CHAPTER 2

Unpacking doesn’t take as long as I had anticipated, not that it should've. I don't have a lot of things, courtesy of my deadbeat parents. Besides, I've spent most of my life on the road. When you’re constantly travelling you learn to travel light and not form bonds and attachments.

Even as I unpack and settle into my Uncle's house it feels like another guest lodge except I’m not staying for a week or two. I’m staying until I turn 18, which luckily enough for me is very soon. It’s tomorrow actually.

I’ve already made up my mind about this place, I’ll just wait it out, go to my parents funeral, collect my trust fund and leave. That’s it.

I blow the hair away from my face as I hear footsteps nearing my door and stopping. That must be Camilla. It’s crazy how good my hearing is. My mom had always joked about my senses being weirdly heightened. I rolled my eyes, it was just a thing, and then as though I imagined it.

I hear my uncle's voice speak. But it’s not out loud, it's like in my head.

“I can’t believe you did this Viv!” He says angrily.

I turn around in confusion.

But then I hear my Aunts voice answer. “I’m sorry Henry but what did you expect me to do, whatever the case is she’s family!”

I turn around in confusion. Am I imagining this conversation?

I try to quiet it down but it’s not doing so.

“I honestly wish you would’ve spoken to me and about this funeral too, I don’t know how the Alpha is going to react to this” He says.

Alpha? I think to myself what he's talking about. Is this just a dream or something.

“I know it’s not conventional but she’s family, Henry I don’t care how you ended things with your brother but family is family, “ she says. “he might have chosen to run away from the pack but she didn’t,”

My uncle is silent for a moment and then he says in a resigned voice. “All of that aside, we’re not even sure she’s a werewolf.”

Werewolf? I think to myself and suddenly. I hear my Aunts voice gasp and then I can’t hear their conversation anymore.

What just happened to me and what are these people about. Alpha? Pack? Werewolf? Is everyone in this pack just sick in the head or something.

I sit on the floor and rub my temples. What do they even mean? And how did that happen, I hear footsteps move away from my room. What exactly is going on with me?

My parents were horrible enough but then they had to go and die and then take my sanity with them and send me to this crazy town. I feel myself slowly losing my mind. I can't really understand what’s going on but I don’t understand any of it.

A knock sounds on my door bringing me out of my reverie. I sit up and go to open the door. To my surprise Camilla stands outside with an impossibly happy smile on her face.

“Mom said I should give you a tour of the house,” she says.

I nod trying to still understand what’s going on.

She then starts walking and I follow, she shows me her room first which happens to be right next to mine but unlike mine that’s very simple and monotone hers has been decorated very lively, and it’s a mix of beautiful colours and stuff. It seems as though the room was specifically customized to her taste, that's all I can really say about it.

I follow her as she points to her twins room. And then her parents we go down and she shows me the laundry room, kitchen and dining room and finally the background. I see a little outdoor pool, I imagine that it would really be fun to swim in during the summers. But I doubt I’ll be staying long enough for that. After our little tour, Camilla takes me to the living room.

I sit quietly as I watch her.

The doorbell rings and then she squeals i wince at the sound, I’ve never really been much of a girlie girl like Camilla truth is I don’t think I’ve ever had the chance to be one so seeing her and my aunt Viv in their feminine outfits it’s a bit of a culture shock if sorts.

“That must be the pizza guy, I didn’t know which one you’d like so I ordered a bunch” she says. And just as she’s done with that statement my stomach growls in response and she grins.

“I could eat honestly” I say and take a seat on the couch. I contemplate asking Camilla about the thing I thought I imagined about her parents but the truth is I’m abit skeptical. I don't want them to think I’m crazy.

After she’s done settling down and brings out the snacks Peter jumps on the couch and grabs a box, he grins as he starts to scarf it down and I join in too.

After a couple moments I clear my throat then look at Camilla.

“Uh, where are your parents?” I ask casually.

“They went to the Alpha’s house” Peter says without thinking, but then Camilla gives him a bewildered look and he tries to cover up. “Uh no I meant the pack house, no I mean Christopher’s house”

“Uh huh Alpha Pack what are all of you about!” I ask my eyes to widen. I might not actually be going crazy after all.

“No it’s not what you think Jessica”

“Oh really! Then what the fuck is it!” I ask in irritation. I actually want to scream and shout right. I don't even know what these two are about.

“Fuck! Peter, we weren't supposed to tell her now!”

“Tell me what?” I piqued my interest.

“You’re going to be a fucking useless Beta” she shakes her head.

“First alpha? Now beta?” I ask irritatedly. “What are you on about? Is this supposed to be some stupid cult?”

Camilla shakes her head.

“It’s bad enough that my parents died and I had to move to this crazy town and I’m hearing people talking in my head now all of this”

“What’s that? You heard people talking in your mind” Peter asks in shock. “But that’s impossible you’re human, you even smell like one”

“Im so confused right now” I sigh rubbing my temples. “You two are making my headache.

Camilla sighs and then looks at Peter. “Could you give us a minute”

He nods and leaves without another word.

Camilla moves towards me and then sits next to me, she grabs a hold of my hands.

“What’s really going on here?” I ask.

“Okay we weren’t supposed to tell you this immediately but Jessica we’re werewolves. Me, Peter and my parents and your dad, our dad’s the Beta of the pack. And this town well it has other werewolves and these wolves are in our pack, the lunar Cove pack”

Immediately she’s done speaking I burst out laughing. “Jesus Christ I really must be going crazy”

And then I let go of her hands. “Did you just say you’re a werewolf?”

“Is this some kind of sick prank? It's okay if you don’t want to tell me about the weird cult,” I laughed once again.

But Camilla shakes her head and looks dead serious. “I’m actually not joking Jessica. I'm actually a werewolf.”

I laugh again. “Oh you’re serious”

She then stands up and stretches her hand out to me, reluctantly takes it and then she leads me to the background.

“You still don’t believe me do you, it’s cool I’ll show you” she says then opens the doors. We both spot Peter standing outside in nothing but shorts. It should be cold out but he doesn’t even shake. I raise a brow at her.

“Shhh just watch”

I look at Peter and after a moment I see him growl and then transform into a huge Wolf the size of a horse. My jaw falls to the ground and I look at him in shock and bewilderment. I can’t believe my eyes. He really is a werewolf. Peter's wolf is light brown, he howls and I watch, unable to say another word, trying to make sense of the events occuring in front of me.

The wolf, or rather Peter moves towards me, I take a step back.

“It’s okay he won’t hurt you” Camilla says as she holds my hand and pets him. His fur is soft and perfect. I can't believe it, or rather I can’t believe the situation I’m currently in. Werewolves! My cousin is a werewolf!

“Did he just-“

“Yup” Camilla smirks. “Still believe we’re not werewolves”

“I-“ I start off but then I don’t get to finish that sentence because a moment later everything goes dark and I feel myself falling.