Comes with the Territory

Chapter 6 CWT

No one moved for about 30 seconds, until a slot opened to reveal a pair of eyes.

“Go away,” the gruff voice said, sliding shut again. But not before a wave of overwhelming smells crashed down on my poor nose.

It’s their way to mark their territory, and it’s what you smelt on the skater kid, Hellcat whispered in my head.

I’m going to tap into my nose, so you can smell better, she warned, and before I could think anything it came on even stronger. I scrunched up my nose, sneezing to try to unclog my sinuses.

“I need to meet your First,” Ethan called calmly, and a heartbeat later it opened again.

“Name?” the voice asked again, only remotely rude this go around.

“Ethan Pazarie, First of the Pazarie pack. This is Melvin Skies, my Fourth and this is Mica, my, uh, mate.” He said, and I held my giggle. Mel’s real name was Melvin. I shook myself and tried to focus, when the door opened slowly. Can someone say creepy? I know I can, which is a big achievement on my part.

“Ah, welcome! It’s about time you came,” a deep voice echoed to our right as we blinked in the suckish lighting. Can’t a pack afford to pay the electric bill? You would guess so, because they don’t have to worry about heating. Inners do that all by themselves.

A guy in his early 20s walked up to us, hands in his pockets and smirk on his face. Ethan and Mel stiffened, and I wanted to too, but Hellcat held me back.

Let them quarrel; we need to keep a level head if things get in a bunch.

Good idea, we can defiantly take on this whole pack of trained Inner Animals by ourselves. Note the sarcasm.

Mica, don’t you know what the Third is?

Um, no. I sort of only found out about all of this like a day ago, remember?

I will not tolerate such sass from you, thank you. And being Third means you are the fighter. We are the pack’s main warrior.

Nice, we both now we like to kick some major ass, I thought as he walked to our sides, flicking his eyes over us.

“The name’s Harvey. Paul Harvey. We have been expecting you, but not with so many guests,” I remembered to look away, just as he turned to stare at me. His gaze bore holes into me, but I kept my eyes focused on a mildew spot on the wall. Ick, this place was seriously icky. Haven’t they even thought of cleaning it up a bit? Add some color, maybe some flowers, pretty daisies, to brighten up the room?

“I hadn’t heard that you found your mate, Ethan Pazarie. I must say, she is a nice one,” I was seriously tempted to kick some of his animal bootie, but Ethan growled menacingly. I couldn’t help but feel that it was more directed at me than to him, and I pouted in his direction. I remembered that when we were younger, it would get tons of things with my pouty face. Like ice cream and money. And more ice cream. It seems, though, that he has grown immune to my puppy-dog look, because he shook his head firmly. I stuck my tongue out at them both, feeling seriously pissed that I couldn’t judo chop someone in half.

“I would love to continue this idle chit-chat, but I have a feeling that we have some business to discuss, yes?” We all nodded and he motioned us down the leaky hallway that he came out of. As we followed him, I jumped in one of the puddles of accumulating water that dripped from the busted ceiling, earning many glares. I looked back innocently, holding back a laugh at how water was covering all three of their pants. That’s what they get whenever you mix gigantic puddles and me. A wet mess.