Chapter 7 - Bridget

I still can’t understand what has happened.  How can someone who has never met me before know who I am? 

As I sit on the bus, I can’t seem to take my eyes off the bus driver.  My mind keeps trying to figure it out.  However, the only thing that I can think of is that Katelyn somehow knew I may come to her, and she showed them a picture of me.  Nothing else explains what is happening.

I finally tear my eyes away from Gus and look out the window.  My mind is still trying to grasp the events for today, but what I keep jumping to is the fact that I will see my best friend in a few hours.  Just the thought of finally getting to see her has me smiling.  I also can’t stop trying to think of all the things I want to tell her. 

There is one thing that I’m positive that I won’t say to her.  No matter what, I’m not going to tell her anything about Mike and that witch.  Oops, I mean Bambi, but I think witch fits her too.

Suddenly, I can’t wait to tell Beta Malcolm that I have finally found Katelyn. 

It didn’t take months like the other trackers, but it only took a few days.  Granted, I have an advantage because I can sense where she is at, but I can’t help to think that Alpha Marcus told them not to search too hard for her.  However, I can’t prove anything, but it is a gut feeling that I have.  I wouldn’t be surprised if Alpha Marcus even knows that Katelyn is actually Mike’s true mate.  At this point, nothing would shock me. 

I glance down at my watch and sigh.  Another hour before I get to see her. 

I stare back out the window and rest my head back on the seat.  It is just a little longer and we will be together again, but I’m not leaving her this time.  She should have someone that she can rely on to be with her.  I’m just hoping she has someone that will stand beside her and be a good support for her. 

I don’t know how Katelyn is going to handle it when I tell her I don’t have any intention of going back to our pack.  Right now, I think it is more important to be with her and support her, then to go home and be with my family.  Plus, she is my best friend.  There is no one other than her. 

The scenery buzzes by as my eyelids get a little heavy.

***

“Bridget, wake up.  It is time to get off the bus.”

I slowly open my eyes as Gus nudges my arm.  Oh, I must have fallen asleep.

I yawn and stretch my arms and legs as I groggily ask, “Where are we?”

Gus smiles.  “We are at the end of the line.  However, we still have to drive to the pack house.”

Wait.  Did he just say pack house?  I didn’t think that there were any werewolves in this area of the country.  We were always told this area is strictly for humans.  I think we have an unspoken agreement or something which keeps werewolves out of this section of the country.

Confused, I look at Gus.  “I didn’t think there were any werewolves out here.”

He chuckles and turns to walk towards the front of the bus as he chimes, “That is exactly what we want everyone to believe.”

This is so confusing.  What has Katelyn got herself into?  However, now that I’m awake, I can tell that she is really close.  So, I guess I’ll continue to trust him.

I stand up from my seat and stretch once again.  Man, I didn’t think that I could get this stiff from sitting on a bus, but clearly, I’m wrong. 

I slowly head towards the front and follow Gus off the bus.  He stops and grabs my bag from the luggage compartment before he heads to his car.  As we walk across the deserted parking lot, Gus chimes, “This is almost like déjà vu.” 

“It was a little over a month ago when Katelyn was on my bus.  She was tired, so I let her sleep for a while before I finally woke her up to take her to our pack house.”

He glances at me and then continues, “You know, this wasn’t where she wanted to go.  She had planned to get off the bus at one of my earlier stops, but she fell asleep.  She had been running so hard and she looked so exhausted that I couldn’t bring myself to send her off with no one.  It just isn’t safe letting an omega roam the country alone.  So, I made a judgement call.  I mind linked with my alpha and explained about Katelyn.  He immediately told me to bring her to our pack house, and that is exactly what I did.”

Well, that explains a few things.  However, I’m still worried, especially since my friend is in another pack.  What would they do to an omega?  No.  I can’t think like this.  I have to stay positive.

Gus adds, “You don’t have to worry about Katelyn.  Our pack cherishes omegas.  Our own alpha’s mother was an omega.  Sadly, she was killed a while ago in a fight.”

What?  An omega is the pack’s Luna.  How can that be?  I thought packs always have betas for Lunas.  There aren’t many omegas left and we are so much weaker than everyone else. 

All the packs have decided long ago to have betas for their Lunas, especially since most of the werewolves holding the Alpha titles can’t seem to find their mates.

Gus gently pats my shoulder as we approach his car.  “They will explain everything to you when we get to the pack house.  However, you don’t have to worry about Katelyn.  Our Alpha Wyatt is taking care of her.  Now, let’s hurry up so we can get there before the meal.”

Still lost in processing what little information he has given me, I simply nod my head and walk around the car to the passenger side.  He puts my bag in the back seat before he climbs into the driver’s seat. 

The car is quickly engulfed in silence as he pulls out of the parking lot and heads down the road.  Once again, I find myself staring out the window.  I still don’t know what to say.  Shoot, I don’t even know what to ask.

After a few more minutes of silence, Gus chimes, “Bridget, try not to worry too much.  Katelyn is being taken care by many people.  Alpha Wyatt has her staying in his section of the house with him.  In addition, Alpha Wyatt has Beta Ford and Lead Warrior Mason teaching her how to fight.”

What?  Fight?  Why would she learn how to fight?  Omegas aren’t strong enough to fight.

Before I can ask Gus anything, he quickly says, “In our pack, everyone is equal.  So, everyone is taught to fight, but we didn’t force Katelyn to fight.  She wants to be like our Alpha Wyatt, who is a good fighter, but still a beta.  You will understand when you finally get to meet him.”

Wow.  This pack is different.  Very different.  I have never heard of any beta being able to hold the Alpha title. 

I still don’t know if I’ll like them, but I already like the idea that everyone is equal.  That is one thing about my pack that I have hated and that your pack jobs are based on whether you are an alpha, beta or omega.  I’m fortunate because my parents can send me to the university, because Beta Malcolm wants Katelyn to have a friend with her while she is at the university.  If it isn’t for that, I would probably be cooking and cleaning like the stories I’ve heard about regarding a few other omegas.  The stupid thing is I can’t even cook.  I burn everything.  Shoot.  I can’t even boil water right.

I turn towards Gus and ask, “Has Katelyn been happy since she has been with your pack?”

Gus smiles and continues to focus on the road.  “Yes.  I think she has been happy, but I’m sure she will be even happier now that you are here.  She has missed you and her family so much.”

My heart aches hearing that.  I can only imagine what she has gone through this past month, and she did it all alone.

As we continue down the road, he tells me everything that my friend has done this last month.  I’m happy that she has managed to fit in so well with the pack.  In addition, I couldn’t be happier that there wasn’t anyone trying to bully her or be mean to her.  Most in other packs often look down on an omega.  They usually see them as too weak to do anything useful for the pack, which is wrong in so many ways.

That is also part of the reason Beta Malcolm has forced Katelyn to take the business program at the university.  I’m not really sure what his reason is for insisting she get a business degree, but I do know that Beta Malcolm hopes his daughter wouldn’t be seen as useless with that degree.  However, I personally think that Katelyn would have been able to help more had she taken the doctor program.  Every pack needs doctors and nurses.  They are a vital part of the pack, especially when there is an attack. 

After driving for a while, Gus chimes, “Well, I better warn you, so I don’t shock you like I did with Katelyn.”

Oh, no.  I hope it isn’t too bad.  I don’t think that I could handle anything too bad right now. 

Gus continues, “Our pack house and the other buildings at our home base are rather large.  What are Katelyn’s exact words?  Oh, yeah.  She calls it a mansion.  She mumbles something about being able to fit all your buildings from your pack into our pack house and still have room for neighboring pack buildings.”

He softly chuckles.  “Well, I haven’t actually compared our pack house or buildings to other packs, but from what Katelyn has said, our buildings are much larger than any other pack’s buildings.  I have lived at my pack house all my life, so it is normal to me, but for Katelyn, it is huge.”

Well, if my friend says it is a mansion, I can only imagine how big it is.  At least I’ve been given a little warning up front about it. 

A slowly nod my head.  “Okay.  I’ll try not to be shocked.”

Gus chuckles again.  “Well, Katelyn’s mouth nearly hit the ground when she saw it.”

Oh, now that is interesting.  She rarely gets shocked by much, so this place must really be huge.  I can’t wait to see it. 

When we finally get to the pack house, I quickly understand why Katelyn was shocked.  This place is freaking enormous.  I have never seen a pack house this big. 

With my eyes wide open, I can’t seem to take my eyes off the mansion.  Yes, Katelyn has described it correctly.  Not only is it big, but it is also exquisite. 

Various flowers and bushes line the front of the building and wrap around each side of the mansion.  I can’t see it, but I’m positive that the flowers and bushes continue on across the back, too.  I think there are flowers of every color here.  In addition, a beautiful water fountain in front of the house is tucked in at the left side of the mansion, along with some benches a short distance from the fountain. 

I can picture people sitting on the benches and admiring the water fountain.  I wonder if they have fish in the fountain.

My thoughts are cut off as the car stops and Gus chimes, “Well, we better go in and introduce you to a few of the pack members.  Alpha Wyatt wants to meet you right away, and he wants to introduce you to Beta Ford and Lead Warrior Mason.”

As my eyes continue to glance around the property, I mumble, “Okay.”