"Alpha can I ask you a question?" I asked as Alpha Leyton and I walked back towards the massive pack house.
"Of course you can little one." Came the black wolf's immediate reply.
"When I was forced to flee my previous pack I had to leave my little brother behind. If I can manage to get him out of that pack, would he also be welcome here?" I asked after a pause.
"Of course the Alpha replied, any family of yours is always welcome here, even if it's only to pass through. Although unfortunately I can't help you with retrieving your brother. As werewolves it's forbidden to us by our council of Elders and Royals to influence non werewolf wolf packs." Alpha Leyton replied. "I'm truly sorry Eva."
Even though the Alpha was apologizing to me, I was relieved. All I had to do was get John out of there and we could live together again.
"Thank you Alpha." I said. "I'll get him out of that pack somehow." It was more of a promise to myself than a statement to the Alpha.
"Okay then, just don't get yourself into trouble or get hurt doing it Eva." Alpha Leyton cautioned.
"Of course not sir." Came the easy and honest reply.
By now we had reached the pack house and Alpha Leyton told me to wait here for a couple of minutes as he trotted around the side of the pack house.
A couple of minutes passed and he re-emerged in his human form. He'd also put material over himself just like all the other humans here.
He caught me looking at him funnily and after a moment realized what I was confused about. "They're called clothes Eva." He explained. "Not having fur gets cold so we wear these to make ourselves warm. Humans also have a funny rule about always having to wear clothes around others. It's considered extremely rude to be naked in the presence of others that aren't your mate."
I understood the first part of what he said but I could not for the life of me understand why humans had to wear clothes around each other. It didn't make much sense to me.
Changing the subject Alpha Leyton kept talking. "So today we're going in through the front door but unfortunately it's designed for human hands. There is however a wolf door around the side that you can use whenever you want."
"There are a couple of basic rules. First and foremost is not going to the bathroom inside the pack house. If you need to go then go outside, the wolf door is never locked so there should be no excuse." Alpha Leyton had a serious expression on his face as he made sure I understood this rule.
"Yes Alpha." I replied. I tried to stop myself but I couldn't help saying. "What kind of animal would urinate in the pack den in the first place?"
"You'd be surprised." Alpha Leyton said. "Some humans and I swear even some werewolves have less manners than a wild wolf." He rolled his eyes while he appeared to be thinking of a werewolf in particular.
"Anyway." He continued. "The other rules are things like respect your pack mates and breakfast, lunch and dinner are to be had in the dinning room. It's all pretty basic really. If you have any questions just ask me or one of your pack mates."
"Are you ready to go in?" The Alpha asked having finished laying out the basic rules.
"Hell yes." I relied enthusiastically.
The Alpha open the door that I couldn't because I didn't have hands and stepped inside. I followed him inside a second later.
I actually opened my wolf mouth in amazement at what I was seeing. The floor appeared to be made out of some sort of wood that was shiny and smooth. The ceiling was three times higher than the one in the pack cave I was used to and there were walls that separated different rooms neatly. It was no wonder the werewolves liked to live here. It was amazing.
I looked up to find parts of the ceiling glowing and emitting light to the entire room. I'm not sure what sorcery they used to achieve that but it's incredible.
"This is the foyer." Alpha Leyton said. "Over there is the stairs and elevator that lead to the higher levels which mainly consist of bedrooms for the pack members as well as different amenities like bathrooms, studies and even a library."
The Alpha pointed to a door on our left. "Through there is the lounge room. You're welcome to relax there and until we find you a permanent place here you're welcome to sleep near the fireplace on one of the many wolf beds there. Other pack members will most likely join you as soaking in the fires warmth on a cold day in wolf form is a favorite past time here."
"That is the kitchen and dining room." The Alpha said as he pointed to the doorway directly ahead of us and again to the one on our right. "You shouldn't really be in the kitchen, as like everyone else, you'll annoy the chef's while they're preparing food. The dining room is where all our meals are taken."
"And finally," Alpha Leyton said while pointing to a door set into the side of the staircase going upwards. "That is the door down to the recreation room. It's mainly pups and adolescents that use the room but there are lots of fun things to do down there."
I stood in the middle of the foyer and took in the incredible pack house. Yes I definitely wanted to live here now.
I followed the Alpha as he headed towards the lounge room. It was so huge that it could easily seat over one hundred humans comfortably and just like the Alpha said, there was a big fire burning in the fireplace to ward off the cold.
There were a few people that appeared to be mothers judging from the pups they were holding and playing with currently inhabiting the lounge room. As well as what appeared to be an adolescent that came running over to us the moment she saw us.
She was running so fast that her fur was billowing out behind her and she actually skidded to a stop in front of us even though we were on soft carpet.
The girl had honey blond hair and light blue eyes. She had a massive smile plastered on her thin lips and her skin was paler than anyone I'd seen so far. She also had a similar half moon design tattooed on her neck as the one Grace had on her shoulder.
"Oh my god, are you Eva?" The girl asked in a voice so full of energy I was surprised she didn't jump through the roof. "My name is Saffron, I'm Derrick's mate. I've heard so much about you and I couldn't wait to meet you."
Saffron was talking so fast that it was like she was tripping over her own words. It was actually almost hard to understand her.
"It's nice to meet you Saffron. I am indeed Eva." I replied to the energetic girl with a nod.
Saffron squealed. "You didn't tell me she can talk to us." Saffron said to Alpha Leyton who was still standing beside us.
Alpha Leyton looked shocked that Saffron understood my greeting. "Normally s human can't understand wolf speech." He said after thinking for a moment. "It must be because you're both now part of the same pack."
"Thank amazing." Saffron replied with the same enthusiasm she'd displayed since I met her.
Saffron turned to me. "I don't know if this is rude to ask a wolf so I'm sorry if it is, but can I please touch your coat. It's so beautiful."
I chuckled before replying. "Of course you can, just be gentle."
This earned another squeal from Saffron. "Thank you." Was all she said before she took a step forward and started running both her hands through my silver fur.
I was not prepared for how good it would feel to have hands running through my fur. I almost sank into the contact as Alpha Leyton had a small laugh at my reaction.
"You're so soft. I never want to stop patting you." Saffron declared.
"Am I ok to leave you in Saffron's care while I go and attend to my duties." Alpha Leyton asked me.
My answer to him was simply a happy groan. I was in way too much pleasure from the pats Saffron was giving to give him a proper answer. When she scratched behind my ear it was so good that my back legs gave out and I suddenly sat down.
Alpha Leyton tried to hide his laughing as he walked away but failed miserably. Earning a scowl from both Saffron and myself.
Saffron moved us over to the fire where there were many wolf beds lying around. She sat herself down on one and told me to lie down next to her, which I happily obliged. The beds were so comfy after all.
We ended up talking for the next two hours and I learnt a lot about humans from Saffron and she learnt a lot about life as a wolf from me. Most of what I learnt made little sense to me, like a kiss on the cheek is a form of greeting but a kiss on the lips is reserved for your mate. At least I knew what hair was now. But needless to say I was already becoming friends with the blond human.
There was one topic I found very interesting though, werewolf mating. "So basically werewolf's are born with a mate for them selected by the moon goddess. After they're first shift they can smell their mate and therefore find them. When they've found each other they mark each other like this." Saffron pointed to the half moon tattoo on her neck. "To let other wolves know that this is their mate and no one else may touch them."
"So that means that Grace also has a mate because she has the mark?" I questioned.
"That's correct." Saffron said. "Although her mate is back at her pack. Grace isn't a part of this pack, her parents have just sent her here for a while to help her get a better understanding of how different packs run."
"So she's a future Alpha?" I questioned.
"Sort of." Saffron replied. "Her father is kind of like the Alpha of all Alpha's. They all bow down to him. The same with her mother, she's the Luna of all Luna's. It human terms we call them the King and Queen of werewolves, which makes Grace a princess and the next in line to manage and watch over the werewolf world."
"So each pack Alpha has someone who's higher than them in power." I tried to clarify.
"That's right." Saffron replied. "The King and Queen as well as the council of elders set the laws for werewolves. But they only get involved with the different packs if they believe that the pack is breaking the law."
"That actually makes sense." I admitted. "Although it seems complicated it must work."
"Indeed it does." Saffron confirmed. "The current King and Queen are fair in their rulings no matter your position in the pack and much loved because of it. I've heard that they're genuinely nice people and will happily just sit around and chat to anyone despite there busy schedule."
"That sounds like a lot of responsibility, poor Grace." I said.
"It is." Saffron confirmed. "But Grace is still one of the nicest and most patient wolves you'll ever meet. Remember that she also has her mate to help her."
From there the conversation turned to other things for a few minutes until one of the young pups began walking over to us. Judging by how unstable the pup was in it's legs I'd say it had only just started to walk.
The pub continued to walk unsteadily to us. Saffron's back was to the pup and she couldn't hear it coming through all the talking she was doing. So when the pup stumbled and fell I instinctively stuck my snout out to catch the pup.
The pup squealed in delight which prompted Saffron to turn around.
"Hello Cody." She greeted the pup. "What are you doing all the way over here? Your mum's over the other side of the lounge room."
Cody seemed too young to be able to talk as he looked at Saffron for a few second then back to me. When he looked back at me a huge smile spread across his chubby face and he deliberately fell again.
Once again I caught him and he squealed and giggled in delight at the new game. We played with him for a good ten minutes as I remembered how much I enjoyed playing with the young pups back home. Apparently this werewolf pack really isn't that much different from the one I grew up in after all.
A yell coming form the other side of the room interrupted the game I was playing with Cody. "Just what do you think you're doing mutt!" Came from one of the mothers with brown hair and brown eyes as she hurried over to us.
When she got to us she grabbed Cody and lifted him into her arms and glared at me before turning to Saffron. "Why have you let this dog touch my son Saffron? You should know better."
Saffron stood up really fast, even I could tell there was anger in her light blue eyes. "First off Kaitlyn, that dog is a wolf called Eva and has just joined our pack so show a little respect. Secondly Cody managed to walk all the way over here from the other side of the room and fell without you even noticing. If it weren't for Eva catching him he would have fallen flat on his face and thirdly, Eva, Cody and I were playing together."
There was serious anger in Saffron's eyes from the disrespect that Kaitlyn was giving us.
"If she's part of this pack then make her shift back to play. You know I hate Cody being around wolves while he's so young." Kaitlyn demanded.
"You do realise that Cody is part wolf right? He's always going to be attracted to hanging out with wolves? Even if you're a human." Saffron questioned the slightly older lady.
"Yes." Replied Kaitlyn. "But until he shifts he can have a normal human life."
Saffron groaned at what was coming out of this woman's mouth. "Also, you should really listen when someone is talking to you Kaitlyn, I said that Eva is a wolf and part of this pack. Not a werewolf, she can't shift. She does seem to have more intelligence than you though."
"ENOUGH." A powerful voice said as a man about the same age as Saffron came over to us. He had light brown hair with grey already coming through and dark chocolate eyes. "What is going on over here?" He demanded.
"Your mate is letting dogs touch my Cody, Derrick." Kaitlyn said. So this is what Derrick looks like as a human.
Derrick took one look at me and Saffron before looking back at Kaitlyn. "You do realize that Eva is now a part of this pack and a gentle soul Kaitlyn. Why don't you go back to your mate and get him to give you some lessons in basic respect for your pack mates."
Kaitlyn looked incredibly offended before she turned around and stormed out of the lounge, heading upstairs somewhere.
"Sorry about that Eva." Derrick said to me.
"No problem." I replied. "Although I must say you look really different as a human and you have an amazing mate."
Derrick beamed at me. "Thank you and yes, she really is the best mate anyone could ever ask for." Saffron blushed at our praise. "I'm glad you two are getting along well though."
"Hell yes, Eva's beautiful." Saffron said, back to her energetic and happy personality. I wasn't sure that this girl slowed down, even to sleep.
"Well lunch is almost ready." Derrick told us while he grabbed Saffron's hand and interlaced their fingers. "Shall we head to the dining room?"
Both Saffron and I gave a happy "Yes." Before the three of us headed towards the wonderful smell of food wafting from the kitchen.