Chapter 12 - Growing Closer
Garth's POV
Shadow had left last night to go on a mission for something and he left Lilly as the 'Pack Leader'. Lilly made me the 'Beta' of the pack and I was honored to have that position. Today was our 'packs' day off from training, so we all decided to explore the territory, maybe find the locations of the other 'pack's' territories while we were at it. Lilly told me about what she had found out at the meeting last night and to say I was shocked, was an understatement. We both decided to make the best of it and get to know each other a bit more, so right now the two of us were walking through the forest getting to know each other. "So, what does Garth like to do?", Lilly asked.
"Oh, uhh, I'm into fitness", I answered, "got to be strong, if us Alphas are going to lead the Pack".
"I can tell", Lilly replied.
"Well, what about you?", I asked, "what does Lilly like to do?".
"I'm not one for fitness, but I am really smart and have mastered a few techniques", Lilly answered, "I know ten ways to defeat an opponent with just one paw".
"Oh, yeah?", I asked, "show me one".
"Hold out your paw", Lilly said, and I did as she told me, she then placed her own paw in mine.
"How's this supposed to defeat me?", I asked.
"Like this", she answered, then she quickly gripped my paw while spinning around, putting her back against my chest and threw me over her, causing me to do a front flip and land on my back in the snow.
"How did you do that?", I asked, still laying on my back, "I'm a heavy wolf and you don't look very strong, no offense, but yet you managed to drop me onto my back with only one paw".
"I'm not going to tell you my secrets", Lilly answered, I looked up to see her lavender eyes staring down at me.
"Wow", I said.
"Wow, what?", she asked.
"Your eyes", I said, "they're beautiful".
She chuckled, "thank you", she replied, "need some help to get up?".
"No, I think I got it", I answered, rolling over onto my stomach and standing up, "umm, just one thing about that move, I don't think your opponent will offer their paw to you for you to take".
"Shall I demonstrate it again?", Lilly asked.
"Sure", I answered, "but this time, we're going to actually fight, first wolf to pin the other wins".
"You're on", Lilly replied, then we stood facing each other and started circling one another. I lunged at her, without thinking that my paw would've been right there for her to take and that's exactly what she did. I landed on my back again with a thud, "you know, you could be quite deadly if you wanted to be", I said, getting up again.
"I'll take that as a compliment", Lilly replied, "what do you want to do now?".
I looked up into the sky to see it was now about midday, "I don't know", I answered, "we still got most of the day to kill".
"I could show you a few more of my moves", Lilly suggested.
"Oh, no!", I exclaimed, "we're not going through that again!".
"What?", she asked, "is the big and strong Alpha afraid of me?".
"No", I answered, "it's just that I don't want to get hurt".
"You're an Alpha, Garth", Lilly said, "there's no way around it, you're going to get hurt".
"I-I didn't mean it that way", I said, "I meant I didn't want to get hurt by one of your moves".
Lilly chuckled, "whatever you say, Garth", she said, as she walked by me, rubbing her tail under my chin as she passed. 'Is she starting to like me?', I asked myself within my thoughts.
"You coming, Garth?", Lilly called back to me.
"Yeah, I'm coming", I replied, then I ran up beside her, "maybe we should try to find the other territories".
"You really think so?", Lilly asked.
"Of course", I answered, "it's a good idea to know where your opponents are located".
"Alright", Lilly replied, "let's sniff them out".
I chuckled, then we smelled the area for the scents of any wolves that are not a part of our own 'pack'. After a while, we didn't find any sign of a 'pack' being out here, "you know what, I don't think we're going to find anything out here", I said, "the snow has covered any tracks that may have been here, and it also masks any old scents".
"Oh, Garth", Lilly replied, "you give up too easily, look!".
Lilly pointed ahead of us and I looked to see tracks going across our path, meaning we're at the border of a territory. We could also see the main den with about five wolves around it, "hey, you two!", Logan called out to us.
Lilly and I looked over to see Logan approaching us, "Logan!", Lilly exclaimed, "you're going to give us away".
"Why?", Logan asked, "you up to something?".
"We're just outside of another 'pack's' territory, Logan", I said, "keep it down".
"This is our own territory", Logan explained, "did the two of you get lost or something?".
We took a closer look at the main den and recognized the wolves as our fellow 'pack members'. "I guess we did", I said, chuckling lightly.
"What were the two of you doing out there?", Logan asked, as we walked towards the main den.
"Looking for other 'packs'", I answered, "I thought it was a good idea to find out their locations".
"Logan, put yourself and Ashley on border patrol", Lilly ordered, "we didn't come across a territory marker, so they need to be replenished".
"Yes, Ma'am", Logan said, then ran off to find Ashley. Lilly and I continued on towards the main den, "you know, Lilly", I said, "if I didn't know better, I'd say you were trying to get rid of Logan".
"Well, you're right", Lilly replied, "you do know better".
I chuckled, "alright", I said, "then, how come you put Logan and Ashley on border patrol?".
"I did that, because the borders needed to be maintained", Lilly answered.
"But they don't", I replied, "we passed by a territory marker, clear as day".
Lilly sighed, "fine", she said, "you really want to know?".
"One of these days we're going to be mates", I pointed out, "and I don't think we should keep secrets from each other".
"I placed Logan and Ashley on border patrol because they do need to be kept up", Lilly explained, "but the reason I put them together is because, even though they may not know it themselves, I can tell they're meant for each other".
"How do you know?", I asked.
"Humphrey and my sister looked the same way when they're together", Lilly answered, "and last I heard, they were now dating".
"Well, that's great to hear", I said.
"Yeah", Lilly replied, halfheartedly.
"You don't sound very happy about it", I said.
"No, I'm happy for them, truly I am", Lilly said, "it's just…".
"Just what?", I asked.
"Well, they have a chance to love", Lilly explained, "we don't, we're stuck with each other".
"We can make this work", I said.
"You really think so?", Lilly asked.
"We can at least try", I answered, "what else can you tell me about yourself?".
"I don't know", Lilly answered, as we reached the main den and laid down inside, "there isn't much more about me".
"Oh, come on!", I exclaimed, "there's got to be more about you".
"What do you think of me?", Lilly asked.
"What?", I asked, confused.
"What do you think of me?", Lilly asked again.
"I think you're very beautiful, kind, caring", I answered, "I'm also afraid of you, because of what you can do".
Lilly chuckled, "you really think so?", she asked.
"You flipped me over onto my back with one paw...twice", I answered, "so yeah, I'm afraid of you".
"No, I meant, you really think I'm beautiful?", Lilly asked.
I blushed, "uhh, yeah", I answered, "I love your eyes and your white fur, even though I can't see you in the snow".
Lilly shuffled closer to me and smiled, "thank you, Garth", she said, leaning her head on my shoulder, "I think you're a nice wolf and you're brave...when you want to be".
I chuckled, "you think so?", I asked, "even though I'm afraid of what you can do?".
"Of course", Lilly answered, moving her head off of me, "you're just afraid of me, because I don't need great strength to defeat my opponents".
I smiled at her and she licked my cheek, making me widen my eyes in surprise, "I'm sorry to interrupt, Ma'am", Hutch said from the den entrance, "but your father wishes to speak to you".
"Okay, Hutch", Lilly said, "send him in".
Hutch left the den and shortly after, Winston entered, "Sir", I said, as I stood up.
"Sit down, Garth", Winston said, and I did as I was told, "I can see the two of you are getting closer together".
"Uhh, yes, Sir", I replied, "we figured we should, since we're getting married one of these days".
"Dad, we're doing our best to make the most of it", Lilly said.
"That's good to hear, Lilly", Winston replied, "but that's not what I came here for".
"What did you come here for, Sir?", I asked.
"I've just received word that yesterday, my mate, Eve, has promoted Humphrey", Winston answered.
"So, is he coming here?", I asked, "to train to be an Alpha?".
Lilly gasped, "that means that he and Kate can't be together", she said.
"No, Humphrey wasn't promoted to Beta rank", Winston said, "he was promoted to Omega Leader".
Lilly and I looked at each other with confused expressions, "what's an Omega Leader?", I asked, "is it like an Alpha Leader, but with the Omegas?".
"That's exactly it", Winston answered, "Humphrey now has the same authority as an Alpha".
"But, can he and Kate still be together?", Lilly asked.
"He's still considered an Omega, so, yes they can still be together", Winston answered, "how's it going with you two?".
"It's...going fine", I answered.
"I demonstrated my signature move on him...twice", Lilly said.
Winston chuckled, "that's my girl", he said, "well, I'll leave the two of you at it and I'll be seeing the two of you later".
"Okay, Sir", I said, as he left the den. I turned back towards Lilly, "so, what shall we do for the rest of the day?".
"How about I show you a few more of my moves?", Lilly asked, smiling mischievously.
"I'm not going to get hurt, am I?", I asked.
"You won't get hurt", Lilly answered, "...much".
I groaned, "alright, let's go", I said, standing up, "I actually do want to see you demonstrate a few more, despite the fact that I'm the test subject".
Lilly and I left the den and passed by the others on our way out, I noticed Logan and Ashley had returned from their border patrol. They were now sitting across from each other, talking and laughing with one another. "I think I see what you mean", I said to Lilly, once we were out of earshot.
"Yeah, I think they're perfect for one another", Lilly replied, "shall we get started?".
"Alright", I answered, little did I know, I was in for a painful afternoon.
THREE HOURS LATER
Lilly's POV
Garth and I were walking back toward the main den after I demonstrated a few more of the moves I learned to take him down with one paw. His entire body was sore from the countless number of times I had tossed him onto the ground like an old rabbit that no one wants to eat. I've been practicing these moves for about two months now, because my mother wanted me to know them. "How do you do them?", Garth asked, as we crossed into our 'pack's' territory.
"They're not hard", I said, "once you've practiced them enough".
"Why do you know all of them?", he asked.
"My mother wanted me to know them", I explained, "because she wanted me to be able to defend myself, just in case any male tries to take advantage of me".
"I take it your mother's the overprotective type?", Garth asked.
"You could say that", I answered, "which is why I'm surprised that she hasn't killed Humphrey yet".
"I thought you told me that Humphrey is the son of her friend?", Garth asked.
"Hmm, maybe that's why", I said, "I'll find out when I get back".
I noticed the sun was starting to go down, "we should call it a night", I said, "we have training again tomorrow and you need to rest after what you've been through".
"You mean all the bruises you gave me", Garth replied.
"Maybe", I said, "let's go home".
"Right behind you, Lilly", he replied, but I already ran off towards the den and he started running after me.