Finding Ryder

Chapter 11

Jessica POV

Stunned to silence. Beta Alec concedes. His curt nod, stiff body, jaw locked tight demonstrate the silent protest. But he has no choice but to lead on. Our small party follows on the rough wooden beach road until it ends abruptly. The fine sand ground gives way to brown soil. Rough bushes roughly 4-5 feet tall sprout from the ground creating a camouflage of green hiding all it's inhabitants. Cut into the bush is a wide, but rough road, leading deep inland. Absence of words, the constant companion to our party.

Frowning at the landscape of the East, so different, yet familiar, I categorized the smallest details. The deep purple and blue flowers grow on the rich green bushes. The birds sing in deep symphony with the insects milling from flower and leaf. A supple fruity smells linger in the humid air, chasing away the salty sea. It's a relief not to smell the salty sea. It guts me that a lifetime of memories of joy are forever marred with the scent of betrayal. Of him. He has stolen my most sacred comfort.

Roughly a mile from the beach, tall, strong trees start mixing with the shorter brush. The dirt road we've been on leads us to a wide clearing filled with parked cars. I put it all to memory.

This should be my new home. The unwelcome thought is distracting from the purpose of the day. I focus back on our guide.

He takes us to a parked SUV and we pile in. Still silent. From sand, to dirt, to pavement, this road I am on keeps changing. Alec explains the port market is there for day visitors, trade with other packs, but their pack residences are located 30 miles inland. So our trip East continues.

I don't feel any difference in elevation as we move further inland. No mountains or hills are visible in the distance either.

Although trees visibly grow in height the further along the road we drive. Rich vegetation sprouts from the fertile soil. Trees, bushes, flowers, grasses some familiar other foreign grow freely.

It is a beautiful wilderness, tamed in specific spots where trees are missing is due to exerted effort. A field of plants, a vineyard, homes, all spread out for miles. Unlike my pack, the East wolves live separate lives, far from each other.

The West pack is sequestered together. Settled right on the coast. We live close to each other, choosing to be a tight community. Unlike my own pack, the east wolves are spread throughout their land.

As we enter the packtown I immediately notice its small size. Few roads cross in perpendicular fashion, creating a neat grid. In the center of the town is a large stone building. Imposing compared to the single story homes, shops and business of various kinds that occupy its surroundings.

Our guide parks in front of the building trading places with beta Alec. Evan and I follow him. I give my brother one last look, a knowing passing between us.

We follow the wolf guide inside the stone building. Our guide nervously rattles on about the glorious pack house we are in. It has a marvelous large hall that can hold the entire pack for various meetings, entertainment and so on, and on he rattles. The Alpha's family has living suites on the top floor, he drones, as he leads us to the receiving room on the main floor.

This is a cold room, I notice right away. A shiver wants to sneak its way up my spine but I shake it off internally. White leather couches low to the ground arranged in a semi circle around a silver glass table are set in the center of the large receiving room. Walls decorated in silver colored mirrors, bleak abstract artwork in shades of white and black. A gray room specked in silver. An odd place to receive wolves I think. Taking a deep inhale I don't smell any real silver objects. Almost like the designer is implying a threat to its guests, yet no real threat exists.