The Blood Pack (book two)

Chapter one

~Niomi~

I continued to line the shelves of the bookstore with the new releases. I laughed to myself at how the fantasy section had taken over the store. People loved the romantics that came from the idea of true mates that werewolves had. If only they knew the truth, that not everyone's true mate was a dream come true. Mine had not been. I had met him in my old pack, he was to be the Head enforcer and we had been close throughout our childhood. Always playing and laughing together. When my gifts came as a young teen, my family were over joyed, but quickly things started to change. I was taken from my family home and forced to be raised by Damien, my true mates parents. They said it was for my protection and that we would be together eventually anyway, so why delay the inevitable. Damien was older than me and so had tapped in to our mating bond before me, but AI was not surprised. We had always been drawn to each other despite the age difference, not even having the same bickering arguments that friends would usually have, especially at a young age. 

Somehow, despite being closer in proximity, me and Damien grew apart. My gift, being able to heal my pack, was invaluable. We had had no such gifts amongst my pack in some time and everyone treated me as precious cargo that needed to be protected. What this really meant was I was not longer allowed to run free, to climb trees and explore the surrounding wilderness. I was never to leave pack territory and I was never to be alone, except for when I slept. Damien started to distance himself from me, whether under orders from his family or our alpha, I was not sure. My wolf did not like it though, used to the freedom and the close friendship I shared with Damien.

One night, whilst I was meant to be sleeping, I snuck out of my room. I could hear noises coming from the living area and my wolf was on high alert. Somehow, she knew. She knew what I was going to find when I peered through the gap in the door. She knew that I would find Damien, in a state of undress, his arms around another. He did not see me, but I saw him. I could not wrench my eyes away as I watched on in horror as he gave to that woman what was only meant for me, his true mate. Tears stung my eyes as I ran from the house. How could he? How could my mate betray me so? It was common for wolves to sleep around until they found their mate, touch hunger being as it is and the fear that they would never find the other half to their soul. But he had found his in me as I had found mine in him. Why did he then go to another while I was but mere meters away? Why did he reject the slight bond that had already formed between us, even though we were yet to claim one another? He said it was out of respect to me, why he was waiting to claim me, to have me. But now I knew the truth, he was not satisfied with his lot in life. Something about me, about his true mate, had displeased him which had led him to fall into the arms of another.

I don't know how, but that night I managed to escape my pack territory. I was in such a daze that I cannot remember even trying to dodge the patrols that would monitor the edge of the packs territory. Once I realized I was free, I kept on running and never looked back. I did not care that I left my family behind. I did not care that I robbed my pack of my abilities, that is all I had been to them. A healer, kept inside the cage that they erected for me. Now I was free and there was no way I would ever go back. I became a lone wolf, hiding amongst the humans.

I decided to move to this city as there was an abundance of packs here, none of which would notice one lone wolf amongst them. I managed to get a job at the bookstore and I loved it. I had always loved to read during my 'captivity', exploring the world the only way that I was still allowed to, through the written word. The smell and texture of books was something euphoric to me. Many now used their tablets or phones to read eBooks, but for me, the tactile feel of a paperback being clasped in my hands as I read every word and lost myself was something else.

I slid the last of the books onto the shelf and smiled at my handy work before returning to the counter. It was a slow day, which I did not mind, as it meant I could take my time in replenishing the shelves. However, Margaret, my boss, was ringing her hands. "Damn online retailers, stealing our custom. It should be illegal you know." she was an elderly woman in her early sixties and I was her sole employee. Over the years I had worked here, she had ages about twice as fast, through worry for her family business. Her gray hair was pulled back into a tight bun and her glasses took up almost half of her face that was lined with worry. Her hunched figure slid onto the stool we kept being the counter, as she was no longer able to go a full shift without having to have a few sit downs in between.

"I will go and make you some tea." I offered with a small smile. I knew it was getting to her that the shop was so empty again, and the stress was not good for her at all. I put the kettle on and pulled out two cups from the cupboard, starting the routine to make the calming brew. I worried for Margaret, she was the closest thing I had to a friend or family in this world and I could see the strain that the lack of business was putting on her.

After the kettle finally boiled and I finished making the tea, I carried it back through to the store front. Three woman had entered while I was busy and were giggling at the freshly stocked fantasy section. My wolf's ears pricked up as I smelt the scent of the customers. They were all wolves. I hid the small panic that always seemed to enter me whenever I came in to contact with others of my kind, the usually questions whizzed through my mind. Were they from my old pack? Had they found me? Had they come for me? I had to push my emotions down as to not raise suspicion as I handed Margaret her tea. "Thank you dear." she sighed as she wrapped her hands around the warm cup.

The women kept on reading, picking up various books before one of them looked over to me with a quizzical look. She was short but her aura screamed alpha, her beauty and power on display for all to see. She didn't seem too alerted by my presence as she almost immediately moved her focus back to her friends and I felt my tense shoulders relax slightly. When she and her friends had finished their selection, they all approached the counter to make their purchases. They placed their books down and I busied myself with checking them off our inventory list. "Would you like to pay separately or all together?" I asked, keeping my eyes trained on my task.

"All together please." the small woman stated, her friends protests falling on deaf ears as I started to ring up the items. "Are you new around here?" she asked seemingly interested in why I, a shifter, was working in a human run bookstore.

"Me? No I have worked here for year, haven't I Margaret?" I quickly replied whilst placing the books into paper bags with the shop logo on the front.

"Oh yes. Niomi here is my angel. She had been helping me in the store for years, my star employee."

I chuckled. "I am your only employee." I pointed out to which Margaret just shrugged and took another sip of her tea. "That will be $56.34." I said with a smile, finally looking up at the trio before me. The small woman was still looking at me, as if trying to figure me out. My fear started to rise in me again. Margaret had said my name and this wolf seemed to be finding me the most interesting thing since sliced bread. I hoped that if she was not here to hunt me down, she would not blow my cover with Margaret. Although I thought she would not be the prejudice type, a part of me worried about her reaction to finding out that her 'star employee', was in fact a werewolf on the run.

Luckily, the woman just handed me three $20 notes and smiled as she picked up her purchases. "Keep the change." she added as her and her friends left the store. I let out an audible sigh of relief as I picked up my cup of tea and took a nerve settling sip. It was like this every time, whenever a shifter entered the store my wolf was on high alert and the feeling of dread took sometime to dissipate.

Once my soothing tea was finished, I got back to work. Pulling up box after box of books from the basement to place onto the shelves, we only had a handful of other customers come in, which meant the store looked like a showroom by the end of the day. Margaret sighed as she slide from her perch. "Might as well close up, it doesn't seem we are going to get anyone else in today." I could see the sadness in her eyes as she took our used cups into the back while I switched off the front lights and flicked the sign round from open to closed. I wish there was a way I could elevate her burden, but I had left the riches and wealth of my family long behind. Werewolves lived for a long time in a pack, and so accumulated a lot in terms of monitory possessions. I on the other hand was aging as a human would and only had a few cent to my name.

I emptied the cash register, checking that it cashed up to the right amount with the till receipts before taking the money through to the safe in the back, ready to take to the bank down the street tomorrow. Margaret came out and gave my arm a small squeeze, wishing me goodnight as she headed slowly up the stairs to her home above the store, while I slipped out the front, making sure the door was locked securely behind me.

I took a deep breath of the cool dusk air. As much as I loved the smell of books, my wolf loved the fresh smell that came as the sun began to set. I would need to go for a run soon to let her burn off some energy, but not tonight. I was too on edge after my encounter with the three wolves from before. I walked the small distance to where I had parked old Bessy, my less than reliable car. She had seen better days but was all that I could afford. I slid into the drivers seat and slid the key into the ignition. However, when I turned the key, instead of spluttering into life like it usually would, it just whirled. I stopped and tried again and this time the whirling stopped completely. I groaned and rested my head on the steering wheel. "Come on Bessy, don't give up on me now." I pleaded whilst stroking the dash. I tried once more and this time there was no sound at all.

I let out a humph and leaned back to fish my phone out of my pocket. I quickly Googled local mechanics and saw that only one was still open at this time, but was closing soon. I hit call on the description on the Web and listened intently to the ringing, hoping that someone would answer. "Blood mechanics, how can I help you?" a male voice answered.

"Yes, my car won't start, I am just a down the block from your mechanics, I was hoping that maybe someone could come and have a look at her."

"We are about to close love, we can send someone out in the morning." the man offered.

"Please, it will take me hours to get home otherwise. I am just outside the bookstore down the road. It would really mean a lot if you could spare someone now." I fidgeted in my seat, buses were unreliable and it would be a long walk in the dark back home if they did not come to check on the car.

I could hear muttering and grunts down the phone and then the man said. "My boss is on his way."

"Thank you. You are a life saver." I squealed like a teenager seeing her favourite boy band on stage. I did not care if I seemed over enthusiastic as I hung up and climbed back out of the car, I just wanted to be able to get home without having to worry after my wolf had already been through enough today. I could see the headlights of the tow truck as they came down the street. I smiled and waved but then my smile started to fade. Blood mechanics. The man had said the name on the phone but it had not registered in my brain. But seeing the name on the side of the tow truck a new wave of panic washed over me. The mechanics must be owned by the blood pack, a shifter pack in the outskirts of town. s**t.