Joining the Pack (Sample Only)

Chapter 2

Chapter Two

Zoey

My father's pack, the Andrews' pack; kept ringing in my head. It was the only thing I could think of for the last hour of our trip. That is until we got onto the plane.

I sat waiting for the stupid plane's ascent into the big gray-blue sky when my dad looked at me. Great, I knew he wanted to talk. I could tell from the moment we got into the stupid car. I don't want to talk and you can't make me. "We have a few things we need to talk about, Zoey, before we get to our new home." Great, he snapped me out of my revelry and back onto this stupid plane, in this stupid window seat, and trapped by this crazy person who wants to talk.

"Uh... I don't want to talk about it, dad. Maybe later," I mused, placing my headphones in my ears and pretended to be busy watching the old movie that was showing.

"Sorry, dear, but we have to at least talk about a few things." My dad smiled as he pulled my earbud from my ear.

"Fine, dad, what is it... come on, I don't have all day you know." Well actually, I did. I had been caged with him in either the car or the plane since I woke up this morning. Then I will remain trapped until the time when we set foot in our new home.

"That's no way to talk to your father!" he barked irritably.

"AGH," I scowled as I huffed out a breath of air.

"First, you will be starting school Monday. Second, you will need to go and ask formal permission to join the pack."

"I don't want to join a stupid pack, dad," I interrupted him.

"You. Don't. Have. A. Choice," he sharply announced every word. "It's pack land. Either you ask to join the pack and then join it, or they will kill you or run you out. That's how a pack works with rogues." His voice was hard and cold. He was trying to tell me there was no choice in the matter. Mom had left us and now we didn't have a choice.

Dad later told me that my grandfather was living in the same pack territory. We would be staying with him.

He said it like it was the most normal thing in the world that my grandfather was part of the Andrews' Pack. Yet, I had never met my grandfather, I didn't even know I had one until today. He had told me that my grandfather was the beta to the former Alpha.

"Why would I want to join a pack? I would much rather be free and not listen to some arrogant prick riding his high horse who thinks he can tell everyone what to do," I complain. Now, I am just annoyed. Earlier in the day, I was annoyed and angry for leaving my friends and for my mom giving up on us, but now I am just flat-out peeved.

"Oh... I don't know why you wouldn't dear; your pack is like your family. I assume your mate is going to be living there," he smiled evilly.

Great, just great.

"What do you know that you aren't telling me?"

"Nothing, dear, it is just that I am hoping your mate lives in this pack. The former alpha is a great man, and he ran the pack well. His son now runs the pack, so I assume it runs just as well."

"What is a mate dad? Why do you always try to convince me I will like him? Uh... never mind, I don't want to know!" I argue as I put my earphones back in my ears and this time I hold them there and do not look at him. I am through with listening to his thoughts.

I don't care who or what a mate is nor do I want one. I just want a regular boyfriend and a regular life. Heck, I love being a wolf, but I don't want to be controlled. Wait, I don't even know if I want a boyfriend either. They can be so... irritating sometimes, and then they get tired of you and cheat, lie, and cheat, oh wait, did I just think that twice? Yeah, but most do. I think it's a guy thing, they are just... not trustworthy.

After the plane lands, we grab a bite to eat at a small cafe in the airport. I order a caramel mocha coffee and an oat muffin while my father orders the plain and simple coffee with a brownie. For a few minutes, we sit and wait. The plane had landed thirty minutes earlier than it should have, so we ate for a bit before we made our way to the doors. My dad told me that grandpa would be here to pick us up, but I don't even know who he is, let alone what he looks like.

I notice a man smiling like a crazy person standing near a black limo. He is tall and well-groomed. Similar looking to dad, but his hair is gray, and he looks tired. He can't be grandpa, there's no way grandpa is rich. We are okay but by no means rich. It can't be him. Now, he's waving and holding up his arms in the air.

"Matthew!" the man calls. Oh, boy. Dad turns in the direction of the man with the limo and trots off toward him.

"Father! How have you been?" he says enthusiastically, his eyes are glossy as he smiles. I can't help but mirror his tearful expression. I have never known my grandfather, but I wish I had. My maternal grandparents died when I was young. They only lived three doors down from our house. That's why my parents moved there in the first place before I was born.

"Zoey," Dad turned back toward me and said, "Father, this is your granddaughter, Zoey."

"Oh... my... sweet Zoey, aren't you a cutie," Grandpa says as Dad pushes me toward him. "Come here and hug Grandpa. I can't believe it, you're just so gorgeous my dear," Grandpa coos as he pinches my cheek.

I guess I can admit I am not bad looking. I was somewhat popular at my last school. I made homecoming princess last year. However, I think I am far from gorgeous. My hair is a dark chestnut and my eyes are a crystalline blue. My figure is lean and athletic, probably from all those years of self-defense and track.

I am just staring and blinking at the man whom I now can call Grandpa. "Uh... thanks." I blush wildly.

"Well, shall we?" He smiles, ignoring my blanked-out moment.

The driver places our bags in the trunk, and we are off. Grandpa and Dad talked for a bit about my mom. She was never his mate. Maybe someday he would find his actual mate. The car chatter died down and Grandfather put in a movie for us to watch. 'Grumpy Old Men', it was funny to see Grandpa, an old man in his own right, and Dad watching old men in a movie pulling pranks on each other. Another couple of hours later, and we are driving through a thickly wooded forest to who knows where.

"Ah... Where do you live ?" I question Grandpa.

"Oh. Ah... I live in a small subdivision you can call it, where a lot of the retired wolves and families live," Grandpa explains.

"Oh," is all I can reply because now I know why Dad says I must join the pack. I will be living right among them with no escape.

We pull up to a semi-large home and a few people are standing near the door. I watch as Grandpa and Dad exit the limo and then wait for my exit as well.

"She will be ready to meet you all later now shoo..." Grandpa sneers as he waves his hands around frantically shooing off the strange little children.

I am now just flat-out exhausted. Too much travel. I am making a vow not to do it again anytime soon. Grandpa has shown me where I will be sleeping, and I am lying on the soft white linen of the bed staring at the wall. I think I will go for a run tomorrow. I am bored. I can't sit here doing not anything.