Chapter 15 : The Past and The Present

The alphas brought the dead female and the injured wolf back to the healer's den to prepare for her burial while Tony, Winston and Eve have some serious discussion with Rex and the others. This was a warning sign to the pack, showing that his presence means more than 'dangerous', and this situation must be immediately dealt with.

'We must hunt him down. We can't afford to lose more of our pack mates.' Winston said and Tony nodded in agreement.

'Sending out a hunting group won't change anything; it's either they'll come back without any clue or never return.' Rex said.

'How do you know?' Tony asked seriously.

'He's my brother, of course I know how he thinks. He's very good in creating diversions. Plus, the sun's starting to set, which makes it a lot harder to spot him.' He replied, looking at the dying-orange sun descending slowly behind the snowy mountains.

'So, what do you have in mind?'

'Stay alert and go in a group if you want to take a drink or piss. Do not separate from each other at all cost. I'll think of a better solution as soon as I can.'

'Well, I hope your current solution lasts long enough till we can deal with him, Rex.'

'We should head back to our den now.' Garth said with Lilly beside him, trembling in fear.

'Okay. Keep an eye on the shadows and the entrance of your den. If anything happens, just howl. I'll get to you as fast as I can.'

They all nodded and began to head back to their den. Along their way, Rex's mind began to recall what had happened back at the Northern pack, as if it was repeating in this pack. But he's not going to let Lex have the chance of destroying this pack. Noticing that something was disturbing him, Kate and Humphrey decided to help him out.

'Is there something bothering you?' Kate asked curiously.

'Not really.' He replied.

'It's okay. You can spit it out if you want.' Humphrey said with a smile.

A few minutes later, he did tell them what was bothering him.

'I felt as if I was back in my pack again, where the females began to decrease in number and my fear returning back to me.'

'It's okay. We'll figure this out. Don't worry.' Kate soothed him.

'I hope so.'

They finally arrived at their den and Rex stood at the overhang, overlooking the den grounds below. Kate noticed that he didn't brought a rose along with him and grew curious of it. She turned towards Humphrey and smiled.

'You can enter first, honey. I'll be with you in a short time.' She said and he nodded.

She watched as he entered the den and faced towards Rex who was sitting at the overhang with his fur glowing under the moonlight.

'Rex, may I ask a question?' She asked.

'Yes?' He said as his eyes were fixed on the den grounds.

'You didn't bring a rose along with you back here?'

'I must stay focused now, since Lex's here. I believe Rose would agree and forgive me on what I'm currently doing.'

He was right. Now that Lex's in the pack's territory, he could be anywhere. He might even be hiding near to their den, listening to their conversation. But Rex knows if he's nearby, since he told them that he could sense his presence. So he must not have any disturbance, even his undying love for Rose. She smiled as she felt completely safe under his protection and turned towards the entrance of her den.

'Goodnight, Rex.' She said before entering the den.

'Goodnight.' He replied, his head turning slightly to the side before turning back front.

He wasn't even sure if he's able to stop Lex on time; his instinct is his only help that would lead him to Lex. His fear gripped hold of him when the dead female bodies that he examined back at the Northern pack began to return in his mind, each were done by his brother. He felt curious on how his brother's behavior changes really fast after Rebecca's death. Does her death causes him to change his personality? He wasn't sure about that, but it doesn't matter now. All that matters is that the United pack must be protected from him until he come up with a better solution. Sensing that Lex isn't around the den ground, he looked up at the beautiful silver moon which glared its moonlight upon him.

'Please help me, Rose. I'm scared of making the same mistake like the past.' He said softly.

A sudden feeling of calm killed his fear and he placed a paw on his chest as the feeling surged around his body. He felt this kind of feeling before, only when he was facing difficulty in any situations. He looked back at the moon as he realized something unordinary in himself.

'Could this feeling be…' He said and smiled before continuing his survey on the den ground below.

Meanwhile, in Garth and Lilly's den, Lilly was having difficulty in slumber as fear grip hold of her whole body. She coat was soaked with sweat and her body shook like a leaf. Garth felt his heart broke at such sight and decided to calm her down. He hugged her gently from behind, giving her comfort and he whispered into her ears.

'It's okay, Lilly. I'm here for you. I won't let him get to you, okay?'

She looked back at him with watery eyes and they shared a long passionate kiss before her head lean against his chest.

'I'm scared, Garth. The way that he looks at me…' She said as she recalled Lex's lusty eyes and salivary mouth which frightens her more.

'Don't think of that. Look at me.' He said calmly and she followed, looking at his nature green eyes with her beautiful violet eyes. 'I will protect you from anything that harms you, okay? I love you, Lilly.'

A tear flowed down her cheek and they shared another kiss. She was glad to have Garth as her mate; to comfort her when she's afraid or depressed, to support her in her decisions, and his presence allowed her to socialize with other wolves more than before. She embraced his hug tightly and hoped that it will never end. Garth felt better now, seeing that she isn't crying anymore, but anger rose inside him as he knows her fears was caused by the dirty mutt, Lex. He was ready to kill him back at the waterfall but was taken aback by Rex. Of course he would listen to him; Rex knows him more than he do.

I hope you'll come up with that solution soon, Rex. And it better be good. He thought.

Noticing that it's getting late, Garth got out of his thoughts and looked back at her with a smile.

'Come on. It's time for bed.' He said with a smile and she nodded.

She curled herself into a furry ball at one side of the den and Garth curled around her, giving her comfort and a warm embrace which made her feel better.

'Goodnight, Garth.' She said as she closed her eyes.

'Goodnight, Lilly.' He replied, and they drifted into a deep sleep.

But they didn't know that there's a brown tan wolf hiding in a brush close to their den, wearing a devil smile as his opportunity comes. He wasn't even worried of Rex sensing his presence; Garth and Lilly's den was just around a corner of the den ground, where it's not visible to Rex who was scouting from above.

'Time to play…' He said softly and lustfully.

A few minutes passed with the moon in the middle of the night sky and Rex's instincts began to sense danger around the den ground. He looked down, but he couldn't spot any shadow or movement with his sharp eyes like eagles.

I better head down to get a closer inspection. Sitting here won't change anything. He thought to himself.

He stood up and ran down towards the den ground at top speed and when he arrived, a howl broke out from around the corner of his position, where he found another den that wasn't visible from the overhang. It alerted all of the wolves including him and he ran towards the den. Without knowing, a tan brown wolf dashed out of the den and ran past him. He noticed and but decided not to chase after him as it was pointless and immediately entered the den to check on the victims. As he enters, he was surprised to find the victims to be Garth and Lilly, and was glad that they're still alive.

'Are you guys okay?' He asked worriedly as he walked towards Garth who was leaning against the wall of the den with Lilly beside him.

'Yeah. He tried to slit my throat and rape Lilly after that. Luckily, I wasn't asleep yet and reacted without him knowing.' He replied, and spat out some blood which frightened Lilly and him.

'Garth! Are you okay?' Lilly asked worriedly, trying to hold back her tears from the pain that her mate was suffering.

'Sort of. I'm feeling pains on my chest area, must've caused by Lex when he knocked me against the wall. But don't worry, I gave him a good thrash before he left.'

'Let me take a look on your chest.' Rex said as he placed his paw on his chest.

He search throughout his chest and found three protrusion on his ribcage. He looked back at them with a frown.

'Is it bad?' Lilly asked nervously.

'Yeah. He broke three ribs and they're dislocated. I'm gonna relocated them now before it gets severe.' He replied, and Garth's eyes widened.

'Um, can I have some painkillers first?' He asked politely.

Just when Rex's about to reply, Eve, Winston, Tony, Hutch, Sam, a few alphas and healers arrived and entered the den. Tony saw the blood on the ground and his injured son leaning against the wall and immediately grew furious of it.

'WHERE IS THAT BASTARD! I'LL KILL HIM!' He roared and was about to run out of the den until Winston stopped him.

'Calm down, Tony. You can't do anything about this.' He reasoned.

'AND LET THAT MUTT RUN AROUND OUR PACK TERRITORY?! LOOK AT WHAT HE HAD DONE TO MY SON, AND I KNOW YOU WOULD DO THE SAME AS I DO IF IT'S YOUR DAUGHTER!'

Winston and Eve was completely shocked by his reply, and come to think of it, he was right. If it was Lilly who got injured, Winston and Eve would ran out of the den and start hunting for Lex without anyone to stop them. Knowing that they're speechless, Garth helped to soothe his father.

'It's okay, dad. I'm fine. Just broke some ribs.' He said and Tony's eyes widened at his injury.

Tony managed to calm himself down and let out a depressed sigh before turning towards his old friend with disappointed looks.

'I'm sorry for shouting at you like that, Winston.' He apologized.

'It's okay. I understand you're feeling.' Winston replied and it made Tony smiled slightly.

Rex looked from the two leader to the pack's healer and noticed a brew on a tree bark that she was holding in her mouth.

'Is that painkiller?' He asked.

'Yeah. I've prepared some at my den in case there's emergency.' She replied.

'Thank you for bringing it here.'

She placed it on the ground and Rex picked it up and brought towards Garth who was now lying on the ground by Lilly as she gently placed him.

'Lick up some of this, Garth. I'll start relocating your ribs once you're done.' Rex commanded and he followed.

Kate and Humphrey then entered the den and were surprised to find that was infront of them. Kate immediately hugged her sister and was glad that she's okay.

'I'm fine, sis. But Garth…' Lilly said, looking back at her mate.

'He broke three ribs, but he'll be back up after a few weeks.' Rex said and Garth was done with the painkillers.

'Oh, this is going to hurt.' Garth said as Rex placed his paws on his ribs.

'Don't worry. It'll be quick.' Rex said with a smile. 'Ready?'

Garth nodded and roared in pain as Rex begins to adjust his broken ribs back in place. Tony felt pains in his heart as he watched his son struggling to hold back the pain that he's suffering and Lilly cried. Finally, Rex was done with it and Garth passed out from the pain.

'Done.' He said with a smile.

'So, what are we going to do? All of us will be in danger if we sleep in our den.' Sam asked worriedly and the others nodded.

Rex thought through his mind seriously for a while, and his face lit up when an idea struck his mind.

'All of us can sleep in Kate and Humphrey's den!' He said, and only received puzzling expressions from them. 'Kate and Humphrey's den are wide enough to fit all of us. So I can protect all of you at once.'

'Yeah. That's a great idea!' Kate said happily.

'Come on. Let's go. Howl for any wolves who are still asleep to come to our rallying point. I'll let you guys know more about my plan once everyone's there.' Rex said as he carried Garth on his back and they left the den.

Hutch and Sam began to howl once they arrived and Rex walked out of the den to see how his plan was going after setting Garth down inside the den. He looked down upon the den ground and saw some wolves began to exit their den and headed towards his position. As they got closer, he noticed their serious expression as they know what their pack was currently facing and watched as they entered the den one-by-one. Finally, Rex went down to the den ground to make a quick but careful survey to make sure that no wolf's left before returning back to them.

'All clear.' He said as he walked towards Hutch and Sam.

'Okay. Winston and Tony's waiting for us inside the den.' Hutch said and they nodded before entering the den together.

The den was pretty crowded, but they managed to stay at one side so Kate can stay on the other in order to keep herself cool. The pups were asleep under their mother's embrace as their parents looked at their leader, wondering when this situation will be dealt with. Tony, Winston and Eve turned towards Rex who entered the den along with Hutch and Sam for more instructions.

'What about the meal for all of us? Who will be doing the hunts?' Winston asked.

'Me. All males will defend the females and pups while I'm out. He can't fight all of you at once, so don't chase after him if you caught sight of him.' Rex replied.

'But, won't you be in danger?' Tony asked worriedly.

'Don't worry, I'm stronger and more wise than him. I can handle myself well.'

'Well, we better get some sleep. I'm tired.' Sam said as he yawned sleepily.

'I'll wake you up when I'm about to make a morning hunt, so you can wake the others.' Rex said, looking at Hutch and Sam who nodded back.

'Who'll be watching out for us now?' Eve asked curiously.

'Me, and there's no need for switches. I'll be up all night like I always do.' He replied and their eyes widened.

'You mean… you never sleep?' Tony asked in shock.

'Yes. It's a habit now, since nightmare haunts my sleep every time. Don't worry. I'll be fine. Just get some rest.'

He watched as all wolves lied on the ground, so as Humphrey and Kate who slept in their usual way; curled up into a furry ball and Humphrey's paw on Kate's, before leaving the den. Kate noticed Rex's depressed looks and as curiosity gripped hold of her, she got up and Humphrey wore a puzzled expression.

'What is it?' He asked.

'Something's bothering Rex, and I want to help him out about it.' She said with a smile, looking down at her mate. 'I'll be back in a jiffy.'

'Well, okay then.'

She licked his cheek before leaving the den to comfort him and it made him smiled. As she stepped into the cold air which causes her fur to stand, she found Rex sitting at the overhang, watching the moon and brainstorming something. When she made a step closer, he spoke up.

'Aren't you going to sleep yet?'

She already expected him to know her presence, and walked towards him.

'Well, looks like something's bothering you, so I decided to help you out.' She said as she sat beside him.

He sighed and lowered his head in disappointment.

'If only I'd thought of this idea earlier, that female wolf in your pack wouldn't die and would still be alive and in your den by now.' He said, feeling the heavy guilt in his heart.

'You can't do anything about it anyway. Plus, it already happened, so there's no point of thinking about it again.' She reasoned, but he still wore a sad expression.

Surprisingly, she leaned her head on his shoulder and Rex's eyes widened.

'I'm here for you, so as the others. So don't worry.' She said and Rex smiled.

'Thank you.'

Unfortunately, Humphrey was watching them from the inside of the den and jealousy grew inside him once again, but bigger. His negative mind was now thinking of Rex stealing his mate and anger rose inside his head slowly. But he doesn't want to argue about it now, not in the current situation that they're facing, so he decided to talk about it once this is over. He curled back into a ball and closed his eyes with his paw extended, so Kate could place his paw on hers for comfort when she returns. Back at the overhang, Rex decided that it was time for Kate's slumber as it was really late.

'Go to bed now, Kate. You don't want to keep Humphrey waiting.' He said, looking at her.

'Yeah. Well, goodnight, Rex.' She said and stopped at the entrance of the den. 'And Rex?'

'Yeah?'

'Thank you so much for all that you've done for my pack.'

'It's what I must do.'

She smiled and entered the den while Rex looked at the half-moon. He couldn't sense Lex's presence, so it'll be a peaceful night for the pack. He looked up at the moon and recalled what had happened back at his pack. The bloody scenes, gores, horrors; everything that his evil brother had done shots into his mind like bullets. He recalled the innocent female bodies lying infront of him with their throat slit and their vaginas filled with semen upon inspection, his lusty behavior upon stalking on girls, but the worst of all, the attempt that he made of raping his mate, which caused her to get a mental disorder. He stabbed his claw into the soil to release his stream and a tear flowed down his cheek as he lost the love of his life. He got over it a few minutes and wiped off his tears as he realized what he was doing.

I won't make the same mistake again. Never will. He thought to himself and admired the beauty of the silver moon for the rest of the night…

*Sigh* I've added some missing ideas in this chapter that I've forgotten, so I hope you guys will enjoy this chapter. I'm super excited for the next one and I'm very happy to see how well this story's progressing. Thank you so much for the supports so far. I love you guys and as usual, leave a review/follow/favourite. It helps me out a lot and I'll see you in the next chapter. Peace out. -LoverWolfs1121

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