The Human In The Wolf Pack
Chapter 10

I was oddly warm. It was that perfect amount of heat, that wasn’t hot enough to make you sweat, but enough that made you instantly relax, to the point where your body feels as if it’s melted. It seemed to wrap itself around me, before it began to shift away.

I frowned slightly, and flipped over, one arm tiredly searching the spot beside me where my heat source had vanished. The chill of the room was already starting to seep in. My hand made purchase with the blanket and I drew it over me fully. Not completely satisfied, my frown remained. It wasn’t nearly as warm or as comforting.

I laid there for what felt like a few minutes before a hand shook me lightly.

“Vera, wake up. We have to get back on the road,” the voice whispered, slightly gruff.

I g*****d, lightly slapping the hand away, before turning over again.

“Leave me alone, Ripley,” I grumbled, still asleep, but he was determined to get me up. A persistent hand began shaking my shoulder, trying to get my attention.

I finally peeled my eyes open, ready to glare at my older brother, but was surprised by a pair of grey orbs that were looking at me expectantly.

“Good morning, Vera,” Rider said, smiling slightly.

I blinked, stunned for a moment before yesterday came back to me. That’s right, instead of leaving the Lightened Horizon Pack to live amongst humans, I was on a road trip to Rider’s pack.

“Morning,” I mumbled, stretching on the bed before sitting up, my brain still foggy from sleep. Morning light was streaming into the motel room, creating a hazy kind of glow.

“Get ready. I’ll bring up breakfast and then we have to leave,” he said, straightening up, but he paused for a moment and placed his large hand against my cheek. It felt warm, and slightly calloused, and the action quickly took away the remaining fog in my mind.

His palm caressed my face gently, and Rider’s grey orbs seemed to soften at the contact. Pleasant sparks flew where our skin touched, and after a brief moment, he detached from me. I watched after him, stunned as he walked out the door of the motel room. It closed softly after him and I heard his footsteps fade away. I brought a hand up to my cheek, stunned.

What… was that?

A little smile graced my lips as I stood up, not entirely hating the sensation his touch gave me. I showered quickly, not wanting to get caught by Rider while I was changing. I dressed and brushed my teeth and hair. By the time I packed my stuff away again Rider came back on the phone.

“What do you mean, you let him get away? He was right in your grasp! Did he find out… Ok then. Just get the trackers on this, ok? Bye,” he said, hanging up.

“Everything ok?” I asked, a bit concerned, seeing his tightened expression as he put his phone back into his pocket. He sighed heavily.

“Yeah, we have to go though. Foods in the car,” he said shortly, striding over to grab my things.

I give him an unsure look, but he just shook his head and pasted on a reassuring smile.

“Let’s go.”

….

We drove all day, until the towns became further and few apart, then, it was just woods. I felt my phone buzz, and I took it out to see another text from Ripley.

Are you sure you’re ok to go?

I smiled at his concern, before texting him back.

Yeah, I’ll be fine. If anything happens, you can come kick his butt.

My phone buzzed again.

Without hesitation.

I laughed, and briefly told him that I would call later, when mom and dad got back from taking care of their pack duties. Looking out the window, I let out a soft gasp. Mountains that almost appeared purple stretched up to the sky, while evergreens decorated the landscape. It was serenely beautiful, picturesque even.

“It’s so beautiful here,” I whispered, stunned.

“Yeah, I guess it is,” Rider replied, sounding a bit amused as his eyes took in the landscape.

“What?” I asked, my attention turning to him at his odd answer.

“I just never looked at the scenery before. I always thought how the location was beneficial to the pack because of its rural-ness, never once did I notice the beauty of it. Until I saw it with you,” he told me, grinning, then he turned his attention back to the road.

I looked away, pressing a hand to my blushing cheek. What the heck was going on with me? Why does every little look send my heart fluttering, every touch of skin make my stomach go in a knot? It was impossible to hate Rider, even as I looked at things logically. He wasn’t a great guy, at least not to me. Even just acknowledging that most of these things happened in our childhood, he was still a jerk at first. He was a play boy, and he was cruel, but now it felt like all of that must have been someone else.

Finally, the car stopped. I looked over at Rider nervously. This was it. I would be meeting the pack that was more wolf than human. Rider had reassured me that they held no ill will to humans, that they had adored their previous Luna who was one, but what if they were worse than my last pack? Rider’s hand wrapped firmly around mine, causing the familiar tingles to spark. The warm, slightly calloused feeling drew my attention to him.

“I’m right here, Vera. Nothing will happen to you, I and the whole pack will protect you from here on out,” he said, his grey eyes confident and sincere. The peace that those words brought made me feel disillusioned. It was just the mate bond.

But still, I nodded, pulling my hand from his and stepping out of the car. Rocks shifted under my feet on the gravel road as I stood, heart pounding as I took in the scenery.

Now to meet the pack that is said to be more wolf than human.