The time had come.

After a month of waiting, King was fully pardoned of his crimes and allowed to leave Jasper. At long last, Sam and his family could finally go on their trip to Banff.

But, they would have some added company.

As it turns put, Sam had invited Humphrey and his family to tag along on the trip. However, the reason behind the invitation was actually a very special surprise for Humphrey.

One the grey-furred Omega was sure to never forget.

Speaking of which, Sam smiled as he saw his friend, along with his mate and their children approaching his den, each sporting wide smiles as he greeted them.

"I am really glad you agreed to come along, Humphrey," Sam said, bringing his old friend into a tight embrace, "it will be just like old times."

Humphrey laughed as he pulled away from his cream-furred friend, a massive smile adorned on his muzzle.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world buddy," Humphrey responded happily, but his smile soon fell as look of worry came to his face. "Where's Terra and Anna? They O.K.?"

Sam couldn't help but smile at his friends concern, with his smile only growing as he saw Runt take on a look of concern at the mention of his only daughter. However, that worry soon vanished as said teen made her appearance.

"I'M HERE!" she called as she ran out from some nearby bushes, her fur very damp as she came to rest beside her father, "I wanted to take a quick bath in the stream before we left." And just as she finished speaking, Anna proceeded to shake the still dripping water from her fur, her father being unfortunate enough to be caught in the splash zone. Humphrey and his family on the other paw laughed. All except for Runt, whose perception of time seemed to slow down as he stared at Anna, her gorgeous mane flowing majestically as she shook her head from side to side so as to remove the excess water.

Meanwhile, Sam, while being pelted with water from his daughter, noticed the dopey grin that had formed on the young wolf's muzzle, a sigh that he was in a world of his own as he stared at Anna. A sly smile formed on his own muzzle at what this could imply for the two teenagers in the future.

"OH!" Anna exclaimed, bringing Runt's attention back to earth, "sorry daddy."

Looking to said wolf, Runt couldn't help but to try to hold back a laugh as he saw his friend's fur dripping with water, courtesy of Anna's little Shake-N-Dry, a not-so-amused frown on his face. Humphrey on the other hand was all out laughing, causing Runt to finally let loose his own amusement while the Kate, Claudette and Stinky rolled their eyes at the display, but still smiling nonetheless.

Looking to his daughter, Sam saw that she was smiling sheepishly in a silent apology. But, try as he might, the Omega could stay mad at his little girl. But that did not mean he had a trick of his own. With a sly smile Sam suddenly began to shake himself, not only returning some of the water to Anna, but also causing a good amount to get on Humphrey and Runt, while the others were wise enough to get clear in time. After having calmed down some, Sam decided to answer his friend on the whereabouts of his mate.

"I was just about to say Humphrey," Sam began, having calmed down enough to speak, "Terra was off to get King. They should be here in a few minutes."

"That's good, cause I am ready to get this trip started!"

That voice certainly dd not belong to anyone in the group. Looking around in confusion, Sam suddenly took in the forms of two teenage wolves he recognized all to well walking toward them.

"Fleet, Magril," Sam addressed the two in surprise, "what are you two doing here?"

Upon hearing a sheepish chuckle, Sam sent an accusatory glare to his old puphood friend who, after a hard nudge from his mate, began to explain.

"I told Claudette they could tag along," Humphrey said tentatively. While Sam wanted to reprimand his friend, he just couldn't bring himself to send Fleet and Magril home. Letting out a loud sigh, Sam finally relented.

"Alright, I guess it would be cruel to make you walk all the way back to the Northern Pack."

Upon hearing this, the two siblings beamed from ear to ear as Fleet went to stand beside his girlfriend, while Magril nervously went to stand beside Stinky, the latter seeming to develop a deep blush that rivaled the former's, which did not go unnoticed by the other members of the party who smiled slyly at the display.

Meanwhile, Terra was walking toward the holding dens of the Western Pack. Even though King was officially pardoned, he still had to reside in the dens until someone came to get him. Truth be told, while Terra felt it only right that she be the one to retrieve her father, another part of her needed some time alone in order to wrap her head around a recent discovery.

It had been a week since she and Sam had mated, the very thought of the session sending shivers down her spine as she recalled his dominant side taking over, as Sam taking control like that was a real turn on for Terra. But in the week following their passionate time together, Terra began to notice that she appeared to be more tired, as well as developing a massive appetite, which seemed to only be nullified by the fact that she would be prone to episodes of nausea. Some would call it a weird stomach bug, but Terra knew better, as they were all the same symptoms she experienced when she learned she was going to have Anna.

And she could not be more thrilled at the idea of having another pup with the wolf she loved.

"Princess," came a familiar female voice, pulling Terra out of her thoughts. Looking to the source of the voice, Terra smiled as she was approached by Eve, the elder female giving off a motherly aura as she fell into step beside the auburn female.

"Hello Eve," Terra greeted, "it is good to see you. And please, call me Terra. Princess isn't exactly my piece of caribou." With a knowing smile, Eve nodded.

"Of course," Eve responded. "Forgive me, I am just not used to having you around just yet. Are you on your way to get your father?"

"Yes I am," Terra responded with a nod, "why do you ask?"

"I actually have something to discuss with him before we leave."

Terra suddenly faltered in her pace upon hearing what Eve had just said.

"I'm sorry, did you say 'we?'" Eve, turning, to Terra, offered a shy smile.

"Yes," she began tentatively, "Winston wanted me to go with you. The reason being one that I wish to discuss with you AND your father."

Terra, after taking a moment to think it over, nodded in agreement as the two continued toward the holding dens. But in that time, Terra couldn't help but notice the sorrowful change in Eve's attitude when she mentioned Winston. Deciding not to pry, the two females continued on their walk until they arrived at the holding dens.

Walking up to one of the dens, which was being guarded by Hutch and Scar, not that their was really any need for it anymore, Eve gestured for them to get King. With a smile, Hutch entered the den as he shouted.

"Well King, it looks like you're free to go!"

At this point, Terra couldn't contain her excitement, for as soon as her father walked out of the den, she tackled him to the ground, happily licking at his face as he laughed at the onslaught, with the three other Alphas chuckling at the display. But, while Terra and King were distracted, Eve gestured for Hutch and Scar to leave, a clear indication that she wanted to speak to the father and daughter alone. Once she was certain they were alone, Eve cleared her throat so as to get their attention. Looking in the direction of the noise, King's eyes widened as soon as they rested on Eve.

"EVE!" He exclaimed, quickly scrambling to his feet, only to force himself to calm down as he spoke "to what do I owe the pleasure?"

Eve, although having smiled at King's first reaction, suddenly took on on more serious expression as she spoke to the two wolves before her.

"Their is something I need to discuss with you two," she began in an authoritative voice, "something that could affect the very future of your family."

Needles to say, what Eve had told them was very unsettling. But, rather than worry the vacation party, King and Terra opted instead to be extra vigilant. But for the time being, the trio decided it was best to join the rest of the group so as to get the trip under way. However, Sam was not too happy when he learned Eve would be joining them as well.

"WHY DON'T WE INVITE THE WHOLE PACK WHILE WE'RE AT IT!" he exclaimed in an overly dramatic fashion, earning a round of chuckles from the rest of the party before setting off on their trip.

In truth, 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.

Further ahead, Kate looked back over her 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 from drooling 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 before sitting 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."

King's 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, an almost flirtatious twinkle in her eyes as she did so.

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, batting her eyelashes as she did so.

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 leaned forward and pressed his muzzle to hers in a passionate kiss.

Eve at first was too shocked to think, but after a few moments, she pulled away from the kiss. Her heart was racing as she stared at King, whose eyes were wide with shock and worry..

"You...You just kissed me!" Eve said.

"I'm sorry," King apologized quickly, his heart rate skyrocketing withe very passing second. Then, he did something he would regret. Instead of staying and trying to explain what happened, King darted off back to the others, leaving Eve alone.

The tan-furred Alpha stood there for a minutes 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! She thought to herself.

I was wrong.

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.