Chapter 7: Consequences Part 2 (written on January 11th, 2020)

Humphrey could see the dens below. He stood on the edge of the cliff, the same cliff edge that Kate fell from about two years ago. He remembered watching her unwittingly fall into the box canyon where the heart of the Northern Pack was.

The last time Humphrey was there, he had confronted Matt about Kate's mysterious pregnancy. He suspected then that it was Matt who raped his mate, for he was alone with Kate while she was being held against her will. The timeline of her pregnancy, though, suggested that Kate was raped around a year ago, not long after Humphrey became a Beta and began Alpha training, so it would be impossible for Kate to have been raped by Matt unless he secretly came to the training grounds. After Humphrey first found out about the raping, he figured Matt had grown a liking for Kate while she was held hostage and raped her many moons later while Humphrey was training. When he confronted Matt, the pack leader showed him Den 23 where the only trace of Rocky and Jenny's father lay. It was a piece of light grey fur covered in the scents of sexually assaulted wolves. Humphrey did not want to think back to that day, but thinking about it was inevitable.

He was heading for the pack leader's residence again, a place known as Den 1. As he walked between the dens of the higher-level Alphas, he accidentally bumped into a white she-wolf he happened to recognize.

"Liona?"

"Oh, hey! Humphrey! Pleasant surprise."

"I haven't seen you since we were pups! What are you doing in the Northern Pack?"

"Well, um... I live here now," she replied solemnly.

"You do?"

"Yeah, I actually left the Western Pack not long after we parted ways on that last day of autumn."

"Why?"

"My family's too crazy, especially my father. Both of my parents are black and my siblings and I are white, so my father always thought our mom cheated. One day, they got into a fight, and he almost killed my mom. Slit her throat open. At that point, I knew I had to get out of there, so I ran away, and Matt took me in. I officially became a Northerner last year in the spring."

"I'm so sorry," said Humphrey.

"It's fine. I think I just have bad luck. Some douche tried to make harsh moves on me a year ago. It still haunts my dreams. But enough about me. I heard that you switched ranks and married Kate! I remember you used to always talk about how much of a crush you had on her. I used to mention that to Sweets and Candy all the time in hopes that they would set you guys up. Ha, ha! As a joke, of course, since Alphas and Omega can't be together."

"Oh, you did? Thanks! Ha, ha! But it seems me and Kate didn't need your help."

"Ha, ha! No... You have pups?"

"Umm... uhh... yeah, I have two... One is an Alpha. The other is an Omega."

"How cute! I hope to see them sometime."

"Yeah..." For a moment, Humphrey felt embarrassed.

"You know, you're not the only one who switched ranks. I'm an Omega now, the first Omega in my family."

"Wow, really? Well, I guess it's not that surprising since you were always an Omega at heart."

"Yeah, a year ago, I brought my Alpha sisters here. Today, in fact, I had to say goodbye to one of them. You remember Sasha? She wants to go out and make a living on her own."

"Sasha? I barely remember."

"Figures. Anyway, Matt took in my sisters too. I have nothing but gratitude for that wolf."

"Well, I'm actually looking for Matt right now. I need to talk to him. Is he in his den?"

"Yeah, he's in Den 1. It was nice for us to catch up!"

"Yes, of course. I hope you have better luck in your life! See ya', Liona."

"Just call me Lio next time. That's the nickname you gave me. Ha, ha! Bye!"

Humphrey then walked a short distance to the pack leader's den. As expected, he was there.

"Oh, Humphrey! Long time no see." The grey wolf still had his booming voice. Humphrey replied with a whisper.

"Hey, Matt. I need to ask you for a favor."

"A favor?"

"Yes and pretty please... keep it between us."

"I imagine this will be something you're not proud of."

"It won't be, no. See, Kate's son, Rocky, ran away. He learned his origins."

"The raping?"

"Yes."

"Okay." Matt then nodded.

"I'm positive he has left the Western Pack entirely and that he's not coming back."

"I see."

"I've been trying to get Kate to forget about him, to let him live his life the way he wants to. He's not really our responsibility. But Kate has grown attached. She has just gone out, looking for him. I don't want to raise any suspicion that I'm trying to cut ties with Rocky, so I need you to make sure Kate never finds him."

"I see. You want to start your family over. I understand."

"That rapist took my future away! This is the only chance I have to have my own pups before I'm considered middle-aged."

"I get it... I know a way."

"What is it?"

"Misdirection. If you can provide me with Rocky's scent, I can get my Alphas to stage a scene where Kate will think he's dead."

"I like it. Okay, I will provide that. Once I do, get it done as soon as possible. Thank you so much."

"You're welcome, Humphrey. Oh, and one thing I want to say that I think you would want to know. It's just a little fact. I overheard you talking to Lio. Remember when we were at Den 23 and I mentioned that the rapist had been caught sexually harassing a she-wolf, a Western visitor to my pack, the week prior?"

"That was Liona?!"

"Yes. She may have some info about the rapist that might be of some interest to you."

"Nah. I don't want to learn about that piece of filth. I just want to expunge his legacy on me."

The next morning...

In the mountains, Vyni miraculously awoke from her week-long intoxicated state. Garth instantly jumped on the opportunity to question her. He had tried to wake her numerous times but, for whatever reason, she was difficult to wake. As Garth hovered over her, she continued to display a drunken stupor like no other, but she began to move around and become more aware of her surroundings.

"Oh, hey, Barf. Heh, heh. What's crackin'?"

"Enough!" said Garth. "I have questions for you." He wanted to get straight to the point. His partner was behind him, lying in a deep sleep that was much more sturdy than Vyni's naps ever were. Garth didn't care much for Vyni, but Lilly was literally everything. Both of them had berry juice on their lips. Garth wanted to see if this connection held any clues on how to save his beloved.

"Questions? Sure, hun. Shoot."

"Tell me about these berries. What are they exactly?"

"Um, I think they're fermented berries," she answered. "Duh."

"Yes, I know that, but is there anything special about them?"

"I don't think so. I never asked Alabaan if there was."

"Look, whoever you are, my girlfriend is stuck in this long sleep that your motherfucker of a boyfriend caused! You need to do better than 'I don't think so'! Are you dense?!"

"Name's not Dense; it's Vyni. Ugh, can you please not spit in my face?" she replied, sounding annoyed. Her lack of care ticked Garth off. He put his forepaws on her neck and choked her.

"I've been patient for over SEVEN DAYS, waiting for you to WAKE UP! If you have information that could help Lilly, I will make sure to get it out of you one way or ANOTHER!" Twenty seconds passed with no reply. Vyni couldn't speak with her airways forcibly shut. The orange wolf realized he was being too harsh so he let go. After gasping for air, the she-wolf shivered in terror and backed herself to the wall.

"What the hell, Alpha!"

"Sorry... I regret that. I just really need your help."

"No, you need help!" Vyni rebuked. "Even at our roughest, Alabaan never did that!"

"Alabaan! What do you know about him?"

"Um, not much... why does it matter anyway? We're just friends with benefits. We fuck and fuckin' love it!"

"I told you why it matters! Ugh... Forget it. Is there anything, anything that you know?"

"Well... he can be a bit pushy sometimes."

"What do you mean?"

"Whenever we fuck, I always have to convince him to pull out before he cums. He doesn't own me like that. I'm my own she-wolf, and when I say I don't want to be pregnant, I don't want to be pregnant!" She gestured to her stomach. It was the first time Garth had a good look at it. He discovered something interesting, but it contradicted Vyni's attitude.

"Um, but you are... already pregnant. I don't understand what you mean."

"What? What are you talking about?" she asked. Suddenly, it seemed all of her drunkenness disappeared within a second.

"You don't know? Vyni, look at yourself. I mean, you have a long way, but you're pregnant."

"I am? I always thought it was fat."

"I've been in a pack for most of my life. Every spring, you'll see a hundred pregnant she-wolves. I know the difference. You're pregnant!" Vyni stood up and began breathing heavily.

"Holy fuck... I don't know what to think! Alabaan has to be the father!" For the first time, Garth had some sympathy for her.

"I'm ninety-nine percent sure he is the father. But he's a terrible wolf! Help me find a cure for Lilly, and I'll take you out of here. You'll live a better life where you can take care of your pups in peace. Lilly and I are trying to get to a place called Mons Paradisum. It's a paradise in the mountains, but we're lost. Maybe you can help us."

"Slow down! I just found out I'm pregnant for fuck's sake!"

"Sorry," said Garth. Vyni then sighed.

"I don't even understand how this happened... How did I not know?"

"What do you remember?"

"I remember every time we fucked that I was able to stop him from going too far. I would stop him, and he would back off... then..."

"Then what?"

"He would give me the fermented berries... every time..." She wiped her lips with her arm, staining her arm with the juice.

"The berries! That's how he does it!" Garth exclaimed.

"Does what?"

"There's something odd about these berries. Lilly must've had a larger dose, and that's why she's in a deeper sleep! I remember Alabaan told me that Lilly could only be awoken by 'certain circumstances.' He said while violating my girlfriend that he was 'replicating those conditions.'"

"Hold on, dog," Vyni replied. "I've eaten a bunch of those berries at once. I've never been out cold like your friend."

"Or maybe you don't remember."

"What?"

"'Replicating those conditions,'" he repeated. "Intercourse must be the 'conditions!' Alabaan has probably cummed in you a thousand times, Vyni. The reason Lilly hasn't awoken is that I stopped him before he could do the intercourse! That means the only way to wake Lilly is to have sex with her!"

"I must have not been paying attention. What happened to Alabaan?"

"I killed him by pushing him off the mountain."

"WHAT?! What the fuck! I loved that dude!"

"OPEN YOUR EYES, VYNI! He broke his promise by getting you pregnant, and he tried to fuck my lover! Look, you can stay here and live in your fantasy, but I'm taking Lilly and I'm leaving. Some fucked up shit has been happening, and I don't feel comfortable here. I suggest you leave too, so your pups can live normal lives. You deserve better. Hell, anyone deserves better. It's called giving a shit about other wolves' well-being!"

The Alpha went underneath Lilly to place her on his back. He was about to leave the den when a male wolf jumped him. Lilly fell to his side while Alabaan proudly stood on top of Garth's chest. "What the hell?! How are you alive?"

"I have ways." Flanking Alabaan was Rocky and two other wolves.

"Rogues," Garth whispered. "I know what you did to Lilly! If you fully violate her, I will enjoy killing you!"

"You're in no position to do such a thing," said Alabaan. "Besides, I'm not going to do it. I'd like you to meet Rocky. You want a piece of her, Rocky?"

"Who? That white she-wolf right there?" the young wolf replied. "I don't know... I've never had real sex before. It was impossible with Dani."

"Go ahead. She won't do anything," Alabaan encouraged. "Losing your virginity is a rite of passage. This is a special moment."

"Don't listen to anything he says, boy!" yelled Garth. "If you so much as lay a paw on her, I will kill all of you!"

"This orange wolf took my home and gave me a concussion, Rocky. He tried to kill me. I'm being merciful by not killing him. Plus if he wants to wake that she-wolf from her deep sleep so bad, I'll happily oblige. Now bestow the punishment."

"Okay," said Rocky, feeling nervous. He slowly approached Lilly.

"Nooooooo!" Garth screamed. The two Rogues helped keep Garth down. As soon as Alabaan saw Rocky's penis emerge from its sheath, he grinned and snickered.

Vyni was conflicted. Although she didn't like Garth, he did reveal some truths to her. He was the first wolf she knew in a long time that seemed to view her other than an object. Regardless, due to peer pressure, she joined Alabaan's laughter.

Credit: Liona is an OC created by TimberPaw. I have permission to use his OC, but all rights are reserved for him