Chapter 8: Life
    "HUTCH LOOK OUT," shouted Percy as a large buck lowered its antlers and rushed straight towards Hutch. Hutch rolled to his side avoiding the attack. He sunk his claws into the ground to launch himself into the bucks flank. He raked his claws down its side causing it to let out a howl in pain and blood to flow out of its sides. The buck snarled angrily and rammed its side into the cliff, Hutch still attatched. Hutch grunted in pain as he was slammed into the hard rock face and was forced to let go. Hutch bent over in pain as the buck gained distance from him. His back and stomach felt like they had just been crushed.
    "HUTCH," his entire hunting group screamed in shock and rushed to how badly he was injured.
    "Hutch are bạn alright," Candu asked worriedly as Pecry checked Hutch for cuts. Hutch could only cringe in pain as Percy pushed back his lông, lông thú to find a large gash running up his back.
    "Damnit that hurts," Hutch growled.
    "He's cut bad. Come on, let's get him to Eve," Lobo đã đưa ý kiến as he picked Hutch up onto his back.
    "No, I'm fine, let's just keep hunting," Hutch urged.
    "Hutch, you're hurt bạn need Eve's help," Candu argued.
    "Candu it's not that bad, honestly, I feel fine,"
    "No, it's not fine, you're bleeding bad. Eve hasn't taught me how to treat wounds this bad yet," Percy said. Since they had graduated, Percy had went under Eve's wing and started learning how to be a healer. But he had only been learning for three days, and only knew enough to cover up a small scratch. But he did know that they had to get Hutch help fast.
    "Please," Hutch begged "I can't let Winston know I failed."
    "You didn't fail Hutch, stuff like this happens. That's why we have healers," Percy đã đưa ý kiến trying to perk him up.
    "Yeah Percy's right, I'm sure everyone has had a bad run in with a caribou every now and then," Lobo đã đưa ý kiến hopefully.
    "Beta for six days and already I've managed to screw up,"
    "That's enough Hutch, I don't want to hear bạn say another word unless it's something positive understand. Now stop beating yourself up," Candu snapped. All of their jaws dropped and they looked back at him.
    "Where did that come from," Percy asked as he tried to laugh.
    "I'm sorry Hutch but bạn can't keep putting yourself down like this. It isn't good for you, so bạn made a couple mistakesm big deal. You're the beta, and I highly doubt Winston will ever change that. Now we're going to get bạn patched up and you're going to cheer up," Candu đã đưa ý kiến ignoring Percy. Hutch was completely dumbstruck. He had never seen Candu act this way before. He didn't say anything, he only nodded and hung his head low until they got back to Winston and Eve's den, where Percy rushed ahead to warn Eve.
    "Eve we need help fast, Hutch got hurt during the hunt," he panted.
    "Oh no," she đã đưa ý kiến as she jumped up worriedly.
    "Get him in here now," Winston ordered. Lobo appeared around the corner with Hutch slung over his back and carried him to the back of the den. Eve instantly knew his injury was bad, just bởi the sheer amount of blood on his fur.
    "Good job bringing him here Percy, I need bạn to go get me some herbs fast," she đã đưa ý kiến as she started to danh sách off what she needed. Lobo and Candu stayed bởi Hutch's side as he laid in pain, while Winston tried to figure out what happened.
    "During the hunt a buck rushed him, but after he avoided it he tried to latch onto its side but it rammed him into the mountain," Lobo explained. Winston nodded and looked over the gash on Hutch's back. Even to look at it was painful. Percy arrived moments later with a muzzle full of ngẫu nhiên herbs. Eve took them gratefully and began to work on Hutch. They all knew that he must have been in a lot of pain, because usually he was good at holding back pain. But this time he was in tears.
    "You got hurt pretty bad, thankfully it's just a flesh wound and once it heals it shouldn't be much of a problem. Your spine didn't get hurt so bạn will have no problem with your back. But bạn will have to stay in a den until it heals up, otherwise you'll open the wound," Eve instructed. Hutch sighed unhappily and nodded.
    "Yes mam," he replied in dissapointment.
    "Relax Hutch, you've worked yourself to death these past few days. I don't even see how you've managed to stay as active as bạn do. I suppose bạn get that from your father though. He never was one to give up easy," Winston chuckled as he remanissed on the memories he had of Dex. Hutch tried to smile but a wave of pain shot through his back and stopped him.
    "You should try to sleep some dear, a good nap will help ease the pain," Eve đã đưa ý kiến smiling at him. Hutch nodded and looked to his friends.
    "Could bạn guys pack me back to my den," Hutch asked.
    "Sure thing," Percy replied as he picked Hutch up.
    "I'll be bởi later to check on you, and bạn better be resting," Eve laughed.
    "I will mam," Hutch replied with a smile as Percy lifted him onto his back. As the group left the den Eve looked over at Winston and shook her head.
    "He needs to learn how to relax," she whispered. Winston sighed and nodded.
    "I know, but we both know Dex was the same way. Hutch just wants to be the best that he can I suppose. I mean, no parents, no siblings, no mate, all he has to look phía trước, chuyển tiếp to are his duties. I can't even begin to imagine what it must feel like to wake up to nothing," Winston đã đưa ý kiến trying to put himself in Hutch's place.
    "You know Winston, I've been thinking lately. Maybe this arranged marriage will be good for him. I mean, a mate would give him something to look phía trước, chuyển tiếp to. It may not be true love, and I don't neccessarily agree with it, but it is something. I'm just really concerned bởi the mental trauma he's suffered," Eve đã đưa ý kiến shrigging nervously.
    "I know that he's been through a lot, but Hutch is a strong chó sói, sói he'll be alright. And besides, bạn need to be thêm worried about the pups in here," Winston đã đưa ý kiến placing his paw on her stomach. Eve smiled and rubbed her head under his chin.
    "Just a couple thêm months dear," Winstom smiled at Eve and nuzzeled her. All the while Percy was dropping Hutch off at his den.
    "Thanks Percy," Hutch đã đưa ý kiến as Percy gently sat him in the back off the den.
    "No problem Hutch, you'd do the same for any of us," Percy đã đưa ý kiến non-chelantly. Hutch smiled and laid his head onto his paws.
    "You know Hutch, bạn could really use a break, you've worked harder than all of us these last couple days. bạn deserve to sit around and do nothing," Candu đã đưa ý kiến sitting down tiếp theo to Hutch.
    "I don't like to be doing nothing, it makes me feel lazy," Hutch replied.
    "Well, you're healing, bạn have an excuse to be lazy. Plus you're a beta, bạn can do pretty much anything bạn want," Lobo added.
    "I guess you're right, but I'm doing double duty when I heal," they all laughed and shook their heads.
    "I swear Hutch, you're impossible," Percy laughed.
    "Well guys, we need to finish our duties. We'll lung lay, swing bởi you're den when we're done," Candu đã đưa ý kiến as he started to walk from the den.
    "Alright, I'll see bạn guys later," Hutch đã đưa ý kiến as they walked out. Hutch yawned and looked at the very edge of the den.
    "You never let me go outside when it rains," he heard himself say. He laughed as he remembered his pup days. He thought about how much he had grown since then. How proud his mother would be of him. And...Sadie.
    "Well the restless finally settles in," Eve laughed as she stepped into his den. Hutch looked up at her and hastily tried to sit up in attention.
    "Easy Hutch, bạn don't have to be so formal all the time. Just lay down and rest," Eve scolded as she forced him to lay back down.
    "I'm sorry mam," he apologized laying back down.
    "You can call me Eve dear, it's not like I'm a stranger," she giggled.
    "Alright ma- Eve," Hutch đã đưa ý kiến blushing.
    "That's better. Now Hutch, aside from checking up on you, there's something I need to tell you. It should be Winston, but he had an important matter to attend to," Eve đã đưa ý kiến not able to look at Hutch.
    "Is something wrong," he asked looking up at her.
    "Well, as much as it hurts me to tell bạn this, bạn have to know. You're aware that the east and west packs have been in dispute for several years now. Well, it's reached a breaking point. The eastern pack leader Tony has forced Winston to either tham gia the packs, hoặc they will take our territory bởi force," Eve stopped as she began to grow nervous of Hutch's reaction.
    "I know most of that. but what does it have to do with me," Hutch asked curiously.
    "Hutch, Winston has arranged a marriage between bạn and a female from the east," Hutch's eyes widened and he shot up, causing pain to rip through his back and he slammed back against the ground. He hurt too bad to say anything, but Eve knew he was mad.
    "Hutch please just try to stay calm," she urged.
    "How could he do this to me," Hutch managed through the wave of pain.
    "I know it was stupid of him to do this, but he was only thinking of the best interests of the pack," Eve explained trying to calm him down.
    "Eve, I've Mất tích thêm Người sói that I was close to than I ever wanted to, and he expects me to be forced into a marriage. It isn't fair," Hutch đã đưa ý kiến slamming his paw down in rage.
    "It will be alright Hutch. Maybe this girl won't be so bad," Eve đã đưa ý kiến hopefully. Hutch wanted to refute, but then he remembered Claw. She was from the east, and she đã đưa ý kiến she was being forced into a marriage bởi her father. Maybe it was him she was going to be his mate.
    "You alright Hutch," Eve asked worriedly. Hutch hadn't even noticed that he was staring and quickly jumped to answer her question.
    "Yeah, I'm fine," he replied quickly. Thankfully Winston walked in and had a piecs of deer meat in his muzzle. He sat it down and looked at Hutch half-heartedly.
    "Hutch, I know you're probably not to happy with what I did, but belive me, it wasn't easy on me. I brought bạn some deer meat since I know it's your favorite. Please, just try to forgive me," Winston đã đưa ý kiến as he sighed and turned away.
    "On one condition," Hutch đã đưa ý kiến before Winston walked away.
    "And that would be,"
    "Make sure my arranged mate is a chó sói, sói named Claw.
*Meanwhile*
    Sadie and her Những người bạn walked through the forrest talking back and forth like they always did. They joked around and laughed, telling each other jokes. But something didn't seem right, The constant chatter of the birds was eerily silent.
    "The birds aren't chirping today," her friend Lora complained.
    "I know, it's so quiet," Sadie added. Suddenly the air was filled with the sounds of pained howls and shouts of anger.
    "What the hell," Lora asked worriedly.
    "Come on guys, let's go see what's happening," Sadie đã đưa ý kiến rushing back towrads the pack. Her Những người bạn were hesitant, but they followed her out of sheer concern. As they got closer to the rest of the pack, it sounded like a complete war was going on. Sadie flung herself to a complete halt.
    "Oh my god," she đã đưa ý kiến as her jaw dropped. It was as if a whole pack had appeared out of nowhere and were slaughtering everyone, alpha and omega alike.
    "Oh god, we've got to get out of here," Lora urged.
    "Wait I have to go get my mom," Sadie insisted as she darted off. She dodged around the carnage in desperate tìm kiếm of her mother. She ran back to the den where inside, a dark grey with with blood covered lông, lông thú standing over her mother.
    "SADIE RUN," her mother shouted just before the foe sunk his teeth into her mothers neck, snapping her neck-bone in two.
    "It's been too long Sadie," the chó sói, sói laughed. Sadie wanted to stay and fight, but she was too horrified. She ran as fast as she could away from the den. She didn't look back to see if he followed her, she just ran back to her friends.
    "Sadie where's bạn mom at," asked Lora but Sadie pushed past her and kept running. Her Những người bạn took off behind her. The dark grey chó sói, sói smiled from inside the den and tossed the corpse outside to rot.
    "Sir, we've completely taken over the pack," Informed a brown chó sói, sói as he walked up to him.
    "Good. We're closing in on both the eastern and western packs. Have the others clean up the mess and start claiming dens. We'll reside here for a while,"
    "Yes sir Roxa,"
**Authors Note- xin chào guys, I realize the last part of the chapter is short, but it was written that way to hiển thị the speed at which the events occured. Anyway, I hope bạn like it and please comment. bởi the way, thank bạn to those of bạn who have taken the time to comment, I really appreciate it :). Update comming soon!!**