So now that I'm done with "Family Bonds of a Different Kind", I can start with this story, I have a few chapter prewritten for your reading pleasure, so that's why a few will be out faster than others. Just a quick heads up, there will be a lemon later on in this story, but I'll warn you in case you wanna skip it. Also, Age in this story is taking on more of who I used to be as a kid, very, very shy.

Better Than This

Chapter 2

Who Are You?

"Age?" Humphrey asked, having a strange feeling like he's heard that name before from somewhere.

"Yeah dog! I can't seem to remember how the guy got his name…but, hohoho, he's more shy than a squirrel in the Central Park Zoo. I swear, it's like the poor guy thinks he doesn't belong anywhere." J-Dog said to Humphrey, leaning in on his last statement about the squirrel and all.

"Wait, Central Park Zoo?" Garth asked in a voice that was confused, obvious if you had asked Humphrey at the time.

"Yup, you got it right yo…me and my 'lil bro here, are from the big apple, New York City bitches."

Age seemed like he was about to say something, but J-Dog started running his mouth again, he was clearly the talker of the two. "We had a…"

"J! Stop talking for just a minute please." Humphrey said stepping up. J-Dog stopped his blabbering and listened. "Let's go back to the head den around here, and then you can tell us all about where you came from and how you got here." Humphrey declared to the very talkative wolf.

"Fine, then I'll let dat be! Les go bro!" J-Dog said and scumpped off with Humphrey next to him. Garth could hear J-Dog start talking again telling Humphrey about some other story about Age while they were in New York's Zoo, but he noticed Age was still not moving from his spot. In fact, Garth observed that not only was he not moving, but his tail was tucked between his legs and he was shaking horribly.

"Uh…you need some help?" Age didn't answer and just kept shaking. "About you…um…I can…uh…" Garth kept trying to think of something to say, but no matter what, Age just shook and quivered on the spot. Soon enough Garth just came right out, "Fine, can you please just walk with me?" He asked, trying to hide his frustration. Age nodded very slightly and got up and moved like he was avoiding a mine field. He had a very staggered walk across the earth below, Garth felt terrible.

"Wow, he's unlike any wolf I've ever seen. Geez, not even Lily was that shy." He said to himself quietly and walked with him all the way back to the den.

When they arrived, Jasper as a whole was in full swing. The birds were singing, wolves everywhere were socializing, and of course, the Alphas were doing their responsibilities. Humphrey and Garth had to put up with J-Dog telling stories to them all the way back to the head Alpha den.

"And then, after that I said my first phrase. It was around when I was six or so weeks old. My mom thinks it was 'Yo! Gimme yo money!' but my dad thinks it was 'Imma tear you up this whole town!', eh, either way I was clearly out for blood at the time. But I try not to think about it, it's just who I am." J-Dog said and then pranced ahead. Lily had begun walking towards them to greet them and when J-Dog passed her he said, "Outta my way gorgeous." and brushed by still in his high and mighty way. Lily was disgusted by his rude behavior, and made sure to make a remark about to Humphrey and Garth.

"Who's that jerk of a wolf over there?" She asked them rudely.

"That Lily, is this wolf's brother. We found them off of a train passing through Jasper, this one is really shy though, he hasn't said a word since we found him." Humphrey explained the whole scenario to her.

"Oh, well, I'm sorry…?" She extended her paw, as if she was politely asking for a name.

"It's no use honey, he's not gonna answer." Garth said to her. "I will however teach that other one a thing or…" Garth started after J-Dog, but Age put his paw out in front of Garth and stopped him. When Garth looked at him, Age shook his head and then immediately started shaking again.

"Well, can't argue with that. That's the most he's done since we found him." Humphrey said to Garth.

"True, alright let's go." He said, and then turned to Lily. "Are you gonna walk with us sweetie?" Garth said in his charming, stud voice. Lily blushed, but responded,

"I wish I could Mr. Cutie, but Dad let me join the search team to find Kate." She then looked at Humphrey. "I'm sorry Humphrey, but no one has seen her since last night. Oddly enough, no one can pick up her scent either, strange if you ask me."

Humphrey was sadden the rest of the walk to Winston's den, but when they were just outside of the den, Age bumped into his side, causing Humphrey to look at him, and he gave Humphrey a smile. It wasn't very big, and it felt kind of awkward, but Humphrey was appreciative of the effort from the very meek little wolf.

When they walked into the den they saw J-Dog talking to Eve and Winston about something, what it was, I'm sure by this point they really couldn't care. Humphrey walked in and sat next to Age, and Garth sat on the opposite side of the den. Eve then looked at Humphrey with a quick glance and made sure he didn't notice, and then tried to pounce on him. But apparently, Age noticed, and threw himself and Humphrey out of the way, causing Eve to grab nothing but dirt. Winston's jaw dropped to the den floor, no one had ever dodged one of Eve's pounces, and they were what she was best at! The thought of having a wolf being able to avoid a blow like that was just too impossible for him to believe. Humphrey was panting at the sudden shock of the event, and when he looked at Age, he just gave him another weak smile. Eve returned to her post in the den and brushed her hair.

"You have my full attention little one. Make it worth my time." She said sternly. But J-Dog couldn't resist a chance at this snooty comment.

"Whoa Mistress Scary, I don't think you wanna scare him, see, he's already nervous enough as it is." He said putting his arm around his little brother and pulling him up against his side.

Eve gave J-Dog a growl, but Winston stopped the heist before it went any further. "No Eve , be nice. He's not from around here, his accent told me that." Winston said, and Eve backed down, for the moment. "Now if you don't mind Mr. J-Dog, I'd like for your brother to do the talking."

"Dat's the ting yo! He doesn't talk that much. In fact, he talks so little I can actually count the number of times he has on one paw." J-Dog said.

"Fine, then tell me, how did you guys come to Jasper?" Winston asked, ready for what was probably going to be a massive blabber.

"Well, we were born and half raised in the Central Park Zoo, New York City. Best place in the world! I tell you big city lights, a new adventure every day, the town could inspire anyone!" Winston had heard of New York, but he never met any wolves from there, and now he saw why, they were very annoying and rude. "But anyway, we were the only surviving pups from our litter. Our mom died a few months later from an after birth disease. My daddy-o was taking care of us until a new wolf that was supposed to be his new mate came into the zoo. She didn't like either one of us, so we got sent out of the zoo and we were on our way to be set free up in Alaska." J-Dog explained their past. Humphrey noticed Age twitching and was about to ask why when Age exploded and screamed at J-Dog.

"You stupid idiot! That's not what happened at all! You have got to stop telling people that to try and make yourself sound sweet and innocent!" Age yelled at him and growled. He then looked at Winston and Eve, "Do you wanna know what really happened?" They shook their head 'yes', and then Age was seated back down.

"Hutch! Get this wolf out of our den, keep him busy for a while!" Winston ordered Hutch, and J-Dog was escorted out. He had a look of hatred on his face, and it was toward Age, that much they could all tell.

"I'm sorry everyone," Age said sitting back down in his spot and looking around, "It's just he's such a jerk to everyone, he's tells people that story all the time to try and make himself sound like a good wolf, and that we had bad parents, so he could use it as an excuse for his bad attitude. But I'd never do anything because I'm afraid of him, but this time you guys were here." He said smiling around, "Anyways, not his entire story was fake. We were born and raised in New York's Zoo, that much is true, but that's about when it stops. See, when we were little he was always a snob to people like that. So much in fact ,that our brothers and sisters all got transferred to different exhibits just to get away from him. My parents and I were the only ones who remain in the same cage. But when my Mom and Dad got older, the people took them away, as of now I don't know where. Without parents to watch over us, Joe went on an absolute rampage of viciousness and trouble-making. We ended up getting transferred from zoo to zoo across the country, hoping to find a new home. We were on our way to the next zoo in Alaska went I thought up a plan to break free of our cages, that way once we were out in the wild, I'd survive and he'd be all alone and helpless cause he's nothing but mean. But we met you guys, so now he's free to start being mean again." Age said their whole true back story and Humphrey was feeling terrible for him.

"We'll keep all of that in mind…I'm sorry what was your name?" Winston asked him politely.

"Age…my name's Age. And in case you're wondering, my brother's full name is Joseph, my parents called him Joey, I call him Joe, and people who don't know him and/or people who are scared of him call him J-Dog."

After the long and tiring commentary with Age about his former life, he set off with Humphrey to be shown around Jasper. "So you were never scared of us? You were shaking from Joe?"

"Yeah, his accent is really strange, and I'm the only one he's not a jerk to. Even to this day I don't know why. He was mean to Mom, Dad, his 'friends', and people he didn't even know, why he was always so nice to me I'll never understand."

"So you were scared he'd turn on you?"

"Yep, that's it in a nutshell." Age said.

"Age…your name is very interesting. Where did you get it?" Humphrey asked fully curious.

"Well, I don't really remember. I know Joe got his name from our Uncle Joe. But my parents never really told me where my name came from." Age said, but then Garth came out of nowhere and ran up to Humphrey.

"Humphrey, we've caught Kate's scent, and I'm letting you come with us." Humphrey's eyes lit up and he turned to Age.

"I've gotta go Age." He said and then Garth and Humphrey dashed off. Age didn't think much of it until he turned around and his nose bumped into another wolf's nose, it belonged to some girl he didn't know. Both of their eyes got big, and the girl gasped.

"Hi…" She said nervously, then gaining a smile.

"Hi…" Age whispered.

Another chapter done and written. Well that'll be all for now, MyWayWriter out!