Never Mine

Unpacking the Pack

“Hi Elara, it’s nice to finally meet you.” The one who Reed introduced as Lucas told me. He offered his hand to shake. I took it, it was rude not to.

“Yeah, finally, Reed here has been raving a lot about you,” The guy called Thomas even placed his hand on Reed’s shoulder and messed his hair with the other. “This guy is such a lucky one.” He even added.

This scene practically looked like this teen movie. The jock introduces the girl to the rest of the gang. But Reed was no Jack, and I am definitely not her girl. And this group, who seems to be a bit rowdy given the circumstances that were are in does not look like a gang.

In fact, they would pass as brothers or cousins. Someone related by blood.

“Stop that, we are late for class,” Reed told the guys. He pulled my hand to remove me from the small crowd. “Come, I’ll walk you to your class.”

Little did Elara notice that the boys were looking at her other hand, holding the journal that Reed had lent him.

“Sorry about that, they can really get nosy at times.” Reed was again apologizing, always worried about my feelings.

“It’s alright, nothing serious. But this was the first time I saw them. Do they study here?” It was stupid to ask. Of course, they do, they are inside the campus after all.

“Oh, they are from a different department so you’ll barely see them around.”

“And why are they suddenly all here? Were they waiting for you?” That was the logical question to ask.

“Maybe they just wanted to see me, I don’t about those guys. They can be really weird sometimes.” Reed was now being defensive.

It was too obvious. She just asked Reed to stay for the night at her place. During a cold rainy night of all nights. Was she so naive to even ask why his friends were waiting for them when they arrived at school?

I pulled my hand away from him. He looked at me confused. I pretended to fix my shoelaces. Reed stood there and waited for me to finish. After that, I made sure to keep my hand close to my side.

“Thanks,” Reed was even lucky I haven’t slapped him by now. How dare he tell on me with his friends. What were they expecting? That I would look like some dreamy girl while he introduced me to his friends after staying overnight in my place, on my bed?

The moment I stepped inside the classroom I immediately felt furious. How dare him. I tried my best to focus on the lesson but Reed and his pack were already on my nerves. I wouldn’t be able to focus now.

I already decided to skip the rest of my classes even before the first one ended. Grabbing my book and sending some lame excuse to the librarian about me having a bad stomach, I immediately went to the parking lot to get to Charlie.

Luckily, there was no Reed around. Well, but there was Tyler on the opposite building looking in my direction. Did he just wave at me? Well, I don’t care. I am outta here.

My day was ruined.

As Charlie began to turn to the exit gate, Reed appeared out of nowhere.

“Hey, where are you going.” He asked. There were cars ahead of me so even if I wanted to drive past him, it was not possible.

“None of your business.”

“Hey, what did I do? Are you mad?” I didn’t notice but he had already opened the door at the passenger seat and was climbing inside Charlie.

“Mad? Why would I be mad?” This guy was unbelievable. Isn’t it too obvious? There were three more cars before Charlie at the gate.

“Elara, talk to me. Why the sudden mood? Did I do anything wrong?” He was obviously confused. How can he be so shallow?

“Really,” the air that came from my nose sounded like a huff. Two more cars ahead. “Could you just get out? You still have classes.”

“And you have classes too, right?” How can he be so stubborn? One more car before Charlie could exit.

“Please, just leave me alone. I am skipping my classes, I have someplace to go.” I was firm. He was starting to irritate me.

“I will come with you.” Reed’s voice was starting to become firm too.

“Fine, do what you want.” This was excruciating. I am trying to be nice here.

It was Charlie’s turn to exit. Reed even waved on the guards on our way out. The nerve of that guy.

Outside, just a few blocks from the university, I saw the familiar big bikes that I saw at Sucos yesterday, the one that followed us home. I went cold all over.

Unknowingly, I stepped on the breaks. Reed was quick to hold my body so I wouldn’t hit the steering wheel.

“Hey, are you alright?” Reed was quick to inspect if my body bumped into anything inside.

“Yeah, I guess so.”

The next thing I knew, Reed was on my side, helping me to move on the passenger seat. “Here, let me drive.”

“Why are they here? Are they following me?” I was so confused. This was definitely not a coincidence. What did I do? I was just a waitress in Sucos. And it was the first time I saw them there. I looked at my hand, it was shaking.

Reed was quick to hold it down, pressing it with his hand free from the steering wheel. It felt warm. “Relax, I am here. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Those were comforting words. But what can Reed do? There were like six full-grown men in their big bikes behind us. I knew I would end up screaming if they would follow us.

“Breathe Elara. Breathe. Focus on my voice.”

I tried to do what Reed said, it helped a little. The trembling stopped but the fear was still there.

“Look at the rearview mirror,” Reed said while driving.

“Why, are they following us?” I asked. I was too frightened to look.

“No, trust me, just look behind us.”

I did. A Jeep Gladiator was behind us.

“They are following us.” I immediately looked forward.

“Look again, calm down this time.” Reed urged me.

It took courage but I did look backed and looked at the Jeep following us. I couldn’t identify who was driving but I saw Lucas and Tyler standing at the back of the Jeep, waving at us.

“It’s Lucas and Tyler,” I told Reed. Why are they following us? Although I am not complaining. The numbers are now even. Five of Reed’s friends plus him against those six men. It may not be a fair fight still but the numbers were equal now.

Why am I thinking like this? But that was how I felt. As if a gang war would erupt anytime. And I was unfortunately in the middle of it.

“Drink up,” He offered me the water bottle that was sitting near the stick shift. “Nothing bad will happen to you.”

It was reassuring and I must admit that somehow, the fear has subsided. But questions were starting to populate my mind.

Why is his pack following us? I know it sounds weird calling them a pack but that was the collective term I came up with to describe their group.

“Do you trust me?” Reed asked out of nowhere.

I found myself nodding. It’s not that I’d rather be here with Reed than being followed by those men. Even If he pissed me off this morning, I knew deep inside that I trust him.

“Where are we?” I asked Reed as we entered a massive green gate. It was surrounded by solid walls and I did see several CCTV cameras at the perimeter of the property.

“This is my home?” Reed said. I was distracted by the hooting behind. Lucas and Tyler jumped off the truck while it was still running. They were running around the property, pushing and pulling at each other. This was my definition of rough play.

“Seriously?” I had to voice that out. This was one massive property. What was inside was not a house, it was a mansion and behind it was a massive woodland. Where on Earth am I?

“Are you a mafia or something?” I know I sound absurd but if someone else was with me and seeing what I am seeing right now, this s**t looked like it came out of a mafia movie.

Reed chuckled a bit, “No, my Dad got this from his parents. It’s a family legacy, not a mafia.

“You want me to believe that?” I pointed at the men that were standing around the house. They were obviously guards. Although unarmed, I am pretty certain that they were more than equipped to protect the property.

“Let’s just say that Dad is someone huge in society. Both my parents are.” Reed revealed.

“And yet you work at Sucos,” This was pretty weird. But I would rather have something weird today rather than deal with those bikers that were stalking me.

“Well, my Dad always believed in having to work hard for the things that you want in life. That I had to go through what most people would in life.”

“Fair enough. But what are we doing here?” He was already helping me out of Charlie.

“Let’s get inside first.” And we did. Lucas, Tyler, Thomas, Stan, and Rocky were behind us. Pushing and punching around each other as if nothing happened.

Well, nothing really happened. I was just too scared with those goons following me.

Inside, Reed led me to a room that looked like a meeting area, but a modern one. There were chairs around the table, all to which his pack jumped into while kicking each other around.

Reed stood at the edge as if he was leading a meeting of sorts. He pulled a chair for me and urged me to sit. I did.

Reed placed his hand over the table and everyone went silent. I waited and prepared to listen.

“Elara, please bear in mind that what I am about to tell you is true. Bear with us. Have an open mind and try to see sense in what I am about to tell you.”

I nodded. Was he finally about to reveal about being a son of a mafia Lord or a Yakuza? No, Yakuza’s are in Japan, right?

“I wanted to wait, to prepare you, but the circumstances are against us. I thought we had more time but it looks like we could not enjoy that luxury.” He continued. The excitement and mystery were making me feel queasy.

I looked around the table. Everyone was looking at me. They were looking with concern, some with excitement, others worried. I look at Reed. He looked like he was gauging me, thinking how I would react.

“We are the descendants of Lycaon, the first shapeshifter in the history of men. We are collectively the Portland Wolf Pack. Us and the men outside. And just like us, we think that you are a werewolf too.”

I didn’t know how to reach, what to say, or what to do. I got up, grabbed my bag and car keys, and went outside the house.

I wasn’t sure if anyone was following me but I am definitely not staying to listen to this crazy talk. I already had enough craziness with my mom.

This was even worse.

I drove away from that property. Luckily no one stopped me. I drove back to my apartment, lock my room, and lay in my bed.