Welcome to the Shadow Pack

         The vehicle pulled up to the entrance of the small packhouse. It wasn’t much, but they weren’t a big outfit yet. The Shadow Pack was selective about who they allowed in, because there wasn’t room for egos or selfish fools.

         “We’re here. Come on, we’ll show you around. Let you meet the guys.” Everyone piled from the vehicle as Ben announced this. However, it all came to a stop when a guy ran down the front steps to meet them.

         “Ty, we have a bit of a situation inside that needs your undivided attention.” He came to a stop, looking very flustered. “We’ve tried to keep them out of the way and quiet, but they’ll only talk to you.”

         “Eric, what are you talking about?” Ty tried to figure out what Eric was talking about in such a vague fashion. It wasn’t easy with how distracted he was by the blanket covered minx beside him. She wasn’t giving him an inch to work with, and he was desperate to get her in private. The blanket he held up around himself wasn’t hiding all that much itself.

         “You need to come in and see for yourself. It appears our arrival has stirred up more than the Hollow Wood Alpha’s wrath. Hi, sorry didn’t see you standing there behind him.”

         “Eric, quit flirting with your soon-to-be Luna, or this Alpha’s wrath will become apparent. Can this wait until I’ve found clothes?” Her identity got Eric’s attention, before the comment about needing clothing. Ty’d used that alpha tone again, but it appeared to Rose he didn’t use the alpha’s voice of authority on his pack very often. This was unreal for Rose, and she looked at Jules. She needed to gauge what was happening and hoped Jules wouldn’t lead her astray again. Jules looked as wide-eyed and confused as Rose did. Neither felt very comfortable.

         Eric’s eyes widened a little in surprise. “This is her?” He gave his head a little shake to correct himself. It was a dog like shaking off the water after it got out of a lake. He must have done this to reset his thoughts in Rose’s estimation. “Oh, uh, sorry ma’am. Welcome to your new home. I wish it was more, but we didn’t have time to prepare for your presence.”

         Those words were not what she was expecting to hear, nor see the man stand at attention like a soldier. Then he just stood there waiting for something. Instructions maybe? Acceptance of his apology? Rose wasn’t sure at all what she was supposed to do.

         “Ty, what is going on? This isn’t making any sense. I want to go home. Or leave this place all together. I don’t care where I go right now, just away from here where people are sane. There is a place like that, isn’t there?” She didn’t know what else to say. Eric’s mouth dropped open at her words. Clearly, she’d said something wrong, and it was the last thing Eric expected her to say.

         “Rose, stop it. You’re safe here and there’s nothing you need to worry about. I’ll handle whatever it is. There’s nothing here I’d let harm you that includes your father. He should have been dealt with years ago by someone else. Why they waited this long, I don’t know. But I aim to fix it.” Ty looked angry, but he wasn’t yelling or taking that anger out on anyone. He wasn’t destroying things, either. He was nothing like her father. Now she wondered if Ty was correct. What little her father said about him didn’t match what she was seeing before her. So, how much did her father tell her were lies or omissions?

         “As far as I can tell, they were waiting for us to come and do the job for them. Your uncle didn’t want excessive carnage on everyone’s hands from you taking control a third time. That’s why he sent us away to finish our training. Keep us out of sight and off Angles’ mind.” Ben reminded Ty before he got ahead of himself. Truthfully, there were only so many wolves strong enough to take on Russell. None of which, lived within the region and didn’t want anything to do with this isolated community. Russell was the big fish in a little pond, and he liked to lord that over others by pretending to be their saviour and protector.

         “True, though it could have been done better than it was, but we’ll work with what we’ve been dealt. Now I need to find some pants.” Ty knew he didn’t want to deal with anything if it meant Rose wasn’t in his presence. Fine, he’d deal with this quickly and then have Rose all to himself after that.

         “I guess you also need to get in there and deal with whatever has Eric in a panic. I’m pretty sure Jules will agree with me when I say. I’ll probably feel better with some clothes on. After all, we’re standing here in a blanket and a swimsuit.” Rose could live with a large t-shirt. Now that had some appeal if it was Ty’s shirt. Her thoughts went to wrapping herself up in one of his shirts with his scent clinging to it. She was glad that the blanket was there to keep prying eyes off all her curves and not to keep her warm. Jules must think the same thing.

         “Yeah, yeah. Come on then, let’s get this over with and see what is going on in there. I’ll try to get it done with as quickly as I can. But I can’t guarantee how fast that will be since I haven’t been told exactly what’s going on.” Ty was annoyed for several reasons, but clearly Eric didn’t want to affect Ty’s decision making on whatever the problem was inside.

         They made their way slowly toward the packhouse. Ty was dreading this part. Nothing inside was ready for anyone. Though he hoped the guys would get things habitable by this evening. But he wouldn’t hold out much hope for that.