Chapter by dax0042

It had only been a few hours since the two alpha and omega families left the Jasper Park territory. King loved the feeling of being free from the heavy burden he had to carry for his past crimes. Looking over to his left, he saw Eve, the wolf he had been dreaming of since the return to Jasper not long ago. She was still beautiful for her age, but King also could tell she was now carrying a heavy burden on her shoulders.

Eve walked silently on behind her family. In her heart, Eve knew that her husband wouldn't be around much longer. Kate looked back over shoulder to see how unhappy her mother was. "Mom? Are you feeling alright?" she asked, concerned that her mother was ill or something.

Eve quickly put on a smile. "Just feeling a little homesick," she replied, trying her best to remain in good spirits for the sake of her daughter, but the thought of losing Winston was taking its toll on her.

When the group stopped to take a brake, Eve without word or warning, decided to leave the group. She walked into the woods, thinking on how she was going to break the news to her family that Winston was dying.

King, feeling that Eve was being troubled, excused himself and followed her into the woods.

Eve sat alone near a small stream and stared down at her reflection through a veil of hot tears. Winston, why did this have to happen? Eve thought to herself sadly. The tan furred alpha also took this time to inspect her body. She knew that she wasn't as young as she used to be, and she knew that her pregnancy with Kate and Lilly had caused her to gain a little bit of weight, but that never stopped a few males in the pack to drool over her.

Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard a twig snap, and she quickly turned her head to the source of the sound, only to come face to face with King. They were so close in fact that their noses were almost touching.

King took a few steps back to give Eve her space. "What are you doing here?" she demanded firmly as she wiped her tears away with her paws.

"I was worried about you," King replied with an inviting smile, "is everything okay?"

Eve sniffled and wiped her nose then gazed longingly at the stream once more and became immersed in thought. King slowly drew in closer to her and paused then sat down a few feet from her side and turned his eyes down to the water as well, without another word.

Silence droned on for what seemed like eternity before Eve sighed.

"Winston is dying," she told him slowly.

King eyes widened in shock. Had he really heard what he thought he heard? Yes… Indeed he did. And there was no denying it, when King had last saw Winston, the Pack leader looked to be breathing abnormally, the way he walked showed him to be getting weak and Winston seemed to also look really tired. King looked at Eve with concern.

"Does your family know about this?" he asked.

Eve shook her head.

"Then you need to tell them," King said.

Looking up at the stream, Eve thought back to a certain memory before marriage with Winston.

"Do you remember that time I caught you watching me bathe on the night before my wedding?" she asked him slowly.

King's ears shot up as he was taken completely off guard by the question and felt embarrassment draw heat to his cheeks. Eve couldn't help but crack a quick smile at his reaction.

"I- um... yeah," he stammered quickly, "but I think you should-"

Eve flattened her ears and lowered her head slightly. "You thought I was beautiful back then, didn't you?" she asked him slowly.

King began to search for a way out, but he did not wish to leave just yet, because he could tell that Eve was having a crisis and he did not wish to make it worse. After all, he knew what she was going through. When he lost his mate, it was devastating.

"I did," he replied quickly, though nervousness constricted his throat.

"Do you still think I'm beautiful?" she inquired as she placed her paw atop his.

King felt his body heating up from Eve's touch as all his sexual fantasies of her began to race through his mind. Without thinking, and being driven by lust, King quickly leaped forward and pressed his muzzle to hers in a passionate kiss.

Eve at first was to shocked to think, but she pulled away from the kiss. Her heart was racing. "You...You just kissed me!" Eve said.

"I'm sorry," King apologized. Then, he did something he would regret. Instead of staying and trying to explain what happened, King dart off back to the others, leaving Eve alone.

The tan furred alpha stood there for a minute before fresh tears began run down her cheeks. She felt her heart break in two. She felt so hurt. Not only did King act out of line by kissing her, he then just left and ran off like a coward. Eve, feeling a mixture of anger and sorrow, picked up a nearby branch and snapped it in half with her teeth. I thought you changed King! I was wrong. She thought to herself.

But watching from the bushes was another wolf. His dark eyes had watched the event between the two alphas unfold. A smile began to grow as he realized that King had a soft spot for Eve. Soon, the time to reveal himself would happen and he would have his revenge. But for now, the unknown wolf crept back into the woods.

Sometime later…

It was mid-afternoon and rain was pouring down. As the group of wolves tried to find some shelter from the storm, King kept his distance from Eve. She was still plenty mad and King knew he had to make it right with Eve. He had never meant to hurt her feelings, but now he had to look to the future. Eve was still special to him. But no matter how hard King tried to convince himself, he knew that any chance of him and Eve being together was ruined. He felt like the biggest idiot alive.

When the group found a den to stay in, King sat across from Eve, who refused to make any eye contact with him.

Well, King thought sadly. There is always tomorrow.

Looks like King is not fairing to well with Eve. And who is this wolf tracking the group? Secrets will be revealed, trusts with be tested and hearts will be mended in the upcoming chapters.