Chapter 8 - Katelyn

I still can’t believe everything that has happened today. 

First, I get to go back to school and get to study what I want to study.  Never in a million years would I have thought that something like this would happen to me.  Then Wyatt tells me all about the pack and of the secrets associated with the pack. 

I’m still shocked.  He has also told me that Bridget has abilities, which is why she can sense where I’m at.  If the elders work with her, Wyatt is sure that she will be able to sense and locate anyone when she really wants to find them. 

But one of the most shocking things he has told me is that most of the pack can read people’s minds.  That blows my mind away, but then it suddenly clicks why Wyatt always knows what I’m thinking.  I don’t have to even say it because if he wants to, he can just read my mind.  He promises they try to keep it to a minimum, but they have to do it from time to time.  That is also how he found out what my real name is.  He also divulges he knows the reason why I ran from my previous pack. 

I still don’t know if I should be mad at him for invading my head or happy.  I’m blocking my old pack from linking with me, but I wasn’t aware that I have to worry about the people in this pack. 

Wyatt also let me know that over time, he will explain all the pack members and each person’s ability, if they have one.  Not everyone has an ability, but at least half of them do. 

My mind is still swirling with all the information, but I suddenly sense that my friend is here. 

I jump up from my seat and interrupt Wyatt in mid-sentence, as I chime, “Bridget is here!”  With a huge smile on my face, I look at him.  “Come on!  We have to go meet her!”

I don’t even think twice as I grab his wrist and pull him off the couch that we have been sitting on.  I giggle as I pull him through the door and out of his office.  I don’t even have to ask where my friend is going to be.  Even without the mind link, I know she is currently standing outside of the pack house. 

Oh, my.  It has been a little over a month since I’ve seen her.  I can’t wait to see her again. 

As I continue to pull Wyatt through the halls and towards the dining hall, I call out over my shoulder, “I can’t wait for you to meet Bridget.  I’m sure you two will hit it off.”

As Wyatt runs behind me, he chuckles, “I’m sure that I’m going to like her.  Since you two are best friends, we will be too.”

My smile spreads from ear to ear as I can’t contain my excitement while I continue to run through the halls.  The two most important people, besides my parents, are going to finally meet.  What more could be better than this?

As we dash around the corner and head for the dining hall, I ask, “Did you mind link Ford and Mason?  I want them to be one of the first to meet Bridget.”

He chimes, “Yes.  I have mind linked with them, and they will be here shortly.  Mason will be here any second, but Ford had a few things that he needed to finish up and then he will be down.”

I nod my head and hum, “Okay,” as I push open the dining hall doors and run inside.  I stop in the middle of the room and wait. 

Wyatt chuckles and lightly taps my hand.

As I look down, I completely forget that I’m still holding onto his wrist.  However, for some reason, I really don’t want to let go of him.  It is comforting for me.

Before I can say anything, the doors open on the opposite side of the dining hall and Bridget walks in with Gus. 

I can’t control myself as I slightly jump in place and yell, “BRIDGET!!”

With my hand still holding Wyatt’s wrist, I once again pull him with me as I run towards my friend.  Wyatt doesn’t protest and allows me to pull him along.

A smile instantly pops onto my friend’s face as she drops her bag and screams, “KATELYN!!”  She raises her arms wide open as she runs towards me.   

I finally let go of Wyatt’s arm when I reach Bridget, and she and I engulf each other in a hug.  As we begin to sway back and forth while still hugging each other, I chime, “I’ve missed you so much.”

She replies, “Me too.”

I still can’t believe that she is here.  I wonder what she is going to say when I tell her she has abilities.

Cough.  Cough.

I glance to my side and suddenly realize that I haven’t introduced Wyatt yet.  I pat her back.  “Hey, I need to introduce you to someone.”

As she and I release each other and step back, I grab Wyatt’s arm and pull him toward me.  With a wide smile on my face, I chime, “Bridget, this is Alpha Wyatt.  He has been taking care of me, along with Ford and Mason.”

Wyatt smiles.  “I’m so happy to finally be able to meet you, Bridget.  Brenda talks about you all the time.”

Bridget tilts her head as a slight frown appears on her face.  “Brenda?  Who is Brenda?”

I nervously rub the back of my neck.  “Well…  Brenda is the name that I have been using.”

She looks at me but says nothing. 

Wyatt continues, “Don’t worry.  I’ve told the pack that they aren’t to use Katelyn’s real name when outside the pack.  To everyone beyond the borders, her name is Brenda, just in case someone is still trying to find her.”

I almost chuckle as Bridget finally realizes what Wyatt is saying.  She slowly nods her head and softly replies, “I don’t know if I can call her anything but Katelyn.  She has been Katelyn or Kate for as long as I can remember.”

I completely understand.  I must admit I’m having problems acknowledging when people call me Brenda.  It doesn’t register in my mind that they are talking to me. 

Bridget turns and looks at me and adds, “If Beta Malcolm promises to not try to locate you again or to drag you back to our old pack, will you go back to using your real name?”

Well, I never thought about that.  I just figured that my father wouldn’t give up regardless of how long that I’ve been gone. 

I sigh and shrug my shoulders.  “I’m not sure.  Would my father even agree to something like that?”

Wyatt gently pats my shoulder.  “If your father wants you to be happy, then he will agree to it.  I agree with Bridget.  You should use your real name as long as your parents agree no one will drag you away.  However, regardless of if Katelyn’s parents agree, they still must not know where we are located.  Our pack must remain a secret.”  Wyatt turns towards my friend.  “When you call Beta Malcolm back later to let him know that you have found Katelyn, you can’t tell him she is in a werewolf pack.  That includes any communication that you have with your own parents.  Okay.”

She glances at me before she looks back at Wyatt and slowly nods her head.  “I promise not to give away your location or that you are werewolves.”

He softly chimes, “Thanks.”  Slowly, a smile spreads across his face.  “Now, let’s give you a quick tour before it is mealtime.”

Bridget smiles and nod.  “Sure.” 

I grab her bag and we head out of the dining room.  Oh, she is going to be amazed by everything that we have here.

***

“Wow!  This place is amazing and a real-life maze.”  Excited, Bridget turns towards me and asks, “How can you remember all this?  Right now, my head is swirling with everything, and I’m sure I would get lost trying to come back from the bathroom.”

We walk through the back door and back into the pack house from the backyard. 

I chuckle and shake my head.  “You will get used to it quickly.”  I stop a few feet from the door in the middle of the hallway and turn towards her.

Wyatt and Bridget walk up next to me and stop.

She slowly shakes his head.  “I don’t know.  I don’t think I will remember as fast as you.”

Wyatt chuckles and points towards me.  “Don’t worry.  Katelyn was completely lost the first week.  I would secretly send people to help guide her to where she wanted to go.”

No!  Wait.  He didn’t do that, did he?

I gasp as my mouth falls open.

My friend chuckles and looks at me.  “I bet she tried to act like she knew where she was going.  Oh, I wish I was here and could have seen her trying to act all normal and everything.”

Hey, how did I become the focus?

I stand there looking between Wyatt and Bridget while they laugh at me.  I don’t know what to say. 

I didn’t even know Wyatt had sent people to help me.  I thought I just had people walking past me all the time.  Even now, people are constantly walking around me.  Wait.  Is Wyatt still sending people to help me? 

As I’m lost in my own thoughts, he turns towards me and nudges my arm.  “I’m not sending people to look after you anymore.  However, I think people are just naturally trying to be near you so they can help.”

Bridget smiles and chimes, “All Katelyn has to do is to flash her gorgeous smile and deep dimples at them, and they will want to do anything to make her smile again.”

Before I can protest, Wyatt smiles and nods.  “Yes, her smile and dimples are very captivating.”

Wait.  What does that mean?

I whip my head towards him. 

I’ve completely forgotten that they were just laughing at me.  Instead, my mind can’t seem to process what he just said.  My smile and dimples are captivating.  Does that mean he enjoys looking at them?

I’m suddenly brought out of my thoughts as a small child pushes past us and runs towards the dining hall.  Well, I don’t even have to look at the clock.  By the way the child is running, I can bet it is about mealtime.

Wyatt points down the hallway towards the dining hall and chimes, “Well, that is our cue to go get our seat at our table.”

Bridget smiles and rubs her stomach.  “Good.  I’m starving.”

For once in my life, my mind isn’t totally consumed with the idea of food.  Usually when it is mealtime, I can’t think about anything other than what we will eat.  What is wrong with me?  Why are Wyatt’s words bothering me so much?