Welcome To The Pack

Quinn

~The forest was cloaked in a thick fog as I meandered through it, my fingers brushing against the branches of the trees.~

~They were all lifeless, yet somehow they held a beauty that surpassed those adorned with leaves.~

~Their smooth, pearl-white trunks reached up into the sky, so high that I couldn’t see where they ended.~

~Every direction looked the same, but I didn’t feel lost.~

~It was oddly soothing.~

~A low hum filled the air, a comforting sound, and as a gentle breeze played with my hair, it felt like it was whispering secrets in my ear.~

~I spotted a flash of long white-blonde hair that seemed familiar.~

~I chased after it, and a wisp of smoke began to dance around me until it took the form of a stunning woman.~

~She looked so familiar, and as she held my hands, floating a few feet off the ground, I knew I could trust her.~

~“Quinn, there’s so much you need to learn,” she said with a warm smile. “It’ll be tough at first, but there are those who will guide you on your journey.”~

~“Like you?” I asked.~

~“No, child, I’ve brought you as far as I can. My place isn’t in your world.”~

~“I don’t understand... What’s going to happen to me? Am I even alive?” I asked, my confusion evident.~

~“Yes, but when you wake up, your life won’t be the same. You’re destined for much more, my child.”~

~“Who are you? How do I know you?”~

~“You know me in your heart, Quinn.”~

~She placed her long, elegant fingers on my heart.~

~“Remember these words—you’ll know who you can trust...” she said, starting to fade away.~

~“Wait, what words? Don’t leave yet!”~

~I reached out to her, suddenly making a connection.~

~“Are you my... my Aunt?”~

~“Lupus Paulo,” she said softly, disappearing.~

***

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

~What’s happening? Where am I?~

My vision was blurry, but the room looked spotless—all white.

“The bite was deep, but it will heal—with time. The process should speed up significantly after her body transitions, however.”

“And when exactly will that be, Doctor?” asked a deep, husky voice.

“It’s hard to say, but it shouldn’t be long.”

~Who are these people? What’s that sound?~

An IV was attached to my wrist and a monitor next to me was beeping slowly.

~Is this a hospital?~

“Do you think her body can handle the transition?” asked the husky voice again. “She’s very…small. She might be snapped in half.”

“Perhaps, my Alpha, but time will tell.”

~Alpha? Transition? What are they talking about? What was going to happen to me that could snap me in half?~

My heart started to race, and the beeping on the monitor quickened.

My IV automatically administered something into my arm that made me relax.

“Will you keep me updated on her status?” The man called Alpha asked.

“Of course, my Alpha. I’ll contact you immediately if there are any changes.”

I started to drift back into unconsciousness, but the beautiful woman didn’t return.

Only her words.

~Lupus Paulo.~

***

When I woke up again, I squinted at the harsh fluorescent lights hanging above me.

I pushed my tangled black hair over my eyes to shield them.

I’ve always hated the lighting in hospitals.

I tried to move, but instantly regretted it.

I winced in pain and clenched my jaw. I wasn’t going anywhere. I glanced down at my bandaged leg.

~Damn, I think it’s sprained.~

I wondered who brought me here…

I thought the wolf would’ve had me for dinner by now.

As the doorknob of my room rattled, a wave of fear washed over me.

What if it was my mother? What would she do to me? I was already in a hospital bed, but I honestly feared her more than the wolf that put me here.

Instead of my mother, a sweet, adorable, and kind-looking girl walked in, carrying a bouquet of beautiful roses.

“Hey there,” she said with a slight Southern twang. “I see you’re finally awake.”

Her green eyes sparkled underneath her wavy blonde hair, and her rosy cheeks were even redder than the flowers.

She placed the roses next to my bed and sat down, looking at me curiously.

~Why is she curious? I’m the one with the questions.~

“Who...who are you?” I stammered. “And how did I get here?”

“I’m Sky,” she said in a bubbly tone. “You know, like the place where clouds, birds, and sunshine hang out.”

~That sounds about right. This girl is so bright it’s infectious.~

“I’m the welcome wagon around here.” She smiled.

“What are you welcoming me to?”

“To the Shadow Moon Pack, of course.”

She must have sensed my confusion because she instantly gasped and covered her mouth.

“Oh, shoot, I probably wasn’t supposed to say anything yet. Me and my big mouth. You have no idea what’s happening, do you?”

“I was attacked by a wolf and now I’m in a hospital bed...that’s about all I know.”

Sky nervously bit her long fingernails at the mention of the wolf.

“God, how do I explain this to a human?” she muttered.

~A human? Okay, what the hell is she talking about?~

“You’re starting to freak me out, Sky...what is a Shadow Moon Pack?”

“Well, it’s a kind of family...a family that you’ll be, uh, joining...since your, uh, incident.”

“Please tell me you’re not part of some cult. I’ve read enough books to know that never ends well for the runaway,” I said, my anxiety starting to bubble up.

Sky, however, looked like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders.

“No, no, nothing like that. You must’ve thought I was some kind of freak,” she chuckled. “We’re a family of werewolves. A pack.”

My mouth fell open. Was this some kind of sick joke? Where were the hidden cameras?

She just said ~werewolves~.

I thought back to the wolf in the forest—the way it left me after the bite.

And then that huge ashy-blond wolf—the way it nuzzled me protectively...

~Could she be telling the truth?~

“I know it’s a lot to take in, Quinn, but werewolves are real. We’ve been around for centuries, we just stay hidden. Let’s face it, humans wouldn’t handle that news well. They’d probably grab pitchforks and torches at the first sign of anything supernatural.”

~No. No way. This is insane. This can’t be real.~

“Look, Sky, you seem nice, but I’m not interested in joining your werewolf club or whatever. There’s a group of goth kids who roleplay at the library on Fridays…maybe you can take your sign-up sheet to—”

“Quinn, you’re hilarious. Covens are for witches. We’re a ~pack~. And you’re not signing up. You’re already a member,” she said, pointing at the bite on my leg.

~Something’s not right here, but it’s not me.~

“I’d really just like to talk to the Doctor, if you could—”

The door suddenly swung open, and a man with ash-blond hair stormed into the room. His muscles strained against his thin white T-shirt and his golden eyes were mesmerizing.

I’d never seen anyone so attractive, and the immediate pull I felt toward him was overwhelming.

I was scared and flustered all at once.

Why was I so drawn to him? This wasn’t a normal feeling.

When he spoke, I recognized his deep voice. He was the man the Doctor had called Alpha.

“Sky, what have you told her?” he asked, his voice rough.

Sky suddenly looked scared. “I was just welcoming her to the Pack. I thought she could use a softer touch, you know, to ease her into it.”

This man looked like “softer touch” wasn’t in his vocabulary. His language was more smash, crash, and bash.

“Leave. I need to speak to her alone,” he ordered.

Sky gave me an apologetic look as she left the room. I suddenly wished that crazy werewolf girl would come back.

I avoided looking directly at him. His gold eyes were scanning my body, and despite my discomfort, I liked the way he was looking at me.

“Your name,” he demanded.

“Quinn.”

“Quinn…” he said, tasting it.

“And yours?” I asked nervously, still not looking at him.

He didn’t answer, but he did move to the edge of my bed. I could feel a warmth radiating from him that seemed to heat me from the inside out.

“Look at me,” he ordered.

~Who does he think he is? Hot or not, he can’t just order me around…~

As I looked up and met his gaze, something surreal happened. I felt an inexplicable connection to this total stranger. It felt like he had just become a part of me.

Judging by the surprised look on his face, he must’ve felt it, too.

“How…how is this possible? You haven’t even turned yet,” he said, shocked.

His gold eyes stayed locked on my silver ones, neither of us able to look away.

“So, you’re my mate…”