86 | PACK

The chanting stops the second I walk out the back door with Blue. Thirty heads jerk up to stare at me with expectant eyes, their whispering thoughts flickering in and out of my mind as they study me. The Azures were a family-oriented Pack, something I was more comfortable with since that’s the kind of Pack I was born into…but the Berners…

Made mostly of bulky individuals with cropped hair, tight-fitting clothing, and chilling glares. It’s suddenly infinitely clear this is a Pack of fighters, bonded through the change rather than blood. My nose twitches at the more feral scent of bitten-Wolven than the usual born-Wolven scent I’ve grown up with. In the years I’d been running from the Reiniers, I’d come across bitten-Wolven, sure, but never so many in one Pack.

Bitten-Wolven tend to be more volatile than the rest of us, the duality of their natures constantly at odds. It’s probably one of the many reasons why my grandmother had kept us from getting close to humans in the first place. Volatile supernaturals are never a good thing, especially not so many in or near a Pack. But it’s clear whoever started the Berner Pack never got the memo, since almost all of the Wolven smell like they’ve been bitten and not born into the life.

Out of the thirty settled around the large yard, I see several young Wolven in the very center. About ten children from the ages of three to twelve. Some of the female Wolven stick close to the kids, their heads dipped to show respect, but expression guarded and careful.

Around them, the bulkier men stand by, mirroring the stances of the females - but showing a willingness to get between them and any perceived threat. The remaining five are clearly higher level Wolven, Enforcers or Betas, by the look of them. Three females and two males. None of them look my way, but they keep up this rotating pattern of slow movements, circling the Berner Wolven and scanning the tree line like they expect something or someone to come at them at any moment.

I grab Blue’s hand, pulling him to a stop, and brushing past him. The Enforcers and Betas seem to take notice of that, all five pausing and glancing my way.

I keep my face blank, mental shields up, as I survey them once more. The scents of fear over-shadow most of what I’d scented before now. Scents coming more strongly from the kids and, surprisingly enough, the stronger Wolven than the other fifteen.

Then I recall seeing about five Wolven backing up the Tiger shifter, and I feel my eyebrows shoot up. *Are these seasoned fighters serious afraid of me? Me?*

I tilt my head, re-examining the Pack bond in my head and - sure enough - the terror racing through the minds of the higher-ups is nearly palpable. I force myself not to cringe or show an ounce of remorse as I relax my face. As much as I want to, I don’t even look to Blue for comfort, but do feel his mental support in our own connection. I can’t allow my first interaction with my new Pack to be anything less than a show of strength and stability. I may not have wanted a Pack when I first defended Darine and myself, but that doesn’t change the fact of the moment.

I’m also suddenly relieved someone had had the presence of mind to scrub the blood of the previous Alpha from my skin and dress me in my usual clothing. I take immense comfort in human modesty, probably more than most shifters, since I couldn’t control the change well enough not to rip my clothing before. I pretend it’s my armor as I clear my throat, making sure I have everyone’s undivided attention before opening my mouth.

“This isn’t how I would have wanted to meet my Pack,” I start in a calm and clear voice that hides my real feeling so well I nearly smile. “To be honest, I never thought I’d be the Alpha of a Pack this soon.” I add, seeing one of the female Enforcers cringe at my earlier words. “The reality of the situation is: you’re all still here. You guys could have defected like your buddies did while I was out, but you stayed.” I address them as a whole, my eyes scanning over each face carefully. Mentally, I allow my wolf to come a little closer to the surface, giving the feral instincts the ability to rise and help while my attention’s a little divided.

“I’m sure you’ve all heard my name and know what I am, but I want this to start out with transparency, so,” I force a flare of my vamp side to burn in my eyes for a second. By the nearly unison-jerk back the entire group - including the kids - take upon seeing it, I know my eyes just flashed nuclear-green at them. “My name’s Scarlett Wisteria Holland Reinier, and I’m a Wolven-vampire hybrid.” Not a sentence I ever thought I’d admit so clearly. “You guys can call me Alpha Scarlett or just Scarlett, I’m fine with either cause I know I’m younger than most of you here.” I keep my tone neutral and calm, despite registering the shock in more than a few minds at the revelation of what I am.

“Before any of you ask: I do not intend on leaving this area at the moment, but am open to maintaining the territory so you all can continue living as you were before. I do drink blood, so get used to that idea, and I can shift into a wolf. And yes, I did…*defeat*… your previous Alpha with my bare hands. Any more questions?” I answer what I can from the cacophony that had flooded the bond a millisecond after I introduced myself. The Pack connection goes silent as they process that. A hand shoots up from the center of the group and one of the older females rushes to put the kid’s hand down.

“Are you a monster? Momma says vampires are monsters.” The boy chirps before his mother gets more than an inch closer to him. Everyone stops breathing, several eyes going wide at the kid’s guileless question.

For a moment, not even I can move as I process his words. I just stare at the boy’s curious, dark brown eyes as they blink at me, waiting for a response. *He’s just a kid, not even six if I had to guess, and he already knows about vamps? What kind of life have these people lived to have to teach such young children about other supernaturals?*

“I try not to be.” I tell him honestly, feeling a small, sad smile come to my face. “But you know, some humans think Wolven are monsters, too. But we’re not, right?” I ask back, my smile widening as the boy laughs and shakes his head. “Vampires aren’t so bad. Not all of them. Just like not all Wolven are bad.” I try to keep my words in terms a kid would understand, hoping he can understand what I mean.

The tension in the Pack slowly drains as the kid nods, a pensive look on his face. When it’s clear I don’t hold anything against the kid, the rest of the fear disappears from the the Wolven’s scents. The overwhelming feral smell is soon covered by a slightly spicy-sweet scent I recognize as my own. They’ve accepted me as their Alpha, just like that.

All at once, I feel twenty-years older, the weight of their trust, tentative as it is, resting heavily on my shoulders. I’m an Alpha of thirty. I can’t help but tell myself as the chill of December finally settles into my skin. I’ve got a Pack and I’m trying to save the world. *Perfect. Just what I needed: more responsibility.*

“Okay, well, I’d like to talk to the older Wolven some more, but it’s freezing out here. I’m sure you guys are cold by now, so why don’t we all head to,” I pause, glancing at Blue as I weigh my options. My house is tiny, just a kitchen, my bedroom and the bathroom, really - with a long hall connecting the front and back doors. There’s a bit of space around the kitchen, enough to house at least twenty - standing room only - but I’m sure this is going to be one hell of a conversation.

Blue nods to me, giving the silent ‘green light’ to allow my Wolven into his territory - but someone clears their throats, getting my attention before I can make the verbal suggestion.

“To be frank, Alpha, we prefer staying on neutral ground.” One of the Betas tells me, dipping his eyes to my nose in reverence, but standing tall as he speaks to me. He’s older than the other Beta, a female, but both are at least a decade older than me if not more. It’s hard to tell since they’re clearly bitten-Wolven, and their aging is different from what I’m used to comparing age to within a Pack.

“Any Wolven of Scarlett’s will be treated like guests in my territory, I can assure you.” Blue tells the Beta coldly. I shoot my mate look that immediately silences him.

“Bl-*Zane* is my mate, he’s the Alpha of the Azure Pack.” I tell my own Pack.

“I don’t mean to be difficult, Alpha Scarlett, but-” The male Beta says slowly, but he’s quickly cut off.

“We attacked them less than twenty-four hours ago. Please excuse us if we are wary of the Azure Pack at the moment, Alpha.” The female Beta just about snaps, but her annoyance isn’t directed at me. Her eyes stay low, going no higher than my chin, and never once staying to glance between me and Blue.

“Alright, fine.” I allow with a sigh and nod to them. “But my house is tiny and there’s really no where for you guys to be comfortable if you plan on staying the night.” I warn, glancing at the already darkening sky. The completely over-cast sky that promises temperatures that would make even a fully-shifted Wolven cringe.

“We have no problem with small spaces, Alpha.” The female Beta tells me in a quieter voice, her hunched shoulders slowly relaxing.

“C’mon, then,” I sigh, turning to head into my house. “We’ve got a lot to talk about.”