Chapter 3

My new pack’s territory was nestled in the Shawnee National Forest, the pack lands are breathtaking according to my cousin Amber. Rolling hills, bluffs, beautiful streams, and thick forest. After over eight hours of driving, I finally arrived at my new pack’s territory. The entrance was gated and the wolves at the gate were dressed as security officers, so if any humans stopped by it wouldn’t raise any suspicions. I checked in at the gate letting them know who I was and my business in the pack territory. Both the wolves stationed at the gate were undoubtably attractive, they each stood at least six foot three and you could clearly see their muscles pulling against their uniforms. I gave one of them my information and he disappeared into the small guard shack next to the gate. The other stood just outside the door almost like a statue never taking his eyes off me. A few minutes later the guard who took my information reemerged from the small shack and walked back up to my window.

“This all checks out, Renee, and welcome to the pack” he beamed at me with a stunning smile “My name is Blake, and that’s Klaus” Klaus gave me a small smile and wave”

“Thank you, I’m happy to be here.” I responded almost blushing under their intense yet friendly stares.

“You are going to take your first left after the gate, Amber lives at the end of the lane.”

“Ok, thank you Blake” I said with a smile before I rolled my window up and Klaus pressed the button needed to open the large gates in front of me.

Amber lived in a cute white and blue farmhouse on a small gravel road on the edge of the pack territory.

As I pulled into the drive, I could see Amber on the sidewalk bouncing with joy. Her blonde wavy locks of hair bouncing up and down against her shoulders. Her round face had a huge smile plastered on it that reached her eyes. She was wearing overalls with a dark blue top underneath. She made it work, although I was convinced, she could pull off any look. She was taller than your average girl coming in at six feet barefooted.

Although I was also taller than your average girl coming in at five foot and eight inches. To be honest it was nice to be around another taller girl, it was nice to not feel like I was towering over. 

I quickly got out of the car and ran up to give her a hug. As she wrapped her arms around me, I felt the most relaxed I had in months. I let out a breath that I didn’t even realize I had been holding. 

"What took you so long?" She said as she clenched me tighter. 

"I know right, I'm so happy to finally be here!" I didn’t know if the feeling would last but, in this moment, I really was happy to be here. Amber always had a way of making me feel more comfortable in my own skin, and I didn’t realize how much I had missed her until now. Maybe this could be my home. 

"I made us some chicken pot pie, let's go in and eat." She said pulling me towards the door of the house. 

"But... my stuff." I replied pulling against her towards the car. 

She tugged me strongly in the other direction. "I have some boys coming over from the pack to bring all that in for you! It is time for you to sit back and relax!" 

I could tell from the look on her face there would be no arguing and followed her into the house. The smell of fresh pot pie entered my nose. It smelled so amazing I had been living off microwave dinners and gas station food for way too long. I always felt weird cooking meals for just myself at home, and while they had meals at the packhouse I would usually try to avoid going so I wouldn’t have to endure an evening of being around Luna Kristi and Alpha Joey, so I would usually just have a microwaveable meal or something basic like pasta. 

"Go ahead and sit down, I will get you a plate." Amber said pointing to a chair at the table. 

I peered around her kitchen it was nice cozy. The cabinets were light green with farm animals stenciled on them in yellow and her linoleum looked fresh out of a magazine from the 70's. Her kitchen table and chairs were the best, instead of uncomfortable wooden chairs she had mixed-matched rolling computer chairs. 

I sunk into the plushiest looking chair, and shortly after Amber placed a heaping plate of pot pie in front of me and a tall glass of sweet tea. 

"So how was your trip girl?" She asked sitting in the chair next to me. 

Before I could answer there was a knock on the door and Amber hurried off to open it, shouting over her shoulder for me to go ahead and eat up.

As if on que my stomach rumbled ready for some warm delicious food. 

When Amber appeared again it was with two teenage boys at her side. I tried to quickly swallow the heaping bite of pot pie I had just shoveled into my mouth. 

"Renee, this is Bobby and Chris they are going to unload your car for you. They just need the keys." Amber said. 

"Oh ok, thank you! It is very nice to meet you." I said while digging my keys out from the pocket of my jeans.

"Wow! I am happy to move anything for you" Chris said as a wide boyish smile spread across his face. He looked me over before meeting my eyes and then he winked at me, I couldn't stop a small giggle from escaping my lips and I could feel a slight blush spread across my cheeks. 

"You don't have a chance! Just get her stuff unloaded and then you can eat." Amber said in a joking voice. Before smacking him in the back of the head.

Bobby let out in a roaring laughter at the comical scene that had just unfolded. 

"Owwww, why do you have to be so mean!" Chris whined. Then he and Bobby headed back out the door to start lugging my stuff in. When I finished scarfing down my last few bites of pot pie a mere few minutes later, I stood up and headed towards the door to go help.

"Where in the hell do you think you are going?" Amber shouted at me.

I stopped in my tracks and turned my head to face her "umm I going to help them get my stuff."

"The hell you are, the only thing you are doing is getting a nice hot shower and putting on comfy clothes." Amber responded. 

My controlling side wanted to insist on helping, but to be honest I was very tired from my trip and a shower did sound amazing. "Fine, but only because I want to, I responded and gave her a devilish grin. 

"The bathroom is all ready for you and I already laid out some of my pjs for you, so go on" Amber rolled her eyes and pointed down the hall to the bathroom door. 

As I stepped into the shower it felt like it washed away a lot more emotional baggage than it did dirt. My mind felt lighter than it had in a very long time. Which was odd because there was still so much unpacking to do and people to meet. Which let me tell you right now, I am not much of a people person. So that alone is enough to make me sick to my stomach. For some reason at this moment though it all washed away.

When I finished my shower, I put on the pjs Amber had left for me, they were two pieces a shirt and shorts that were covered in a celestial print of tiny stars and moons. I headed out of the bathroom for the living room. Amber was sitting on the couch and motioned for me to sit next to her. I went over to the couch and sunk into the spot next to her.

“The boys are already done bringing your stuff in, they finished while you were in the shower.”

“Thank you for having them help, it was nice to not worry about hauling everything in after my drive.”

“I couldn’t help but notice you didn’t have that much with you; you are still planning on staying long term, right?”

I could clearly see the worry etched a crossed her face even though she was trying to hide it. “Yes, I’m still planning on this being my home, I just put most of my things into storage for the time being until I could get more settled at least.”

“OK good, from what you have said about your old pack, I would hate to see you return to it.” She pulled me into a side hug, and I could see her smiling from the corner of my eye. Amber was happy that I was here, and I felt the same. I guess I didn’t realize how lonely I felt in my old pack, it was nice to feel loved and cared for.

We chatted for hours and caught each other up on our lives. My eye lids felt so heavy, the last thing I remembered was Amber talking about the new grocery store in town, and the next thing I knew it was morning.