Meatballs and Beefcakes

RHIANNON

We walk silently from the building I was sleeping in toward a huge log cabin type building. It’s more like a log mansion, if that’s a thing.

We walk past a large outdoor area; there are fire pits surrounded by plush chairs and a massive outdoor kitchen.

As we reach the door to the log monstrosity, Hunter turns to me. “This is the pack house. Everyone lives here but me. I live in a separate house just down the road with my luna.”

“Your luna?”

“My mate.”

I’m getting sick of all of these werewolf words.

I nod curtly.

As we step inside, Flo grabs my arm and walks with me.

“The luna is the mate of the alpha. She is like the pack mother. Mates are like married couples, kind of.

“There’s more to it than that but it’s complicated. I’m sure your brain is already at maximum capacity.”

I chuckle dryly. “That’s an understatement.”

The pack house is beautiful. There is definitely a wolf theme in the décor; paintings and statues of wolves are everywhere.

We walk through a large sitting area with the biggest fireplace I’ve ever seen. I can hear loud talking and laughing from down a hallway.

As we approach a partially open door, the noise grows louder. It’s good noise, people enjoying each other’s company. When Hunter opens the door, everything goes quiet.

Everyone nods their heads and smiles at him. As we pass by, they also smile at Flo. They look at me curiously.

There are three long tables, each seating at least one hundred people. Hunter stops and pulls chairs for Flo and me at the end of one table.

He then moves to sit at a smaller table in the front of the room. A pregnant woman and a couple are standing, waiting for him. As he approaches, he kisses the pregnant woman. His luna, I suspect.

After they sit, everyone else sits. There are huge serving bowls filled with pasta, different sauces, meatballs, and garlic bread.

Hunter holds his glass up to the room and nods. That must be some type of signal because everyone digs in.

I sit quietly, waiting for the people around me to finish serving themselves and their children.

“All these people are wolves?” I whisper to Flo.

“Yes, and believe it or not, this pack is on the smaller side.”

My eyes go wide.

The woman seated across from me leans over, a serving spoon in her outstretched hand. “Don’t be shy! Dig in.”

I recognize her from the library. She brings two small children in to listen to Flo’s storytelling.

“I’m Lily, we’ve met before,” she says with a smile.

“Yes, at the library.” I try to smile back. How many of my library patrons are wolf people?

“Flo, where are we?” I suddenly realize I have no idea where the “pack lands” are.

“We’re about half an hour outside of Shelby,” she answers.

All this time, there was a huge pack of wolf people living right down the road.

“We’re on about fifty acres.” Lily says with a small laugh, “We need space.”

“Why don’t you live here, Flo?”

“I’m not a wolf, honey,” she laughs. “There was an incident, eleven years ago, when my poor Irv passed.” She nods her head sadly.

“I found out about them. They look out for me and I help them out from time to time.”

I nod. I don’t know how to take in new information right now.

I choose marinara and meatballs. It’s delicious.

“How are you doing?” Lily asks me softly, her eyes studying my face.

“I’m not sure,” I laugh. “I’m processing. My life is already weird, now it’s apparently dangerous, too. And I just found out that werewolves exist. It’s a lot.”

“If you have any questions, please ask. I don’t mind answering.”

“Thank you,” I nod.

I look around the room, trying to be inconspicuous about my staring. The women are all very pretty. Most are quite tall also, much taller than me.

The men are ruggedly handsome, every single one of them. Freakishly tall, muscular, handsome men. Most of them have long hair, and many also have beards.

I’m also noticing that a lot of them have tattoos. Not just one or two tattoos, but full sleeves extending up onto their necks.

A blond guy a few seats down catches me staring. He winks at me, causing me to blush scarlet.

“Leave her alone, Dylan,” Lily laughs.

He smirks and focuses on his food.

“That’s my mate’s brother,” she explains. “Jason is on border patrol.”

“You have a mate?” I ask. “So, you’re his luna?” I’m trying to figure out all of this lingo.

“No, only the alpha’s mate is a luna. Jason and I aren’t ranked members.”

“Ranked?” My face must look so lost because she and Flo laugh lightly.

“Alpha, Beta, Gamma are the top three members of the pack. Their mates are the luna, beta female, and gamma female. The rest of us are part of the pack, but we don’t have titles.”

“Interesting.” I’m completely fascinated. I want to ask more questions but Hunter and his wife come over to the table.

“Annie, this is my mate, Luna Ilana,” Hunter says.

She takes my hand in hers. “It’s so nice to meet you. I’m so sorry I didn’t come over earlier!” She rubs her hand over her stomach. “I need to eat or I get... disagreeable,” she laughs.

She seems genuinely sweet. Something about her is calming.

“Thank you for having me,” I tell them.

“Thank you for protecting me. I didn’t say it earlier. I think I was in shock. I truly appreciate that you’ve been watching out for me.” I look between them and Flo.

Ilana smiles. “If you’re finished, I would love to show you to your guest room.”

“Yes, please! Dinner was amazing, by the way.”

“Thanks,” Lily says with a laugh. “I’m one of the pack cooks.”

“Oh! It was excellent!”

I stand to follow Ilana and Hunter. I take the opportunity to look around some more as we walk out.

Everyone looks happy and comfortable. It’s obvious that they all love one another and they feel safe here. And then I think something I never thought I’d think.

I’m jealous of werewolves.

My guest room is beautiful; small but very homey and inviting. It feels more welcoming than my apartment.

“We’ll let you get settled,” Ilana says. “Please feel free to wander around the house! No one will bother you.” She leaves the room.

“I’m sending some guys to your apartment tomorrow to pack some things for you. Is there anything specific you want them to grab?” Hunter asks.

“Um... there’s a notebook, under my pillow. Please ask them not to open it.”

He nods and they leave me in the small room.