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Kate's P.O.V.

For the life of me, I can't tell you why this memory stands out so much for me, but I recall one particular evening out among the pack with my mate. It sounds like there should be more to it than that, but honestly there isn't. Nothing particularly noteworthy or spectacular happened that evening, so it shouldn't be anything worth mentioning, but for whatever reason, I can't seem to forget even a single detail of what was such a menial day in the story that we were writing together.

It was about a month after we implemented the new pack safety mandates, and since their implementation, what was once quickly becoming a plague of murders yielded to peace and good order within the pack. The new mandates, of course, took some getting used to and in the beginning there was a great amount of pushback, but as time wore on, and we saw the longest string of days without a murder or threat of violence from the Artist that we'd seen since Humphrey and I officially married, even the most stubborn wolves in the park had to admit that just maybe what we were doing was working.

Now. As is common when great adversities begin to resolve, we were all ready to assume that the threat had passed and resume our normal lives, but the fear that the Artist had instilled in all of us still lingered in our hearts and minds like an evil that hides just out of sight. So even when my father began to lax the stricter mandates that had been in place for our safety, many of us continued to live as we had been because it was comfortable. Many omegas still asked to be escorted by alphas, and some alphas whose constitutions aired more on the side of self-actualization even went so far as to insist that they protect the omegas as they went about whatever business they had. It was definitely a strange time to be alive.

Personally, I was glad that most of the mandates had been lifted, because I preferred to work alone. Of course, I understand the vitality of teamwork and trust between myself and my fellow wolf, but I had a particular routine that I liked, that worked, and that was the most efficient and effective use of my time. Trying to incorporate another into said routine rarely worked, if ever, and all it ever did was cause an unnecessary headache for me. Prior to the mandates, I guess you could say that I had been handed a small sample of what was to come when the safety protocols were pushed down by my father, because on several occasions, I had my mate with me.

Since we were married and since Humphrey needed to learn how to become an effective leader, he sometimes followed me around on my patrols and would be involved in some of the pack's internal affairs. But these days were sparse and he typically only accompanied me for the important goings on in the pack, so, for the most part, I was still able to carry out my duties as I saw fit without having someone constantly under paw. In the days before the Artist, when we lived in a simpler time, work had become my me time. While I was out among the wild wonders of the world, I had no husband or pack, no headaches or little annoyances to test my virtues, and I could truly enjoy the serene quietude of the land around me.

When Charlie appeared, and shortly thereafter the murders began, that all changed and it wasn't long before I had begun to grow annoyed by it all. Between my patrol partner, escort duty and my mate, I had almost no alone time and it had begun to drive me a little bit stir crazy. However, just when I thought I'd reached my breaking point, freedom had been rolled out before me like a welcoming banquet and I was able to go on my first solo patrol in what felt like forever.

Having my life and my freedom back had left me in a wonderful humor, and when I returned from patrol that evening and saw my husband waiting for me at the outpost with the wolf who had been assigned to relieve me I couldn't help but smile. He rose to his paws and we met in a brief embrace and then we began to make our way back home. Ordinarily, we would be so busy that we would go straight home by the most direct path, but on that day, for whatever reason, that sense of urgency that typically drove our lives was absent and our perceptive paws took us down the scenic route- one that we both once enjoyed as pups.

It was a small, out of the way, patch of forest that skirted around the edge of the more developed pack grounds. We had actually discovered by complete accident one day while we were playing, believe it or not. We had so much fun there, and it was so pretty and unmolested by the paw prints of others that it kinda became our spot. Of course, as time wore on and we became different wolves, our time there grew shorter and shorter until I left for A School, and after that- in the midst of all the craziness that followed my return, it had all but been forgotten. However, as we two walked side by side through our old spot, we quickly realized that in its time forgotten, it hadn't changed a bit.

Humphrey's P.O.V.

As strange as it sounds, neither one of us consciously decided to take the long way home. We laughed and jested with one another as we departed from the outpost where I'd met my mate and in this moment of shared jubilation between my mate and me, we seemed to lose ourselves in it. Though the incident with Charlie and the Artist had put a strain on our relationship, as we enjoyed each other's company on the walk home, it was clear that underneath it all, nothing had changed. Though we were both older and our shared experiences had hardened us on the outside, inside, we were still the same pups who had befriended each other near the lake that day so many months ago. Perhaps it was for this reason that we ended up off the beaten path.

I remember Kate had made a quip that caused me to roll my eyes, and when I did, my focus upon my mate shifted enough for me to become aware of my surroundings, and when I realized where we were, I smiled.

"Oh, shit," I chirped, brightly.

This caused my mate to turn a serious gaze to me.

"What?" she asked, quietly.

"Look where we are," I replied with a jerk of my head.

Kate turned her eyes out to the land around us and her rigid posture immediately fell.

"Oh, wow," she said, confused, "how did we end up here?"

"I'm not sure," I replied as I paused and took a seat, "but damn if it doesn't take me back."

Kate stopped and took a seat beside me as she gazed out upon the rocks and trees that lay before us.

"God," she began as she sidled up against me, "when was the last time we were here?"

"Feels like forever ago," I said as I draped the side of my head on top of hers.

I continued to soak up the sights, and when my eyes fell upon a large rock that seemed to stand apart from everything else, I laughed softly.

"What?" Kate asked me through the cracks of a chuckle as she pulled away and turned her eyes to me.

I chuckled again as I rose to my paws. Kate watched me, slightly confused as I briefly paused and then jumped up onto the rock, much smaller on that day than I remembered.

"Humphrey, what are you doing?" she inquired through a laugh.

"That's King of the Rock to you, peasant!" I mocked from my perch atop the rock.

Kate was, at first, confused by my antics, but after a moment, a light of realization flashed into her eyes and she rolled them, slowly.

"King of the Rock, huh?" she teased.

"You got a problem with that, peasant?" I mocked with a sneer.

"Humphrey, don't you think we're a little old to be playing-"

Out of nowhere, she loaded her legs and then, with a mighty yell, she sprung forcefully at me. The suddenness of her attack caught me off guard and as she landed on the rock next to me, I stumbled and nearly fell from the rock from surprise alone. However, right before I fell, Kate caught me by the scruff of my neck and righted me upon the rock once more.

"Careful now," she laughed as she released my scruff, "I don't think either of us would bounce like we did when we were pups."

At this, I laughed brightly as I turned my eyes down to the unforgiving ground below.

"Yeah, maybe we ARE a bit too old to play that game," I replied as I sat down.

Though the slope and shape of the rock made it awkward, she moved to my side.

"Yeah," she agreed as she sat down beside me.

"Besides," I began as I sidled up close to her, "what's a king without his queen?"

"Oh, shut up, cheese ball," she chuckled as she gently bumped me with her shoulder, "but yes. I'll gladly share the rock with you, my king."

As she said this, she placed her head on my shoulder and released a contented sigh as we together watched the insects dart about so carelessly on the breeze.

"You know, we should probably head back soon," I said, however sad that the moment should have to end so soon, "I don't wanna miss curfew."

"That's still a thing?" she asked me as she pulled her head from my shoulder.

"As far as I know," I replied, "I'm not entirely sure where this whole 'future leader' thing puts me, but I assume I'm still considered non-essential unless I'm on active patrol with you."

"Oh," she replied, disappointed, "okay."

I rose to my feet and carefully dismounted the rock, but as soon as all four paws were on the ground, my mate called to me.

"Hey, Humphrey," she called.

I paused and turned to her in time to see her leap down at me and take me to the ground. Surprised, I saw no other option but to fall, and when we finally settled, I found myself on my back and I opened my eyes to see her standing above me with a sly smile upon her face.

"Um, Kate?" I asked her, "what are you doing?"

"I seem to remember something about this place that you don't," she sneered as she began to run her forepaw down the length of my stomach.

"Oh?" I gulped, "what's that?"

"Once when we were playing, you got a little bit TOO excited, if you catch my drift," she replied as her paw drew dangerously close to my waist.

I felt my face begin to heat up beneath my fur.

"Oh, you saw that?" I asked her, slightly embarrassed.

"Yup," she replied, sensually, "you thought I didn't notice, but I did, and now I wanna know something."

"W-what's that?" I asked her, nervously.

She chortled sexily as she lowered her mouth to my ear.

"What would you have done to me?" she whispered.

Every hair on my body stood on end as a chill ran through it.

"Kate, I-I don't think this is such a good idea," I replied nervously, "what if we-"

My voice was caught in my throat when I felt her lay a gentle paw upon my wolf and begin to slowly rub it.

"Ya know, you make a pretty convincing argument," I said quickly.

She smirked.

"That's what I thought," she said smugly and then planted a firm kiss upon my lips.

Kate's P.O.V.

That time in the woods was probably one of the best we'd ever had. Maybe it was the environment, maybe it was that small sense of danger that nagged at the back of my mind, or maybe it was that he and I connected on an emotional level the likes of which we had never done before. Whatever it was, everything about that evening in the woods was perfect, and it remains in my memory as one of the best moments I shared with him. It was passionate and raw. It was slow and sensual, a true expression of our feelings for one another, like it was the first time we had ever made love- only better. I can't recall the last time I laid with a male and we became so lost in one another that time became a blur, that the world and everything else around us fell away until all that remained was us. Perhaps that evening with Humphrey was the last time. It's been so long now that it's hard to say.

Anyway, it was well after dark when we finally managed to pull ourselves off of each other and began to make our way home. The journey was painstakingly slow, because by that point Humphrey and I could hardly walk, but in spite of the fact that we were likely hours late to return, we were in no hurry. The night was cool and invigorating, a full moon and a canopy of stars lit our path, and we two had not enjoyed an evening stroll together in what felt like an eternity. So we felt inclined to take our time and use this time together as the perfect way to end what had turned out to be such an amazing night.

Huh. Perhaps that evening was a bit more eventful than I had previously thought...

Ya know, it's funny, the things we take for granted. I once thought that night meant nothing, but now that I look back at it, I realize that it was one of the best nights I'd ever had. And I guess that makes me kinda sad. Humphrey and I made so many GREAT memories together, and when we were good, there was nothing in the entire world that was better, but unfortunately, as time wore on, the bad bled through more and more and in the end, it was all that remained for us. It's hard to pinpoint exactly when the bad really began to sink it's ugly fangs into us, but I know for a fact that after that night, everything changed.