The Pack (The Pack 1)

“Yes, to my Dad. Who used my college fund to buy it.”

“Ouch,” Caleb muttered sympathetically. “Guess my perfect brother isn’t so bad.”

“Yeah, we’ve all got problems,” I grumbled, glaring at the ground. “Are you planning to let go anytime soon?” I asked tightly, unwilling to look up at the giant who held me in his grip.

“You gonna fall down if I do?” He replied, his hold easing and I scowled at the realization that I hadn’t fooled him.

“I’m fine,” I snapped, jerking back as he let go. I swayed and almost fell until Caleb extended a supporting arm.

“Fine,” Dominic mocked and I glared at him.

“Yes, and I would be even better if you hadn’t picked me up and shook me!”

He tilted his head in acknowledgement, increasing my urge to punch him, but my toes already throbbed from the few kicks I’d gotten in and I could only imagine what it’d feel like if I actually hit him.

“Okay, it was a little misunderstanding, but now we’re good,” Caleb soothed, obviously wanting to keep the peace. I eyed him and shook my head.

“You’re both fucking crazy,” I muttered and stormed away, my angry strides eating the ground.

“I have your bag,” a lazy voice called and I barely paused.

“Keep it,” I shouted back, not even bothering to turn around.

Once I got back to my room at the motel, my legs were about to collapse from the anger fueled march. All I wanted was to sprawl on the bed and forget my day, but no. There was a note stuck to the fake pine headboard telling me rooms 207 and 110 needed cleaning. I dropped my head back on the bed only for it to bounce up before falling back again.

“Why?” I groaned, hauling myself back up to go clean the rooms. “The housekeeping gig goes to the girl who has never cleaned anything in her life. I wouldn’t even be qualified if this was a paying gig.”

It took me awhile to get the cart stocked and moving and of course, the rooms were on separate floors so I had to do it twice. I slapped on rubber gloves as I moved through the rooms, trying not to think about what went on in them as I changed the sheets. When it came to emptying the trash, I almost gagged at the number of used condoms in it. “At least they’re being safe,” I comforted myself as I made a mental note to have Dad find a hazardous materials container for the cart.

I shoved my cart back into the closet and set the sheets to wash before going back to my room. As I approached the door, I saw something hanging from the doorknob. Closer inspection revealed my book bag, but when I glanced around, I didn’t see anyone.

I lifted my bag from the door and a note drifted to the ground.

I’M SORRY

The words were in all caps, tightly written, and I knew instinctively it was Dominic’s handwriting. I folded the note in my hand as I glanced at the parking lot. He was long gone, but only one thought ran through my mind.

How did he know which room was mine?

Chapter Four

When I woke up the next morning, irritation from the previous day continued to eat at me. There was something odd about the Pack, from their self-imposed isolation to their decision to include me for whatever reason. Add in the fact that Dominic didn’t like me referring to them as the Pack, and suddenly it all seemed entirely too mysterious.

A mystery you have no desire to solve, I reminded myself as I shoved the covers aside and got ready for the day. You’ll stay away from them, I added for good measure. My mental pep talk was singularly unconvincing as I felt curiosity tug at me. You want to leave, remember? I told myself almost desperately.

I rubbed my arms unconsciously as I remembered Dominic picking me up like a ragdoll. The ease in which he’d lifted me was terrifying. I wandered to the mirror and saw two perfect handprints encircling my biceps where he’d held me. The span of his fingers was almost unbelievable, and as I ran my finger over one of the bruises I winced. It was sore, but I knew it would fade quickly. My skin tended to bruise easily, and I could admit he hadn’t held me with the intention of hurting me. In fact, my own struggling might have been what caused the bruises, but the sight of them solidified my decision to avoid the Pack.

All of them.

I wasn’t one of them.

I didn’t want to be one of them.

I stripped off my pajama set and reached for a long sleeve t-shirt. I didn’t want questions or apologies. Dominic was a jerk and it was better for all of us if I continued to remind myself of the fact.