Stolen Soul

Chapter 6: Home

Lexi

The three guys that I ran into are all brothers, which makes sense because they really do look alike. The oldest brother who was the charcoal wolf is Matt. Sam is the middle brother and the youngest brother is Luke, they both have large brown wolves. Luke talks a mile a minute and seems to want to know a lot about me. He keeps asking what it’s like to grow up in a human family, and I guess my answer of “umm normal I guess” was not sufficient because he wants to know all about really mundane things like doctor appointments, school sports, and dating. He made a ridiculous assumption that since I live close to a beach I must surf and then wanted to know all about spring break parties.

He got a little more serious and started asking me about transitioning alone, and how I felt about it all. With it just happening, I was still processing what I felt. He sensed my hesitation and started asking about my wolf, and what she is like. Ela, my wolf had been silent during the barrage of questioning, I assume because she was still mad at me. But she spoke up when he started asking about her, “Do not tell them my name, give them a different name.” When he asked me what my wolf’s name was, I lied, and told them her name is the first thing that came to my mind, Helen, my adoptive mom’s name. That problem wasn’t the best idea since he had already asked me about my family, and I sort of told them what my mom’s name was already. Instead of calling me out on their name being the same he said, “Oh that’s cool she has the same name as your mom.” My wolf snickered and called me a stupid girl, but at least he didn’t catch on that I was lying.

Matt, however has been really quiet this entire walk, I keep glancing over and even caught him staring at my ass a few times, but every time I catch him, he diverts his eyes. I tried asking him what he does, and he just grunted. Not unexpectedly, Luke was quick to tell me all about Matt. He is the next in line to become beta, and currently one of the top trainers in the pack. He then had to explain to me the different roles and ranks for wolves, which I guess it’s basically like the military, so that’s cool, I think.

Luke speaks about his brother with so much pride, it is really sweet to see. I’m not as close to my adoptive siblings, my brother is 8 years older than me and I just annoyed him, and my sister is 3 years older. We were close until I hit puberty, then we just drifted apart. She was in high school, and I was suddenly a little kid to her. Of course, she had a boyfriend and spent all of her time with him, so we just grew apart. It seems like Matt, Sam, and Luke are really close, they patrol together, work out together, eat together, and even leave together at the packhouse. It seems like the packhouse is sort of like my dorm at school, they even have a cafeteria.

As we walk Luke shares that he and Sam are both pack warriors like their father and that Luke has already found his mate. Curious to understand what a mate is, since apparently, I have already met mine, I ask Luke about his. Her name is Isabella, but she goes by Izzy. They have known each other since they were kids and he always had a crush on her. She is a year old than him and knew he was her mate, too eager to wait for him to turn 18, she kissed him a few months before his birthday when they were hanging out playing video games. She had started hanging out with him and the other guys a lot after her eighteenth birthday and Luke loved the attention. She always listened to him as he mattered, and everyone knew they were a perfect match.

They marked each other on the night of his eighteenth birthday and are practically inseparable. She wants to work in the pack hospital as a nurse and is currently going to the University of Vermont as a nursing student. Which then makes me wonder is it possible I have met other werewolves and just never knew?

I can smell food and smoke wafting into the woods, and start to hear the sounds of civilization. We had been walking for about twenty minutes before the woods began to thin and before my eyes a huge cleared space with no trees sat surrounded by mountains and lush woods. I can make out the smoke billowing from the chimneys of various log cabins that line the path way, each with their own gardens, and patios. Some of the patios have people milling about. Most of them acknowledge the 3 men with me politely but seem extremely suspicious of me. Some hold their children back from running towards us.

I guess they do not get to many visitors up here. As we round a bend in the dirt road, a large building comes into focus. Unlike the log cabins we have passed on the outskirts of town this building is massive. It appears to be four stories in height, and wrapped in red brick. A large welcoming stair case is encased by two massive white concrete pillars. Each large window is arched and encased in the same stark white in comparison the warm brick. The building is perfectly landscaped, with shrubbery and greenery I would not have anticipated in the middle of the forest. The buildings backdrop is the steep incline of the mountains and is absolutely breath taking.

Matt gently grabs my arm breaking my trance, and guides me into the building. The outside was unexpected, but the inside is equally as beautiful. Warm rich wood wraps the staircase. The floors are an ebony stained wood, while the walls are a perfect cream color, balancing the room flawlessly. The entrance way is large, with modern furnishings, and limited décor. Matt continues to guide me through the space bringing me to a large conference room. The table is at least 15 feet in length, with comfortable plush chairs surrounding it. A large map sits center of the table, and a bookcase from floor to ceiling adorns the furthest back wall.

The door quick shuts behind me, when I hear a large inhale, followed by the sound of glass shattering.

I turn to see a middle-aged man, broad shoulder with the same eyes as mine, standing completely still. His hands are bleeding, and his pants are wet with water, but he doesn’t seem phased at all. He then silently mouths one word that I know to be true.

“Daughter.”