Chapter 2: Sad and Serious (written on February 5th, 2021)
The next morning, I woke to the sound of a distinct howl. The Alpha, Hutch, called on us to congregate. Our dens were arranged in a circle, so we met in the center where a butchering stone lay. We all knew the reason for the meeting. It had something to do with food, specifically the lack of it. It seemed he had enough of eating fish. I believed we all had enough of it.
"Sorry to bother you guys," said Hutch, "but this food situation is getting dire. I'm worried that the pups aren't getting proper nutrition."
"What if I start breastfeeding again?" said Jasmine. "I bet I can get something going if I run a few laps."
"We talked about this, Jasmine. Your pups are practically adults. Milk would do more harm than good."
"I don't know. I could use some milk," said Jessie with a smirk, causing his sister, Jordan, to giggle excessively.
"You shush! I'm still not happy that you peed on my face the other day."
"Oh, lighten up, Hutch!" Jessie replied. "Where's your sense of humor?"
"Perhaps it was a mistake to place you as a future Alpha," Hutch muttered. "Where was I? Oh, right. Due to these nutritional deficiencies, I think we should consider formalizing a pack." Everyone except me groaned. "Yeah, I know. I know, but we need to organize and give ourselves legitimacy. Except for the pups and the current Kate, we each made a choice to leave home. As a consequence, all of us need to pull our own weight and help each other out."
"And who's gonna be Pack Leader? You?" said Jasmine.
"Well, yes. It only makes sense if I'm the start of a new royal bloodline. Clearly, I have the most experience. I was Second-in-Command for Pete's sake. None of you would bother with my responsibilities."
"Fair point," Jasmine replied. "But doesn't being Pack Leader mean you need a mate or something?"
"Of course! I need a line of succession... which is why I was gonna ask Sasha if she would oblige..." Sasha's eyes widened, and she backed away from Hutch.
"Woah, woah, woah! That's definitely not happening. With all due respect, Hutch, I already think your plan is shit. There's no way in doggy hell I'm letting your nasty ass dick inside me."
"Oh, lay it to rest, Sasha!" Hutch exclaimed. "It's been almost a year... He's not coming."
"I don't care if it's been a decade. He will come. If not I will come to him..."
"And abandon us? No offense to Kate, but you're the only other Alpha! You know how vulnerable we'll be?!"
"Yes," she answered before leaving us abruptly. She was undoubtedly irritable. Hutch then gave a long sigh.
"Wow. Amazing. You guys already act like a couple," Jasmine commented.
"They're probably dead," said Hutch. "Poor Sasha. She's in denial." He turned to me. "Kate, can you talk to her, please?"
"I'll... I'll try my best."
I followed the grey she-wolf to her den. "Sasha?"
"Oh, hey, Kate. Did Hutch send you?"
"Yes... I mean no! No, I just wanted to see if you're okay." Sasha came close and stared at me. I gulped nervously and looked at the floor. She then smiled.
"You know, you're the only one here who hasn't called me crazy."
"I don't think you're crazy," I replied.
"Good. You know, I envy you, Kate. I wish I had my memory cleared before I came here... so I don't have to cry myself to sleep every night."
"Do you want to sleep at my den, at least for a night?"
"No thanks," she answered. "I appreciate it though."
"Um... between the two of us—I promise I won't tell anyone—are you actually going to leave Sawtooth?"
"Um... well... recently, I met these two birds while I was looking for food. They told me that there was a cabin twenty miles from here where a human couple stays. They said, at this point every year, this couple drives in a camper, a type of car, all the way to Jasper. If I could sneak my way onto their camper, they will take me back to Jasper where I can begin finding my family, including my love."
"I thought you guys told me that we had to stay away from humans because they carry things that can kill instantly."
"Which is why I'm begging you not to follow me. This is my choice. I'm sorry, Kate."
"I see..."
"Now please go before you make this harder than it needs to be," she insisted.
I exited. Right next to the mouth of the den was the black wolf, Jessie. It nearly gave me a heart attack.
"That was a nice talk!" I glanced at the inside of the den a few times before I addressed him.
"Were you listening to us?!" I whispered.
"Nothing gets past my ears, Kate." The smug look on his face bothered me a lot.
"She's gonna kill you!"
"Relax. Hutch is a piece of shit. And I don't care if she leaves. I'm more interested in this 'cabin.' It sounds like a fun place!"
"It doesn't sound fun to me..."
"You stupid adults don't know what fun is. You're all just sad and serious all the time. Jordan and I have fun with each other all the time. We like making messes. You're pretty hot... You should join us."
"Um... I think I'm good."
"Suit yourself."
Suddenly, I started hearing strange rhythmic noises coming from Sasha's den.
"What is that?"
"Oh, that's just Sasha masturbating. Don't get excited. She cries when she does it. It's pathetic. All of you guys have issues."
"Mastur-what?" I said. I had never heard of the word.
"Forget it. See ya, Kate." As Jessie left, I glanced once more at the den. I began to hear her sobbing.