The Wanted Werewolf

Chapter 3

Elena

We were given coordinates to our new pack the next morning. Alexei drove, even with his bad ankle. We were headed towards the south. I found myself stripping of layers of clothes the longer we drove; the higher the temperatures rose. Sweat formed on my brow even with the AC blasting on high. I wasn't used to the heat. I only ever knew Russia.

Alexei and I didn't dare make any stops unless we absolutely needed to, which was only for gas and to grab a quick bite from whatever the gas station had to offer. Cash only - no cards. We kept our heads down and covered just to be safe. Even then, we were in and out within minutes.

Night had fallen by the time we got close. It left us navigating winding dirt roads in the dark. At least Alexei had his exceptional werewolf sight. I would by my next birthday, but until then I was stuck squinting out the window.

Elena

"Thorin warned me that this pack takes their safety very seriously," Alexei said, weariness in his tone.

"Is that a good or bad thing for us?" I looked over at him, searching his face for something, anything. It remained blank, though I did catch him sucking on a tooth. He was unsure.

"I don't know. Just do what they say - your brother said they would be expecting us."

"How far away are we? I feel like we have been on this dirt road forever."

"We are close. But this pack isn't like Russia, Elena - Ellie." Alexei corrected himself. "There won't be cities and towns like home. We lived with humans scattered about. This place is strictly for werewolves. Life is going to look a lot different."

"I know - Alex." I rolled my eyes, sitting back in my seat. I crossed my arms in front of me.

This was supposed to be a fresh start. But somehow it felt like I was about to be trapped again. Maybe if I had been part of the planning process, or had been able to choose the pack myself. If I even knew the name of where I would be staying, or who the Alpha was, maybe I would feel differently. But I didn't have a choice. It was either Vadim or this. I just wish I knew which was the better option.

We hit a nasty bump - Alexei cursed. The front tires began to fizzle.

I gasped as Alexei stepped on the breaks. I lurched forward, my seat belt yanking me back.

"What was that?!"

"Tire spikes! Damn it!" Alexei yelled, jumping out of the car.

Wrestling with my belt, I managed to hop out, meeting him at the front of the car to inspect the tires. I took one quick glance at the torn apart rubber before realizing we weren't alone. Three sets of eyes were starting at me through the brush on my right. Alexei had his eyes locked to the left of him.

"State your name and business!" a booming voice called from twenty or so feet in front of the car. He spoke English, my second language. His accent was heavy. I couldn't clearly see him, only his silhouette. He looked enormous.

"Alex Burns and Ellie Walker. We were sent here for sanctuary," Alexei said, dropping his heavy accent, putting his hands up. "We mean no harm."

"Take them for processing," the man said, turning on his heel and striding off into the dark.

Two sets of hands were on me in an instant - Alexei too. Adrenaline spiked in me and I began to fight.

"Don't make this difficult-" One of the men holding me grunted, struggling to keep his grip.

"Ellie - don't fight them!" Alexei yelled, his face glued to the hood of the car.

I didn't listen.

Thrashing, kicking, biting, I didn't hold back. Overcome with fear, I let them have it all. Until a fist met my face and the world spun around me.

- - - - - - -

"Mommy, where are you?"

My feet padded against the cold stone floor as I dragged my favorite doll through the house. She was missing some hair, and had some scuff marks, but she was my most prized possession.

"Mommy?"

I made it to the end of the hall - her door was half open. He was there. I turned to leave before he could see me, but I was too late.

"Elena."

A warning and a summoning all in one.

Noiselessly, I made my way into her room. She was nowhere to be found. Dad sat on her bed, his eyes hazy and red.

"Where is mommy?"

"She left. She won't be back."

"But-"

He gave me that look. The one that had me slamming my mouth shut, praying he was in a benevolent mood today.

"Tomorrow I have an assignment for you."

"Wake up."

"What assignment?" I asked as he strode past me. "Pa?"

He turned towards me and ripped my doll out of my hands. I reached for her - but was met with a backhand instead.

"Wake up." Someone nudged me - startling me.

I sucked in a sharp breath, sitting up abruptly. I was in a small cell with two other people I didn't recognize. One was hovering over me while the other searched through my things.

"Her temp is ninety-seven. Blood pressure was good too," She pulled a cuff off my arm and began typing on a laptop that rested on top of a small rolling cart. "Gunshot wound to her upper arm, but it's healing well."

"Who are you? Where am I?" I scooted away from the woman, nearly falling off the bench I was resting on.

"Let Alpha know she is ready." The woman flipping through my fake documents said, her eyes glued to the papers.

"No need, I'm already here."

He was the same man standing in front of our car - however long ago. He was one of the tallest men I had ever seen. His hair was jet black, a few wrinkles framed his deep brown eyes, and his skin... it was the same color as mine.

"Where is my friend?"

"He is here - safe. Just like you." He let himself into the cell, leaning against the bars. "Care to tell me about yourself?"

"You say that like I have a choice."

"I'll be honest with you -" He glanced over at the table with all my things. "-Ellie. I was more or less told that I had to take you and Alex on. While I don't mind helping someone in need, I like to know what kind of liability I am taking on."

"I assure you, the less you know, the better."

"Your friends' exact words." He clicked his tongue, his hands slipping into his pockets.

"She is all clear." The woman riffling my things said under her breath.

The Alpha and I watched intently as she packed everything back into the backpack that I had been given just yesterday. I wasn't even entirely sure what all was in there. She handed it to him when she was finished.

"I'll be honest with you, I don't like this - taking you on with no information." He let out a heavy sigh, handing me my bag. "But I don't have any other choice. Let's go."

"Where are we going?"

"Orientation."

- - - - - - - -

Alpha Kieth Sterling, I learned, was his name. We were in the Stoneguard Pack located far south in the United States. We traveled by foot from the holding center to the packhouse where Alexei was apparently already waiting for us. The homes and buildings blended seamlessly with the surrounding forest, different from the city life I had come from. Strange-looking trees had limbs that twisted and sprawled with a mind of their own. The grass was odd looking too, wilder somehow. In places where there was no tree coverage, the grass was burnt looking. It was hot here - hotter than anywhere I had ever been before. Humid too. The pack, apparently, had a vast amount of land which stretched all the way to the ocean. Not that I cared to see.

I tried to school my features into neutrality as we passed more and more people. So many different skin colors and body shapes. It was a melting pot of people. Many waved at us and said hello - they even made eye contact with the Alpha. If that had been my father...

No. I wasn't going to go there.

"Here we are," Alpha Kieth said as a large building came into view. It was white with a porch that wrapped around the entire structure. There was a parallel balcony above head with a few doors and windows kicked open. I noticed three sets of eyes on me as I approached. "The packhouse. This is where my family lives, the Beta and his family, and a few dozen others who help with the maintenance of the building. Here we will hold meetings, and we always have something cooking in the kitchen for our warriors, and anyone who needs it, really. You are always welcome."

He looked towards me for a response. I didn't give him an inch. With a heavy sigh, he opened the front door, sidestepping to let me in first. I was greeted by a massive entryway. To the left was a living room - to the right was the kitchen. Both were enormous and packed with people. Alpha Kieth led me down the hall and into a smaller room. Alexei was there, much to my relief. He was eating a sandwich and looked... brighter, somehow. Traitor.

"One of the core policies of our pack is protection. We strive to create a safe space for those in need. We have taken in dozens of foster pups over the years and have provided safe, loving homes for them to grow up in. There have also been some instances where we have taken in witnesses." He looked at me again, then to Alexei. "Whatever your situation may be, we are here to help keep you safe and live a fulfilled life. For our younger members, that includes intense schooling. Great for structure and discipline, helps give them a clean slate too."

"We appreciate it." Alexei nudged my leg with his.

"Yeah," I hesitantly answered.

"To maintain such safety and order, we require every new member to read through our guidelines as well as participate in some form of community service and training. Alex, you and I will speak after you get settled in. We can go over your strengths and weaknesses and find a suitable fit for you. Talk about job opportunities as well." He jotted down a few notes for himself before looking at me next. "Ellie, the school counselor will discuss the same with you on Monday. Your service will be included in your curriculum."

I sat up straight at that. "Excuse me?"'

My father put me through grueling classes with merciless teachers, making sure that I graduated early so I could be a tool at his beckoning call. I learned several languages and how to disarm enemies. I knew how to pick locks and assemble guns. I was far past anything a high school would have to offer.

"Ellie-" Alexei warned.

"School started last week, so you haven't missed much, though your community service options will be limited."

Alexei and I shared a long look. He didn't blink or even move. A tell-tale that he wasn't budging. Oh, how I wish I had my wolf, if only to scream at him. High school?! What a joke!

"Is there a problem?" Alpha Keith asked.

"None at all." Alexei smiled. "Ellie here is just so excited to meet her new classmates."

"Knock knock!" a sing-song voice called as she let herself in. She was stunning. Long legs, tanned skin, and a smile that almost made me crack.

"Ah, perfect timing, Alex, Ellie, I'd like you to meet my mate and your new Luna, Vera."

"It's so wonderful to meet you both!" She beamed. "I hope your journey here wasn't too difficult."

"We survived." Alexei chuckled.

"Well, I hope my mate hasn't been too difficult to work with," She nudged him playfully. "Alex, your apartment is ready, and Ellie, your new foster parents, are excited to meet you." I can take you to them as soon as you are ready."

My breath hitched. New parents?!

This wasn't part of the deal! I didn't want new parents - I didn't want any parents! I have been on my own for years, I didn't need some stranger thinking they knew what was best for me and trying to control my life! I had given up enough of myself, I can't do it again. Not again, not them. Not anyone.

The room began to spin. Buzzing filled my ears. I forced myself to breathe.

"Ellie? Are you alright?" Vera asked, reaching out to me.

I jumped out of my seat, looking around the room but not truly seeing. I was out the door before anyone could stop me. Pushing past a few people gathered on the front porch, my legs broke out into a sprint. I hardly made it into the treeline before vomiting into a bush.

"Ew."

I whirled around, wiping the vomit from my lip to find a young girl, no more than nine or ten, staring at me with her nose scrunched up. She looked just like Vera, the same face, same mouth.

"You must be the new girl mom and dad were talking about," she said, holding out her hand. "I'm Jayla."

I looked at her hand like it was diseased. Her nails were each painted a different color, the paint half chipped off. She shrugged and retracted it.

"I won't tell anyone you got sick."

"Thanks." I scoffed, wiping the sweat from my brow.

"Are you okay?"

"Fine, thanks."

I pushed past her, heading further from the packhouse.

"You don't sound okay." She fell into step with me, much to my annoyance. "Mom always says it's okay not to be okay."

"I didn't ask, but thanks."

"Are you always this blunt?"

"Yes."

"I like that." She beamed.

"Fantastic."

"No one ever likes to tell me the truth. They all have secrets."

"Like what?"

"Like - "

"Hey," an attractive man said, cutting Jayla off. "What did dad tell you about talking to strangers?"

Dad. They were siblings. Which would mean this must be the future alpha. He was attractive, as most of our kind were. Same damn smile at his mother. That was the only feature they seemed to share. The rest was all his father.

"We're not strangers," Jayla said, putting her hands on her hips. "This is..."

"Ellie," I said, the name sounding poisonous on my lips.

"Ellie. Nice to meet you," he extended his hand. "I'm Jer-"

"She doesn't shake hands Jeremy!" Jayla yelled.

Jeremy looked at his sister with raised brows. I only shrugged in agreement. Maybe Jayla wasn't so bad to keep around.

"Oh good you've met!" Vera said, coming up from behind Jayla. "Ellie, I'd love to give you a tour of the pack, would you be interested?"

A tour. It would be wise for me to learn the layout, easier to find the exit.

"Yes, that would be great."

"I can't wait to show you the beach - "

"Another time Jayla, why don't you and Jer go see if dad needs anything? Let Ellie get her bearings."

"It was nice meeting you, Ellie." Jeremy smiled, coaxing his sister along.

"Bye! See you later!" Jayla called.

I almost smiled.

"Sorry, she can be a bit intense. But she means well," Vera said, guiding me back to a main path. "Everyone here does. I hope you'll see that one day."

Vera went on to show me the entire pack. It was unlike anything I had seen before. Homes were camouflaged into the forest, each far enough from one another in case of a fire, but not too far in case of an emergency. It smelled like pine and smoke and something else I couldn't quite place. The school looked more like a prison, surrounded by an iron gate that stretched way high up. For security purposes, she claimed. Everything was built with security in mind. Like they were just waiting for something to happen. Or maybe something already did, and this is the aftermath.

Even the pack itself, I was told, was gated. The only way in or out was through an opening in the dirt path we came from. Cameras watched the gate day and night, along with what seemed to be half the pack armed to the teeth. It wouldn't be easy getting out of here. I would need to watch and wait for an opportunity. Because there was always an opportunity.

"The beach is down that way, would you like to-"

"No. I'm good," I said, pursing my lips. Vera nodded, turning back.

"I know this is a lot for you, it's not easy starting over," she said. "But we are here for you, however you need us."

"Thanks," I said dryly.

"I'll have Jeremy walk with you to school on Monday."

"Sounds great." The sarcasm was dripping from my voice.

"Alright then, why don't I introduce you to Evangeline and Warren, your new caretakers."

I didn't say a word, didn't even look in her direction as a quaint little home came into view with two people standing on the porch - waiting. They looked so happy. Too bad I was about to ruin it.