Willow and the Girl In Room 1260

Willow had never planned on leaving the pack house. It was a safe place to be. Alpha Kevin Shorn made sure that she and the rest of the pack had everything they needed. The Shorn Pack may have been small, but they were well cared for. Under the watchful eye of Kevin and his mate, Charles, the Shorn Pack was sure to continue being strong and healthy.      Perhaps that was why Willow had been so confused when her alpha chose to expand the pack by biting Brad. Maybe he was hoping that Brad would turn out to be a beta. Ellen was the only beta in their pack, so perhaps Kevin had gotten worried about the protection of his pack omegas, Willow included. She rolled her eyes at the thought. There was safety in numbers, yes, but increasing their numbers came with the risk of changing their pack dynamics.      Willow knew where she fit into the pack in terms of rank. Kevin, as the alpha, was the leader of the pack, and it was only natural given an alpha’s heightened senses and protective nature. Alphas weren’t the type to submit to just anyone, but they were willing to go to great lengths to protect their pack. Kevin was living proof of that. Next was Ellen, their only pack beta. While her senses weren’t nearly as strong as an alpha’s or an omega’s, she still had the potential to lead a pack in the rare event that no alpha was present. More than that, with an omega on her side, a beta could do anything. Omegas like Willow and Charles made up the heart of the pack. Their senses were stronger than all wolves, and their ability to put out calming pheromones was essential in keeping an alpha’s more aggressive urges in check. Omegas made a pack stronger, and their natural instincts only grew more powerful with the full moon.      So far, Brad was unranked. He could remain that way forever for all Willow knew. Some bitten wolves did. She wasn’t worried about how he would fit into the pack in terms of rank, though. She was worried about how his presence would change the family she had found in her pack. Would Kevin forget about game night because he had a new wolf to train? Would Ellen discover that Brad was her mate and leave Willow to be the only single wolf in the pack? Would Charles mother-hen Brad to death?      There were too many what-ifs to deal with. Willow had never done well with change, and she did even worse with confrontation. So she remained silent on the Brad issue, and when registration for university housing opened up, she registered only because she needed to get away from the pack for a while.      “It’s a bad idea,” Kevin murmured when he found out, his voice as calm as ever as he lead Willow and Charles into his office. His scent betrayed the concern underlying his words— cinnamon turning from sweet to spicy in a second.      Willow bit back a growl. “It’s only for a semester, Kev. I’m 22 years old. I think I can handle living alone for a few months.”      “You shouldn’t have to,” Charles put in quietly.  His honey-lavender scent blanketed Kevin’s office. Truth be told, the office was one of Willow’s favorite rooms in the pack house for this exact reason. The office always smelled like home and pack, but Charles’s soft scent added an almost enchanting layer of tranquility to it.  Willow gulped. She didn’t want to miss this. This was home. They were home.  “I’m not saying that I have to. I’m saying that I want to. I love this pack, but right now, I need my own space. Please.”  “Willow, the full moon is approaching,” Kevin began. “You know how that impairs your judge-“ “This isn’t a full moon issue!” Willow snarled, her green eyes flashing omega gold. So much for avoiding confrontation.  Kevin’s own brown eyes flickered red in response. “Willow-“  “No, she’s right,” Charles interrupted, laying a hand on Kevin’s arm. “The moon encourages us to seek out our pack. If she wants to get out, then this is all Willow.” He smiled at her. “If you want to go, go.”  Willow beamed at him. He supported her. It was going to be okay. “I move into the dorms next week if you want to help me.”  Kevin let out a breath. He paused for a moment, taking in first Willow’s face and then Charles’s. Finally, he smiled.  “I guess that biochemistry degree isn’t going to get itself... Of course we’ll help you move in.” He held up a hand. “On the condition that you let me pay for it. If I’m not allowed to pay for tuition, then I should at least get to pay for housing,” he joked.  The hug Willow leapt forward to give him was entirely expected, and Kevin caught her easily. He held her close, breathing in the scent of pack that clung to her short blonde hair. This was his pack. If living in the dormitory made Willow happy, then who was he to deny her?  Kevin glanced over Willow’s shoulder at Charles, and he suddenly found himself struck by the warm, loving smile on his mate’s face. Charles’s honey-lavender scent bloomed with the sweetness of happiness, a feeling that was further amplified down their mate bond and through their pack bond with Willow. Ellen’s bond lit up next, first in surprise and then in pleasure. Brad’s bond, meanwhile, wiggled in innocent confusion. Kevin smiled. His newest packmate had a lot to learn, but with a loving mate and two loyal, happy packmates on his side, Kevin knew that he would overcome any challenges Brad happened to bring him. Kevin was the alpha of a pack that loved him. Anything was possible.