A/N: I want to explain something before you read the next chapter. Humphrey is being promoted to be the Omegas' Leader, this you should know by now from reading the previous chapters (I hope), and will be attending monthly pack meetings, as the Omega Leader, with the other Heads of the Pack. Winston and Eve are the Pack Leaders, Shadow is the Alpha Leader (not to be confused as being the pack's leader), and Skye attends the meetings as well, because she's the pack's Epsilon.
I didn't want there to be any confusion with the difference between the Alpha Leader and the Pack Leader(s), because they're one and the same, so I felt it was necessary to explain that, although I think if you pay close attention to the chapter, that would've been explained anyway.
Well, here's the next five chapters, I hope you enjoy it!
Chapter 11 - The Omega Leader
Humphrey's POV
I was standing at the base of Howling Rock, all the other couples had already left to go home, and I was waiting for Kate to return. After a few minutes, she came back, "sorry for taking so long, Humphrey", she said.
"It's fine", I replied, "when you got to go, you got to go".
Kate chuckled, "you've always been able to make me laugh", she said.
I frowned, "I wasn't trying to be funny", I replied, "I was being serious".
"I know, Humphrey", Kate said, "you going to walk me home?".
I smiled, "of course", I replied, then we walked side by side towards the dens. Suddenly I heard a twig snap and I stopped walking, "umm, Kate?", I called out to her.
She turned around, "yes, Humphrey?", she asked.
"Did you hear a twig snap?", I asked.
"No, I didn't hear-", she started, but suddenly flinched as if something had bit her. She quickly looked around and I could tell she wasn't feeling alright, "you okay, Kate?", I asked.
She looked at me, "hmm, you're kind of cute", she said, then came over to me and started playing with my fur.
"I'm going to get your mother, Kate", I said, "can you wait here for me?".
"Of course I can, my hunky Omega", she answered, giving me a sly smile and a wink.
'Okay, I think she's officially lost her mind', I thought to myself. I turned around to get Eve, but I felt something sting my butt and almost immediately, I started to feel woozy. "Ohh", I groaned, "I don't feel so good".
"Come here and I'll make you feel better", Kate said, but then she passed out.
"Okay, Kate", I said, then I passed out as well.
I immediately woke up and realized it was all a dream, "you okay, Humphrey?", Kate asked me.
She was laying beside me with a worried look on her face, "I-I think so…", I said.
"It sounded like you having quite the dream", she said.
"Why didn't you wake me?", I asked.
"It seemed to me that you were having a good dream", Kate explained, "that is, until you're breathing started getting shallower, but you woke up shortly after that".
"It was", I replied, "until…".
"Until...what?", Kate asked.
I shook my head, "it doesn't matter, it was just a dream", I said, then I noticed the sun was already high in the sky, "great, Eve is going to kill me, I was supposed to be meeting her right around now".
"Don't worry, Humphrey", Eve said, I looked up to see her entering the den, "I was by earlier and found the two of you sleeping together, it was quite cute seeing the two of you like that".
"Mom!", Kate said, embarrassed.
Eve chuckled, "now, Humphrey", she said, getting my attention, "I've gathered the pack for your promotion and I'm going to take you over now to get this over and done with".
"The entire pack for just a little promotion?", Kate asked, then she looked at me in shock, "you're being promoted?".
"Umm, surprise?", I said.
"I told him not to tell anyone just yet, dear", Eve said to Kate, "but, today I'm promoting him to Omega Leader".
"Omega...Leader?", Kate asked, "what's that?".
"It's a new rank your father and I have decided to put in place", Eve explained, "we've felt that the Omegas should have someone to voice their own opinions, so we decided to make one of them the 'leader' of the Omegas".
"But we couldn't find anyone to fit the requirements", Eve continued, "that is, until Humphrey came along".
"So, that means that Humphrey will be outranking every Omega in the pack?", Kate asked.
"Yes, exactly", Eve replied, "he'll also have the same respect as another Alpha...hopefully".
"Why, hopefully?", I asked.
"Well, some of the Alphas might still think of you as a regular Omega", Eve explained, "but, you just got to remember that the pack has to respect you the same as another Alpha".
"And if I have any problems, I just send them to you?", I asked.
Eve chuckled, "if need be, I can straighten them out", Eve said, "although, I don't think you'll have any problems".
"Well, I guess we should get this done", I replied, "shall we?".
Eve smiled, "follow me", she said, "you too, Kate".
Kate and I followed Eve out of my den and we headed towards the feeding grounds. When we got there, I saw most of the pack, Alphas and Omegas, all gathered in front of the Pack Leaders den, there looked to be about forty or so wolves. One of the Alphas saw us approaching and scoffed, "they're who you had to retrieve before we started?", he asked, "they're useless Omegas".
Eve immediately retaliated at that and pounced on him, pinning him to the ground. "One of those 'useless Omegas' happens to be my daughter", she growled in his face, "if you even think something like that again, I'll rip out your innards and shove them down your throat!".
The Alpha gulped, "I-I'm sorry, Ma'am", he said, then Eve stepped off of him and started to climb up the slope towards her den. She sat down in front of her den and motioned for Kate and I to sit down beside her. We went up the slope and sat down beside her just as Eve began to address the pack. "Today, I am promoting Humphrey…", Eve gestured towards me as she said my name, "...to be the Omega Leader of the Pack".
There were murmurs of surprise and curiosity, "why do the Omegas need their own Leader?", one of the Alphas asked.
"Because Winston and I felt that the Omegas needed their own say in pack matters", Eve explained, "and as a bonus, I won't be the only one at the pack meeting tonight".
There were a few chuckles in the crowd at that, "now, from now on...", Eve said, getting their attention, "Humphrey will be the Omega Leader and will have the same respect as another Alpha".
A couple Alphas groaned at that, but they were quickly silenced with a growl from Eve. "That's all I had to say", Eve said to the pack, "now go back to your duties".
Everyone left, the Alphas going to do their duties, while the Omegas went off to have fun and play pranks on others. Eve turned towards me, "there's a pack meeting tonight, Humphrey", she said, "even though we'll be the only ones there, since Winston, Skye, and Shadow, are gone, it's mandatory".
"When am I supposed to be there?", I asked.
"Come to the Leaders den at sunset", Eve said, "there won't really be anything to talk about, so you can sleepover with Kate if you want".
Kate smiled happily, when she heard that, "alright, I'll be here", I said.
"Good, see you later, Humphrey", Eve replied, then she went into the den.
"So", Kate said, getting my attention, "what shall we do until then?".
"I don't know", I answered, "how about we find the guys and go log-sledding?".
"Sure", Kate replied, then we left to go find the guys.
We found Salty and Shakey with Reba and Janice, they were all laughing and having a good time together. Kate and I approached them and they noticed us coming, "hey, you two!", Salty called out, "where've you been?!".
"There was a meeting with the whole pack", I said, "didn't you go?".
"No, we don't usually go to those things", Shakey answered, "but we do find out what happened during them".
"Speaking of which…", Reba said, "what was the meeting about this time?".
"Mom had announced to the pack that Humphrey is now the Omega Leader", Kate explained.
"You're kidding, right?", Janice asked.
Kate and I gave the four of them very serious expressions, "okay, you're not kidding", Janice said.
"What do you mean Humphrey's now the Omega Leader?", Salty asked.
"I am the Leader of the Omegas", I explained, "just like how Winston and Eve are the Leaders of the Pack and Shadow is the Leader of the Alphas".
"I understand that", Salty said, "I meant like, what does that mean?".
"It means that I now outrank you", I answered, "and supposedly, I'm supposed to be respected like another Alpha, but I won't ask for that from you guys".
"Who's Shadow?", Shakey asked.
"I don't know", I answered, "but I guess I'll find out at some point".
"Why's that?", Reba asked.
"He has to attend monthly meetings with the other Heads of the Pack", Kate answered, "only him and Mom are going to be there tonight".
"Anyway, Kate and I were wondering if you wanted to go log-sledding with us", I said.
"Sure, we'll come", Salty said, "but, what about the girls?".
"They're welcome to join as well", I said.
"Maybe we'll try it just this once", Reba said, "we'll see how it goes".
"Well, then let's go find Mooch and get going", Kate said.
SIX HOURS LATER
We found Mooch in his den sleeping, after we woke him up from a fairly good dream about him and Candy, we asked him if he wanted to come log-sledding, but he declined. So, after a whole afternoon of log-sledding, with us winning more often than not, Kate and I were now heading back to Kate's den for the night. I had to attend my first pack meeting, but it was just going to be Eve and I, so I wasn't sure what we were supposed to talk about. We made it back just as the sun was beginning to go below the mountains, Eve was sitting outside of the den, waiting for us. "There you two are", she said, when she noticed us approaching, "supper's in the den".
We followed her into the den, where there was a caribou lying in the middle, the three of us sat around it and started digging in. When we were finished, there was nothing left but a pile of bones, "alright, now that we're finished eating, let's get this meeting over with", Eve said.
"You want me to go into the next room, Mom?", Kate asked, "and leave the two of you to your business".
"No, it's fine, dear", Eve answered, "there isn't really anything to talk about…", she fell silent for a few seconds, thinking of something, "no, nothing to talk about".
"Well...", Kate said, "that was a quick meeting".
A powerful gust of wind blew into the den, bringing a lot of snow inside with it, making us cold, "actually, there is something", Eve said.
"What is it?", I asked.
"I can tell that a blizzard is coming", Eve said, "and I fear that it'll be the worst snowstorm we've had".
"How can you tell?", Kate asked.
"I've lived through a blizzard before", Eve explained, "and the weather now is the same as it was before the last one hit".
"What does that have to do with me?", I asked.
"Well, we have to prepare for it", Eve answered, "you know, make sure the dens won't collapse from all the snow and wolves won't be buried alive as well".
"Sounds like a lot of work", Kate said, "how are we supposed to do all of that?".
"It's quite simple really, all you have to do is just place some ferns in front of the den to keep the snow from getting in and clear the snow off of the tops of the dens", Eve explained, "the only problem is that there are a lot of dens in the territory".
"I think I can get the Omegas to do that", I said, "shouldn't take too long to place ferns over the dens and that's all we have to do until the blizzard hits".
Eve chuckled, "alright", she said, "meeting adjourned".
Kate and I went into the next room, we laid down beside each other and she wrapped her tail around me, "what are you doing?", I asked.
Kate smiled at me, "nothing", she answered, "just enjoying your presence".
"Uh huh", I replied, "seems to me that you're doing more than that".
She blushed, "sorry, Humphrey", she said, then brought her tail back over to her side. I laid my head down to go to sleep, suddenly a cold gust of wind blew into the den and I heard Kate shiver. She started shaking violently from the extreme cold, so I brought my own tail around and wrapped it around her to help keep her warm. Kate sighed happily and smiled in her sleep, then she grabbed my tail in her paws and pulled it close to her. I chuckled to myself and kissed her cheek, "good night, Kate", I whispered to her, then shortly after I followed her to dreamland.