Chaoter 7: Growing Up
**Authors Note- So, from the feedback I got from the last chapter, the idea of Hutch being paired with Claw didn't go over so well. But please trust me, it'll all become clearer as the story progresses**
    It has been six months since Hutch had met Claw, and in fact he lived up to what he had said. Every night he would sneak out and visit her, which he enjoyed very much. Although some nights, Tiberius would have them do faux hunts, 或者 play their little game of 'hide-and-seek', which Hutch would always win. Claw didn't mind though, it made all the better when she saw him next.
    He told no one that he was seeing her, not even Candu. He didn't want anyone to know that he was seeing an eastern wolf. He especially didn't want Winston to know, it would have wrecked his chances of becoming a beta. So, he just kept his meetings with Claw a complete secret.
    It was the 日 of the graduation ceremony and all of the pack was expected to attend, alpha and omega alike. The most excited member in the pack was Winston, who hadn't been anywhere near the training grounds in months. He know understood how bad Tiberius had taken the guilt about Hutch's mother, because everytime he saw Hutch, he just wanted to break down and beat himself up. But today would be different, he would finally admit to Hutch what he had done.
    "So, today's the 日 你 graduate," Claw asked with a sad sigh.
    "Yeah it is, but that doesn't mean we can't still see each other," Hutch 说 with a hopeful smile. He had really grown since they had first met. He was taller and 更多 masculine. His 毛皮 had darkened, the rings around his eyes were 更多 menacing and the stripe across his nose was easily visible even under moonlight.
    "Well, actually Hutch, we can't. I just learned that my dad had arranged a marriage for me. So, we can't keep seeing each other like this. But for what it's worth, I really do like you," she 说 as she leaned over and licked his cheek. His 心 sank and he looked down.
    "Oh, I see, well is there any way around it," he asked.
    "No, there isn't. My pack leader told me that I had to do it," she sighed.
    "So, I guess this is goodbye then," Hutch said.
    "I guess it is, I'm reall sorry Hutch, I really do like 你 b-"
    "No, it's alright. I should go, it's almost time for the ceremony," Hutch turned around and walked away sadly. Claw sniffled as he walked away and a tear fell down her muzzle.
    "Good bye Hutch," she said, knowing he was already out of earshot.
    Hutch walked in silence back to the training grounds, with the horrible feeling that it was the last time he would see Claw. He would just have to put her in the back of his mind. There wasn't a way that they could have become mates anyway. She was from the east, and he was from the west, and they forbidden to even talk to one another. Besides, today was supposed to be happy, he was graduating alpha school.
    As he retuend to the training grounds, he saw all of the other 狼 sitting around talking as they awaited the ceremony. He looked over to see Percy, Lobo and Candu laughing about something, he figured another one of Percy's terrible jokes. He felt sorry for Candu, who was about as tall as Hutch was when he was a pup. His tember however, had gotten shorter. He may not have been tall, but he was an avalanche just waiting to happen. 狼 soon started to arrive and sit in a semi-circle around the end of the valley. Hutch sighed as Tiberius appeared and announced the begining of the ceremony.
    "Welcome to the anual alpha school graduation ceremony. Today, these alphas 加入 the ranks as our hunters, and protectors of the pack. Winston will also persnoally pick the new pack beta," as Tiberius continued, Hutch and the other alphas walked over and sat in front of the crowd of 狼 so they could all be seen. As they sat down Tiberius began to walk in front of them, announcing each 由 their name. The ceremony continued with Tiberius recalling the most important days of the training season. He didn't mention the night Sadie and Felix were killed, he couldn't bring himself to do it.
    "And now, Winston will choose the pack beta," Tiberius 说 finally. Winston stepped 前锋, 期待 to the line of alphas and looked over them all.
    "There is no doubt in my mind that each and every one of 你 would serve well as the pack beta. But there is one of 你 who has excelled beyond the others, and is truely deserving of this position. Hutch, please step forward," Winston looked straight towards Hutch and he did as he was told.
    "Hutch, based on your performance, I have selected 你 to be our pack beta. If 你 accept my offer, 你 will go under an oath that 你 will recite. Do 你 accept," Winston asked.
    "Yes sir," Hutch replied without hesitation.
    "Good, now repeat after me. I, Hutch, from this 日 forth,"
    "I, Hutch, from this 日 forth,"
    "Swear to protect, and preserve my pack and its way of life for the rest of my days,"
    "Swear to protect, and preserve my pack and its way of life for the rest of my days,"
    "No matter the personal cost,"
    "No... no matter the personal cost," Hutch finished.
    "Excellent. Now, everyone to the feeding grounds where the ceremonial feast will begin," Winston called and everyone cheered. The pack started walking off to the feeding grounds, including the newly graduated alphas, and Hutch took his place alongside Winston.
    "You hesitated on the last line," Winston pointed out quietly.
    "I know sir, I'm sorry," Hutch replied looking down.
    "Take it easy Hutch," Winston chuckled "Felix did the same thing when he was chosen to be the beta."
    "Really," Hutch asked surprised.
    "Of course, to be honest I would have been shocked if 你 hadn't. 你 were swearing to put the packs best interest ahead of personal ones. That isn't something that can be taken lightly, it's a lot of weight on your shoulders. Should anything happen to me and Eve you're going to have to take charge of the pack. And speaking of the pack, there are several things I want to discuss with you,"
    "Anything sir,"
    "Well, first and formost, Eve is pregnant, and well let's face it I'm not as young as I used to be, I need someone to watch after my pups. There's no one else I would trust with this assignment,"
    "I would be honored sir,"
    "Excellent, and well, the other I'll have to discuss later in private,"
    "Of course sir,"
    "Oh and Hutch, our offer to let 你 live with us still stands, if that's what 你 want,"
    "Well sir, as much as I would like to live with 你 and Eve, I think I'll live in my old den," Winstons eyes widened and he srugged nervously.
    "Are 你 sure about that Hutch, I don't think it would be good for 你 to be around a place that brings up older memories. Especially after what you've been through," Winston urged trying to change Hutch's mind.
    "I'm sorry sir, but my mind is made up," Hutch replied firmly. Winston sighed and nodded.
    "I wish I could change your mind, but if that's what 你 want, I will respect your decision,"
    "Thank 你 sir," Hutch 说 smiling. The pack finally reached the feeding grounds where the veteran alphas had brought in a massive feast. Caribou, elk, deer, rabbits, anything they could have wanted was laid out before them.
    "Well, I'll talk to 你 later at your den, go enjoy yourself for now," Winston 说 as he veered off to sit with Eve. Hutch nodded and walked over to sit with Candu, Percy, and Lobo.
    "Hey Hutch congratulations on making beta," Candu 说 as Hutch approached them.
    "Oh come on Candu, we all knew he was going to make it," Percy laughed, "but congrats none the less."
    "Yeah good job Hutch," Lobo added.
    "Thanks guys, I appreciate it," Hutch thanked smiling at them.
    "So when do 你 think they'll send us out to hunt," Candu asked eagerly.
    "Slow down there buddy, we just graduated, take a break," Lobo joked.
    "No kidding, I'm hopping we get a nice long break after that," Percy sighed as he stretched his legs.
    "I agree with Candu, I'm ready to hunt," Hutch 说 nodding to Candu.
    "Oh relax, 你 will all have your turn," Tiberius laughed as he sat 下一个 to them "by the way congratulations Hutch."
    "Thanks Tiberius," Hutch 说 smiling.
    "You're welcome, but I'm still proud of all of you,"
    "Tiberius, come here for a second, I need to talk to 你 about something," winston 说 seuddenly.
    "Yes sir, well I suppose we'll finish this later," Tiberius sighed as he walked off to see what Winston needed. That left the four alone to continue their meal of white-tail deer. But Hutch couldn't eat. For the first time in a long time he thought about Sadie. It didn't feel right that she wasn't there with them. He missed her, badly.
*Meanwhile*
    The young female awoke from another sound night of sleep as the sun rolled into her den. She sat up lazily and yawned widely as she stretched her legs. She shook her head and stepped to the edge of the 巢穴, den, 书房 to look over her beautiful home. The trees were lush green and seemed to stretch on forever. There was a small lake off to her right with a tall waterfall pouring into it.
    "Well good morning dear," she heard her mother say from her side. She turned left to see her mother walking towards her with a smile. Her mothers 毛皮 was bright red and her eyes were as blue as an ocean.
    "Morning mom," she 说 cheerfuly as she nuzzled her mother.
    "Well someone's in a cheery mood," she laughed.
    "I sure am, I had that dream again," she replied with a shiver.
    "The one where your 'perfect mate' just shows up and takes 你 away with him," her mother giggled.
    "That's the one, oh I'll catch 你 later mom I have to go take a bath," she 说 quickly darting off. Her mother giggled at her and shook her head.
    "She's so hyper in the mornings, how does she do it," she asked herself.
    As the young femal walked happily towards the river where she always bathed, be thought about her dream. It was always exactly the same no matter how many times she had it. She was being attacked 由 three rogue 狼 who were just about to kill her, when he would jump in and run them off. He would turn to her and smile right before they ran off together. It gave her chills.
    "Oh how I wish it were real," she cooed as she sat in front of her usual bathing spot. She looked into the flowing at her soft grey fur. Her mother always told her that she looked so much like her father, but she never knew him. He had apparently been killed during a war with a rival pack so it was just her and her mother when she was growing up though. She didn't have a lot of her childhood memoires, but she figured she was just too young to remember anything at that time. Her mother always poked fun at her 由 saying she was so hyper that her brain didn't take the time to remember stuff.
    She giggled at the thought and stepped into the softly flowing water. She sighed as it washed out all of the dirt and gently messaged her back. She shivered from the feeling and dunked her head under the waterto clean off all of her body. She loved to keep her 毛皮 clean and soft. She would take a bath every 日 to make sure she was as beautiful as possible. To be an omega there were alphas who thought she was beautiful.
    She quickly finished her bath and stepped out into the sun to dry off. The sun made short work of drying her 毛皮 evenly and she sighed as she walked back to the rest of the pack. Instead of going back to her 巢穴, den, 书房 however, she went to hang out with her friends. She giggled as the males stared at her when she would walk by. Jaws dropped, heads turned, but the best part was when she would waved her tail under their chin causing them to faint. She found her 老友记 in their usual hang out spot in a clearing where they could pretty much do whatever they wanted and not disturb anyone.
    "Hey guys," she announced as she stepped into the clearing.
    "Hey Saide,"
**Authors Note- 嘿 guys I'm sorry this chapter took so long, I've had some problems with my computer and it's being a complete pain. But I type whenever I can. I hope 你 guys enjoyed the chapter and don't forget to review :)**