Among Wolves
742 Words
Chapter 12: Among Wolves
Misty walked into Pack Psychology the next morning running on three hours of sleep, still wearing the same hoodie from the night before. She slid into her seat, avoiding eye contact with anyone, especially Sutton, who was nowhere in sight—thankfully.
She could still feel the ghost of his hands on her hips, the weight of his words echoing in her ears. She didn’t want to think about it, but the ache in her chest made it impossible to forget.
“Rough night?”
Misty looked up to find Phillip standing beside her desk, coffee in hand, his gray eyes watching her with quiet concern.
She forced a half-smile. “Something like that.”
Without asking, he placed the second coffee on her desk.
“Extra cream, no sugar. I figured.”
Her smile deepened, touched with surprise. “You figured right.”
He leaned down a little, voice soft. “You don’t have to talk about it. But you don’t have to pretend either.”
Before she could reply, the professor walked in. Phillip took his seat beside her, but the space between them crackled with unspoken words.
After class, Misty gathered her things slowly. She expected him to leave, but instead, Phillip lingered.
“You and your friends—Ally, Jaz, Tamara, right? You guys want to grab something to eat with me and a few of my friends?”
Misty blinked. “Really?”
“Yeah. Nothing formal. Just food and company.”
She hesitated, then nodded. “Okay. I think they’d like that.”
A few hours later, Misty and her friends met up with Phillip and his pack at an outdoor cafe just off campus. It was a relaxed spot, tucked under string lights and trees with golden autumn leaves tumbling in the breeze.
Victor was the first to greet them. He was tall, muscular, and charismatic, with a warm, booming laugh and a smile that seemed to light up his whole face. Ally couldn’t stop staring.
Then came Leo—shorter, leaner, with tousled hair and an effortless swagger. He wore a denim jacket and had the kind of face that could talk you into trouble and out of it again.
And finally, Austin. He was quiet, his eyes scanning everyone with gentle intensity. He gave a polite nod but said little, settling into the corner seat with the grace of someone always thinking ten steps ahead.
“Ladies,” Victor said, pulling out chairs. “Glad you came. Phillip didn’t stop talking about you.”
Phillip shot him a warning look.
Jaz laughed. “You guys have a lot of energy.”
“We run on caffeine and chaos,” Leo said, grinning.
Tamara narrowed her eyes slightly, studying them. “You’re not just regular shifters, are you?”
Victor chuckled. “What gave it away?”
Tamara tilted her head. “I feel like I’ve seen you before. Or at least heard of you. There’s something… polished. Powerful. You’re not from any local pack.”
Leo leaned back in his chair, flashing a smug grin. “We get that a lot.”
Phillip quickly redirected. “What are you all studying?”
They spent the next hour talking and laughing. Misty couldn’t help but notice how natural Phillip was with her friends. He was calm, respectful, and patient—even when Leo started teasing Ally or when Jaz grilled Victor about his pack’s hunting patterns.
Phillip made her feel… seen. Again.
He didn’t crowd her. He didn’t push. He just existed in a way that reminded her what kindness felt like.
Tamara leaned toward Misty during a lull in the conversation. “I don’t know who they are, but I swear I’ve heard of Victor before. And Phillip. It’s going to drive me crazy.”
“They’re just… different,” Misty said softly.
As the group laughed over Leo’s terrible impression of a vampire, Misty felt something tighten in her chest. This was what peace felt like. What it felt like to not have to defend yourself or wonder if you were good enough.
Then the energy shifted.
A shadow passed across the patio.
Sutton.
He stood just beyond the fence, watching. His gaze locked on Misty first, then flicked to Phillip, who had just touched her arm in a quiet gesture of reassurance.
Phillip didn’t see him.
But Misty did.
And she knew something was about to change.
- Writer
