CHAPTER 11-Two More Peacemakers

One Month Later…

Reagan had been placed in Don's squad with Chris and Dwain. They all got along well. About a month after saving Reagan, Don spoke to his group about an upcoming visit to another pack.

"Gentlemen. We're going to that pack that's down south a bit tomorrow. I hear there's a chance that some wolves are being seriously mistreated. We'll leave in the morning and get there early so that we may plan."

"Right," said Dwain.

"Also," Don continued, "in a while, we're going to be heading to a small cave near Jasper. It's recently come to my knowledge that a lone alpha wolf named Robert is residing there. He's murderer and has raped many females, so within the week, we'll be heading down there to pay him a friendly visit."

"Are you sure we can convince him to let go?" Chris asked. "I mean, he is an alpha, and we don't have any alphas yet."

"True, but don't judge anyone by rank," Don said.

"Oh, right. Sorry."

"Don't worry about it."

"Alright, you have about an hour for break. After dinner, we're having a meeting tonight with everyone."

They all left to go outside for some air. Tyler entered from one of the tunnels, looking depressed.

"Tyler," said Don. "Come here."

Tyler approached.

"What's wrong?" Don asked.

"Oh, I just don't think I'm good enough," Tyler said.

Don was confused. "Good enough? When did this come up?"

Tyler sighed. "I just can't get those alphas' voices out of my mind. They always say I'll be nothing."

"Nonsense," said Don. "They think they're the bigger ones."

"They are bigger."

"Physically yes," said Don, "but I meant in regards to maturity…in the heart. If your heart is right, you will find yourself wanting nothing more than to act with respect toward others. Trust me."

"I trust you, Don."

"Because of this, you are bigger than they are," Don assured him.

Tyler nodded. "Thanks, but I don't see how this helps me get out of a fight."

"Don't retaliate unless absolutely necessary," Don warned. "Tell you what: how would you like it if I had some of our other Peacemakers who have been in situations like this before teach you safe ways to get out of an unnecessary fight, and what to do if you must take action against someone who is abusing another?"

"Okay."

"Is that all?" Don asked, smiling.

"Yeah, I guess. I'm still nervous about what'll happen if I ever want a mate."

"Tyler, leave that for when the time comes. Trust me. You'll know what to say."

Tyler nodded and walked off.

"Don?"

"Yes, Louis?"

"My squad is slightly uncomfortable about that pack near the stream."

"Uncomfortable? How so?"

"The wolves there are aggressive."

"The leader isn't. He knows how to keep his temper under control. Relax. Tell your squad I will help train them for what to say…and do, if necessary."

"Okay," said Louis. "I hope they'll feel better about it."

"I do, too," said Don, "because this must be done. We have no alternative. If we are not the ones to act, who will?"

"Yeah, you're right," said Louis. "I'm nervous myself, though."

"Relax," said Don. "You'll be fine. I know you will."

"Thanks, Don."

They stood for a few more moments as Don meditated on their progress. Louis spoke again.

"What's that pack you visited a little while ago?"

"Which one?"

"The one where you said the leader was nice?"

"Oh, you mean Jasper," said Don. "Yeah, Winston is better than most, but that doesn't mean he is invincible to a tragedy. Despite his friendliness, he is one to stick with customs. Nothing wrong with customs, unless those customs come between alphas and omegas. I can't do anything to change his mind, though I will say that I do not agree with the law which segregates alphas and omegas."

"What will you do?"

"All I can do is hope that Winston took my advice into consideration," said Don. "I can't change his laws."

"Maybe, some day he will," said Louis.

"Let's all hope so."

"Don!"

It was Reagan. He was walking with someone else.

"Who's this, Reagan?" Don asked.

Reagan gestured for the omega to give his name.

"Humphrey."

"Nice to meet you, Humphrey," said Don. "Where are you from?"

"Jasper Park, sir," said Humphrey.

"Winston's pack?"

"Yes, sir."

"And what brings you here?"

"I wanna be a Peacemaker," said Humphrey.

Don nodded. "Did Reagan tell you about us, then?"

"Yes, sir," said Humphrey.

"And," said Don, "what are your motives?"

"Huh?"

"Why do you want to be a Peacemaker?"

"Well, 'cause I'm gonna be omega leader someday."

"Really?" said Don. "Congratulations."

"Thanks."

"Well, this is definitely a place for you to be a good omega leader," said Don. "You can spread our peace there. That is, assuming you learn to let go."

"What does that mean?"

"You stop looking to yourself for all the answers," said Don. "You realize others matter, too. You give up."

"Oh, okay."

"Let me caution you, young Humphrey," said Don. "Wolves who don't learn to let go don't last long in this line of work."

"Okay."

"You may sleep in the common den for tonight if you wish," said Don.

Don called Dwain, who led Humphrey to the common den, where other wolves slept.

"Don?" Reagan asked.

"Yes, Reagan?"

"Why are you letting him be a Peacemaker if he hasn't let go?"

"I won't send him into the field," said Don. "I'm allowing him to get a taste of what we do. That's what he needs for him to learn to let go."

"Okay."

"What did he say to you when you brought him here?"

"Well," said Reagan, thinking. "He said that he wanted training to be the greatest omega in the world or something. Heh…I guess it is a good thing we're helping him. Oh, and he has a crush on someone named Kate, the pack leader's daughter."

"Winston's daughter?" Don remembered hearing the name Kate when he was about to meet Winston for the first time.

"Yeah," said Reagan. "He has a crush on her, and his friends hinted that he just wants to join to kill time."

Don thought about it. On one hand, Humphrey was a victim of Jasper's pack law between the ranks. On the other hand, Peacemaker work was anything but a time-killer.

"We'll see how he does," Don said. "Hopefully we can get him to let go."

"Yeah."

One Week Later…

Don awoke and stretched. He and his squad had gotten a few omegas from the pack they spoke to a few days earlier. Today was the day they would confront Robert. Don knew it was time. He walked into the main cavern to see Humphrey there. Don smiled and walked over.

"Humphrey."

"Don, sir. Good morning," said Humphrey politely.

Don knew that the young wolf just wanted to impress Don so he could get a higher rank. Don wanted him to just let go, but he felt it was time for Humphrey to actually do something.

"Someone's a little jumpy today," said Don with a small chuckle. It reminded him of his own childhood.

Humphrey immediately justified. "I'm sorry. I just…I want to do something. I'm…well, I'm…"

"Bored?" said Don. "Reagan's told me you've had your eye on that first-born daughter of Winston's. She's an alpha, though, and your pack has that law where alphas and omegas can't mate. It's a shame, really. Winston's a good guy, but I, personally, don't see why alphas and omegas can't be together. But, it is his and Tony's pack. They make the rules."

"Yeah," said Humphrey with a sigh. "I just wish that I could get the chance to tell her how I feel about her. Some place where we're alone, and just tell her. But that's probably not going to happen now. Winston says I won't even see her much when she gets back."

"Don't ever give up hope, Humphrey," said Don. "Giving up solves nothing. You never know when things will suddenly turn on you and then everything you never thought would happen suddenly sits before your eyes. It's amazing, really."

He could tell by the look on Humphrey's face that he didn't understand.

You will in time, Humphrey, Don thought to himself. That is, if you let go. My hopes are with you.

"Anyway," said Don. "I think I might have something for you to do today."

"Really?" said Humphrey, excitement in his voice. "Like what?"

"Well, there's a wolf living by himself in a den a little walk from here. His name's Robert, and he's a real vicious one. He likes to rape girls and murder innocent wolves. He does it all the time, three rapes and murders each a month at very least."

"Wow," said Humphrey. "So…"

"My squad and I will be going down there to talk to him and see if we can't reason with him," said Don, "but I want you to take a peek inside first and see if he's still there. Then, come back and report. If he's there, we'll go. Think you can do that?"

"Sure!"

"I'll send Reagan with you," said Don. "I don't want you going alone."

"Okay."

"You'll visit in the evening," Don continued. "He's usually at his den at that time. Come back and report, and my squad will go down there."

"Okay, Don."

Later that evening, Reagan prepared to leave with the eager omega. Don looked at Humphrey and then said to Reagan, "Keep an eye on him, will you?"

Reagan nodded and the two left to check on Robert.

"Don?"

It was Anthony.

"Don, Louis and I have been talking."

"About what?"

"Humphrey."

"You haven't been gossiping behind his back, have you?"

"No," said Anthony. "No, no. Nothing like that. It's just—we feel he's not getting any closer to letting go."

"What makes you say that?" Don asked.

"He's been acting the same all week."

"Don't be impatient," Don told him. "Give him time. You never know who will let go."

"Yeah, sorry. I guess I'm still in the judging stage of life."

"With perseverance, you can overcome," said Don. "Trust me."

"I trust you."

"Good," said Don. "Where is Louis?"

"In the den," said Anthony. "Last I heard, he was mapping out a plan in his head."

"Let me go help him."

Don walked into the den where Louis sat.

"Everything alright, Louis?"

"Don! Yeah, yeah. Everything's fine. I'm just—"

"Anthony tells me you've been planning," said Don, sitting down. "Care to share your plan with me?"

"Okay. So, we enter the park, right? And then, the leader's gonna ask us what we want, and then we'll tell him what you would normally tell him, right? Be you, right?"

"Don't be me," said Don. "Only I'm me. Trust what I've taught you, but don't try to be me. Be you, but trust in me."

"Okay," said Louis. "You think I'm trying too hard?"

"A little bit," said Don. "Relax. You' know how I work. Trust in what I've taught you, in the examples I've set, and you'll be fine."

"And if they reject us?"

"Then they reject you, but that's on them. If you do what I've always taught you, you've done everything correctly."

Louis nodded. "Thanks, Don."

"Now," said Don. "Tell me what you're going to do."

"I'm gonna be myself, but trust in you," said Louis. "That's the best thing to do."

"Exactly," said Don. "My brother Junior felt horribly guilty the night my father died. But I didn't hold it against him since he just let go. He didn't try to be like I normally would be. He just accepted his mistake and asked for my forgiveness. Believe me…I was more than happy to give it to him."

"Your father died?"

"Sadly, yes," said Don. "It's a long story."

"I've got time."

"I appreciate your interest, Louis, but I don't have much time. My squad and I will be leaving for Robert's den soon. Perhaps someday soon."

"Great! Thanks, Don! For everything."

"Not a problem."

Don walked through the cave and outside. He looked toward the trail that led to Robert's den and saw Reagan waiting there.

"Reagan!"

Reagan panicked. "Don! I, uh…I was just…uh…"

"Tell me the truth, Reagan," said Don. "Where is Humphrey?"

Reagan sighed. "He said he needed a drink, but that was a while ago."

Don sighed. "Reagan, I told you to keep an eye on him."

"I know, but he said he needed a drink, and I didn't think he'd take this long! I'm sorry, Don."

"It's alright, but be more wary next time."

"Yeah, I'm sorry. What are we going to do?"

"We need to find Humphrey to see if he's getting himself into trouble."

"Don," said Reagan worriedly. "Would he—try to take on Robert by himself?"

Don sighed. "I'd like to say no, but if he wants to be a good omega leader, the 'best in the world,' he's bound to try anything to get that."

"Oh no," said Reagan.

"We need to locate Humphrey," said Don. "Go get Chris and Dwain."

Reagan ran inside and quickly found Chris and Dwain while Don began sniffing for Humphrey's scent.

"Come with me," he said when Reagan returned with Chris and Dwain.

They followed the path to Robert's den. After a little while, they stopped.

"What's wrong, Don?"

"There's too many different scents in the air," said Don. "It's getting hard to tell where he is exactly. Where did Humphrey say he was going to get a drink, Reagan?"

"Up there!" said Reagan. "We were walking back and he told me I could go ahead. I'm—sorry."

"That's alright," said Don. "Just be careful next time."

"Can you smell him?"

"His scent is a little hard to follow," said Don. "I smell blood, too. It's trying to trick my nose, and Humphrey's scent seems close and far away at the same time. It smells like he started to return to the cave but then went back."

"Why would he go back?" Chris asked.

"No way to know just from the smell," said Don. "Smell can be deceiving, like the other senses. Let this be a lesson, gentlemen. When you think you smell something, never act until you are sure you are smelling correctly."

Don took a giant sniff in, and after a few moments, caught Humphrey's determined scent.

"This way!" he said. "Move!"

They ran toward the den, but stopped when they saw Humphrey and Robert approaching them.

"Humphrey!" Don called. "What happened?"

"Oh, hi Don," said Humphrey, guilt in his voice. "I, uh…"

"It's a long story," said the alpha Robert.

"Very well. Come back to the cave, then."

They returned to the cave and sat inside the main cavern.

"Alright, you two," said Don. "Tell me everything that happened."

"Well, okay," said Humphrey. "Here's what happened. I told Reagan I was gonna get a drink of water. Really, I wanted to impress you, Don. I wanted to get Robert to let go."

"By yourself?" Chris asked.

"Yeah," said Humphrey. "So, I went in, and Robert woke up and started threatening me, and I got scared. He attacked me but then I scratched him and ran away. He chased me, but then he tried to pin me."

"I hit my head on a cliff, sir," said Robert politely. "A rock fell on my chest. It was big, and I couldn't breathe."

Don sat, listening to every single word carefully.

"I ran away, but then I remembered what you said about pride and stuff, so I went back and saw him bleeding, and—"

Humphrey shook his head in shame. "I didn't mean for Robert to get hurt."

"No one had ever cared about me that much before," said Robert.

"Together, we got the rock off him and I ran to get Rachel, a healer Robert knows, and she fixed him up. Then we said our goodbyes, but when I started coming back, Robert came after me."

"I felt so horrible," said Robert. "I killed innocent wolves and didn't deserve to live, but Humphrey came back, and I—I just felt so horrible."

"So, that's when we came back," Humphrey finished. "That's what happened."

Humphrey closed his eyes in fear, and then glanced up at Don expecting to see anger. However, Don had nothing but a smile on his face.

"Humphrey, you wonderful wolf."

Humphrey was confused. "Huh? But, Don—"

"You did something wrong and prideful, yes," said Don, "but you also did something greater, something good. You let go."

"I—I did?"

"Yes," said Don.

Humphrey was confused. "I don't understand."

Don laughed. "What don't you understand? What you did was selfless! Congratulations, Humphrey. You realized you did something wrong and put everything aside to try and fix it. You've let go. Both of you," he added, looking at Robert. "We could use an alpha to hunt for us and make everything a lot easier for us."

"I'd be happy to, sir," said Robert.

Don smiled. "Welcome to the family."

A/N: This story is actually coming to a close soon. I mean, this story is about Don's life "from birth to death," and everything afterwards regarding William's return has already been covered. For those enjoying this story, it won't be too much longer for obvious reasons, but I will try to make at least four more chapters.