The Hunter's Pack

The Introduction

I didn't even react as my pack members loudly entered the house as my little squad, along with the two children, and I went downstairs. Some of them were laughing, celebrating the win. Others were gaping at the pack house, marveling at the beautiful wallpapers and interior design. It was a modern-style house, which I found to be very alluring. I raised my eyebrows a bit in mild amusement as the two captured werewolves in front of me stared open-mouthed at the pack members coming in. The girl caught herself and instantly school her features into a more professional expression, while the boy openly stopped and stared, holding the banister with his small hands and gazing down. 

"Come on, let's go." I held out one hand to the child, urging him on quietly. He jumped back from my hand and ran a bit towards his sister, afraid of me. I shrugged, not surprised at his reaction. I'm sure he had understood my implication earlier; it would be foolish to trust me so quickly. The ginger kid was smart, but I suppose that's a given, considering he had seen just how evil living creatures could be.

My pack members' attention immediately focused on us once they saw me, all bowing their heads a bit and muttering polite "Alphas." I nodded at them and gestured for us all to move to the large kitchen. The color themes were black and white; I cringed a bit. Knowing the wolves around me, that white would soon turn black. The captured ginger kids were seated on one side of the table, and I sat down on the opposite side.

"So, let's make this simple. You either answer our questions, or you die. You answer them truthfully, or the little kid here will pay. And trust me, I will know when you're lying." I relaxedly put my feet up on the table, twirling a knife in my hands. 

The girl noticeably glared at my feet, disapproving of their position on the clean granite table. Her eyes turned towards me and noticing my gaze, she gave me a fearful expression, caught. I smiled a bit internally, really wanting this pair to be innocent. The ginger girl was amusing, while the boy was obviously very smart. 

"Ok, let's begin. Were you in any way a part of the murders of the pack's former alpha?" I carefully scrutinized her expressions. Her nostrils flared up in anger, and her eyebrows angrily scrunched up. 

"I...We loved the previous alpha. He protected us." She glanced down at her younger brother and affectionately rubbed his arm. 

"What about the pack elders? How were they killed?"

She sighed, explaining. "The stupid young alpha wanted power, and he wanted it fast. I guess he couldn't wait for his father to step down." She lowered her gaze a bit, and her eyes glazed over. Spacing out at a time like this? Well, whatever. She was telling the truth, so I let her have her moment. 

"The pack elders...they found about the plan to kill the old alpha. They disapproved, of course, so Jack had them killed as well." She met my eyes with a sorrowful expression and continued. "Once Jack took over, everything changed for us. The elders took care of Cole and me, so when they died we were alone. That's when everything was ruined for us...that's when the abuse started. Two years ago..." She gently pet her brother's head, a small smile appearing on her lips. "It's alright though. I protected Cole and that's all that matters." 

The small ginger boy smiled a bit at his sister, but there was smoldering anger beneath his eyes. He then turned towards me and gave me a defiant glare, as if daring me to call her a liar. I let a small smile slip onto my face and quickly leaned out of the way of a flying body.  

"Alleeeeexxx, I thought we already talked about this! You're so serious all the time! Look, you're scaring the poor girl." Anastasia pointed at said girl, who had a flabbergasted expression on her face. "Ohhh such nice hair! I'm so jealous!" Annie squealed and continued her praises without missing a beat. "Oh my! And who could this adorable young man be?" She pinched his cheeks, at which the boy blushed and swatted her hands away. 

The ginger girl turned her head towards me, a stunned questioning expression on her round face. 

"Surprised that such a ruthless looking alpha could tolerate such a rowdy member? So were we all..." Elliot's deep voice echoed a bit around the wide kitchen, but trailed off once he saw the rogue girl. I narrowed my eyes at him and glanced at her, who held a look of...admiration? Elliot snapped out of it and turned towards me. At this action a look of heartbreak flashed across the rogue's face, and small tears gathered at her eyes. Oh. Realization dawned on me. 

"Miss, were these rogues found to be part of the murders?" El asked, clearing his throat. 

I smirked a bit before replying. "As a matter of fact, my dear beta, your mate and her younger brother happen to be innocent. I was just going to welcome them to the Cross pack when Annie interrupted our little meeting." I looked at Anastasia, who had stopped fawning over the little blushing child and stood, frozen at my words with a borderline creepy expression on her face.  

There was a silence before all hell broke loose in the kitchen. Elliot's face turned bright red and he immediately started shouting, questioning how I knew the girl was his mate. Anastasia sailed at him, knocking him over, and in a flash there was a lump of pack members piled onto my beta. People were clapping and laughing, excited at the fact that El had met his mate and welcoming the new members. I let this go on for a few moments longer before getting up from my seat fishing my beta out of the sea of wolves. 

"Anyways," I reached out my hand. "Would you two like to join the Cross pack? We usually just kill things for a living but-"

"I recently learned we only kill evil things!" Everett chimed in, but I ignored him and moved on.

"-you can always switch packs if you want. Of course, there will be conditions, but that will only be discussed if you want to leave. Ah, I never got your name by the way."

The girl glanced at my outstretched hand, still surprised at this turn of events. She hesitantly shook it, and shyly replied. "My name is Amber Junx. This is my brother Cole Junx."

"Welcome to the pack, Amber and Cole. Elliot?" 

"Yes." He closed his eyes, concentrating, and after a moment replied. "The connection has been made. You are now an official member of the Cross pack." Elliot smiled at them warmly, his gaze lingering on Amber before blushing a bit and looking away. She giggled at his action, her cheeks quickly tinging pink as well. 

I leaned back in my chair, closing my eyes as the pack members went up and introduced themselves to both Amber and Cole.