The Pack (The Pack 1)

“You disagree?” I asked him directly and Caleb gave me a startled glance. I kept my expression blank, but Caleb had been there when the Hanleys had attacked. He knew what they intended and had told them himself it was an act of war.

“I don’t think violence is the answer,” he answered diplomatically and Dominic snorted in the back. Anna kept her gaze focused out the window, and I made a note to ask her opinion later. “I also wonder why they haven’t retaliated yet if their purpose is to start something.”

“It’s Dom,” Anna said quietly, so low I almost missed it, but the other sharper ears in the Jeep had no trouble. “They’re afraid of him.”

“With good reason,” Dominic snarled, his body tense, as he shifted around uncomfortably in the back seat of the Jeep.

“And Uncle Hank,” Anna continued as if he hadn’t interrupted. “Both of them are powerful fighters. Caleb too when necessary. They’re going to be cautious. Try and catch us when we’re weak.”

“You agree?” Caleb questioned, a hint of betrayal in his voice.

Anna gazed at him, her expression a curious mix of patience, sympathy and exasperation. “Yes, Caleb. I agree with Dom.”

“But your parents….”

“Are wrong in this instance.”

Anna shifted restlessly and for the first time I saw a flicker of fear cross her face.

“They’ve already attacked Jess multiple times. It’s only a matter of time before they come after me.” The Jeep jerked slightly as Caleb’s grip tightened on the wheel. “They targeted Samantha when Dom was away. Their intentions are clear. It’s only a matter of time before I’m next.” Anna turned her head to look out the window at the dense forest that was her home. “I don’t like it, but I also don’t want to live in fear of the day they come for me.”

“Anna,” Caleb said, horror in his voice before he cleared it. “They will never touch you,” Caleb promised, his voice deeper than I’d ever heard and both Anna and Dominic’s eyes jerked to him.

“That was –” Dominic started, but cut off abruptly.

“I’ll talk to my father,” Caleb stated and they both nodded, silenced by the forcefulness of his words.

The rest of the ride was quiet and when we arrived, Dominic told us to meet at the field house after school.

“Stay together,” he admonished. “No one goes anywhere alone. Especially, you two,” he added, eyeing Anna and me. We nodded, neither of us bothering to argue after recent events.

Anna stuck with me as we walked down the hall, and there were a few curious glances, but none of them came from Pack members. I smirked internally at how accurately the humans had labeled them, even if it was completely unintentionally.

“Why are you amused?” Anna whispered, catching sight of my expression.

“It’s nothing,” I answered, glancing over at her. “Just it makes sense why Dominic freaked out when I referred to him and Caleb as the Pack.”

Anna snorted and shook her head.

“They are so oblivious it hurts. We’ve had that same nickname forever at this school.”

I lowered my voice even further, knowing what I was about to ask was not for human ears.

“You’re a wolf?”

Anna shot me a quick glance and nodded.

“That’s rare?”

She nodded again and when we reached my locker she said, “My mom is too. It’s why she’s an elder. Genetically speaking, it’s rare for a female to have the ability to shift.”

“Wouldn’t that make the Hanley’s want you even more?”

“We’ve managed to hide it from them. I was worried when Samantha joined them that they’d find out, but she must have kept our secret.”

“Why can’t they sniff you out like they did me?” I asked curiously, failing to hide my offended tone as I did.

Anna smiled and answered, “The shifting helps that too. Like Caleb isn’t old enough to mate even though he is clearly capable of actual mating,” she paused, a pink blush crawling up her cheeks as I lifted my eyebrows. “I mean, not that I know he can or has, but I would think,” she stumbled over her words, flustered, and I bit back a smile, waving my hand for her to move on. “Anyway, it’s the same for me. I mean girls mature faster than boys, obviously,” she rolled her eyes and I laughed. “But when it comes to shifters we have to be of age.” She gave me a curious glance. “Dominic is the only one in our pack of age to mate.”

“Is that why I got so many weird looks when I was there yesterday?”

“That was one of the reasons,” Anna laughed, but before I could ask her what she meant, the bell rang. I didn’t get a chance to talk to her again until lunch, but when I walked in, Leah caught my eye and waved. I glanced at the center tables, but when I veered off to sit with Leah, Anna gave me an understanding smile. I was one of them, but I wasn’t. I still didn’t fully understand my place with them other than I was capable of having little shifter babies, and that was enough for them to welcome me with open arms.