The Lupine Necklace

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

          Ian and I left Jason’s office and headed for the living room.  Xena, Nate and Lee were waiting for us, twitching nervously on the couch.  Ian and I sat across from them on the love seat. 

          They stared at us expectantly, and I couldn’t think of an easy way to tell them the news, so I bluntly announced, “We received a letter from Derek.”  Their faces tightened in both fear and anger, although the boys were mostly anger.

          “He wants Jeremy to bring him the necklace, tomorrow at noon, or he’s threatening not only Layla and I, but also you three,” Ian added. 

          Nate stood and scowled menacingly.  “I’d like to see him try to take us.  He’ll get a fight he never expected!”  Nate was pacing in agitation as he spoke.  As he passed by once again, Xena grabbed his arm and pulled him back down on the couch. 

          “What are we going to do?” Xena asked, calmly.

          “Jason is going to call a pack meeting tonight and he’s also going to talk to your guys’ parents about you staying in the pack house for a while.  We are all supposed to stick together.  Everything else will be decided tonight at the pack meeting,” I told them.

          “Then we’ll all stay together,” Xena stated.  “We don’t need to panic.  We will all take care of each other and if Derek comes after us, he’ll get all of us or none of us.”

          “Preferably none of us,” Lee added. 

          I laughed at him. “I agree with Lee.”

          We sat in the living room and joked around for a while.  Xena’s little speech made me feel better and I was glad we were all still in good spirits. 

          After about a half hour, Jeremy came in.  “Layla, Jason wants you to go see the wolf pack and take everyone with you.”

          I groaned and started to protest, but he cut me off. 

          “Jason told me you would protest but he said you aren’t leaving this house without your friends and that the wolf pack have to know, so you’re going to have to take them all with you.”

          They cheered while I glared at all of them, including Jeremy.  Huffing, I stood.  “Fine, but if you get too close and they attack, I’m not going to stop them.”

          Lee rolled his eyes.  “You know you would.  You love us too much to let them attack us.”

          I rolled my eyes, while Ian laughed.  “Let’s go.  And I’m serious, when I give you the halt sign, you all stay and don’t come any closer.”

          They always think I’m a party pooper, but the wolf pack means a lot to me and I don’t want my pack to make them feel uncomfortable.  The alpha and I have always been on good terms, but he gets twitchy, even when I only bring Ian.  He prefers for just me to come.

          We headed for the door and shifted when we hit the woods.  I howled for the alpha and when I heard his answering call, I headed in that direction.

          I found the alpha with about seven other wolves near the stream where the pack found me so many years ago.  He wagged his tail and came forward to meet me.  He kept an eye on the others, but they had stayed far enough back not to bother him too much.