Trouble

"Never stray from your path".

The late spring moon was bright as ever, the wolves of the Valley huddled close together to remember the seasons past. Huata looked over to her older brother, Gray, who was wandering around the den.

Taking in the mixed scents around her she spotted one unfamiliar to her, but she thought nothing of it as she trotted up to Gray, "Shouldn't you be with the younger wolves by now," she paused, "it is their time to learn how to respect higher ranking wolves after all," Huata looked at Grays turned back trying to see his face.

"I know that," he looked at Huata before turning back to where his eyes were looking at, "and should you be resting," he growled looking at his younger sister who was an omega.

Huata was surprised at her brothers' tone as they never put rank before one another before,

"Why are you so moody," she hesitated, "you never snapped at me before," she challenged her brother, but he ignored her again.

Frustrated with her brother Huata stormed into the den clearing her spot of any old bedding that was there before. She laid her head on her paws as she felt restless, she felt alone again now her brother felt the need to stay away from her, why was this happening now. She pondered the thought before pushing it out of her mind.

"Huata," a voice called at the entrance, Shadow, "did you get Gray yet," she barked softly.

Huata felt at a loss, not being able to assist a beta with her work, "No," she whimpered expecting punishment for not following orders.

Nothing called back as the presence of Shadow faded, did she know what was going on, Huata put a paw over her maw as she drifted to sleep.

Solider jumped on his brother, they practiced fighting techniques with each other, but they stopped as Shadow loomed over them.

"Mind I ask why you two are playing while we need to find Gray," she spat at her two brothers, her size did give her a disadvantage, but she was also a higher rank leaving her harder to overrule her.

"Well, we thought Huata was looking for him already," they both said, giving Shadow a confused look.

Shadow paced in front of them as they sat up waiting for the older beta to show up, but almost an hour passed as Shadow was fuming.

"Where is that fleabag," Shadow's sudden snarl shook the brothers as they lowered their heads and ears to their side of their heads.

"We could go after him," Thunder spoke weakly. "Then what," Shadow barked.

The three wolves looked at each other with no ideas or plans to train themselves, but out of nowhere a sharp whine ripped through the air, Gray's plea was loud and clear, the young wolves rushed over to the spot that the cry came from.

The young wolves froze in shock of what they seen, Lar had Gray by the scruff of his neck, Gray's face had a fresh deep cut on his maw, the wound must have come from Lar.

"Let go of me," growled Gray his smokey fur was dirty from trying to wriggle free from his alphas grip.

"Why should a let a wolf-like you go," he said his mouth full of Gray's fur, he let go of his grip as he had Gray pinned under him, "you are my beta, you should have obeyed my commands," he growled at Gray as he barred his pearly teeth at the beta.

The young wolves were startled at their alpha's anger, Shadow even seemed to be scared of their father.

"Now you will be demoted from beta to omega being replaced by Midnight. Do I make myself clear,"

Lar's voice was low and menacing, he got off Gray as the new omega of the pack cowered away in shame.

"So, training is canceled today, go to bed me and you're mother have patrol for the night," Lar said calmly as he padded away into the shrubs to meet with his mate.

The three padded to the den as Shadow looked over her shoulder, her amber eyes seemed to think something of someone was watching them. "Hey, it is normal for this stuff to happen," Solider said coyly, trying to act as nothing happened.

Shadow smacked him with her tail, making him move a bit over to Thunder who was minding his own business. "Do not take this too light," Chimed Shadow, "this could happen to you too, you two are only delta's," sighed Shadow as she turned into the den leaving her brothers outside.

"She does have a point Solider," Thunder paused, "we should be careful not to break the pack rules," he yawned before giving his brother a warm smile.

"Alright, but don't chicken out on me if we get in trouble," Solider joked bumping his rump into Thunder's rear.

They both chuckled before heading into the den to rest, awaiting a new day to arrive.

Midnight woke up to a sweet scent coming from outside the den, he shook his roan fur seemed to prick up. Who was outside the den, he looked around in the dark den as he saw everyone in the den but Gray, where could he be at this time of day. This thought kept repeating it's self until Midnight let a low snort out, he sent his message through the den and the normal scent faded.

Gray entered the den his ears down as he silently crept to his spot in the den, he must have thought everyone was asleep and laid there falling asleep.

Midnight looked up at the now sleeping body of Gray, the strange scent was all over him, was it that strange female wolf that he saw him talking to a couple moon's ago, he shook his head as he tucked his face in the fur of his tail.