The One The Whole Town Abandoned

Chapter 2 Taking a Look Around

Dominic's POV

My wolf Miles keeps getting antsier in my head as time goes on since we are now to our destination.

Miles, what's going on with you today?

I asked him curiously as he instantly responds.

I'm not sure Dom. I have a weird feeling about today. Maybe it's something about this property or the people, but I can't pinpoint it just yet. I'll let you know when I figure it out for myself.

That's curious, but I won't worry about it right now.. as he said, he will let me know when he figures it out.

I shake the host, Alpha Dave's hand, greeting him as he says to me.

"Well, it is a pleasure to finally put a face to the name Alpha Dominic. I have heard so much about you and the help you have extended to so many packs. Your gallant deeds have not gone unnoticed. We are so grateful to have your help in these hard times. My home is your home for as long as you need to stay. My daughter Paytan will show you to your rooms to get settled in. Once you are done with that, I will meet you in my office and we can discuss where we will start." He says to me as I nod at him and gesture for my guys to follow us into the pack house behind his daughter, who won't stop staring at all of us like a kid in a candy shop.

God, she is annoying the hell out of me by staring at us like that. I just want to say something.

Miles says to me, making me smirk and respond knowingly as if this should already be obvious.

I know, but we need to be nice. We are trying to get on their good side... So we can't offend them within the first 20 minutes of being here Miles.

He groans in my head, not liking that answer, as we continue to follow her to our rooms.

Each of us get our bedroom surprisingly because I didn't think they would have enough room for all of us to have our rooms. I wonder if that's because of the extra missing pack members we heard about, opening up rooms just for us to occupy.

I'm led to my room last, as she opens the door for me and leads me in. She lays her skinny, almost frail-looking body down on my bed as my eyebrows scrunch together.

"The stories of your handsome features do you no justice, Alpha Dominic... If you need any help unpacking or maybe a private tour around the property, don't hesitate to ask. ANYTHING you need I'll assist with, just for helping our pack in our time of need, if you know what I mean. " She says winking at me as I respond without hesitation.

"I will be sure to talk to your father all about the property tour, plus what we will need while here.. Thank you and all, but I don't need help with my unpacking or anything else. I feel it's pretty disrespectful to hit on my host's daughter, but thanks for the offer. Have a wonderful rest of your day." I try to say as nice as possible to her, letting her down easily.

She stands up with confusion on her face, thinking about me shutting her down. I don't think she was expecting to get turned down as she responds, "Ok if you change your mind, let me know." She sends a small smile my way and walks out of the room reluctantly.

I check out all the details of the inside of my room and it looks like it's in pretty good shape for the most part. The outside looks way worse than the inside for sure, which is good on their part. But the property and pack house can still use some tending to.

I don't get settled in right now, because I want to make sure we get this mission started as soon as we can. I mind link the rest of my crew to meet downstairs to start everything.

We descend and head to the main office where Alpha Dave is and awaiting our arrival.

We get in bowing first, as he gestures for us to sit. So we take his invitation and occupy the available seats. Alpha Dave stands up and stares at us for a second, making sure he has our attention, before he starts, "Thank you all for coming this way to help us in our time of need. I have heard about some rogue attacks lately on the neighboring packs and we couldn't be happier to have your help before we get hit if we get hit. Where would we start with a situation like this?" he asks staring at us as I decide to start with what I observed on the way in.

"Well when we drove in, I noticed only two rounds of border patrol. But for this size of property, you at least need to double that. But if possible, triple that to make sure all your corners are covered. If you keep it like this, you could get hit and not even know it until it's too late. We also need to watch your training practice to see if there need to be any improvements there and then we need to see the whole property to figure out what we are dealing with." He nods at me as he says, "Sounds reasonable. I will send you with my head warrior to check out the training grounds. After that, we will have lunch. Then I will send you with my Beta for the tour of the property, since I have things to take care of here, understandably." I nod at him as I stand up, extending my hand to his as we shake again. Within a minute a big muscular man comes into the office. I'm assuming Alpha Dave mind linked his lead warrior for us.

"Alpha Dominic, this is my lead warrior Lucas." Lucas bows to me as I give him a nod for him to stand.

"It's an honor to meet you, Alpha Dominic. I have heard so much about you and have studied your strategies and tactics for training my warriors." He says bowing again.

I like this guy. I get a good feeling about him and his wolf. They are loyal.

Miles says to me, as I internally agree with him, so I don't leave Lucas waiting for my response.

"Thank you that's too kind, I just do the best that I can with what I have and hopefully help others in the process. I'm glad to have even remotely helped out with your techniques. We have spent many years trying to perfect them for ourselves and it's good to know it has left a good impression to help you and your trainees out in the long run." I extend my hand to his shaking his hand.

"Now let's please get to the training grounds to show me what we are working with in your training and we will go from there," I suggest to him as he gestures for us to follow. So we follow him through the pack house, like a train... Just getting eye f*#ked by all the unmated females as we pass by. But this happens no matter where we go. Not trying to sound cocky, we are a group of good-looking, healthy, muscular, tall men... So what's not to like?

We head to the back area of the property, walking out to the open field where all the men are training. It's not a huge group of men, but enough to split into four groups. Two groups are for training in wolf form and the other two are for training in human form. That is part of my technique. It's good to be able to do both effectively as a werewolf.

"Why are there no women out here training?" I ask as I noticed there is not one woman out here.

"Alpha Dave doesn't think women, children, and the elderly should fight," he states as if that's just common everywhere.

"Well, that's the first problem. Some of my best warriors are women. You need anyone who can defend the pack to help. They at least need to be trained in case of a siege, just to be able to defend themselves or it's letting the wolves into the chicken coop. They're all just sitting hens, which isn't fair to them." I say as a matter of fact back to him, so he nods in understanding.

I see his eyes glaze over, indicating he is mind linking his Alpha with my first order of business or I guess technically, the second order of business. I observe the property surrounding us out here, it looks a little more taken care of than the rest of the property. The warriors look pretty built but the women were looking a little too skinny for my liking, which might be a sign of the malnourishment we heard the accusations about.

Lucas gets the warrior's attention as he explains to them, "This is Alpha Dominic. He is here to help with our training strategies and tactics along with our defenses, because of recent rogue attacks in our area. So we need everyone to be respectful and listen to any suggestions he might have... He is just here to help so we can protect ourselves and our pack."

They all nod at us as Lucas continues, "Ok, get back to training and show him what you have got." They nod again, continuing the fighting as I slowly make my way around each fighting ring, taking in their fighting styles as I throw out suggestions to them, while I keep observing everything around. They are trained very well, Lucas has definitely taken a page from my playbook and executed it very well. No wonder he was made the lead.

We do this for hours on end, as the warriors switch out one by one sparring with different partners. I keep throwing out suggestions and jumping into the ring, just to demonstrate moves to them as well. I know I'm not here to train them, but I will still help out if they need it while I'm investigating. I'm good at being a multitasker.

They have had some good training by Lucas. This will be easy to help with all the training... We will get to spend more time investigating because I'm still getting this antsy feeling being here.. and I still can't pinpoint why.

Weirdly, he is still feeling this way. He never acts like this, so now I'm really curious.

That's weird. I wonder why? That has my mind reeling for sure. I can't wait to see what's getting you all riled up.

I say back to him in a mocking tone as he huffs at me.

After the training is all said and done, we head into the dining area to have some lunch. The portions are small, so it makes me wonder if this is part of the finances that are needed to provide more food for the malnourished group. I don't say anything and just eat what I can get.

After my crew is done eating, we go back to Alpha Dave's office and I discussed everything we found out, along with some suggestions, I mostly just have good things to say to the Alpha about the way Lucas has been training... This makes Lucas smile with pride at his great work. Which is deserved. He has worked very hard on the training and it shows... So he should be smiling with pride right now.

"Well, I'm glad to hear putting my trust in Lucas wasn't a bad decision on my part. Great to hear Lucas, thank you! We will talk with you later unless you want to join the guys on the property tour?" Alpha Dave offers to Lucas.

"If you don't mind Alpha Dominic, I would like to join in the tour, because if you have suggestions I would like to learn them as well. You know, being a lead warrior and all." He asks a little sheepishly as I nod and retort, "Not a problem at all, you're more than welcome."

"Ok and Alpha Dominic, this is my Beta James. He will lead you around the property for your tour." Alpha Dave says to me as I turn and see his Beta bowing at me. So I nod and extend my hand, shaking his. He then leads the way out of the office to begin our property tour. We start with the inside of the house to learn where everything is, per my request.

When we tour the house, I didn't see anything looking suspicious at all... But I do see the doors that are described to us by our guides, as leading to the safe house and the hidden cells. We didn't get to go into either closed-off room, which makes things a little suspicious, but we will try to get a look down there sometime later since we just got here.

The property is pretty beautiful out in the middle of so many tall old willow trees, hence the pack name I guess. He leads us to a couple of different areas. They have a nice little pond to go swimming in and the training grounds of course that we have already seen. Along with a little area for the children to play and a Family common area to hang out.

Man, this is a pretty open area and I need to get out for a run. It's been too long of being cooped up.

Miles says to me with excitement about the new property and area we could check out.

Ok, we will figure something out for you later, I promise.

I try to negotiate with him so he will try to be patient with me, especially when it comes to this nice big property.

It does look nice enough, but there are not many people here for the amount of room they have. I don't know if this is how it has always been for their pack population or if it's getting smaller. I'll have to casually ask someone about that when they start to get more comfortable with me.

I'll have to plan something out to hang out with Lucas outside of the pack because I think he might be my best bet for help and information. He seems like a genuine guy who is dedicated to his pack, which is the best chance of getting him to help us save his pack in anyway we can.

It takes hours of looking around the property, and checking everything out. I don't see any extra houses or sheds out here at all, but I guess not too surprising with how small the pack is.

Once the tour is done, Beta James starts leading us back to the pack house, I curiously ask, trying to gain more trust with Lucas after hanging out most of the day. "Hey Lucas, do you know a good bar to go to and wind down after a long day?"

"Yea, the Alpha, and Luna own a bar in town. It's the Luna's werewolf and human bar because she inherited it from her family after they passed away. So she just kept it and helps out at the bar and here as well, of course. She is there now actually, that's why you haven't got to meet her yet." Lucas says, informing me as I nod.

"Alright, let's go get a drink and have some dinner there and meet the Luna," I say as Lucas smiles and his eyes glaze over as he mind links someone. So I do the same and mind link my crew.

Ok guys, I'm just taking Nate and Wes with me to dinner... We are going to try to see if we can get closer with this lead warrior to get him to spill some information hopefully... But we need you guys to stay here, keeping an eye out... Please be nice, getting to know some of the pack members so they feel more comfortable around you as well.

My whole crew nods at me as I hear in response through the mind link.

Yes Alpha

I'm brought back to Lucas as he turns to us.

"Ok, I just told the Alpha we are going to visit his bar and we will be back later," Lucas says to us as we make our way inside the pack house.

"I'm going to just take my Beta and Gamma with us so we can make sure to leave my guys here, just in case anything happens while we are gone. Call me if you guys need anything. Have fun, but remember we have to be up early to start training with their warriors tomorrow morning." I say to my crew as they all say in unison, "Yes Alpha" out loud for everyone to hear.

The four of us make our way out the front door of the pack house and to one of my escalades. I just decided for us to take that since it can fit all of us muscular men comfortably in there.

Lucas takes the lead since he knows the area better than us, so he drives us into the nearby small town and pulls into one of the first places in town. It's a run-down-looking bar as well, which doesn't surprise me at this point. It looks like a dive bar of sorts. It has a big sign across the front that says Willow's.

Lucas parks and we all get out, and he leads the way into the bar, one by one. It has a nice atmosphere for the most part, very laid back. It has pool tables and darts, along with a good amount of tables scattered here and there throughout the room. There is a good-sized bar that sits like an island in the middle of everything.

Lucas leads us in as we are instantly met with an older-looking excited woman.

"Oh Alp...Dominic, it's a pleasure to finally meet you. Thank you for making the trip to come here and help my.. Family out.. Sorry it's a human bar too Alpha, no disrespect meant." she says the last part softly so only we can hear, as I nod and shake her hand.

"I understand, so don't worry about it, thanks for your kind hospitality. We heard good things about your bar and had to come check it out after a long day of work." I say smiling at her as the most amazing smell hits my nostrils, filling them with some sweet savory goodness. It's a caramel, creamy, sweet smell almost like a coffee or dessert type of smell.

"God something smells amazing and I'm starving. Is there somewhere you would suggest we can sit?" I ask as politely as possible because I'm starving after not eating much for lunch.

"Yes, of course, how about you guys take a seat at that big booth in the corner over there and I'll send my waitress over to you. My son is here as well, so I'm sure he will want to meet you too because we have all heard so much about you even before we heard about your arrival." She says batting her eyelashes at me, which I smile at. But kind of makes me irritated that she would flirt openly like that when she has a mate. I feel like that's so disrespectful to him.

But I just go with the flow as I take her suggestion and lead the way to the corner table.