An Alpha without a Pack

Chapter 5

Walking through the pack's town, I think it would be called, gave me an idea of the layout of the place. Right in the center was the alpha house. In it is where is where the alpha holds meetings and what not. Around it is several mess halls and several training grounds. Farther out for that where houses for pack members. It never occurred to me how vast the Emerald pack is. There was even a school for the younglings.

A grey wolf with grey paws walked up to the naked man, who was leading me to Mr. Smiths house, and gave him a pair of gym shorts. The wolf then ran off in the direction that it came. After getting dressed the man walked up to an old wooden house. He knocked three times and after a few heart beats, an old woman with grey hair answered. As soon as her eyes landed on the shirtless in front of her, she pulled him into a tight hug.

"Rick," she exclaimed. "You're home from work early."

Rick pulled back from the old lady and smiled. "Actually, I'm not off work and I can't stay fir long." He motioned me forward and when I was standing next to him he continued. "Mom, this is Sophie. She just told me that dad told you about her."

Rick's mom, whom I now assumed was Mrs. Smith, turned to look at me. "Of course! It's nice to finally put a face to the girl I've been hearing so much about. It was so nice of you to help my husband in the store. Come," She waved a forward motion for us to go in the house. "Come on in – the both of you."

Rick stepped aside to allow me in first, him close on my heels. Mrs. Smith mumbled something about tea before disappearing behind a blue door that lead to what I could assume was the kitchen. Rick pushed past me a little roughly and sat on the worn couch.

The living area was small but not cramped. There was a couch that could seat three people comfortably, if it wasn't for Rick's leg draped across it, and an old recliner. A small worn table sat against the far wall with different board games atop it. Along the walls were old photos of birthday parties, wolves wrestling or playing, school pictures, and family portraits. Completely aware that Rick was watching my every move, I walked over to the game table to look at a portrait of a younger Smith family.

"Is there a reason my dad would deem it necessary to shelter a lone wolf?" Rick asked, his tone thick with disgust.

Ignoring how he called me a loner, I turned to him and said, "It's complicated. I believe your father will have a better way to explain the situation."

Rick crossed his arms with a humph. "Can you at least tell me why your bookbag has a strange smell?"

I took the small bag off my shoulder and held it in front of me. "It used to belong to my brother," I said quietly. When Rick raised an eyebrow at me I said, "Again, it is complicated. And a really long story."

Rick went to say something else, but Mrs. Smith walked in with a tray with cups full of tea. She gave the both of us a cup and sat in the old recliner. I sat on the couch as far away from Rick as possible. No matter how much Mr. Smith said I would be safe here, I was still finding it hard to relax. Hopefully that feeling will go away soon. After several minutes of small talk with his mom, Rick set his cup down on the game table and excused himself to go back to work. When we finished our cups of tea, Mrs. Smith asked if I could help her with some of the chores she had to do around the house.

After several hours the sun was finally starting to set, and the bugs were starting to get really annoying. The chores Mrs. Smith had me do were easy and whatnot but also reminded me how badly out of shape I was. The old woman had me weed her garden, cut her grass, clean the windows, get on the roof and clean it, and much more tasks that were getting a little difficult for to do herself. I did everything she asked without complaining but when she said that that was enough work for today, I couldn't help the sigh of relief that came.