5

DAMIAN VIEW

At last it was time. Today we would leave the city and move to another area. Though werewolves tended to be sedentary, I knew my entire pack was excited to finally get out of this shithole.

While the few pack members who had joined us weren't worth the time here, we were able to stock up on supplies and get moving trucks to take our belongings to our new home. We all hoped this one would be far better than this. It wasn't the city itself, but rather the residents. At first the mortals had all been cheeky and cheeky, but once yelled at, they crawled on their knees. And always.

And this creep. disgusting. I looked around the house again where I had lived for the past few months. Not bad, but I was used to much better. The front door opened and then slammed shut with a loud bang. I rolled my eyes. "Just because I once told you that you can act like a complete idiot when nobody else is around doesn't mean you always have to do it immediately and to such an extent." My beta appeared in the room grinning and raising the bottle of Scotch in his hand.

"Let's celebrate getting away from these beings." I shook my head and took the bottle from his hand. Then I drank about half and gave the rest to Jack. I closed my eyes with relish as I felt the alcohol flow down my throat. The only thing that got me alcohol was the taste. Getting drunk, like humans, we couldn't, even though that could be pretty handy at times.

"Everything is settled with the new ones. We can go there and live in the houses directly. The mayor also thinks it would be a good idea if you visit the school directly. Some - especially younger - werewolves don't believe in your power", explained Jack. I nodded. "In addition, it makes more sense to bring the younger ones to us first, then the adults usually have no choice anyway."

Jack sighed and took another sip. When he realized the bottle was empty, he rolled his eyes and tossed it into the corner, where it broke with a loud bang. I raised my eyes one last time and let them wander over the old building. Then I walked over to my beta and gave him a quick pat on the shoulder. "Just get away from here."

"Really chic here."

Jack and my other best buddy, Ethan, walked across the clearing in the middle of the woods, which was dotted with several dozen houses in which my pack was already settled. Most houses were built of wood, similar to bungalows, but some were multi-storey and made of concrete. I, in my position as Alpha, would occupy the tallest of the buildings. It wasn't really huge and gave the appearance of a cozy mansion in the woods. Most of the rooms would be empty and I would live there alone for the time being. Of course, like everyone else of my kind, I hoped it wouldn't stay that way forever. Should I ever find her, my companion would live there with me. Until then, however, the house belonged to me alone.

It had a large dining hall where I could probably hold pack-related discussions with the members. So all in all I could say that we should fare much better here than in our previous home. Although of course I still had no idea what the people were like here. If necessary, you simply shouted at them and then avoided any contact. "Alpha." I turned and looked at my Beta, who bowed his head slightly and then looked at me. I nodded for him to continue. "The principal of the school suggests we pay them a visit in the next half hour. He's babbled on about, 'We can't wait...' and so on. He's human. He probably just wants it behind to have each other." Grinning, I turned my head to my pack warriors. "Then let's fulfill his wish."

"Drokor, Connor, Lerhome. I want you to start crossing the borders. Find out what kind of animals can be found here and memorize the environment." I nodded to them once and they transformed and ran away. "Ethan, get some pack warriors. We're going to visit the school." With a loud howl, I transformed and ran. I paced slowly in front of the large crowd.

All the students huddled in the smallest possible circle in the schoolyard. A few brave ones even looked me in the eyes for a moment. It was quiet, nobody dared to say anything. I suspected most were waiting for me to give a speech. I didn't intend to do something like that, nor was I good at it.

But on the contrary. I surveyed the crowd in front of me and turned to the director, who immediately bowed his head. "Are they really all the students in this school?" Surprised, the man lifted his head and began to nod uncertainly. "Of course." I narrowed my eyes. A pungent smell hit my nostrils. Fear. The man definitely lied to my face. I was about to respond when I heard a murmur from the crowd at the back. I turned my head and then said, "Is there something you have to share, little ones?" One of the students let out an indignant breath, but was stopped from replying by someone shaking his head.

The same said: "We noticed that a student is missing. Her name is Alina Gray. She's human." I knew from the boy's slightly amused tone that there was something personal behind that remark. However, I also wanted to know why this girl hadn't come to the meeting. Lerhome, I want you to be a girl for tracking me down. Alina Gray. She's a student and a human. Bring her here. In the same second, I got a response through my pack's mind-link. Very well.

10 minutes had passed and I was still talking approached the director. And slowly my patience was coming to an end. "For the last time. Why the hell isn't she here? What excuse does she have for not showing up?" I growled in his face. "II-she's not-well. She's sick", he stuttered to himself. "Liar," I whispered.

The wolf part of me stirred. He demanded control, wanted to choke the answer out of the idiot in front of me.

"Last chance!"

"It's the truth. I would never lie to you." My hand reached out and was about to wrap itself around the human's neck when an intoxicating smell hit my nostrils. Fascinated, I stopped the movement and took a deep breath. It smelled of strawberries and forest. After herbs.

Then I heard footsteps. Quiet tapping footsteps approaching me, repeatedly interrupted by louder ones. Then they stopped and I felt the warmth emanating from that person. I knew Jack was staring at me in confusion and then nodding at the people behind me. As if I didn't know that they were already there. I inhaled the soothing smell again before turning around and unconsciously catching my breath. In front of me stood the most beautiful girl I had ever seen.