punishment for the murder of Simon." Chance and Cody dragged Henry to Simon's den. Henry didn't resist. "Thanks again, Autumn," Stone added before he walked away with the others.

Afterwards, Brooke met up with Autumn.

"I heard about your mission," she said. "How did it go?"

"It was awful! I hope I never have to do that again. I broke that wolf's heart! He doesn't even deserve to be here!" Autumn wanted to be as honest as she could. "In fact... I might've... actually... had feelings for him..."

"Whoa, my friend. Are you falling in love? Like, for real?"

"Maybe... but how can I love myself after tonight?"

Next: Chapter 56: Battle of Truth Part 1


(Five chapters until the end of this story. :) And it will end in a bang!)