The next few days go by in a blur. The idiot crew, my new reference for them, isn't in school the rest of the week. Evidentially, it was so they can help prepare for the visit, or so Mrs. Farrow said. I don't know why she felt that she needed to tell us that, maybe it was to put even more emphasis on the importance of this whole thing. The only point that I cared about what that it meant that I have zero distractions. If only every day could be this quiet, my Goddess it was bliss!
My days are actually pretty enjoyable and for once I'm sad that school goes by so fast. But yet it does each day and then I head on to the grocer for work. Later in the week, we get a pack link message from the Alpha. There will be a meeting happening that night, which the Alpha wants everyone who can, to attend. I'm sure it's to welcome our visitors as Mrs. Farrow explained just this morning that they would be arriving soon. It really is the best week ever since that's yet another lucky break. Since I work for a human run establishment, I can't be made to leave to go to a meeting. I should play the lottery at this rate.
Pack meetings are boring. Unless you are speaking, part of the meeting in some other way, or have a little clique to hang with, it's just a bunch of twaddle. Yes, I'm probably the only one that doesn't meet a single one of those three, but since the meeting notes are always stored at the Pack House, I can always catch up on what was discussed or the events later. Plus, anything that would be considered an emergency, like a rogue attack for instance, would warrant an immediate warning through the pack link anyway.
Every bit of this week had been glorious. So much so that I was actually giddy as I got the stock ready to be placed on shelves. Not that I'm ever lazy or do less than I should, but I definitely got way more done than I normally do. Because of that, I finished up a bit early. I decided to walk by the Pack House versus straight home, just to see if the meeting was over so I could glance over the notes. As I swept by, I noted that there were still a large number of cars outside and what looked like quite a bit of activity as I looked in the glass at the front doors.
I had zero intention of going in and running into, oh say, anyone. Too much twaddle if you ask me. I'd just get up early in the morning and read up on the events. I turned and headed into the woods and scooted behind a tree. I shed my clothes and putting them in my backpack, then shifted into my wolf so I could end the day on a perfect note.
*************************************************
Eli strode out of the pack house. Trying to escape the stuffiness from inside and hopefully just get a chance to think and relax for a moment. Being cooped up in that room, surrounded by everyone was not fun. Frankly, it was outright annoying.
Attending another pack's meeting, just so that they can introduce visitors, is always just a side show act. Come see the elephant, come look the tiger, oh wow, is that the big bad wolf... it's always the same pony and dog show. Ooooh, aaahhhhhh, hey hey hey. Just a bunch of blinking eyes overdone with makeup and raised skirts. Next thing you know, they'll want to pet the big bad wolf. I literally give myself a shiver with that thought, knowing that some females would actually try, if given the chance.
I was able to get away for a bit while the Alphas prattled on about the goal of this...summit, or whatever they were calling it. I stepped outside so I could get some fresh air. And to get away from the drooling stares of said young and very over eager females.
I took a deep breath, reveling in the natural smells and sounds surrounding their Pack House when I caught the most delicious scent. It was light, but quite obvious that it was a wolf. A wolf that smelled of caramel apples.
Mate? My wolf questioned, getting a bit excited at the prospect.
I don't know. The scent is just barely in the air, but I know it's coming from someone around here. I say back.
I try to sniff out more, probably looking like some sort of blood hound as I do, but the scent is gone just as quickly as it had come. To my knowledge, all of the pack members were in the meeting hall. I sure didn't catch that smell from anyone or anywhere inside.
I roamed around the outside a bit more, basically circling their Pack House, just trying to catch the scent once more. But it was completely gone. Walking back inside I make a mental note to ensure that our tour of the pack covers their whole territory. I wanted to figure out who that scent belonged to and where the hell they went. Especially if that someone is really my mate.
*************************************************
Aurelia
I set my alarm to get up a bit earlier than normal so I could make a stop by the Pack House and read up on yesterday's events. I don't love getting up early, okay maybe I loathe it. But you gotta do what you gotta do. If I had a computer and the internet, I could get a sign on to the pack's online system for members and read it from home. But again, that wasn't in the cards, so I showered and got my butt moving.
At this early hour, there aren't many that are moving around, which makes it easy to get in, look up the notes, and get the hell back out, without being noticed. Being a sneaky little shit helps though too. I find the notes pretty quickly thanks to an equally meticulous record keeper employed by the Alpha.
*Introductions—We welcome the Alpha of Lunarhills, Aaron Meiers as well as his son Elijah Meiers, and their entourage.
*Timeline of Events—All guests from Lunarhills will be given tours around the pack territory. Tours will include visits to public schools and businesses throughout the weekend and into next week. Interviews with invited pack members will occur next Thursday and Friday. Alpha Alex and Luna Michelle will be hosting a picnic in the Pack House courtyard on Saturday starting mid-morning through afternoon and it is requested that all pack members join. Final summit reviews and meetings between the Alphas and other invited participants will occur Sunday and Monday.
*Interviews—During the visit, Alpha Meiers and/or his son may invite pack members to participate in an interview session. Those who are approached for interviews must report to the Pack House to complete the interview. If invited, participation is mandatory, and there will be no exceptions. Any selected will be provided with an assigned interview time. Any member invited that has a scheduling conflict may speak with Alpha Alex to arrange a new time.
*Activities—Next Saturday, all members of the pack are invited to join the Alpha, Luna, and our guests for a picnic in the Pack House courtyard. Dress code is casual, and it is highly encouraged that every pack member attend.
*Questions—If any pack member has a question about the visit or about Lunarhills, please forward your questions to Alpha Alex or Chase.
Well, alrighty then. The only part I care about are the tours through the schools and businesses. So long as they are in the company of pack leadership, or their children, I'm pretty sure that they won't get remotely near me. And even if they do, I'm good at being invisible. As long as I stay tucked away, I can skate by this and move on as I always have.
After my read through I head to school, hoping that the tour wouldn't start during homeroom. My prayers must have been answered because Chase, Jace, and Jacklyn are all still absent, so far. Today isn't a gym day so the only other places that I could have to deal with any of them are lunch and our study period. I know that during my study period I can excuse myself to the library immediately and zone out. With my grades, the teachers never question me. Hell, I could outright leave, and they probably wouldn't have a problem with it. I'm not taking chances today.
That just leaves lunch. My normal spot behind the tree is pretty secluded, so the worry there is lessened too.
You could try to get a peek at them. Scope them out a bit, sniff around...what if one of the visitors is our mate? My wolf hints to me. I can feel the pleading and hope in her voice.
Are you crazy? The possibility of that is slim, and you know that their tour guides wouldn't even let them near us. Plus, if Chase or Jace caught us, who knows what kind of fresh hell they'd apply. I try to be soft when I reply to her. She's as emotionally damaged as I am. The only difference is she still holds onto hope. Damn wolves. They're totally cliché with their hopes for Disney movie true love, happily ever after, and all that shit.
I'm just saying, it could happen. She bounced that back to me fairly quick. Snapped at me really. Evidentially I must have pissed her off because she shut me out.
Although our wolves are a part of us, we're basically two separate minds. And just like any bestie, you can get mad and decide to NOT talk to each other. And right now, she's defiantly mad at me, but I still try to smooth her fur. I didn't mean to sound heartless; I just don't want you to get your hopes up. Especially if nothing happens. I don't want you to be hurt.
She doesn't respond and I make my way through classes and hurry to my tree to hang out for lunch. I put my headphones on and turn the music up to tune everyone out, then pull open my Trig assignment from this morning.
*************************************************
Eli
"Normally during this time of day, half of our student body is at lunch. The lunch commons include an outdoor space to relax while we enjoy our meals. So long as weather allows of course." Our tour guide had been explaining the layout and human/wolf dynamics of the high school for over an hour now. She has literally trudged to and around the school at a snails pace and her voice is grading on my ears.
The tours of the elementary and middle school weren't too bad. The Alpha and Beta's sons lead those tours, and they were pretty decent to talk to. They gave us a tour of both in the span of an hour and a half and gave us all the info that we would have needed to understand how they were run. This girl however, the Beta's daughter, will not shut the fuck up. Not once in the last hour has, she quit talking. When she manages to take a breather for half a second, she's cooing up next to me like I'm a giant teddy bear she's going to squeeze the life out of. I picture a praying mantis.
I've lightly growled at her twice, but she hasn't taken the hint. I almost wondered if she thought I was playing with her. Next time, bigger growl, more teeth. How I ended up going on this tour, I don't know. This is why we brought so many people damn it. But no, they all were checking out other areas while I was stuck here alone. With her.
"This is the outdoor commons area. Pack leaders over the decades have put large contributions towards upgrading the schools so that all of the students can have the best of the best." Yes, I've heard that three times now. You were with all three times too.
Can I bite her leg? My wolf asks.
No! She'd probably think it was foreplay and we'd never get away. Then we'd have to kill her and that seems like too much work.
What if I swipe at her? He asks.
Shhhh, let me pay attention or she'll repeat it all. Again.
She keeps walking through the commons and I pick up the scent again. "Wait, do all your students eat here?" I asked, hoping to stall her.
"Yes." She stops. "This period and the next are reserved for lunch and it's only half the student body in each. All those in this period are part of our wolf population. Like homeroom the school administrations tried to align this as a 'safe' period as they know that kids like to freely chat while they eat." She talks about it like she's not one of the kids.
She keeps babbling while we continue to walk around the area, but I can't determine where or who the scent is coming from. It is so faint.
Then the bell rings.
"That's the bell signaling the end of this period." She says as I continue to look, and sniff, around. I catch the scent and spot a tiny female creep out from behind a tree, trying to scurry away.
It's her! My wolf just about forces me to leap toward her, but I keep him leashed. Shit head would have jumped out of his own skin if he could have.
"Did you hear me? We have a few more areas in the school to visit before the tour is over." The girl says. I look toward her to nod my head and try to catch where the other female went. She was just there a second ago?