Claimed by the Pack

“Well Brandon, it seems somebody’s made a mistake. You can’t live here because the house isn’t ready. Not even close.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’m still fixing it up, and the University gave me another six months to finish the job.”

He looked confused as I handed the paper back to him. “You? A girl?”

“Yeah,” I laughed. “Me. A girl.” I used a single finger to tap my tits, playfully. “See?”

He blushed and nodded. Folded the paper back into his pocket.

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“Go tell them you need another place. In fact, tell them they—”

I stopped dead as another two guys walked up behind him. Two boys, really. College students, like Brandon. Maybe twenty, or twenty one.

“Hi,” one of them said. He was equally as tall, with soft blonde hair that framed a very handsome face. “I’m Colin, and this asshole next to me is Hunter.” Hunter elbowed him so hard he almost dropped his box. “We’re here for our rooms.”

My eyes found Brandon’s again and he gave me an apologetic shrug.

“Well shit,” I said.

Two

CLAUDIA

The guys stared at me for a long while, like they were witnessing the creation of some paint-splattered goddess. It was Colin who eventually put down his own boxes to help clean up the mess.

“Thanks,” I said, tossing him a clean rag.

“No problem.”

I explained to them how I’d been tasked with fixing up the place, and how I’d only just begun. I left out the money part. As an adjunct professor my salary wasn’t much, so I took whatever extra hours I could. Not only was this some good supplemental income, it also kept me out of my own house for as long as I wanted.

Out of the house and away from Garrett.

“So you’re the one fixing up the old DDT house, huh?”

Hunter circled the foyer, being careful not to track through any of the spilled paint. There was a definite swagger in his step. His walk was cocky, if not outright arrogant.

“Cleaning and painting more than fixing it,” I admitted. “But yeah, that’s me.”

I didn’t know much about repairs, but I could certainly paint and decorate. And thanks to my neurotic grandmother, I could clean circles around just about anybody.

“And you just started, right?”

“Yup.”

“Good. Then you don’t mind me saying it looks like shit.”

His attitude amused more than offended me. In the six years I’d been teaching, I’d learned to grow a thicker skin.

“It looks like shit,” I replied, “because it’s been pretty much abandoned since the 1980’s. All the more reason you guys can’t live here.”

Brandon and Colin exchanged concerned looks. Hunter only folded his arms.

“And why not?”