Author's Note: It's... getting... hard... to... carry... on! Like I said, inspiration and motivation are very unkind to me. This chapter was written and deleted and re-written multiple times. I hope you guys enjoy. I don't know if I'll be updating for a while after this, but I'll try my absolute best.

Humphrey rolled around in tall grass clutching his head. Every moment, the darkness grew closer… it grew stronger. And despite Humphrey's best efforts to keep his head and focus on the one lonely howl that called him back from the brink of insanity… he was losing.

I understand you, poor soul…

Laughter.

Oh… do they really? Do they really understand what it's like to have a darkness within them? Do they understand what it's like to fight their inner darkness for years just to have it haunt them when they're most vulnerable?

Humphrey shook his head violently.

I understand you, poor soul…

More laughter.

You're losing it, Humphrey. That one howl won't keep you at ease forever.

Humphrey bared his fangs at his unseen opponent. "Stop it! Why can't you leave me? What do you want from me!?"

It's not what I want from YOU… it's what I want for myself and it's what you want for yourself. I want to hunt and I want to kill… and I'm a part of YOU. You may not want to admit it… but you want this just as much as I do.

Humphrey clutched his head tighter, trying to push the darkness back. "I don't… I don't want this… I just… want to heal. I just want to escape from it all."

No… you want to spread your pain. You're no stranger to pain. You've felt it. You've known it… you HATE it. And you know… that if you feel pain, you'll be damned before experiencing it alone.

Humphrey froze and his heart thumped loudly in his ears. As much as he despised this part of him, those words caught his attention. "What… what do you mean?" he asked cautiously.

Don't be a fool. If you're going to hurt… you're not going to hurt alone. You WANT to share your pain. You WANT everyone to share the agony you're going through. Even if you have to make them suffer yourself.

Humphrey snarled angrily. "NO! I'm not like that… you're lying! I would never hurt someone to make myself feel better."

Laughter.

You've been denying me all your life, Humphrey. I've grown used to it. I know your willpower wears thin. You no longer have that Alpha keeping you sane.

Humphrey briefly lost control at the mention.

Oh!? Is that how it is? Is that how EASY you're going to make this!?

Humphrey panicked. The darkness laughed.

HAHAHA! Oh, how will you ever live without the Alpha!? How will you keep me at bay without her!?

Humphrey's heart started beating quickly. His blood rushed and his eyes darted around wildly.

She's GONE, Humphrey! She ABANDONED you! She did love you… but she figured that her duty was more important than your love. She figured that uniting the packs was more important than being with a useless OMEGA.

Humphrey's despaired heart filled with anger.

And now she's married to another Alpha. A strong, powerful, dependable Alpha… this isn't temporary, Humphrey. She'll probably LEARN to love him. She'll get used to their relationship. Kate is NEVER coming back.

Humphrey dug his claws into the ground.

Kate should pay, no? She should suffer for what she's done to you. She's condemned you to the darkness!

Garth should pay, too. He should pay for taking away the one thing that's ever mattered to you.

They should all pay. They WILL pay! You'll make each and every one of them pay!

They'll pay… they'll pay… they'll pay.

"They'll pay… they'll pay… they'll PAY!"

Humphrey's rage consumed him. The darkness chanted within him and he didn't even realize he chanted right along.

The darkness stretched out and rolled his neck around.

It's good to be in charge again.

Now… we can hardly take on an entire pack of wolves by ourselves. At least… not while we're rusty. Years without hunting or fighting… We're REALLY out of practice. Let us hunt!

The darkness dashed through the woods, moving as swiftly and silently as a shadow. He sniffed several creatures in the surrounding area. He immediately went to work.

Lilly ran after Humphrey's scent. She pushed on tirelessly, as it was well into the night. She was only an Omega and she wasn't exactly sure what awaited her outside of Jasper. Especially in the dark of the night, she was scared to death of anything that would come after her.

Rain began to fall and thunder boomed overhead. Lilly shivered, both from fear and from the cold night air. She quickened her pace. The sooner she could find Humphrey, the sooner she could travel alongside him. Sure, he was an Omega too… but their odds together were better than their odds alone. She didn't understand how Humphrey left Jasper alone. She didn't understand how he wasn't afraid of the things that could possibly kill him.

A powerful force slammed into her and pinned her to the ground. Lilly gasped and kept her eyes firmly shut. Hopefully, the predator that had her pinned would make it quick, and wouldn't make her suffer. A loud snarl sounded above her. She recognized that sound. It wasn't a bear or a mountain lion. This was another wolf! She opened her eyes and prepared to beg for her life.

"Please! I'm just an Omega! Please, don't kill-" Lilly froze mid-plea as she stared into familiar blue eyes and grey fur.

The darkness looked down into violet eyes filled with fear.

Another wolf, huh? Another Omega at that. Poor girl.

The darkness raised its paw and extended its claws.

This is gonna hurt… A LOT.

"Humphrey!?"

His heart thumped loudly. His vision blurred.

NO! NOT LILLY! NOT AGAIN!

Humphrey pushed the darkness back. He regained enough control to push his body off of Lilly's and stumbled away from her.

"Humphrey! It's so good to see you!" Lilly called out as he violently shook his head, fighting with himself.

"I… um… I wanted to come with you… on your travels. When Garth and Kate-"

Humphrey roared loudly at her sister's name.

"Lilly… run."

I JUST regained control! Damn that white wolf!

Lilly looked at Humphrey with concern. "Humphrey… hey, are you all right!?"

Humphrey snarled at her. "I said run, damn it!"

Lilly shook her head slowly. She didn't understand. What was happening? Humphrey released a piercing howl through the night. Lilly flattened her ears and covered them with her paws… but she recognized the howl.

"Humphrey…"

Lilly sat firmly in place and howled back at Humphrey with all her heart.

I understand you, poor soul…

The darkness took control and rushed over to Lilly, with his fangs bared and his claws extended.

Lilly didn't flinch. She howled hard and loud and stood her ground.

I understand you, poor soul…

Humphrey froze in place and passed out two inches from biting Lilly's throat and slashing open her rib-cage.

Lilly took a deep, relieved breath. She looked down at Humphrey, and she instantly recalled the time that this happened when they were young pups. Something possessed Humphrey, and he almost killed her. She remembered looking into those blue, bloodshot eyes. She remembered feeling his hot breath against her as his fangs grew ever closer to piercing her throat. She remembered the shame, guilt, and fear in his eyes as he ran away from her. Lilly realized why Humphrey wasn't afraid of the things that could possibly kill him outside of Jasper… the only thing Humphrey was truly afraid of… was himself.

Lilly softly howled to Humphrey's unconscious body again.

I understand you, poor soul…

She nuzzled his head and tears escaped her eyes. "Poor, poor Humphrey…" She laid next to him and snuggled against him. "I'm not afraid of you, Humphrey. You may have almost killed me twice… but you stopped yourself. I believe in you. I believe you don't want to hurt me." Lilly whispered softly into his ear, before nibbling it gently.

She wanted to comfort him in any way possible. If he awoke crazed and killed her while she slept, so be it… but she didn't believe that he would. She was willing to take the risk. If she could make him feel better this way, she'd take the risk. Her broken heart reached out to his.

It's crazy the things a wolf will do with a broken heart.