Chapter 3
Evie
Alpha Jed pressed his hand into my own, our blood mixing as I swore my loyalty to the pack. A buzzing of noise hit me as I repeated the last sentence, making me let go of Alpha Jed’s hand and clutch my head in pain.
“Oh my,” I managed to call out as an overload of minds entered my own. I could feel each pack member in my head, our minds linked by the bond I had just made with Alpha Jed.
A warm hand touched my back, and a soothing noise tried to comfort me, but this pain was nothing like I had felt before.
“You need to close the door,” I hear the Luna’s voice try to tell me.
“Close the door, Evie. You can do it. Think of your mind as a building, walk inside, and close the door behind you.”
I try to follow her instructions, imagining a door in my mind and walking towards it. Turning, I close the door, or at least attempt to. A bubble of air, like opposing magnets, makes it difficult. I can hear Luna Ensley tell me to close the door, and I try. I put all my strength into closing the door to my mind, keeping the buzz of the pack’s members on the outside.
I’m panting, the exertion of closing the door taking its toll.
“Lock it. Lock the door, Evie. You can do it. Close the door, lock it,” Luna Ensley continues. I nod in response, imagining big steel bolts down the door’s seam, which I lock one after the other. Sniffing, I look up at the Luna, her green eyes looking at me with concern.
“You okay?” she asks, taking her arms off me and letting me go.
“Thanks,” I nod. I wipe my tears with the back of my hand, and realising what I did, I grab a tissue from the box beside me.
“Come on, let’s get you up,” Luna Ensley suggests, taking me by the arm and helping me back into my seat.
“I’m surprised that worked,” Alpha Jed comments, looking at his mate.
“What do you mean?” she asks.
“Well, I always imagine locking my mind like a big steel wall appearing from the air and landing with a thud on the ground,” Alpha Jed muses. I watch as Luna Ensley shakes her head and rolls her eyes.
“What do you mean, appears from the air and lands on the ground?” she asks him.
“Yeah, like, you know, a wall coming from the sky and landing in the dirt,” Alpha Jed repeats.
“Kind of like Stephen King’s Under the Dome?” I ask. Alpha Jed nods at me enthusiastically.
“Stupid wolf,” I hear Luna Ensley say under her breath, which makes me smile.
“I don’t know. I always think of it as closing the door of a room. Like a cupboard or something,” Beta Raven comments. Luna Ensley makes a scoffing noise.
I watch as Alpha Jed and Beta Raven exchange looks.
“How did you know to do that, anyway?” Beta Raven asks.
“It’s not my first rodeo, you know. And I am the Luna,” Luna Ensley states.
“It worked. I don’t know what I did before to keep my old pack out of my head,” I add.
“Yeah, see,” Luna Ensley agrees triumphantly.
“How long after your first shift did you leave your old pack?” Beta Raven asks me.
“Uh, maybe a week or two? I met my mate a few days after I turned eighteen, and about two weeks later, I left…” I reply, looking down at the carpet. I didn’t think I’d survive those two weeks.
“Wait, so you left your pack when you were eighteen… how old are you now?” Alpha Jed asks.
“Twenty-three,” I say without thinking.
“No wonder that hit you hard. You were born into your old pack, so the pack bond was already there. But you left shortly after your first shift, so you’re not used to mind links,” Luna Ensley states.
“This is not my first rodeo!” Luna Ensley growls, punching Beta Raven in the arm. I smirked as I watched him with his mouth open and his hands up in surrender.
“You’re not a werewolf,” I state. Luna Ensley looks at me and smiles.
“No. I’m an Earth Fay,” Luna Ensley replies proudly. I nod; that explains her different scent.
“So, what now?” I ask my new leaders.
“It’s the weekend. You don’t need to report to our Commanding Delta until Monday. In the meantime, I’ve asked Isabella to come here and show you around the pack house and take you to the food court. You must be hungry,” Alpha Jed replies. Luna Ensley smiles.
“Isabella works in the pack’s Nursery. She’s your age, and you’ll like her,” Luna Ensley adds.
“Thank you. I really appreciate you three allowing me to join your pack,” I smile. The three leaders smile back at me.
“Oh, and congratulations,” I add, looking at my Alpha and Luna. I watch as their brows furrow as they look at me.
“Congratulations?” Alpha Jed asks.
“Yeah… you know, the pregnancy…” I begin. What do they think I was congratulating them for? Me joining the pack? Oh, goddess, no!
“Oh… we’re not pregnant,” Luna Ensley says, looking at her mate.
“Uh… yes, you are. You can’t smell it?” I ask, looking at my Alpha. He looks at me and then Luna Ensley before shaking his head.
“It’s subtle, but… you should be able to smell… Luna Ensley is pregnant,” I say, looking at them both.
“Uh… maybe we should go see Rita?” Luna Ensley asks Alpha Jed. At that moment, someone knocks on the door. I let out the air I’d been holding.
“Come in!” Beta Raven calls out. I look at him; he has a silly grin as he watches the Alpha couple react.
“Hello, Alpha Jed, Luna Ensley, Beta Raven. You called for me?” a girl who did look my age greets.
“Isabella. This is our new pack member, Evie. We’d like you to show her around the pack house and then take her to the food court for lunch, please?” Beta Raven asks.
“Of course. Hi! I’m Isabella,” Isabella greets.
“Evie,” I reply. I instantly like this girl. She reminds me of Blair, a girl I worked with in Littleton, one of the towns I lived in.
“Come on, Evie, let’s go before it gets busy. Goodbye, Alphas, Beta,” Isabella states, giving the trio a short nod.
“Um. Thanks again…” I say, getting up and looking over at the three. Beta Raven is watching Alpha Jed and Luna Ensley in amusement as the two look at each other with lovesick eyes.
“What was that all about?” Isabella asks as we walk away from the Alpha’s office.
“Uh, they found out some unexpected news,” I admit.
“Oh yeah? Like what?” Isabella asks.
“I’m not sure if I should say,” I shrug.
“Okay. So, you’re new to our pack, huh?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, welcome. It’s always nice to get new members. A couple of weeks ago, we got a young family from Verona. They transferred from the East. How about you? Where are you from?” Isabella asks.
“Uh, the North,” I evade.
“Oh? So is Beta Raven. He’s from the Skathi Pack, which is from the north. Have you heard of them?”
“No,” I reply out loud. Yes, I reply in my head.
Isabella showed me around the pack house and took me to where she worked in the Nursery. When the pre-schoolers saw her, they all came running over for a hug. I giggled as they almost bowled her over.
“This is my friend, Evie,” Isabella told them, pointing to me.
“Hi,” the boys and girls greeted.
“Hi.”
“Are you coming to play with us?” a four-year-old boy asked.
“Not at the moment, Harley. I have to show her around, and then we’re going to go eat,” Isabella told him.
“Kay,” the boy nodded before running over to where an obstacle course and some hot wheel cars were laid out.
“Cute,” I comment as he runs off.
“I know, right?” I love working in the Nursery. They’re good for your ego,” Isabella agrees.
Isabella showed me the rooms on the lower floor of the pack house, including a quick walk past an open room that looked like a food court in a mall.
“We’ll go back there,” she told me before dragging me off to explore the other parts of the pack house. We visited the games room and library, medical rooms, and training rooms. I was impressed at what I saw in the training rooms. There were six holo-rooms for training, as well as a room for archery, a room for target practice, a weight room, and a gymnasium.
“What do you think?” Isabella asks.
“I think I’m going to enjoy training here,” I admit.
“Yeah. Wait to you meet Alaric, the Commanding Delta,” Isabella says, ending her sentence with a whistle.
“Is he nice?”
“He is. I haven’t had much to do with him, but he’s nice… to look at,” Isabella adds. I laugh.
We make our way to the food court, Isabella leading us towards a table where another girl our age is already sitting.
“Evie, this is my best friend, Erin. Erin, Evie.”
“Hi,” I greet. Erin scans me before saying a quick hi.
“What took you so long? I’ve been waiting,” Erin states, focusing on Isabella.
“I’m sorry, I had to do a job for Alpha Je,” Isabella begins.
“Whatever. I’m hungry. Go get me food,” Erin states, looking annoyed.
“Come on,” Isabella says to me, looking despondent. I nod, glad to leave that girl alone.
“She’s your best friend?” I ask when I know we’re far away enough for Erin not to hear us.
“Yup. Erin and I have been friends since we were in nappies. Our mums were in mother’s group together,” Isabella says proudly.
“Oh,” is all I can say. I turn back and look at Erin, who is busy looking at something interesting on her hands. I notice Erin is wearing the uniform of one of the food stalls here, Mecca Coffee. We head there first, and Isabella orders a coffee and chicken wrap.
“You don’t have to pay?” I ask. Isabella laughs.
“No. Not at our pack. You don’t have to pay to eat at the food court. Anyone can eat here, as long as you’re a pack member,” Isabella explains.
“Oh,” is all I can manage to say.
This pack is vastly different to the one I grew up in. Our pack house dining room was like a buffet restaurant. You could pick what you wanted but had to pay to enter. Only if it was your birthday or a special occasion did your family get to eat for free. This pack house’s dining room was laid out like a food court in a mall, with several different cultural foods on offer, including fast food like Hungry Jacks and KFC. I noticed that there were also a lot of pack members working here, as well as pack members eating. It was a busy place.
When we get the food, Isabella leads us to Subway, where she orders a tuna roll. I order a ham and cheese sandwich, which I ask to be toasted.
“The chicken wrap isn’t for you?” I comment after Isabella makes her order.
“No, it’s for Erin,” Isabella replies.
“But… she works there…”
“I know. But she’s embarrassed to admit she likes the food there, so I order for her.”
I don’t reply, mulling over what I’ve just heard and witnessed. Isabella is a nice enough she-wolf, but she acts submissive and allows her supposed best friend to walk all over her.
We walk over to Erin, who is talking on her phone when we arrive. Isabella places Erin’s order in front of her, but she ignores us. I look over at Isabella, who gives me a sad shrug.
“And who are you, really?” Erin’s voice finally interrupted my eating.
“This is Evie, Erin, remember?” Isabella says with a smile.
“I wasn’t asking you!” Erin cuts her off.
“I’m Evie,” I reply. I don’t like Erin and don’t want to share a table with her.
“And why are you here, Evie?”
“I’ve joined the pack,” I answer. Erin’s face brightens.
“Lovely! It’s about time we had some fresh faces around here! Have you accepted a pack role? What will you be doing while you’re here?” Erin asks, a friendly smile on her face.
“I’ve requested to become a Delta,” I reply. Erin looks surprised.
“Really? But you’re too pretty to be a Delta. They’d walk all over you,” Erin states.
“Um, thank you… I think…”
“No, seriously. I don’t know what the Deltas are like from wherever you’re from, but our Deltas are big and tough. Not everyone is cut out to be a Delta for Silva Luporum. Many have tried, and few have succeeded,” Erin states proudly.
“I’m sure I’ll be okay,” I reply.
“We’ll see. They’ll put you on a two-month probation before letting you lose anyway,” Erin states.
“Erin’s dad is one of our pack’s top Deltas,” Isabella says proudly. Erin nods.
“Yup. He’s in the Foxtrot Division. He worked with General Erstad during the war,” Erin adds. I nod.
“What is your dad’s name?” I ask.
“Ronald MacKenzie. You wouldn’t know him. He worked at the centre of the war by General Erstad, who, if you didn’t know, was our old Beta,” Erin says proudly. I smile at her.
“I know who General Erstad is, and I know he is part of your pack,” I admit.
“Of course you do! Our pack is famous because of him!” Erin gushes. I nod and agree as Erin talks about General Erstad and how skilled her dad is because they worked together during the war. Isabella adds a nod and comments here and there, but Erin mostly does all the talking.
“So, what do you say?” Erin asks.
“I’m sorry, what?” I look at Erin blankly, having zoned her voice out because of her constant talking.
“Come with us to Howling Moon bar on Friday next week? They have the best karaoke,” Erin smiles.
“Yeah, that sounds good,” I reply, “Will you be coming?” I ask Isabella.
“Of course, she will. She’ll be driving us,” Erin smiles.
“Then I’d love to go,” I reply. Isabella grins.
“I live at the pack house as well, so we can pick Erin up together,” Isabella smiles.
“You don’t live at the Packhouse?” I ask Erin.
“Goddess, no. I live in Silver Forest with my flatmates,” Erin says, rolling her eyes. I nod, thinking. It’s obvious that Erin thinks highly of herself. She reminds me of the popular girls from high school, the ones who had their nails done and eyelash extensions and wore high-end brands.
“I should be going back to work. I’ll see you both later. Bellie? Call me,” Erin states before walking off.
“Wow,” I state as we watch her go.
“She’s not that bad,” Isabella says, catching my tone.
“Not… that bad?”
Isabella smiles and shakes her head.
“Erin means well. She just has… high standards,” Isabella comments. I snigger.
“Aha. And Bellie? You don’t like that name,” I add. Isabella looks at me.
“How could you tell?”
“Just a fluctuation in your heartbeat. Have you told her?”
“Yeah… she just laughs. I’ve been Bellie to her all my life,” Isabella says sadly. I can tell there’s more to it, so I grasp her hand and squeeze.
“Well, I prefer your full name,” I tell her.
“Thank you. We should go too. Do you want me to walk you back to your room?” Isabella asks, getting up from her seat to leave.
“No, I think I’ll be fine,” I tell her. I give her a hug, and she melts in my arms.
“Thanks, Evie. You’re nice,” Isabella tells me. Well, I would hope so.
“Where are you going to go?”
“Back to the Nursery. I know it’s my day off, but I love being there, you know?”
“The kids love you,” I state.
“I know. Very good for my ego!”
I laugh and say goodbye to Isabella one more time before heading off in the direction we came to the food court. I know Isabella wanted to spend some time with me after lunch, but I felt swamped after the joining ceremony and tour of the pack house. I need sleep, and I already found it difficult to follow Erin’s self-gratifying talk while suppressing a yawn.
I think I have a good sense of direction, so I didn’t find it hard to locate my way towards my room. I checked the scent trails occasionally to see if I was on the right path, and I was content to slow my pace and peruse the artwork and photos that adorned the walls.
The placement of the art versus the photographs was interesting. Although the art was framed, some were made by pack members, while pictures were intermixed. I saw a particularly interesting photograph of three young children riding horses in one frame. Two girls and a boy each sat on their own pony, big grins on their faces. They all looked carefree, making me like this pack even more. Not saying my pack was terrible. It wasn’t. But my introduction to this pack wasn’t a good one, and everything that’s happened to me since I met the Alpha, everything I’ve seen, and the people I’ve met so far have painted a different picture to my first impressions.
I smile and turn away, heading around a corner.
His scent hits me first. A soft hint of amber and incense fills my nose, making me want to gulp down the surrounding air. His eyes are the second thing that I notice. They’re blue with specks of brown around the pupil.
I rub my arm. Pain begins to fade from the spot I’m rubbing, and I look at my arm, wondering why it hurts and why there is pain.
I gasp when I realise what the pain reminds me of, and I look over to my mate. Clutched to his arm is a brown-eyed blonde trying to get his attention.
“Alaric? Alaric baby? Is everything okay?” she pleads. I look at him. Alaric. He appears regretful as if he knows he’s done something wrong and has been caught.
I notice her scent- the lingering smell of sex hanging around her. Recent sex. Flicking my attention to Alaric; his hair is wet from showering, but not the she-wolf with him. Her hair is dry, the scent of recent sex strong on her, obviously intended to show her claim on him.
Alaric shakes his arm, making the she-wolf let go.
“What? What’s wrong?” the she-wolf asks. It’s then that she notices me. Sneering, she looks me up and down. She and Alaric open their mouths to say something, but I don’t want to see anymore.
“Mate,” Pandora growled in my head.
“Nope,” I reply. Pandora slunk back angrily into the background of my mind as I turned my heel and began walking in the other direction. I didn’t know where I was going; my only aim was to get out of this couple’s presence as quickly as possible.
I took the first set of stairs I came across, running down them two steps at a time to get away as fast as possible. The hallways I chose were not familiar, as Isabella had shown me the areas mostly frequented by pack members, so I happily followed them.
A lone tear escaped my face, and I wiped it off in anger. I can’t believe the stupid Moon Goddess paired me up with someone else. Someone clearly not waiting for his mate. But like I care. I went five years alone because my first mate rejected me. I survived once. I can survive again. I haven’t needed a mate, and I still don’t.
I storm down the halls with these thoughts in mind when I pass a room with an open door. I do a double-take and look inside.
Shit. Wow. I think I’m in heaven.
