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Chapter 2: Winds of Change

A couple seconds ticked by before the initial shock wore off and everybody inside of the den surged upon Humphrey and Kate with smiles and words of congratulations.

"This is great!" Lilly exclaimed as she bounded up to her sister and immediately embraced her in a nuzzle.

"Woah! Easy, easy there, killer!" Kate groaned, as Lilly, in her excitement had accidentally bumped her injured leg.

"Oops, sorry," Lilly replied sheepishly as she distanced herself from her sister.

Kate chuckled softly, then groaned as she repositioned her leg so that it was comfortable once more.

"It's okay, sis," she assured as she turned her eyes over to her husband who stood beside her, "nothing could ruin this moment."

Jack's approach was casual and he patted his son on the back proudly, but Mary was hysterical. She nearly knocked him to the ground when she embraced him and immediately her tears of joy soaked the fur on his shoulder.

Winston was never a wolf of physical affection, so it came as a surprise whenever he moved in at Humphrey's side and tugged him into a quick, one-arm hug, but Humphrey's shock was so great that the contact barely registered in his mind.

"I'm gonna be a father," he said softly, then turned his eyes down to Kate, who was in the process of receiving a gentle nuzzle from her mother, and when his gaze fell upon her, a small smile formed upon his lips, "we're gonna have pups."

Kate's eyes filled with tears as she gazed up at her mate, who, still in a bit of a daze, leaned down to embrace her.

Winston, Eve, and Humphrey's parents distanced themselves so that the couple may have their moment and as their necks wrapped around one another, Kate sniffled.

Humphrey heard and his smile broadened.

"Don't cry, Kate," he crooned softly.

"I'm sorry," she apologized as she attempted to blink the tears from her eyes, "I'm just so happy."

Humphrey silently chuckled once, then pulled away and turned his eyes down to Kate's side. Kate wondered at first what he intended to do, but when he began to lower his head toward her body, she understood and exposed her stomach.

"Hey, guys," he whispered softly as he gently placed his paw on her stomach, "it's your daddy."

The amount of joy he felt each time he spoke a word of fatherhood was so tremendous that he felt as though his heart would explode. Almost a year ago, when he and Kate shared their first experience of tender affection on their honeymoon night, having pups was one of his greatest fears. Not only did he fear that he would not be able to provide for a family and be a positive influence in their lives which would guide them through their development into adulthood. He feared becoming the kind of man his father was; but his near-death experience in Alpha School five months ago showed him just how fragile life was and proved to him that no matter what anybody or anything tried to do, he was a good man, and there was absolutely nothing that was going to change that. Still, he knew that being a father was a huge responsibility, and there was a part of him that still feared that he wasn't ready.

After all, he did not ever complete his training, because by the time he had fully recovered from his ordeal, Winter had come, and Alpha School was nearly half over. He did not have time to get caught back up; nor did he have Kate's permission, as he discovered, to return to Alpha School.

However, something amazing happened. Winston met with Garth, his new co-commander with the unfortunate passing of Tony, and together they agreed that Humphrey and Kate would be allowed to assume the roles of leadership, regardless of Humphrey's rank as an omega. This was a bold statement which stirred a great deal of unpleasant controversy amongst certain members of the pack, but Winston and Garth stuck by their decision, as they believed that by allowing an omega to run the pack when the time for the leadership transfer finally arrived, it would serve as an excellent political example for those packs who had their doubts about the ordinance which abolished the law that had divided alphas and omegas for so long.

This was all water under the bridge, and hardly anything that Kate and Humphrey took into consideration at present, though, as the two were so overpowered with raw happiness that it completely enveloped them in its pleasant spell.

Winston, Eve, Garth, Lilly, and Humphrey's parents sat at a brief distance and watched as the two continued to relish in the sacred blessing which they had received, and as they watched, Winston's smile broadened.

"Look at me," he mused proudly, but softly, "I'm a grandpa."

Eve smiled and gently deposited her head on her mate's shoulder then closed her eyes.

"I don't think there's ever been a more perfect day," she crooned.

A&?

On the far side of the park, there was a place where no wolves dared to venture, as within this place there could be felt a presence the likes of which would raise the fur on the spines of any whose paths would lead them too near. From the outside, it was a serene, and beautiful place, with large, luscious trees, and formations in the rocks which were nothing short of magnificent in the eyes of passers by, but the story which surrounded it was enough to make even the bravest wolves shudder with fear.

Few wolves knew of such a place, and even fewer would speak of it, but those who knew the story knew that such a place was abandoned for good reason.

Decades ago, when the four packs were still in the process of ratifying the laws which would bring constitution to their newly formed alliance, there existed a prison which was said to be so brutal that most of the individuals sent there would either die or be driven mad by the sadistic treatment they received from the wolves placed to hold them there. Stories leaked through the vine of rations which were barely enough to sustain a pup, frequent beatings from the guards, and cramped, unsanitary dens which held so many wolves that there was no room on the floor to sit or lie down. Further reports surfaced of torture and horrible medical experiments which either resulted in the deaths of their subjects, or left them grossly disfigured for the rest of their lives, but while the packs were still under deliberation, these reports were ignored.

When the laws were finally established and civil rights were put in place, such a prison was ordered to be shut down, but the wolves it held were the park's most dangerous criminals. The leaders of the packs could not have them roam free once more, and they had nowhere else to place them; so in a highly controversial decision the wolves who acted as the prison guards were ordered to kill the inmates in their dens. By the time it was said and done, 25 wolves were slaughtered and their bodies buried out in the woods beyond the prison. The establishment was abandoned afterward, but those who entered swore that the prison was not empty. Rumors floated around that such a place was haunted, but no proof of such paranormal activities was ever recorded.

Gauge, however, could not help but feel a chill run up his spine the first time he set foot in this place, and he wondered exactly why it was that his uncle had chosen such an unsettling place to train him, but now it was all crystal clear for him.

/A&?/

Gauge shifted about tumultuously as he and his uncle stood before the trees which surrounded the abandoned prison area and turned a gaze which sought for comfort up to the grey wolf, whose posture portrayed a calm the likes of which he had never before seen.

"Do you feel that?" the grey wolf asked him dryly.

Gauge swallowed as he attempted to eat his anxiety, then cocked his head.

"Feel what?" he asked evenly.

The grey wolf continued to stare off into the trees, and no visible emotion took life upon his features.

"The cold grip of fear" the grey wolf replied.

"I'm not afraid," Gauge insisted as calmly as he could.

For the first time in minutes, the grey wolf blinked, but his eyes never left the trees.

"Your heart rate has escalated since we arrived," he began, "I can hear it pounding away in your chest. Your breathing has lengthened; that's your body's attempt to settle your heart, but fear has clouded your mind and is taking control of your bodily functions. As a result, you have begun to perspire, and I can tell you now based off of the scent that it is not due to the temperature. I know this place frightens you, Gauge, and that is precisely why we are here. Come."

Keeping his eyes forward, the grey wolf set himself in motion once more and began to make his way toward the trees. Gauge remained where he stood for a moment, as hesitation temporarily anchored him in place, but after his uncle had traveled about five yards, he followed.

The two traversed through a thin line of trees until finally they reached a clearing, and in this clearing, there was what appeared to be a small nesting ground which had long since been deserted, as the forest had reclaimed much of what the wolves who had been here before had altered. Gauge ran his eyes out over the clearing as he came to a stop at his uncle's side.

"What is this place?" he asked, stunned.

"Your new home," the grey wolf replied, finally moving his eyes down to the younger wolf.

Gauge swallowed.

"Why here," he questioned uneasily.

"Because in order to become fearless, one must become one with that which scares him," Gauge's uncle answered, "Alpha School merely teaches its students to mask fear, but what nobody ever understood is that fear cannot be controlled. Fear is not something that is learned," the grey wolf lectured, "fear is instinct, the very first emotion we feel when birth rips us from the warm embrace of our mother's womb. It is a power beyond our control. That is why it must be destroyed."

Gauge listened intently to what his uncle was saying, but he was still having a hard time grasping what it was that the grey wolf was trying to convey, as what he said seemed to contradict itself, but before he could dwell too long on the thought, the grey wolf spoke.

"It's time for your first lesson," he said, then, without any warning, he launched himself at the young wolf.

Surprise caused Gauge to immediately lock up, and before he could comprehend what had happened, he was taken to the ground where he was promptly beaten.

"Hey, what the hell are you doing!" Gauge cried out as his uncle's paws landed painfully on his chest and sides.

"Fear is immobilizing," the grey wolf seethed as he continued to beat the young wolf with his paws, "even a fraction of a second can mean the difference between life and death, so you must always expect the unexpected and be ready to react at a moment's notice. Otherwise, you could be easily overpowered and destroyed."

Finally, the older wolf ceased his assault and stepped away from his nephew, who lied on the ground bruised and sore, but not seriously injured, as he had made a point to exercise caution during the course of this lesson.

"You're lucky that this was only your first lecture," the grey wolf informed as he turned and sat down.

Gauge held his abdomen in his arms and winced as the dull throb of pain pounded in his ribs.

"Later lessons promise to be a lot less forgiving."

A&?

Fear was weakness, and weakness meant death. Hesitation was no longer an option. All decisions would have to be made in a fraction of a second, and if he hesitated at all, it could cost him his life. If he were to survive this, he would have to be as sharp and fast as the strike of a snake and he knew that it did not matter what challenge lied ahead for him in this last test; no matter what happened, nothing could break his concentration.

Gauge stood in the clearing under the eyes of his uncle and under the eyes of several other wolves; most of whom had their doubts that he would have what it took to truly become a part of what they were. But still they watched with great anticipation, as they knew that, one way or another, blood was to be spilt today. They had all seen this test before, and each of them knew first hand that it could go either way, as this task involved one of the most difficult decisions and actions imaginable.

Gauge, as is custom with this final test, was kept in the dark about everything, and henceforth had no idea what to expect, or what horrid thing he would be required to do. All he knew was that if he passed this final test, he would become one of the faction.

His experiences here hardened him, almost making him appear to be a being without conscience. Everything he had been through: the beatings, the grueling training, the total and calculated destruction of everything that had made him wolf, was in preparation for this moment, and now that it had arrived, he felt only anxiousness. However, his racing heart, his trembling legs, and his quivering breath were not symptoms of nervousness, but of excitement. In his time here, his love for the fight had evolved into what could almost be considered an addiction. His uncle had watched him slowly transform from a frightened pup, to a machine of war, and while the others may have had their doubts, there was no doubt in his mind that Gauge would be exactly what he needed him to be.

Gauge took a deep breath then turned his eyes over to his uncle and gave a nod.

"I'm ready."

The grey wolf nodded as well.

"Bring her."

All eyes turned to the den on the far side of the clearing, where from out of one of the dens came a beautiful, young female whom he had never seen in the company of two other wolves.

However, it was clear by the way this female thrashed and struggled that she was in peril.

The initial emergence stirred a slight unrest inside of Gauge, as the part of him that needed to be destroyed could begin to imagine what it was that his uncle wanted him to do, and that part of him was not entirely certain that he could go through with it. However, he brushed this emotion aside and remained composed, because he knew that they were watching him, and he was looking to impress.

The female was dragged out before Gauge and thrown to the ground, where she began to sob.

"Please don't hurt me" she begged, "I'll do anything."

Gauge simply stared coldly down upon her, then lifted his gaze to his uncle, who watched him with excited eyes.

"This is supposed to be an organization of justice and purity," Gauge began, cleverly disguising a hint of hesitation with a pretense that he wished his actions to be justified, "what reason is she here today?"

Subconsciously he was hoping that this wolf was some type of criminal, because he knew that he was to be her executioner, but maybe, if he knew this wolf deserved to die, he could find the courage to do what he had to do.

"It doesn't matter why," the grey wolf replied, "in the heat of the moment, when it's your life or theirs, you won't have time to ask why. Now, if you are going to be a part of this, I need to know that you can perform. A lot of wolves will die to save this park, but that is the cost of ridding it of the impure. Now do your job."

Gauge lowered his eyes to the female, whose gaze met his and he watched as she began once more to softly plead with him not to hurt her. Gauge was conflicted, because for all he knew, he could be murdering an innocent mother, but he knew that there was no turning back now. He had to do what he had to do. So, with as much imagination that he could conjure, he turned the wolf before him in the one wolf he hated more than anybody else in the park. The female's sleek build broadened slightly and her brown fur turned grey until Gauge found himself gazing down upon the form of Humphrey. A cruel smiled formed upon his lips as he watched him beg for his life at his paws, and he felt his excitement build once more.

"Shut up, bitch," Gauge demanded as he placed his paw on her neck and forced her face to the ground, "you'll only make things worse for yourself by crying."

The she-wolf, however, did not heed his warning and began to scream as she felt him apply pressure on her neck.

From aside, the grey wolf watched with eyes which gleamed with excitement, as he took great pride in his nephew's brutality. He knew that he had done his job well. He had taken advantage of his nephew's anger and his hatred and made him into a monster. He knew now that with him as his right hand man they would be unstoppable.

"No, please, don't do this!" the female cried as she struggled to free herself, "please!"

Gauge, however, made sure that her pleas fell upon deaf ears and fit his teeth around her throat then began to squeeze.

The female began to choke and thrash, but the struggle seemed to excite the animal inside of Gauge, as he felt a smile birth itself upon his face. His fangs pierced the skin and for the first time he tasted the blood of another wolf. The experience was electrifying, as never before had he felt such a sense of absolute power as he did now, when the fate of another's existence rested solely upon him, and this sense of power was what drove him to make the final move.

With a slight growl, he latched down hard on the female's neck, then yanked his head to the right.

There was a dull pop, followed by a gargled cry, and as Gauge pulled his head away from the female's neck, a fountain of blood followed.

A barrage of cheers rose as Gauge lifted his head and spit the tissue-like skin which hung between his teeth to the ground, then wiped his lips with the side of his paw.

Never before had he known the sensation of being covered in blood, but now that it caked into the fur on his face and chest, he found the sensation to be quite grand. He allowed his eyes to fall down upon the wolf whom he had just murdered and the form of Humphrey slowly faded until the female was the one who lied at his paws, then smiled.

"Well done, Gauge," the grey wolf commended, "welcome to Operation Bloody Angel."