False Confidence

Caught

Azriel Huang

Conversation buzzed through out the pack house, many wolves and pups alike socializing throughout the lively expanse of the welcoming home. There was always an end of the work week gathering, every wolf coming around for the company. Food was provided everywhere, whereas drinks were nonstop flowing from the cold bar. Several wolves manned the bar and cleaned as they went, usually the ones who were penalized or got into some type of trouble.

I had moved to get another round of sodas for my friends and I, patiently waiting in the small line that curved around the high counter of the bar. I could only grin nostalgically as a couple kids zipped by while a singular wolf pup chased. A wolves' game with a morbid backstory, a mockery of when humans would tell tales of rabid wolves chasing them. All of it lies. Though I did not forget when Aniya and Griffin would force me to be the wolf, fleeing while screaming bloody murder around the pack house.

"Uhh..4 cokes please." I requested over the soft music and gathered wolves as I noticed I had made it to the front of the line.

"Here ya go." A familiar female voice hummed in a lilting sort of way.

"Astrid?? What the hell did you do to get bar duties?" I snorted gazing down at the short girl. Her sandy blonde hair was cut into bangs, the splattering of freckles and warm brown eyes going perfectly with the small gap in between her front two teeth, which made its entrance as she offered up a fiend like smile.

"Me n' Franz threw gutted catfishes at some of the boys...happened to be in the pack house."

I was stuck between a gasp and a bark of laughter, moving to the side along with Astrid so another boy with bar duty could help the next person in line while we talked.

"That's what that lingering scent was in the game room...but why?" I asked curiously, one of my brows quirking up gently.

"Called us catfishes at school because I was to lazy to put on makeup that day." She pouted.

"You're anything but a catfish." I assured, pinching her nose as she batted my hand away with a hearty laugh. Eventually she shooed me away, telling me that my mom was looking, which I'd be terrified if I had to deal with that Alpha's ire.

I swiftly weaved through the crowd, making it to the patio where we usually hung out at pack parties—we meaning my friends and I. Griffin and Nora shared the swinging outdoor chair while Aniya nestled herself up in the comfy looking lawn seat, identical to mine which sat right beside hers. The wooden patio was more of a large gazebo with fairy lights intricately wrapped around wood beams the sheltered us over head. The only way to leave was through the house or out the large gates that looked over the giant backyard. Fireflies danced about the grass and trees, the sun a mere memory past the horizon.

People still littered the back of the house but it was much less due to the weather gradually becoming cooler, being that there was less than three weeks until Halloween. I could even distantly hear pups excitedly talking about what they were going to dress up as, I only smiled to myself before moving to flop into my seat, throwing a can to each of my friends.

"Took you long enough." Aniya grumbled, cracking the can open before taking a long, audible gulp.

"Astrid was telling me about the catfish thing." I elaborated, doing the same to my own drink. Griffin only snorted a chuckle, giving his head a disbelieving shake while Nora scoffed, combating a crawling smile.

"Love that girl." Aniya hummed, her eyes sparkling in the golden light of the tiny bulbs above.

"Hmm, love enough to hook u-" I start before she slapped a hand to my mouth, her long, precisely decorated nails tapping against my cheek with the motion. I wince at the slight sting of it, my brows furrowing together as I tapped at her hand.