Hidden Creek

Chapter Twenty

Haven

The house looked abandoned as I stepped inside. Where is everyone? I mind linked Davidee. 

Not sure. Bammiuk and I are the only ones here. We’re in the basement. He responded. The new wolves aren’t awake yet.

Thank god... I trudged up to the third floor, and into my bedroom. The dark colors helped sooth my frustration. “I need a shower...” I murmured as I stared at my bathroom door, weighing the stack of work in my office versus my desperate desire to take a long hot shower. In the end, the pull was too strong. An hour later, the entire bathroom was steamed up, and I felt more relaxed than I had in weeks. My hair dripped down my back as I wiped off the mirror. Taking time to go through my old skin care routine made me miss when things were easier, back when the pack wasn’t so demanding and I wasn’t prepping for war. I stepped into the walk-in wardrobe and grabbed a black crop top, yellow sunflower button up, and black flare cut jeans. My reflection smiled back at me, the sunflowers making my skin look a little darker than usual. I towel dried my hair as I walked back into the bedroom. Bammiuk reclined on my bed, startling me. “f**k, Bammi.” I hissed.

“Are you going to turn that wannabe rockstar?” He asked, not taking his eyes off the ceiling.

“What f*****g business is that of yours?” I scoffed. “You’re not Beta, Gamma, or Delta. You’re in no position to offer me council.”

He grimaced, but didn’t move. “Is it weird that I kind of hate you for trying to move on?”

“Oh, hon.” I sighed. “I’m not trying. I am moving on. And, to be completely honest, yes. I’m probably going to turn him. And yes, it’s super f*****g weird that you’re upset about me moving on. You ended things between us. It’s been four f*****g years, man. What did you think would happen?” There was a stiff knock on my door, and relief flooded my nervous system. “Come in.”

Davidee poked his head around the door, looking back and forth between Bammiuk and me. “I don’t want to know what’s going on here, do I?” His hard gaze finally settled on Bammiuk, lounging on my bed.

“He keeps popping up. Nothing is going on here. What’s the word?” I asked.

“The new wolves are awake.” He turned on his heel, stalking down the hallway.

Bammiuk cleared his throat. “I have more to say.”

“Not my problem.” I shrugged, following Davidee’s trail.

He leaned casually against the far wall. “Your ex keeps popping up in your room.” He smirked. “I’m sure your new boyfriend loves that.”

“He doesn’t know...” I sighed. “Davidee... He proposed to me.”

“Nik?” He pushed off the wall as I walked past, sticking to my side. 

“Weirdly, that would be a lot less stressful. No. Bammiuk.”

For several seconds, he remained silent as we bounded down the stairs. Finally, he murmured, “What the fuck... That anaq siutitooq...”

“Name calling?” I chuckled. “What are you, five? He’s not a s**t stain, he’s desperate. He sees me dating a human as an act of defiance against the pack. Against him.”

“Then get it over with and turn the guy. Dragging this out isn’t good for anyone, and you trying to live a double life will inevitably affect your duties as Alpha.”

Davidee held the basement door open for me, and we stepped inside. “I wish it were that easy. Nik has to be the one to decide, and I’m not sure if I trust him yet.” We walked down a long hallway with doors intermittently dotting the walls. I pulled open the door on the far wall, the heavy steel reinforced concrete protested for a second before giving in. “Age before beauty.” I waved him in.

He chuckled sarcastically and stepped inside. “The other two men, Sheppard and Alan, are freaking out. Jerome seems pretty calm.”

“I think he suspected something was off about me when we first met. And you know, he did watch me transform.” I shrugged. After a short hallway, the room opened up into a circular chamber. The two men from the gas station were huddled against the wall, as far from the entrance as they could get. Jerome sat in the middle, leaning back on his elbows. 

“Well, it’s pretty cool that I’m not dead yet.” Jerome sighed. “How long will that last?”

“We have no intention of killing you.” I tried to smile, but the expression felt forced. “I didn’t mean to turn you, any of you, but it happened. Now I have to deal with it. So, the basics: I’m a werewolf. Everyone who lives in the Red Moon tribe is. Now you are too. Our only rules are don’t tell the humans, don’t do anything to put your fellow wolves in danger, and don’t defy me. You can join our pack if you’d like, but if you choose not to, we will be monitoring you. If you leave here and try to talk about who we are, or do anything at all that could jeopardise our way of life, we will kill you. If you stay, follow our rules and you’ll live a happy life in relative safety. Questions, comments, or concerns?”

Jerome stared at the wall across from him as the two men against the wall shook. “M-my name’s Sheppard.” One of the gas station men stuttered. “What about my life? My apartment?” 

“You’re free to live there, or move in to one of the pack neighborhoods just a stone's throw from where we are right now. You can keep your current job or accept one within the pack. You can integrate fully into the pack, or you can live half in this world, half in your former world. The choice is yours.” Davidee shrugged.

“I have nothing to go back to. I’m in.” Jerome didn’t remove his eyes from the wall.

“f**k this shit.” The other guy, Alan, hissed. “I’m out of here.” He bolted up, strutting with mock confidence toward Davidee in me. Fear rolled off him in waves, despite his bravado.

“I would reconsider if I were you.” I stated calmly.

“Get the f**k out of my way, b***h, or I’ll kill you.” He whispered with his nose centimeters from mine. 

In half a heartbeat, I had him on his back with my short black nails digging into his throat. “Threaten me again and I will eat your heart for dessert.” 

He whimpered on the floor before nodding. “Sorry.” He croaked.

I released him and stepped back to Davidee’s side. “Get out. You’ll be monitored until we believe beyond any reasonable doubt that you’ve adjusted and pose no threat to us or anyone else.” He nodded quickly, running past me into the hall. I turned to Davidee, motioning after the retreating baby wolf. “Follow him until he’s out of the territory, then have Mato keep track of him.” Without a word, Davidee picked up his trail. “As for the two of you, Otaktay will show you around and get you settled.” Like mist, he appeared behind me with a pleasant smile. 

“Hello, Alpha.” 

“Hello, Otaktay. This is Jerome and Sheppard. They’re new additions to our pack. Make them feel welcome, please.” I softened at the presence of Amittu’s mate.

“Absolutely.” He nodded respectfully as I made my way back through the labyrinth like basement.