4

Today was the day. The Shadow Pack would come. Maybe they were already there. I had no idea because I had skipped school. Not without reason, of course. Mr. Tally had telephoned my home yesterday to say that the pack would come during school hours and all the students would gather outside in the schoolyard to greet them.

He also mentioned that the other students already knew this, but since I had left the information session earlier, I hadn't heard this information. In any case, he made it up to me whether I wanted to take part. Of course, I chose the only wise option. I wouldn't have wanted much at this meeting anyway and that Mr. Tally was worried about me, In this case, of course, I benefited.

The only problem was that now I had no idea what to do. I was just bored. I could, of course, go into the woods and just take a little walk. That would be pretty silly, though, since I'd likely have a face-off with the new werewolves that way. On the other hand, I was really bored. Besides, what would life be without risks? My decision was made.

I walked slowly through the forest, breathing deeply again and again. Actually, I didn't even know what I was looking for. I just knew I did it. Because I felt an urge inside me. It didn't lead me in any particular direction, just told me to move. And that's how it happened that I'm now in jogging pants, shuffling through the forest barefoot in an oversized t-shirt while my classmates greeted the pack. Of course, I had thought about why the Shadow Pack came to us. Actually, there were only two explanations for this. The first would be that they wanted to kill us all.

But then we probably wouldn't greet them so ceremonially and the werewolves certainly wouldn't go to their party. The second possibility - also the most likely in my opinion - would be that they wanted to integrate the packless werewolves into their pack and eventually welcome them as full members as well.

I continued to roam through the forest, still thinking. At some point a blackbird began to peep continuously. I ignored her at first, but when the blackbird started screaming, I turned to her and looked at her invitingly. Of course, I couldn't talk to animals, but I'd lived with them for so long that I could claim to understand what they were trying to tell me. And the blackbird definitely wanted to warn me. Too late I noticed the figure that grabbed me and pressed against a tree.

A gasp escaped me. I pressed my palms to the bark. At the same moment, a few branches of the tree began to move in my direction, eventually throwing the attacker away from me. I turned around quickly. My attacker was a werewolf. If he had been human, I would have heard him. The wolves were much better at the art of sneaking up than mere mortals. I sent a thought to the forest so the werewolf wouldn't get suspicious and realize that I wasn't human. Everyone should hold back.

I had to think of an explanation for what happened just now anyway. The werewolf turned his face to me. Luckily, he wasn't in his wolf form, that would have made the following even more difficult for me. Besides, he was new. He belonged to the new pack because I definitely hadn't seen him before. The man growled at me angrily. Great, he was mad. "Who are you?!" His voice was deep. If I didn't manage to calm him down soon, I could probably pick up my remains from the ground myself. "I live here. My apartment is near the forest and I just wanted to go for a walk." I spoke in a calm tone. "Man. You're a student here, aren't you?" He eyed me with interest.

"Yes..." "Why aren't you at the welcome party? Are you Alina Gray?" I looked at him in astonishment.

How the hell did he know my name? "This is me." He sighed and rubbed his face once. Then he took a few steps towards me. "You are to come to school immediately and greet the alpha. Your absence was noticed by your classmates." There was only one person who cared that I was at this stupid meeting. The same person who still had something to get back at me. nicholas If I went there now, I would get the full attention of everyone present. At the same time, I couldn't not go either.

The man in front of me, with his muscular build, didn't exactly strike me as someone who would take no for an answer. Also, I didn't want to attract any additional attention. So I grumbled a short "Let's go!" and then went ahead.

****

The man led me through the forest, finding his way surprisingly well. He often pointed out a root or something similar to me. He seemed very afraid that I could break something as a human. He paid so much attention to my path that he completely forgot his own. He stumbled over a broad branch, but caught himself with a grace only werewolves could command. Meanwhile, he asked me a few questions, which I all answered dutifully. Most of it was a lie, but he hadn't asked for correct answers.

Finally he turned left and gestured for me to follow him. I frowned and said, " If we go on for about 200 meters and only then turn off, we save ourselves the walk through the alleys." He looked at me, wrinkled his nose once and then walked past me without a word. We left the forest and came out behind the school. We walked across the meadow without a word, at least until he broke the silence.

"Why aren't you wearing shoes?" I shrugged. "It's much more comfortable in the forest without shoes. You feel the ground better." He looked at me confused. Then he shook his head briefly and mumbled something that sounded like "weird girl". felt comfortable on my feet, but well, I couldn't change it. We moved closer to the huge crowd of students. However, the man led me around them, straight towards the smaller crowd standing in front of them. In the corner of my eye, I saw Niklas staring at me with a grin. I focused on the smaller number of people in front of me.

There couldn't have been more than ten people, including Mr. Tally, who watched me through pursed lips.

I shifted my gaze to the tallest man in the group. He had his back to me. Quite a broad back, it seemed to me. He was nudged by one of his bystanders, who nodded at me. Then he turned around and I caught my breath. He was without a doubt the alpha. who was staring at me with a grin.