The Woodland Packs

I had no idea how I felt… other than high on life. But I couldn’t really answer that particular answer without sounding a bit nuts.

I was ushered to the table to sit down to a plate of roasted lamb, salad and fruit. My stomach began to gurgle.

Maybe I was hungrier than I thought.

I picked at the meat and the men around me fell into a natural conversation about work, and the people in their lives.

I listened absently and looked around the kitchen, the space clean and well used.

Much nicer than my own apartment really, despite the feminine touches I’d added for colour and warmth. After all, I was never home, so why bother keeping it nice all the time?

“So, what do you guys do after dinner?”

They looked at me with sudden heat, the suggestive expression in Dexter’s eyes making me glance away.

“No. I mean, on a normal night.”

“Depends,” Taylor said, leaning over the table and grabbing a handful of berries. “Sometimes we just watch some TV, other times we go out for a run through the woods. We’re up before dawn most days, so we go to bed pretty early compared to humans, I suspect.”

I grinned at him. “And you know a lot about humans?”

He shrugged. “Not really.”

Dexter ran a hand over my back and I looked up at him. “What would you like to do, beautiful? There’s a pub of sorts where a lot of the guys hang out, play pool and drink. Would you like to meet more of the pack? Or…”

I shook my head. “Not at the moment. Maybe tomorrow.”

The last thing I wanted to do was be around those intense stares when there was alcohol involved, and my men were outnumbered.

My men… what a concept.

“I’d love to see you all shift, if that’s what you mean by going for a run.”

I think it would blow my mind, actually. Some part of me still didn’t believe I was in a paranormal world.

I wanted to see it again. To verify that I hadn’t been dreaming the first time.

Because if all of this were true, then the part of me that didn’t believe in fated love or sex with multiple people may just be silenced forever.

The men looked at each other and I could see the fear in their eyes.

“What’s wrong?”

“Oh… ah…” Taylor glanced at Jay and Dexter with an uncomfortable look on his face. “We?

??re just a bit concerned about how you’re going to respond when you see us. We don’t want to scare you off.”

I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about it, either.

“Well, if you have a bottle of vodka, a couple of shots wouldn’t hurt.”

“Ah…” That look again.

“Don’t tell me you don’t drink. Because I’ve seen beer in your fridge.”

“Oh, we do.” Taylor said, “Just not much hard liquor. With a pack full of unfulfilled, testosterone-fuelled men, having an abundance of alcohol on hand isn’t a smart move.”

“I see” Yes, they were probably right.