Author's Note: Okay, with our prologue set, I'm gonna try and dive right in. This is where the summary actually comes into play. Hope you guys enjoy. Please let me know what you think, or if anything is confusing or whatever else.

Several years later...

Kate looked around for a sign. Anything that would disrupt the wedding so she could buy herself more time to think… buy herself more time to go after Humphrey and beg him to stay in Jasper. When no such sign came, she stared Garth in the eye. He smiled sheepishly at her.

"You… um… ready?"

Those words pounded through Kate's head. Was she ready? Could she really go through with this? What about Humphrey? What was she to do about him? Kate looked her father in the eye. He seemed concerned for her. Was that a sign?

Winston walked up to his daughter seeing the conflict on her face. "Kate… we can fight for the valley. It's not peaceful, but I'd sooner fight than force you into something you don't want to do. You're an Alpha... and as an Alpha... you have to be decisive and firm. It doesn't matter if you want us to fight for the valley. It doesn't matter if you want this to end peacefully. Whatever you decide to do, be sure of yourself. No regrets, Kate. If you're not ready… just say so."

Kate looked around once more. All of these wolves… they all needed to band together to ensure the survival of everyone. That or they needed to fight one another for their survival. This was much bigger than her. Much bigger than Humphrey. Much bigger than any individual wolf. She had to do this…

"I'm sorry, Humphrey…" Kate whispered softly to herself. She nodded to her father. "No… I can do this… I have to. This isn't just about me. It's about everyone here." Winston smiled as pride filled his chest. He couldn't have hoped for a better daughter.

Kate walked up to Garth and gave him a small smile. "Sorry… I'm ready now." She approached him and began the ritual. She accepted his scent and nibbled his ear... and steeled herself as they moved towards one another to touch noses.

Lilly watched and her heartbeat followed a chaotic rhythm as the strong, powerful Alpha she fell in love with was to be taken away from her by her very own sister.

You're being ridiculous. Garth would never have chosen you anyway… you're just an Omega. You play all day and make people laugh. That strong Alpha wolf is way out of your league. You should've seen this coming.

As much as she told herself that… it didn't stop the pain. Lilly shut her eyes tightly and turned away as tears threatened to fall. When the howls of the wolves around her confirmed that the marriage was complete, Lilly turned and ran from the scene… her heart shattering, and the tears that threatened to fall flowed freely from her violet eyes.

Lilly wanted to run home… but she didn't want to have to face her mother and father. She wanted to hide. She wanted to hide and never be found. She wanted to run from Garth… from Kate… from everything. Eventually, she found herself in the one place in Jasper that nobody would think to find her… a small, empty den that used to belong to another Omega.

She stayed in Humphrey's den until late in the night, crying and thinking about Garth... and how he now belonged to Kate. She looked around the small den. It was so... lifeless. There was nothing there to offer her an ounce of comfort. How did Humphrey live here? He was so full of life and joy... yet his den was so empty. It only made her feel so much heavier.

A loud howl pierced through the night… it sounded pained… lonely. Lilly softly howled in response.

I understand you, poor soul…

Humphrey sighed as he neared the edge of the valley. He made it this far... he had to do it. He turned and looked back. In the distance, he saw all of the wolves from both packs gathered. He closed his eyes tightly. He dug his claws into the ground. Visions of Kate with him played through his mind.

Don't do it…

Kate's smile.

Don't do it…

Kate's laugh.

Please… don't do it…

A harmonious howl echoed out throughout the silence… Humphrey's heart sank… He began to run. He ran from Jasper. He ran from the injustice. He ran from his pain. He ran from his tears. He ran from Kate. He ran well into the night… He ran into something else he's been running from all his life.

Laughter echoed all around him. Humphrey looked around, wondering where it was coming from. Another burst of laughter. He began to freak out. A third burst of laughter erupted from his chest.

Humphrey realized that he was the one laughing. Yet he continued to laugh.

Always?... Always, my ass!

Humphrey knew that voice… He laughed some more, unable to control himself.

She had to walk out on you sometime. I've waited oh-so-patiently for this day.

"NO!" Humphrey shouted… not this again… he couldn't face this again.

Oh, dear Humphrey… that hurts my feelings. Is this how you welcome an old friend?

"You're no friend… You're a monster! Leave me!"

But if it weren't for me, you would never have known Kate's love. You would never know what it was like to care for someone so deeply… and have them RIP YOUR FUCKING HEART OUT.

A shrill, piercing howl erupted from Humphrey's throat, filling the night sky.

Yes… howl your pain. Howl your agony. Let the world know of your suffering… and let the world know you now belong to ME.

Blood rushed. Humphrey's eyes dilated. He bared his fangs and they seemed sharper and longer than they had ever been before. Strength filled his muscles.

You think Kate would like you NOW? You're probably stronger than any Alpha out there.

A single, lonely howl echoed through the night. It was soft, barely even audible… but with Humphrey's senses increased tenfold, he heard the painful response to his cry in the night.

I understand you, poor soul…

Humphrey seized control. He shook his head rapidly. Banishing the monster within. "I've kept you at bay all this time… I will not release you now." Laughter echoed in his mind.

Not today, no… but you grow weak without HER. I will return. You will submit yourself to me. I will OWN you.

Humphrey snarled to himself. "BACK IN YOUR CAGE."

You can't keep this up.

Humphrey weakly fell to the ground. Tears flowed from his eyes. He couldn't… not for much longer.

I understand you, poor soul…

Humphrey kept his mind focused on that soft howl through the night. He doubted that the wolf that called out to him really understood what he was going through… but he clung to that howl and held it close in his heart. It was all he had to fight off the darkness.

Save me.