Casey's Wolf

Chapter 5

                Casey was still thinking about the strange encounter at the pack house 3 hours later, while she was laying on the shore of the lake soaking up some sun before they had to go back inside. Shane and Lexi were diving off the branches of a tall tree not too far away.

                Come on, Casey. Come jump with us. See if you can get out farther than us. Shane sent as he climbed back up to the top of the tree. He made sure that he could not only see Casey, but also the parts of the forest that were close to her.

                No, thank you. I have never done well with heights. I may get back in the water though. It is really hot out. Nice, but hot. Can I ask you a serious question?

                Sure, what’s up, Casey? Shane answered.

                Did the encounter with the neighboring Alpha, Sebastian, seem strange to you? Or is that how most wolf meetings go? I just can’t seem to get the look he gave me as we were leaving seemed borderline creepy.

                That is pretty much how they go except that he has never asked a new wolf who their parents were… That I know of. I have only been introduced to him twice I think. I did think it strange, the way he seemed to watch your every move though.

                That’s what I mean. Casey sent.

                As she watched Shane dive from the branch of the tree, she was startled by the sudden sound of someone walking through the trees. She sat up quickly and turned to face the new person.

                “I am sorry. I did not mean to startle you, Miss…,” Sebastian’s words faded as if he was trying to remember her name.

                “Casey,” she finished for him.

                “Casey, right. Do you mind if I join you? The others aren’t too far behind me. Isaiah should be here any second,” he said.

                “Of course not,” Casey motioned to the dirt patch next to her. Sebastian sat down next to her as Shane swam up to the shore in front of them.

                “Is father with you?” Shane asked, looking into the tree line.

                “He should be right behind me. I left a few minutes before he did. He was talking to your twin brothers about why they couldn’t come down to the lake. Something about still being grounded,” Sebastian said.

                “Yeah the twins got in trouble for bullying kids at school. Dad doesn’t tolerate that at all,” Shane said, coming up on shore and sitting next to Casey.

                You okay? Do you want me to get him to leave you alone? Shane asked Casey as he said out loud to Sebastian, “So did you come out to swim or just enjoy the scenery?”

                No, I am fine for the moment. He is just being friendly… I think. Casey sent as Sebastian almost leaped to his feet.

                “What is that supposed to mean?!” he almost shouted at Shane as Isaiah and Shane’s brother Lane stepped into the clearing on the shore.

                Shane stood up as Isaiah stepped between him and Sebastian, “What is going on here? My son meant the view here. Just look around, it is beautiful here this time of year. What did you think he meant? Explain yourself, Sebastian,” Isaiah said angrily, a slight growl to his voice.

                “I am sorry. My apologies, I have just heard that term used in a completely and not so nice way. It won’t happen again. It really is beautiful here. Shall we go swimming, sir?” Sebastian quickly states. He then turns his attention to Shane. “I am truly sorry for reacting that way.”

                Shane nods his head, “It’s okay, sir.”

                With that Sebastian turned and headed towards the tree that Lexi is waiting at the base of for Shane to come back. “Which branch is the best one to dive from, Lexi?” he asks as he approaches her.

                “Third from the top, sir,” she replies.

                “Please, call me Bash. Sir just sounds a little too formal for a time such as this. Are you coming, Isaiah?” He calls the last part over his shoulder.

                “I shall join you in a few minutes,” Isaiah calls back, turning to Shane. “What was all that about? Was there something I missed?”

                “No, sir. I asked him if he had come out here to swim with us or just enjoy the scenery. Then he acted like he wanted to rip my throat out for lack of better terms just for saying that. It was really weird,” Shane said.

                “Was he acting rudely to you, Casey?” Isaiah asked Casey as she stood up.

                “No, he was actually being kind of nice,” she replied as they heard Sebastian splash down into the water.

                “Lane, keep an eye on him. He does this every time he comes to the shift moon ceremony. He always tries to pick a fight with someone and I will be damned if he thinks he is going to do it this time or with my family,” Isaiah said angrily. Then he took a deep calming breath and sighed. “Now let’s go enjoy the nice cool water, what do you guys think?”

                “Actually, dad. Me and Casey are going to head on back up to the house. She has a big math test tomorrow that I am helping her study for. Is that okay?” Shane asked as he grabbed his towel from the bag that Lexi had brought.

                “Yes, that is fine. Oh, and Casey that reminds me, your parents should be at the pack house by 3 to help you get ready for tonight,” Isaiah said, almost as an afterthought.

                “Okay, thank you,” Casey said as her and Shane headed back up the way that Sebastian and Isaiah had come. “So I guess that Sebastian is always this bad?” she asked curiously.

                “Yeah, but always towards new wolves. He has never tried to pick a fight with an Alpha’s family before though. It always the Omegas that he fights. Seems he is getting a lot braver,” Shane said, frustration thick in his voice. “I wish that dad could just end the treaty that we have with that pack. Every wolf in that pack is the same way. Mean and obnoxious.”

                “Omegas?” Casey asked.             

                “Lower down in the pecking order in a pack,” Shane answered.

                “Oh, that makes sense now as to why he would pick on them,” Casey said. She suddenly tripped on a tree root that was curving up out of the ground in the path.

                Shane caught her arm to keep her from falling and hurting herself on the rocks on the path. When his hand touched the bare skin of her arm, she immediately felt sparks, almost like he had shocked her. Her eyes met his and she had the strangest urge to kiss him. She pulled quickly away from the onslaught of feelings that were running through her body. What in the hell was that? Casey asked herself.

                You felt it too? Shane sent tentatively, trying to gage her reaction.

                Casey just nodded. She was still in a kind of shock as she had never felt anything like that before. “What was that?” she asked out loud this time.

                “I think maybe my father should explain that to you,” Shane said with a slight hint of embarrassment in his voice.

                “Why? Why can’t you just tell me?” Casey asked.

                “Because my dad can explain the wolfy stuff better,” Shane said with a hint of embarrassment, as they reached the house. “Now go upstairs and grab your math book. I am going to go change into some dry clothes.”

                Casey nodded and headed up the stairs. As she reaches for her bedroom door handle, she hears voices inside her room.

                Shane, there is someone in my room. I don’t know who, but I can hear voices.

                I am on my way, don’t open the door yet. Shane sent as he raced up the stairs.

                When he reached Casey she had her ear pressed against the door. They are talking about me, but I don’t know recognize the voices. Of that I am sure.

                Shane put a hand on her arm and pulled her back from the door far enough that he could put his body between her and the doorway to her room. Stay behind me. Shane instructed. Casey nodded as Shane opened the door.

                The boys that had been with Sebastian when he arrived that morning were sitting on her bed, the contents of her backpack strewn all over the room. One of them was holding a blue and pink leather bound notebook.

                “Is there something I can help you boys find?” Shane asked, angrily.

                Shane, they are reading my journal! Casey sent, slightly panicking.

                “No, we were just to wait here for the Alphas to return. That’s all,” Said Christian, Sebastian’s Beta.

                “So that gives you the right to go through her things? And also, my father did not tell us that there would be three men sitting in Miss. Casey’s room when we returned. Neither did your Alpha. So who gave you permission to be in here?” Shane asked, the anger so thick in his voice that it causes the new wolves in the room to cower. When Christian hesitates, Shane says with authority, “You can wait for your Alpha’s return in the car that brought you here, because you will be leaving upon their return. This is unacceptable behavior. Get out now and leave the book,”  Shane said as he took a step back, making sure that as he did so that Casey was still behind him.

                Christian and the new wolves all stood, but did not exit the room.

                “You do not have the authority to kick us out, Shane. There for we don’t have to listen to you,” Christian said as he tossed Casey’s journal to the floor.

                “As this pack’s future Alpha, I do have the authority. Now leave,” Shane said through clenched teeth.

                “An adopted wolf cannot be an Alpha of the pack it is adopted into. You are nothing but a lowly Omega. Get used to it,” Christian said, laughing.

                “Get. Out. Now,” Shane said as he clenched his fists. Casey, back up. Please. I don’t want to hurt you.

                You won’t hurt me. Give me your phone.

                What? Shane sent, confused.

                Your dad had his phone in his hand. Give me your phone so that I can text him and let him know what is going on. Casey sent urgently.

                It’s in my back pocket, left side. Shane sent, realization dawning on him.

                Casey reached in his back pocket and grabbed it. As she started typing the message to Isaiah two things happened so fast she didn’t have time to react.

                First, a low growl escaped Shane’s lips. And second, Christian had jumped on Shane, throwing him to the ground in the middle of the hallway behind Casey.

                Casey spun around to face where Shane landed. But Shane was nowhere to be seen.

                Instead, there was a beautiful, almost silver wolf with the same brilliant blue eyes that Shane had.

                Shane? Is that you?

                In response, the giant silver wolf nodded his head before turning back to Christian and showing the Beta his teeth.