*CHANGED STORY TITLE* Formerly known as ALPHA AND OMEGA : A NEW LEADER

AN: Hey just a short one for this week, I'm on holidays so I haven't had much time for writing but I will try to have a chapter up next week, thanks for your patience!

Merry Christmas! - xXSHADOWOLFXx

You've Changed

The sun was just setting as the battered squad of wolves returned home. They walked in silence, heads hung low. Wolves rushed up to greet and congratulate them on the "success" of their mission. Forcing a smile Sage accepted their thanks, but the others said nothing. Klayre who was riding on Hurly's back had fallen asleep amidst the waves of tears.

"Debrief at sun high tomorrow, be there early, Winston is going to want a full report," He commanded before breaking away from the group and trudging towards his den. Humphrey excused himself and headed off into the trees, not exactly sure of where he was going. Wandering aimlessly, he mulled over what had happened, Klayre's cries of sorrow echoed in his mind. The days events played back in his mind like a video stuck on a loop, over and over again he watched helplessly as the snow plummeted down the slope. He cringed at the thought of being buried under the snow with Adrian. Thousands of pounds pressing down on your chest squeezing the very life out of your body with no way of escape. Humphrey swore he could hear a muffled cry for help. The snow beneath his feet suddenly began to crack and a paw broke through the surface. Jumping back in terror Humphrey watched as out of the snow the paw turned into a badly disfigured leg and then as the thing emerged from the snow it became clear what it was. It was Adrian, or what was left of him. His legs were badly broken while his chest was completely crushed with ribs protruding from the sides. But what most chilled Humphrey to bone was his face. Half of it was caved in, with the left eye hanging out of its socket and his jaw dangled low holding his mouth open to an ungodly size. It didn't say a word, just crawled towards Humphrey while making a horrible wheezing sound. Terror rooted him to the spot. "Get away from me!" He screamed at it. The aggression did little to stop Adrian's advance. Humphrey took off in the other direction to put distance between himself and whatever was chasing him. His paws pounded against the ground as he dodged between trees but no matter how far he ran his ears were still filled with the ragged wheezing. Skidding to a halt Humphrey found himself atop the very cliff where Lilly had nearly fallen to her death only months ago. He turned to face Adrian readying himself for a fight. To Humphrey's horror he saw not only one of the zombie Adrian but hundreds of them slowly crawling up the hill. The sound was deafening, like a gale force wind howling past his ears. Humphrey backed up against a small rock and closed his eyes bracing for the worst.

"Please Adrian I didn't mean for this to happen, I'm sorry!" Humphrey pleaded. The droning noise abruptly stopped leaving a eerie silence.

"Who're you talking too?" A voice asked. Slowly Humphrey cracked open his eyes, Lilly was standing over top of him with her eyebrows raised.

"You look like you've seen a ghost," she laughed.

"If only..." Humphrey trailed off.

"I feel like I should be asking you if you're alright," mused Lilly.

"Never been better," he replied briskly. "Just lost my way,"

"I heard about what happened," she said as Humphrey stood and shook the dust from his fur. "I feel so awful for Klayre,"

"I think we all do," Humphrey said.

"But it doesn't change anything,"

"Well," Lilly licked her paw and smoothed out Humphrey's ruffled fur. "At least it may help her get through this whole ordeal."

Humphrey brushed away her paw, "Can I ask you something?".

"Anything," Lilly replied.

"That night, in the clearing when it was just the two of us, and we, you know, kissed, did that mean anything?" He asked.

"Humphrey I don't know if we I want to talk about this," she warned apprehensively.

"Did it?" Humphrey pressed.

"I don't think this is a good time," she insisted.

"When is a good time?!" He yelled slamming his paw against a rock smashing it to pieces."Tomorrow I could be dead! I need to know!"

"But I don't know because it's complicated." Lilly said quickly.

"Or is it because of Garth?" He said through gritted teeth.

"You think this is about him?" Lilly was appalled. "Did you even stop for a minute to think that maybe, it's because of you!?"

"Ever since he got here we've grown apart, you know it," Humphrey shot back.

"No Humphrey, it started when you began to change, ever since Connor's death you've been different," she stated. "Short tempered, distant, paranoid, all things you never were before you started fighting in the war,"

"I'm doing what's expected of me," Humphrey said flatly. "But you're an Omega-" Lilly started.

"Not anymore," He declared. "The power I have now, I know I will the difference in this war,"

"What do you mean power?" Lilly asked.

"It's complicated," he mockingly mimicked Lilly's voice.

"You're an asshole," her voice cracked and tears began to roll down her cheeks. "You only see this from your perspective,"

"No I can see everything quite clearly," Humphrey growled before turning his back on Lilly and walking down the hill.