The early afternoon sunset cast a beautiful light over the valley. The warm feeling it gave added to the smell of the surrounding pine trees, which still had droplets of snow from the previous night. But, Samuel wasn't focused on the scenery, rather how he and Princess were going to help Runt escape from King. Speaking of Princess, Samuel noticed she was more focused on the sun than anything else. And he knew why.

After being told by her father what would happen to Runt should the United Packs fail to send a rescue party, the pup's usefulness will have run its course. Princess now saw the ruthless tyrant her father had become. Unseen by the others, even Samuel and Runt, she shed a tear for her father, secretly wishing for the kind, loving male that had raised her before his fall to darkness would come back...

If only for a moment to see what he had become.

"I want you back, Daddy," she whispered through a quiet sob.

Runt, who was at Princess's side, looked equally as nervous as his protectors as the sun set in the distance. However, like the Omega he was, he tried to hide it behind humor. The adult wolves' attention were brought to the pup as the latter let out a soft chuckle.

"How time flies," he laughed, earning a gentle smile from Princess and a small chuckle from Samuel.

"It always does around here," he responded softly, and a bit absentmindedly. Samuel then noticed Runt take on a more sorrowful expression.

"Are you guys gonna eat me?" Runt inquired with a hint of anxiety. Samuel, appalled that the pup he and his girlfriend had been through so much with would think that of them, was about to respond until he heard Princess give off a soft chuckle.

"Eat you?" she inquired back, chuckling again as she turned her head to face the scared pup. "I'm sure you would taste very badly." Upon seeing the playful smile of Princess's face, Runt instantly relaxed, as did Samuel. The levity however did not last. As the sun began to set lower, and with no rescue party in sight, Samuel and Princess's hopes of saving Runt were beginning to be dashed. As the sun began to set later in the day, the two actually started to panic.

"What now?" Princess sadly inquired, looking to her boyfriend.

"If worse comes to worse," he began to answer, looking toward Princess with a determined expression,

"We run for it."

However, the pair's attention was quickly draw to the valley bellow as they noticed King and two other Rogues run down to the open space. Looking to where they were going, Samuel's eyes grew, seeing the unmistakable grey fur of his pup-hood friend, standing on the back of a wolf he recognized as Garth, the son of Tony.

"They're here," he rasped out, still frozen in shocked relief. Princess herself released a breath that she didn't know she had been holding. Realizing that they had to tread these water's lightly, Samuel issued a hushed order to Princess;

"Act natural."

Princess did just as she was told; she laid down, resuming her protective position around Runt, who was just as confused to his father on his Uncle Garth's back. Samuel, sensing Runt's confusion, brought his head down to gently nuzzle the pup.

"You'll be going home soon Runt...I promise." Runt, quickly catching on, began to wag his tail excitedly. The small group began to listen in on the conversation King was having with the "Super Alpha, Lockjaw." Samuel simply rolled his eyes; he loved Humphrey like a brother, but he was a terrible actor. Humphrey's attention then turned to the outcropping they were on.

"Why, who is that BEAUTY of an Alpha?" "Lockjaw" inquired to King in a deep, regal-like voice.

"Ah," King responded, "My daughter, a Supreme Alpha, like all of us," he finished with pride.

"May I have a closer look?" the "Super Alpha" asked. Samuel and Princess then knew what Humphrey was doing; he was going to make it look like he was luring Princess away, so someone could sneak around and grab Runt. However, it seemed they were about to hit a snag in their plan.

"Please, come inside our territory."

Naturally, thought Samuel, King has to complicate things. Humphrey then began to try to cover up the small blunder.

"Well, I see she already has a pup and mate," Humphrey attempted to cover, "So never mind." Samuel felt his and Princess's breath hitch at being called mates. They knew it was all an act, but it didn't make the feeling any less real. Princess actually felt her stomach flutter at the thought of being Samuel's mate, and vice-versa. Both were broken from their thoughts as King spoke to Humphrey.

"Oh no," he reassure, "the pup isn't hers, and the male is just another one of my Alphas." Samuel and Princess weren't sure how they would take advantage of the situation, until a stroke of luck hit them.

"I would prefer if she meet me half-way," "Lockjaw" suggested.

"Princess, quickly!" King ordered all too eagerly. The two Alpha's, however, realized this was their chance. As Princess began to move away from Runt and Samuel, the latter, while the other Rogue's weren't looking, sent a reassuring nod to Humphrey, who at this point had recognized his old friend. Humphrey sent a relieved smile, thankful that his pup-hood friend was on his side, but was quick to turn his attention back to Princess so as to not draw suspicion.

"Oh yes, Beautiful Princess," continued "Lockjaw" in false infatuation, "My, if only we had Alphas as Beautiful as you." As Humphrey was "wooing" Princess, Samuel heard the unmistakable sound of rustling behind him, turning quickly, he caught sight of Runt's mother Kate, who, upon realizing she had been caught, crouched into a pouncing position, prepared to fight. Samuel simply held up a paw and in began to address Kate, who became confused as Samuel nudged Runt toward his mother.

"Take him, and hurry," he said in a stressed whisper. "The north-eastern passage is your best chance." Kate, who by this point was convinced Samuel was not with King, began to usher Runt away, but not before Runt turned back to the Alpha who had taken care of him.

"Come with us, Sam," he pleaded. Samuel only smiled, closing his eyes as he shook his head, letting out a soft chuckle.

"My place is hear Runt," he said gently, turning his attention back to the pup and his mother. "With Prin-...with Terra. We need to make sure King is stopped here and now." Upon hearing this, Runt, tears forming in his eyes, ran back to Samuel and buried his face in the Alpha's soft underbelly. Said Alpha brought Runt deeper into the embrace, while Kate watched on, a warm smile on her face.

"I meant what I said," Runt whispered loud enough for Samuel to hear,

"You are just like my dad...and more."

Samuel, at this point fighting back his own tears, quickly recomposed himself, sending Runt back to Kate so they could escape. Before they got too far, Samuel called out to them, though not loud enough to draw the attention of the other Rogues.

"Runt!" causing both to stop and turn. "We'll see each other again. I Promise. And Kate, tell Humphrey to save a space on the log for me." Trading smiles one last time, the two Westerners ran in the direction Samuel had sent them. Looking back to the valley, Samuel believed that King was truly falling for Humphrey's distraction. After giving Kate and Runt plenty of time to get away Samuel took a deep breath as he yelled down to the wolves in the valley.

"KING! THE OMEGA'S GONE!" he called out in mock alarm. One of the two Alpha's that had accompanied King soon noticed said Omega running away with Kate. He quickly drew King's attention to the scene.

"WHAT!" yelled King. It was at that moment he realized he had been duped. "IT'S A TRICK!" From his vantage point, Samuel saw Humphrey jump off Garth's back as they ran to join up with Kate and Runt. Samuel then noticed two other, much older wolves, running in the same direction; Winston and Tony. Samuel could not hold back anymore as he began to laugh. However, his face soon fell as King began issuing orders.

"ALPHAS! GET THEM! GET THEM ALL!"

Samuel slowly shook his head.

"This is where the fun begins," He muttered to himself as he could only watch as the Rogues ran toward the retreating forms of the wolves from the Untied Packs. He had since rejoined with Princess just behind King. Sending the female a reassuring smile, she seemed to relax at the silent update that Runt had been safely retrieved. The two were soon brought out of their celebratory moment by King.

"They can't handle our numbers," he proclaimed with a cruel smile on his muzzle. "They are WEAK! Purity will win!" Turning to Princess, his expression now held a look of pride as he gazed upon his Daughter. "Princess," he began, "Take the rest of the pack to Winston's home, and CLAIM IT." Princess, looking to Samuel, shared a knowing look with her boyfriend, resulting in a smile from both of them.

"No father, not this time...

and my name is Terra!"

There it was; the first time Princess had defied her father, denouncing the title he had given her in the process...and she couldn't be happier. It was at that moment that she felt a great weight had lifted off her shoulders. Terra had finally broken the chains that bound her to the Rogues, and to King. Turning away with her head held high, King could only look on in shock as his only daughter began to walk away. Trying to think of a way to stop her, King turned to the only other Alpha near him;

Samuel.

"SAMUEL! STOP HER!" Samuel only glared hard at King, and then down to the valley, the latter bringing a smile to his face.

"You know King," he began, as he turned King's attention toward the scene in the valley of the United Pack now charging against the Rogues, this time backed by a bear army, "for so long I have prayed for the day where you would finally get what you deserve, and now, IT'S finally here." King, still shocked by this sudden "betrayal", was met with another startling revelation as Samuel walked back to join Princess, who looked back at her father, who was still wide-eyed at this turn of events.

"And, what was that about 'letting your Alpha Daughter Marry an Omega?'"

And there it was; the last thing that was a crippling blow to King's ego as Samuel and Princess walked away, their sides tightly pressed against each other, walking away from Banff as King's cries fell on all-but deaf ears, as the new Alpha couple, NO, Alpha and Omega couple left to make a new life together.

End of Part I