Chapter 8 - Unexpected News
ONE MONTH LATER
Lilly's POV
The first thing we learned in Alpha School was balance, most of us picked that up pretty fast. After learning how to have balance at all times, we started our regular classes, every morning we go to the main field for our Speed and Agility Training, where we increase our stamina and endurance. In the afternoons we go to the forest for our Stealth and Strength Training. I was the fastest in our 'pack', possibly in the whole Alpha School as well, but Garth was, by far, the strongest of all of us.
Our 'pack' had just finished our classes for today and we're now heading home to our territory. Shadow had to go for another meeting tonight alone, because there was a matter that didn't concern the Betas. Shadow put me in charge while he was gone, but all I had to do was just place some of our 'pack members' on border patrol. I had to stay up tonight to make sure it was done, but thankfully tomorrow was our day off, so I could sleep in. Once we got back to the den, I placed Hutch and Candu on the border patrol and they left to do so. "You should get some sleep", Garth said to me, as he went inside the den.
"I'm fine, Garth", I replied, as I laid down just outside of the den.
"You want some company then?", he asked, "I could stay up with you".
I chuckled, "thank you for your concern, Garth", I said, "but no, I'm fine".
"Alright", he replied, then he laid to go to sleep.
Even though he was from the Eastern Pack, he seemed to really care about me, but I don't know why since I'm from the Western Pack. Every time I was around him though, I felt something towards him, but I didn't know what it was. I heard my dad howl in the distance and I knew the meeting has started, 'I wonder what they're talking about', I thought to myself.
Then I came up with an idea, "psst, Garth!", I whispered into the den.
"Wake me up in the morning", he said, "I'm trying to sleep".
What I was about to do was pretty mean, but I needed him awake. I walked over to him and started licking his ear, "mmm, that feels nice", Garth mumbled in his sleep.
'Oh yeah?', I thought, 'what about this?'.
I licked the inside of his ear and delved my tongue deep inside, Garth bolted awake from my wet tongue inside his ear. He jumped up and looked at me with my tongue still slightly sticking out my mouth, "what are you doing, Lilly?", he asked, quietly.
"I need you to take my place", I answered.
"Why?", he asked, rubbing his ear in an attempt to dry it off.
"I'm going to listen in on the meeting tonight", I explained, "and I need you to cover for me".
He looked at me curiously, "I don't think I can cover for you if Shadow returns before you do", he replied.
"I'll make sure I'm back before he is", I said, "can you please do it?".
"I don't know...", he said.
"Can you do it for me?", I asked, showing my cute puppy eyes.
He sighed, "alright", he said, "just don't take too long".
"Thank you, Garth", I said, then gave him a peck on the cheek right before I ran out of the den, leaving him stunned by my actions. I ran as fast as I could towards the meeting, when I got close I spotted them gathered in a small clearing. Using my white fur to hide in the snow, I silently sneaked up to them and hid behind a bush. "Thank you for coming, Alphas", Dad said, "I called this meeting for tonight because there's a matter we need to discuss that's too important to wait until tomorrow morning".
"As you all know, the Southern Pack was wiped out three months ago", Dad explained.
'That must've been the pack Humphrey was from', I thought to myself.
"And recently I've received news that the Northern Pack has left their territory around the same time", Dad continued, murmurs of surprise erupted amongst the Alphas, "which is why the Northern Pack didn't send their Betas here".
"So, what are we going to do?", Shadow asked, "the Northern and Southern Packs were the strongest in Jasper".
"We had a mutual agreement with them, if we share our caribou with them, they'll defend us from outsiders", a female Alpha said, "now that they're both gone, how are we going to defend ourselves?".
"We're also running low on food", a male Alpha said, I could tell he was from the Eastern Pack, "how are we going to feed ourselves".
"Tony and I have come to an agreement", Dad explained, "we'll unite the Western and Eastern Packs to become stronger than before and share all the caribou in the valley between the two packs as one".
"How are we doing that?", another male Alpha asked, "doesn't that require a marriage?".
"It does", Dad said, "Tony's son, Garth, will marry my daughter, Lilly".
"Huh?", I said, softly to myself, 'Dad never told me about that', I thought.
"This meeting is adjourned", Dad said, then all the Alphas except him and Tony left. I was about to leave to, so I could get back to the den before Shadow does, but Tony said something that caught my attention. "Winston, you have to get rid of the Southern Pack pup", Tony said, "you know the Rogues will be back for him".
"He'll be safe", Dad replied, he had his back towards me.
"But will the rest of the packs be safe?", Tony asked, hotly.
"They will", Dad answered, calmly, "but that is a matter for another time, for now let's just worry about uniting the packs".
"Has Lilly been told yet?", Tony asked, "I've already told Garth and he knows his responsibility, but does Lilly?".
"Don't worry", Dad replied, "she knows".
"I won't let my pack starve, Winston", Tony said, I didn't pay attention after that because I was thinking about Garth at that time.
'Maybe that's why Garth has been acting nice towards me', I thought, then Tony left the clearing. Without thinking, I approached my Dad and he turned around to see me coming up to him, "Lilly", he said, shocked that I was here, "uhh, I, uhh".
"It's okay, Dad", I said, "it's my responsibility".
A look of uncertainty grew on Dad's face, "if you don't want to do this, that's fine", he said.
I shook my head, "I can grow to like him, Dad", I said, "he doesn't seem all that bad".
"You're absolutely sure about this, Lilly?", he asked.
I nodded, "it's for the good of the packs", I said.
"Well, if you happen to change your mind, let me know", Dad replied, "anyway, you better get back, you don't want your 'Head Alpha' angry at you for being gone".
"I'll be fine, Dad", I said, "see you tomorrow".
"Bye, Lilly", he replied, then went off towards the den that the Alphas, who aren't 'Head Alphas', sleep in.
I ran back towards my den, keeping an eye out for Shadow in case I happened to catch up to him. When I got to the den, I saw Shadow waiting for me outside, he noticed me and got up to approach me. "Uhh, Sir, I can explain-", I started, but he cut me off.
"No need to, Lilly", he replied, "I knew you were there the whole time".
"You did?", I asked, nervously, "how?".
He chuckled, "I spotted you just as you got up to leave", he explained, "but I noticed you stayed behind and talked with your father".
"Are you mad?", I asked.
"No, Lilly", he answered, "how I could be mad at you for proving that you could sneak up to a group of highly trained Alphas without them noticing you?".
I chuckled lightly, "now come on", he said, "it's time for some sleep".
"Okay", I replied, then followed him into the den and he laid down by the entrance like he usually does, staring into the night sky.
"Can I ask you a question?", I asked.
"You just did", he answered, making me chuckle lightly, "sure, what is it?".
"I've noticed you don't sleep very well", I said, "why is that?".
Shadow sighed, "if you don't want to tell me, that's fine", I said, quickly.
He shook his head, "no, no, it's fine, you asked an honest question and I'm going to give you an honest answer", he said, "I don't like being away from my sister for such a long time".
"You have a sister?", I asked, "who?".
"Skye", he answered.
"The Epsilon Skye?", I asked.
He nodded, "she's the one", he said.
"Well, she seems...nice", I said, "but I think she takes her job a little too seriously".
Shadow chuckled, "if you're talking about the annual check-ups, she doesn't like giving them just as much as the rest of the pack doesn't like receiving them", he said, "although, I think she loves to give me check-ups, I swear she pokes me more than anyone else in the pack".
"I take it you two are close?", I asked.
He nodded, "we're the only family we have", he said, sadly, "our parents died shortly after we were born".
"Oh, I'm...sorry to hear that", I said.
"It's okay, Lilly", he replied, "I'll see her again soon, but you should be getting some sleep".
"Okay", I said, "Sir".
He chuckled at that and laid his head down, "you want my advice?", he said, "go lay down with Garth, I'll back you up saying you got cold".
I chuckled and went inside of the den, Garth was sleeping alone to one side and I decided to take Shadow's advice and laid down beside him. A gust of wind blew into the den and sent a shiver up my spine, instinctively I huddled up against Garth for warmth. 'Well, I guess it won't be hard saying I got cold', I thought to myself, 'maybe I can get used to this'.
Shadow's POV
Lilly took my advice and laid down with Garth, she was now sleeping soundly beside him. I stared into the night sky, "I'll be back Skye", I said, softly.
"You miss her, don't you?", Winston asked, then I jumped because I didn't notice his presence.
I looked over to see him standing outside with a smile on his face, "she's the only family I got", I replied, "of course I miss her".
He chuckled, "yeah, I miss my mate as well", he said, "it's not the same as missing a sister, though".
"Something you need, Sir?", I asked.
"Two things", he said, "first, did my daughter make it back safely?".
I nodded, "she's sleeping with Garth right now", I answered, then I realised how bad that sounded, "not like that though".
Winston chuckled, "I know what you meant", he replied, "and it's good to see they're growing closer".
"What's the second thing?", I asked.
"The caribou are gradually leaving the area", Winston explained, "so, if we need to move the pack, we should have an idea of where to go".
"Why are you telling me this?", I asked.
"I need you to go scout out an area", Winston explained, "you're the best Alpha I have".
"How long will I be gone?", I asked.
"However long you need to find a suitable place for the pack", he answered.
"I can't leave Skye for too long", I said, truthfully.
"That doesn't matter", Winston replied, "she's going with you".
"She is?", I asked, surprised, "why?".
"I asked to", Skye answered, coming out of the bushes, "and you're going to need someone to take care of you".
I chuckled, "you're sure about this?", I asked.
"You know how stubborn I am", she answered.
"What about the 'pack' I'm in charge of?", I asked.
"I am fully confident that my daughter can manage it for the rest of Alpha School", Winston answered, "and I'll be there if she ever needs help".
"Okay", I said, "when do we leave?",
"Now", Winston said, "the sooner, the better".
I looked at Skye and she nodded, "okay", I said, getting up, "see you when we get back".
"Of course", Winston replied, "stay safe".
I smiled and we went into the bushes, leaving Winston and my 'pack' behind. Skye and I were off to find another location for the Western and Eastern Packs and possibly won't be returning, but at least we had each other.