Eight Months Later

The aura of anxiety was heavy in the air. Each wolf stood at attention, but couldn't help but exchange nervous glances as their leader, King, paced back and forth, clear frustration radiating from his very being. It had been hours since he sent three of his top Alphas to the Western forest to kidnap Winston's grandchildren. With each passing minute, he grew even more frustrated.

"SAMUEL!" bellowed King to his recently promoted second-in-command, said wolf in the middle of a private conversation with King's daughter, Princess. Samuel, quickly turning his attention to his leader, promptly excused himself from Princess's side, but not before receiving a seductive wink from the auburn female. After taking a moment to recompose himself, Samuel began cautiously approaching the Rogue leader, but still maintained an air of confidence.

As he walked towards King, Samuel couldn't help but notice some of the females of the pack lick their lips with lust as he passed, while some of the other males seemed to cower in fear, a clear sign that he was one of King's strongest Alphas. Upon reaching King himself, Samuel sat of his haunches, head held high, as he addressed his leader.

"Aye, Sir," he stated curtly, and with as much respect as he could muster. King, although fond of the wolf before him, began to glare daggers at him, as he towered an extra two inches over his subordinate. King had instructed Samuel to send out the Alpha squad to secure their "Bait." An order Samuel carried out immediately, although one he did have strong reservations about; He didn't like the idea of using pups as leverage against anyone, weather the cause was good or bad.

"I ordered you to send those mutts to the western forest earlier this afternoon," King seethed, causing the wolf sitting in front of him to slightly wince. "It is now past sundown, and there is no sign of them," He finished in an icy growl. Samuel, quickly regaining his composure, swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat as he refocused his hazel eyes of King. Clearing his throat, Samuel began to speak in a smooth and authoritative baritone, accompanied by a light, but definitely noticeable, Irish brogue, a tone that King had noticed sent shivers down his daughter's spine.

"I did as you instructed, sir," the cream-colored wolf began, with a hint of bravado and defiance in his voice as he said Sir. "They left as soon as I informed them, but we must also consider the differing factors in such an operation. We must be patient." Even though King understood the factors Samuel was referring to, be it bears, terrain, and, obviously, the wolves of the western pack, it still didn't ease his temper. Upon catching movement behind King, Samuel allowed a small smile to grace his lips as he returned his gaze back to the flustered Rogue.

"And it looks like our patience has been rewarded," added Samuel as he inclined his head in the direction King's back was facing. Quickly turning around, King was met with the sight of three of his alphas running towards them, a small grey pup with ice blue eyes in one of their jaws. Upon reaching their leader, the pup was unceremoniously dropped to the ground.

"Nice," the pup sarcastically said to the wolf that had been carrying him. Taking notice, Samuel shot the wolf a reprimanding look, his position of authority and strength causing said wolf to bow his head in submission. Even though his time with the Rogues had been brief, Samuel slowly rose through the ranks thanks to his exceptional skills, which is why he was named Kings Second-in-command; with this, the wolves of Banff both feared and respected him.

"This small wolf is Winston's grandpup?" King inquired, his haunting laugh making Samuel uneasy as he looked at the pup. "The Great Alpha of the Western Pack is producing runts," he finished with a growl. Looking down at the pup, Samuel noticed that pup displayed a look of insult.

"You got a problem with that?" the pup jeered back defiantly. Samuel couldn't help but let out a quite laugh at the pups defiant personality, clearly inherited from an old friend. As the verbal exchange was occurring, Samuel hadn't noticed that Princess had been approached the scene until he felt the soft fur on the side of her body brush against the more rough fur on his. Looking to his left, Samuel couldn't help but flash a small grin at the flirtatious look in Princess's eyes as she went to stand by her father's side, the older wolf deciding to present the pup as an example of what impurity looks like.

"See what happens when you let your Alpha daughter marry an Omega?" King inquired to his alphas. The pup, who Samuel noticed had already been fed up with being dragged to Banff only to be insulted, took a defiant step toward King as he spoke, leading to an uneasy feeling forming in the pit of his stomach.

"And you are?" the pup jeered, earning a shocked gasp from King, as well as an anxious wince from Samuel; he did not want to see the pup hurt, but said pup's sarcasm was making it a certainty by the second.

"King," the self-proclaimed monarch growled back.

"Ugh, original," the pup replied to King's self-absorbed statement as he rolled his eyes. His eyes then rested on Princess. "And let me guess," the pup continued, "your Princess?" Samuel's eyes actually narrowed at this blunt insinuation; it was one thing when it was King who was being disrespected, but it was another matter entirely when it came to Princess. Before he could say or do anything, Princess merely nodded her head and responded with a curt "yes."

"Well King," the pup added, "Don't blame me if you were rejected by my grandpa," the pup finished behind his paw, earning a harsh growl from King who had poised himself to strike. Just as Samuel was about to intervene, Princess spoke up.

"Father," interrupted Princess, stepping between him and the small pup, "let me handle him." Picking up the pup by the scruff of his neck, Princess looked once more at her father, before turning to the wolf beside him. "Sam," she stated, using the shortened version of the wolf's name that was normally reserved for good friends. Straightening at the call, Samuel looked towards Princess.

"Yes, ma'am?" he inquired, earning a small smile and eye roll from the russet colored female.

"I may need your assistance," she finished, before turning to walk toward dens. Looking to King for approval, He was dismissed with a curt nod as King returned his attention to the three alpha's before him, angrily inquiring as to the location of the other two pups. Samuel thought he heard something about a bear attack and, although he probably misheard, their bait being in a tree. Shaking his head clear of the ridiculous thought of a wolf in a tree, he continued to follow Princess and their captive. As he did so, he came up along side Princess, returning her earlier gesture by rubbing his side into hers, a sly smile forming on his lips as he saw the fur on her back stand on end.

"Easy, buster," she playfully chided through her clenched teeth, earning a curious look from the pup in her grip.

"What goes around comes around," Samuel cheekily responded as they continued walking toward the sleeping area, unaware of the coming events that would change their lives.

A little message to Dax for their review;

"This is going to be a great story."

Of course it is...after all, you helped make this series what it is.

Thank you for everything my friend.