Tasting 299

299–The Weird Pack!

Nora:

The drive back home was so pleasant. I couldn’t remember the last time I felt this good—maybe

months ago. But I was finally happy again.

Brody had been silent, expressing his hope that I wouldn’t find my mate so that I would stay with

him. The minute we crossed the border, I began to creep out at what I was seeing.

The pack looked quite different. It hadn’t even been a week.

I frowned at the empty roads and dry air. It was as if nobody lived in this pack. The silence was

almost eerie.

“Why is the pack so empty?” I asked Brody, looking out the window curiously.

“I don’t really know. I think something similar happened a few years back. They just go on lockdown,

and until it’s necessary, the pack members don’t leave their houses,” he replied. “It’s happened

many times before as well,” he added.

“And that doesn’t concern you? Why would they do that?” I questioned, feeling uneasy. During the

time I lived with the brothers, they never mentioned anything like this to me.

“Umm, they say it’s for the pack’s security—building walls and watchtowers. The pack members are

advised to stay in their homes for safety reasons while their alpha leaders are away for a while,” he

shrugged.

Aihe Weird Pack!

“The brothers go away, where?” I knew I was asking a lot of questions, but he was responding very

calmly, which encouraged me to continue.

“For tougher training,” he answered.

I noticed the warriors stationed outside every house, and I couldn’t help but turn to Brody. He

understood my quizzical stare and explained, “If the pack members need something, like groceries

and such, they ask the warriors.” I was shocked by the extreme lockdown.

Why was this never mentioned to me before?

“Oh, is that why April and the others were asked to return?” I questioned, and he nodded.

“The pack members are supposed to stay in the pack during these months,” he replied, and I

couldn’t help but feel sad.

I wasn’t a pack member anymore, which was why I wasn’t asked to

return.

Now Brody had to inform Lord Atwood of our arrival.

Brody called Lord Atwood to inform him of our arrival. I couldn’t discern much of their conversation

for a few seconds, but I began to get an idea.

“Oh!” Brody glanced at me quickly before focusing on the road again.

“But we can stay at my apartment though. We only came here to visit. Nora had been missing

everyone so–,” His justification for our visit seemed unnecessary. Why did he need to explain so

much?

“Well, we’ve already crossed the border, so–,” Brody murmured. I got the sense that Lord Atwood

was scolding him for bringing me back.

299 The Word Pack!

“Umm! She’s sleeping right now,” I realized that my stepfather might

want to speak to me. This would be the only time he had asked for me, so I couldn’t miss it.

“I’m awake,” I said, giving Brody a look. He shook his head

disapprovingly, but I pouted to make him understand why I needed to talk to Lord Atwood.

“Hello–,” Before I could cheerfully greet him, he interrupted me.

“Nora, sweet child, why are you coming back? We’re all busy here. You would get bored in the

mansion,” His subtle suggestion for me not to come home made me feel upset.

“I never get bored at home,” I smiled weakly. “And I’m already home. now. I’m also feeling very

nauseous, so I can’t continue the journey back.”

“The Red Storm Pack is not too close to the Silver Jaw Pack,” I added. I wasn’t lying; I was

genuinely feeling unwell. My stomach felt strange, and my head was light.

“Why? Are you okay?” Lord Atwood’s voice filled with concern, and my heart lightened. I smiled

secretly at his concern for me.

“I don’t know, honestly, but I need to rest,” I mumbled.

“I have sympathy for you, but please go back home. There has been talk of Mia’s murder being

brought up again–.” I couldn’t hear him anymore as the call disconnected.

I stared at the blank screen, wondering what Lord Atwood was about to say.

“What happened?” Brody asked.

299–The

299–The Weed Pack!

“He mentioned Mia’s murder being brought up again—and then the call disconnected when the

battery died,” I told him as the mansion came

into view.

“Nora! That’s very concerning. I think we should head back home,” he said, parking the car. He

turned to tell me we shouldn’t have come here, but I felt an itch in my throat.

“Brody–” My throat suddenly closed up, and I opened the door in a hurry, rushing to the side and

throwing up before I could even make it back inside the mansion.

“Hey, are you alright?” Brody asked, his concern evident as he gently rubbed my elbow, but my

eyes were watery.

“I don’t know—I’m feeling—sick,” I muttered, trying to cough to clear my throat. But my condition

didn’t improve.

I still felt dizzy.

But I did notice the weird stuff around the mansion. There were silver wires on the ground and silver

bars, as if something new was being built around the mansion.

“Let’s get you inside quickly,” Brody suggested, realizing that it was better to take me inside before I

got worse. He helped me inside and up the stairs. The mansion was dark and silent, unlike how it

used to be. The smell of herbs was so strong that it made me feel even more

nauseous.

“What the hell,” Brody sniffed, coughing into his mouth as he took me to the room I thought would be

locked.

However, when he turned the doorknob of my room, it opened, revealing that someone had been

using my room all this time.