“I think I like you, Amie. I had the guest room on the second floor overlooking the creek made up,” he said.
“Thanks, man. I’ll just get Amie settled and then I’ll come find you,” Finlay said. He took me up to a homey room. It smelled clean and had an airy feel to it, with white and beige decor and large windows letting the sunlight in. “I’m sorry to just leave you. But I need to check in with Martin and Sam,” he apologised to me.
“It’s okay. I could do with a moment to freshen up and get used to the feeling of being surrounded by wolves again,” I told him. Itwas true. Even though I didn’t belong to this pack and therefore didn’t have the pack bond, I could still feel the faint buzzing of the pack’s connection to each other and the pack land. The once familiar feeling now felt uncomfortable and highly noticeable.
“You have your own bathroom through that door. I’ll be back as soon as I can and show you around. It shouldn’t be more than thirty minutes,” Finlay told me.
“It’s fine, take your time,” I told him. With a final look and a nod, he left me alone in the room and I sank down on the bed and let out a breath and relaxed. I couldn’t believe I was in a pack house again. I had told myself I should stay away from the werewolf community. But something about Finlay had made me give in. Maybe I finally had met someone as stubborn as myself. I reminded myself this was just a way to make him leave me alone. I would stay for a few days, then turn his offer down and continue living my own life. In the little town where no one knew who or what I was and that was how I wanted it. Right? I got up and made my way into the bathroom. A hot shower would be nice after the long ride, and it couldn’t hurt to look at least a little presentable when meeting the pack. Not that I wanted to impress anyone, it was just ingrained into me since childhood that when meeting a new pack, you showed the best version of yourself. It was about politeness. At least that is what I told myself as I was getting ready. I had enough time to shower and get dressed. Then I watched the amazing view of the creek with the wildflowers growing along it. I sat by the large windows for ten minutes before there was a knock on the door. I opened it and let Finlay in.
“Ready to check out the pack land and say hi to some pack members?” he asked.
“Sure, that’s why I’m here,” I told him.
“Do you mind if Martin and Sam join us? They are curious about you and it’s rare we get new wolves,” he said.
“No, that’s fine by me,” I told him and did my best to mask my nerves. It was uncomfortable to be around strange wolves, and I wondered how much Finlay had told them about me. Did they all know that I had no wolf? I followed Finlay downstairs, where Martin waited with another man. This new wolf had hair almost as red as my own. He was pale with freckles and had a look more suited for a rascal than a Gamma. I was introduced to him and I had guessed correctly, he was the pack’s Gamma.
“Finlay, someone else with red hair!” he happily exclaimed. “Medow, my mate will love you,” he added. I couldn’t help but laugh and I decided I liked Gamma Sam from the start. The three men took me on a short tour around the pack house. Making sure I knew where the important things were. Then they took me outside and started introducing me to other wolves. All while joking and taking puns out of each other. I found myself relaxing in their company and it made me remember growing up and the friend group I had belonged to. Until one of them broke my heart. I unconsciously rubbed my chest, like I always did when thinking of James. The pain wasn’t as sharp as it had been. But I would have hoped it would have gone away by now. Maybe the moon goddess would be kind enough to give me a second chance mate. But it didn’t look like that was in my cards.
“Are you okay?” Finlay asked. He looked worried.
“I’m fine,” I told him and let my smile slip into place. I was used to hiding the hurt by now. It was my second nature. He looked at me a little longer and then nodded. We had walked through the centre of the village. Everything looked well kept and the pack felt happy and content. As far as I could see, this was a good pack. It had the same vibe as I picked up from Finlay. Relaxed, caring and strong. It showed how much influence an Alpha had on his pack.
“I suggest we head for the communal kitchen and end our tour with a pack dinner,” Finlay suggested.
“Yes please. Medow has kitchen duty and I have been away from her for too long,” Sam exclaimed.
“Newly mated wolves,” his two friends said as one and rolled their eyes. I had to laugh. In the kitchen, we found a small woman with brown hair in a pixie cut that made her look adorable.
“Medow, honey,” Sam called out. The woman turned around and gave him a brilliant smile.
“Babe!” she called and gave him a wave before returning to cooking.
“Come, I’ll introduce you,” Sam told me and took my hand to tow me through the kitchen.
“Honey, Finlay brought a guest home with him. She is thinking of joining the pack,” Sam said as we walked up behind his mate. Medow twirled around and her mouth fell open as she stared at us.
“The two of you could be twins,” she said with a smile. “Hello, I’m Medow,” she added and held out her hand towards me. I shook it and introduced myself. “So the boys have been showing you around?” she then asked.
“Yes.”
“Poor thing, you must be in need of some decent company. You can leave her with me, babe. I’ll take it from here,” she told her mate.
“But, honey, the Alpha wanted her to eat with us,” Sam tried to object.
“Do you think I will hog tie our guest in the walk-in freezer? Of course she will eat with us. But the food won’t be ready for at least thirty minutes. So scoot, go do something useful and I’ll take care of Amie.”
“Is it okay with you?” Sam asked. I could see he wanted to please his mate, but at the same time obey his Alpha and respect me as a guest. Poor thing didn’t know what to do.
“I think it sounds like an amazing idea,” I told him. He relaxed and smiled at his mate. They kissed, two times, and then Medow shooed him away.
“He is sweet and I love him to death. But he is a tad bit clingy,” she confided in me. I laughed.
“Tell me a mated wolf that isn’t when it comes to his mate,” I joked and felt the pang in my chest. Medow laughed with me.
“Come, I’ll introduce you to the matriarch of the pack. We don’t have a Luna, since Finlay isn’t mated, but his aunt is the one female everyone looks up to. She’ll like you,” Medow told me and we walked deeper into the kitchen. “Matilda,” Medow called out. An older woman appeared from a door and smiled at us. There was a likeness to her nephew. They had the same kind eyes.
“Yes?” Matilda asked and looked at me.
