Hell Hound

Chapter Four

Chapter 4

Kiara unlocked the door to her room and stepped inside. Mika trudged in behind her. Apparently, no one had been willing to trade rooms with her. Kiara ignored her while she took in the room. Although “mini apartment” would be more accurate. In the first room was the kitchenette, which was essentially just a polished bench with a mini fridge and microwave. There was a very small table with two pale wooden chairs to the right. A small wall mounted TV above it. On the opposite wall was a grey loveseat pushed against a large window with tacky white blinds. There was a small cut out hall on the back wall with three open doors. The middle was clearly the bathroom. Mika stormed into the room on the right and shut the door. Kiara walked into the left-hand room and tossed her bulging backpack on the clean white bed. She hesitated for a second, then figured “what the hell” and jumped onto the queen sized bed. She spread her arms and legs wide, taking up as much of the space as she could. Her bed back at the den was a single. Having a queen bed all to herself was an unexpected perk of having to attend the training camp.

While still sprawled on the bed, Kiara pulled the room key envelope from her pocket. Apart from the key, it also held two copies of the first week timetable and some general information and house rules. She had already given Mika hers. Since it was already mid-afternoon, there weren’t any training sessions that day. But there was a welcome dinner in the main function hall. She wasn’t even slightly interested in going. Kiara wondered if anyone would notice if she skipped it.

Sienna was feeling confident as she entered the main function hall. Her little black dress hugged her figure, showing off her curves. Her long blond hair falling in perfect curls. Helena had chosen to wear tight black jeans and a sequined top. Their styles had always been similar, but Sienna liked skirts, were as Helena had always felt more comfortable in trousers. Sienna’s gaze drifted over the crowd. There were so many good-looking guys that she hardly knew where to start. She was glad not to see their cousin Kiara. She always made her feel uncomfortable. Helena too. There was just something about her hard black eyes that creeped them out.

Movement in the crowd drew Sienna’s eye. She paused. Moving towards her was the most attractive man she had ever seen. He radiated power and confidence. He was much older than her, probably more around her father’s age. His dark mahogany hair was slicked back away from his penetrating brown eyes. His sun-kissed skin was golden brown and looked perfect against the crisp white of his shirt. The black suit jacket fit him perfectly, showing off bulging muscles that were clearly the result of years of hard training. Sienna didn’t even need to ask who he was. The way he moved through the crowd with such presence. He couldn’t possibly be anyone other than Marcus Hunter, the Scarlett Moon Alpha. Her wolf admired him too as he approached them. “Ladies.” He said, coming to a stop before them. Sienna and Helena avoided direct eye contact out of respect.

“Alpha Marcus.” They said together in greeting. Dammit! For all the times for her and Helena to be in sync. Marcus didn’t even notice. He was looking around.

“Where is you cousin? Kiara, wasn’t it?” A flash of jealousy ran through Sienna.

“Probably hiding in her room.” She said stiffly.

“Kiara doesn’t do crowds very well. They make her uncomfortable.” Helena added. Marcus eyed her, one brow raised. “Submissive?” he asked.

“Very bottom of our pack hierarchy.” Sienna told him, somewhat smugly. His full lips tugged downwards. There was no way he was interested in her now.

“Pity. Although I would still like to meet her.” There was a coldness to his voice which startled the twins for a moment. Marcus turned and strode away. Making his way through the chaperones, introducing himself.

“What was that about?” Helena wondered out loud.

“Who cares. He’s f*****g gorgeous.” Sienna replied.

“Eww. He’s older than dad.” Helena didn’t see the appeal. Sure, he was good looking, but despite their long life spans, she wasn’t interested in older men. She preferred her boys young and wild. Sienna, on the other hand, always went for the most dominant male around. Available or not.

Nick straightened the cuff on his salmon dress shirt as he entered the room. The noisy chatter of the room already driving him nuts. He headed straight for the bar and ordered a whisky. If his father hadn’t ordered he attend the stupid dinner, he would be upstairs watching Netflix in his pyjama pants. There were almost 300 juveniles, two dozen chaperones and nearly forty of his own pack members all crammed into one function hall. It was enough to give him a headache. Nick caught sight of a head of silver-streaked blond hair at the other end of the bar. Grabbing his drink, he walked over. “Nick Hunter.” He introduced himself, in case Malachi had forgotten his name. “Are you hiding from my father as well?” Mal didn’t answer. Nor did he shake the hand that Nick extended to him. Nick called for two more whiskies, passing one to Mal.

“I dislike him.” Malachi finally said.

“That makes two of us.” Mal eyed the young man beside him again. He remembered seeing Nick at quite a few of the meetings between Silver and Marcus. Although he wasn’t his father’s second, the boy smelled like a future alpha. Mal knew that his father must have hated that. There was nothing worse than knowing your own offspring might be coming for your head.

Kiara checked the time as she got out of the shower. The others would all be sitting down to dinner and the thought was making her hungry. She hadn’t eaten since the plane. Kiara grabbed the room service menu and flopped down on the lounge, wondering if they did all day pancakes. They did. The menu was crazy. Everything from cereal to lobster risotto. Careful not to go overboard, because everything would be charged back to Rising Moon, she grabbed the phone and ordered. Then Kiara settled in to watch the latest episode of “Wild World”. A documentary series about shifters living off the grid as closely to their animal counterparts as possible. Although she had no desire to give up modern connivences, it was a guilty pleasure of hers. Besides, it didn’t hurt to learn things just in case she ever found herself stranded in the wild.