Little Wolf

Lunch at the Packhouse

Ivy

Lying in bed, Ivy's skull is throbbing. As she comes out of her foggy sleep, she squeezes her eyes shut and tries to remember the moment where she blacked out the night before. Thinking hard, she recalls dinner, and everyone walking over to Ruby's after. The band was good and she remembers dancing with a guy for a long time. She remembers him having his hands on her hips as they danced, and him pulling her closer to his sweat soaked body.

The bed rumbles beside her, and a heavy arm flops across her. Ivy's eyes fly open and she looks over to see... Tyler!? He's breathing softly, and she can tell that he's sound asleep. Paislee is going to kill her. Ivy is suddenly aware of her nakedness underneath the sheets, and she doesn't have to think too hard about it to know that Tyler is naked, too.

Ivy's heartbeat quickens to double time, as she frantically tries to figure out what to do next. She's in Tyler's room at Paislee's house, she realizes. She slides out of the bed and onto the floor where she sits against the bed, listening. Deciding that she hasn't awakened him, she crawls across the floor to find her clothes and shimmies into them before slipping quietly out the door. She runs on her tiptoes clutching her throbbing head all the way down to the kitchen to find the acetaminophen.

Gulping down the water and pills, she stares into the living room blankly before her eyes settle on her shoes. Grabbing one of them from partially under the sofa, her hand touches a sheet of paper. She pulls it out and sees that it's the safe deposit box information with the key still taped to it. Clutching her shoes and the paper, she returns to the kitchen to put on a pot of coffee.

After forty five minutes of sipping coffee on the deck alone, Ivy can hear someone rustling around in the kitchen. She leans her head back on the chair and prays that it isn't Tyler.

"You're up early", Luke smiles at her, joining her on the deck. Ivy's heart is racing, terrified of being found out. She smiles weakly at him and he takes a seat, studying her. "Is everything okay?", he asks, finally. Stupid werewolves and their stupid werewolf hearing. He can probably hear her heart thudding out of her chest.

"Yeah, just hung over", she mutters. She can tell that Luke isn't satisfied with her answer, but he decides to let it go. Paislee comes out on the deck next, holding the paper with the key on it. "I'd forgotten all about this!", she exclaims. Ivy flinches at Paislee's loud voice as it sears through her brain. "Why don't you go back up to bed for a bit?", Luke asks her. Ivy shakes her head, "I'll be alright. I just need to eat something".

"Let me have my coffee, and I'll whip us up something to eat", Paislee tells her. "Are Lucy and Trevor here?", Ivy asks. Luke and Paislee exchange glances before Paislee replies,"They went home last night. Do you not remember anything?" Ivy shakes her head just as Tyler comes out onto the deck. Ivy sees him look at her and she quickly looks away.

Ivy can't get tangled up with a werewolf. His mate will come along someday, and he will leave her in the dust. She likes a good time just as much as anyone else, but she has definitely crossed a line with her best friend's brother.

Paislee

Paislee isn't certain why Ivy is acting so strangely. Ivy won't look at Tyler and if her heartbeat doesn't slow down soon, Paislee will consider calling an ambulance. She and Luke know that Ivy and Tyler slept together last night, they were all over each other at Ruby's, and the house practically shook while they went at it. Does she really not remember anything? Tyler was so... alive last night, it was fun to see.

She'll have to deal with Ivy later. Paislee stands up and stretches before going into the kitchen to make oatmeal with berries for everyone. She needs to keep it simple since they're going to lunch at the packhouse today. She cringes just thinking about it. "Oh hey everybody, here's your new Luna. She just found out she's a werewolf", she imagines Luke shouting to a booing crowd of people. Ugh.

After breakfast, everyone waits for Paislee to get showered and ready to head out. They drop Ivy off at home, and she bolts from the truck as soon as they pull in. "What's with her?", Luke asks as they drive away. "Maybe it's me", Tyler says softly from the back seat. "Oh honey, no. She's hung over, she probably just had to go throw up", Paislee tells him, looking in her visor mirror at him. Her heart aches for this sweet giant she now calls her brother. She plans to give Ivy an earful later.

The drive to the packhouse is picturesque. They drive deep into the woodlands on the other side of town, winding along a quiet dirt road. There's not a soul to be seen anywhere, just trees. Miles and miles of trees. They stop at a set of stone gates and a man comes out and nods to Luke before pulling open the gate for them. "Morning Alpha!", he calls as they drive by. Luke waves back, "Morning Henry!".

Paislee can see a building way off in the distance as they navigate around a good sized lake. There are some boats floating idly with fishing rods cast out, and a few families having a picnic and playing at the water's edge. Paislee smiles at how... quaint it all is.

As they approach the packhouse, it looks ancient. The grey stone is streaked with black from years and years of weather and ivy overgrowth. It looks like an enormous castle with six floors, and a cobblestone roundabout out front. Inside the roundabout is a large stone water fountain with a pouncing wolf statue, water trickling out of his jaw. There are red impatiens bordering the drive and along the sides of the stone steps leading up to the large ornate black double doors. The steps are flanked with werewolf statues on their haunches, baring their teeth. If Paislee didn’t know that werewolves lived here, she’d guess that a vampire did.

Sam and Michael are waiting for them on the top step, smiling and waving as a group of huge tattooed men jog past, eyeing them curiously. Luke helps Paislee out of the truck. He asked her to dress casually, so she’s in light blue ripped jeans with a black oversized Linkin Park tank top and flip flops. Her hair is in a ponytail at the crown of her head, her oversized sunglasses basic black.

Sam rushes down the stairs to greet her, wrapping her in a huge hug before shaking hands with Tyler and Luke. Michael follows behind and greets them all in the same way before leading them up the stairs. “I need to go change”, Luke tells them as Michael opens the front doors.

They enter into a grand foyer that is floor to ceiling oak wood. Ahead of them is an arched doorway, with a clock at the top of the pitch. On either side is a cascading staircase that encircles the arch and then carries on down each side of the hall. There are tall candelabras on the floor with varying remnants of long burned out candles. It’s like stepping into a time warp, and not at all what Paislee was expecting. LeBlanc Tower is so new and modern compared to this.

Luke kisses Paislee quickly on her cheek before darting up the stairs and disappearing down the hall. “Come on, I’ll show you around”, Sam winks and holds out his arm. Hooking her arm into his, she watches his face as he beams proudly, standing tall.

They tour the main floor of the packhouse, visiting the kitchen, dining hall, salon, main office, cigar bar, ballroom and games room. Along the way, Michael points out ancient artifacts and antiquities that have been in the packhouse for generations. Pack members are milling about everywhere they go, eyeing her curiously. Paislee is glad Luke told her to dress casually, she already feels like she’s sticking out like a sore thumb.

Sam, Tyler and Michael take her back to the dining hall. The dining hall reminds Paislee of the one in Hogwarts, with three impossibly long tables stretching the length of the entire room. At the far end of the room is a beautiful dining table, clearly distinct from the others, and Luke, Trevor and Lucy are already seated. The room is peppered with giant circular hanging crystal chandeliers that obviously once held candles, and there are tall rectangular windows running the length of the room, with stained glass at the tops of them.

Lucy waves as they approach, under the watchful eyes of curious pack members. Luke stands to greet them, planting a kiss on Paislee’s lips. “How was the tour?”, he asks brightly. Luke has changed into dark blue jeans with rips in them, and a white t-shirt that accentuates his muscular frame. “It was grand!”, Paislee exclaims as he pushes her chair in for her.

A few pack members stop by to say hello to their table as they eat lunch. Luke introduces Paislee as his mate to each of them. A few she-wolves seem disappointed to hear that Luke has finally mated, but everyone has been pleasant.

Michael clears his throat, “Paislee, I spoke with Bob Warner this morning”. Luke squeezes her hand under the table and she feels herself grow warm. “He’s most anxious to meet you”, Michael continues. “How did he take the news?”, Luke asks cautiously. “Overall, pretty good. He’s thrilled about Paislee, not so thrilled with the circumstances surrounding Anne’s passing, but he’s digesting. When you’re ready, he’d like for you to contact him”, Michael answers, handing Paislee a slip of paper with Bob’s number on it. “He was very adamant that you contact him anytime, day or night”, Michael smiles. Paislee feels relief wash over her and she smiles gratefully.

After lunch, they take a stroll around the packhouse property. Behind the packhouse is a cobblestone road that leads to a series of small stone cottages, and a playground for children at the end of the lane. The pack hospital is smaller, and it looks like it may have been another house once upon a time.

Paislee and Luke say their goodbyes to everyone once they return to the packhouse, as he’d like to show her to “their” suite. They climb the stairs slowly, chatting as they go. At the top of the first set of stairs is a very angry looking woman with short blonde hair. Luke tenses and pulls Paislee in close to him. “Hello, Abby”, Luke says in a low voice. Sam’s wife! Mate! Chosen forced mate! Whatever. Yikes!

“That’s Beta Abby to you, kid. She even looks just like him, the slut’s daughter”, she sneers. Paislee’s hackles go up and Luke grips her tighter. “And she’ll be your Luna soon. I suggest you stand down”, he growls as he takes a step towards her, “This won’t end well for you, Abby”.

Abby laughs maniacally and staggers away. “Is she drunk?”, Paislee asks, her voice barely above a whisper. “Likely”, he answers, rolling his eyes. “It’s three o’clock in the afternoon!”, she exclaims. “Come on”, he says as he pulls her up the next set of stairs.

The Alpha floor is very open. There’s an oval railing in the middle with an enormous chandelier hanging from a domed skylight in the centre. There’s a lounge area at the front, with tall stained glass windows speckling coloured lights across the furniture and floor. To their right is Michael’s office and across the hall is the door to Michael’s suite. They walk about halfway down the hall to a door where Luke stops. “Your suite, m’lady”, he bows and swings the door open. Paislee giggles as she walks inside.

Inside is like an apartment. There’s a small entryway that leads into a large living space with a 75 inch television along one of the walls. The outside wall is made up of rows of windows, and there’s a dining area that would seat eight comfortably. Down the hall to the left are two good sized bedrooms and a luxurious bathroom with a claw foot tub and subway tiles on the walls. Down the right side hall is a galley kitchen, and behind that is the master bedroom with a walk in closet and ensuite bath containing another claw foot tub.

“This is… huge!”, Paislee exclaims as she sinks into the overstuffed royal blue couch with a settee at the end. “Do you like it?”, Luke asks, sitting down beside her, and taking her hand in his. “It’s lovely!”, she nods. Kissing her hand, he smiles back at her, “That’s good, because when you’re ready, this is yours. Ours.”

For the fifth time today, they make love. Paislee is on top in reverse cowgirl as Luke thumps himself into her from below, howling her name.