Protected

Wolf Pack

I woke with a jolt, and the alarm clock said seven a.m. I thought everything that happened last night was a dream, until I saw the note on the windowsill. 

It was a stiff, folded piece of card stock. When I opened it, it had a message in thick, scrawly handwriting:

You slept with me until around four. I promise I didn't so anything to you except move you back to your bed. When you wake up, come talk to me, please. I'm sorry I didn't move you sooner.

I wasn't particularly sorry. I tried to remember what it felt like. Even though I was three-fourths of the way asleep, I could vaguely remember it. Lucas's chest, hot against my body. His muscular arm, wrapped protectively around me.

I stuck my head out my bedroom door. I could still hear Farkle snoring, and there was no noise in the kitchen, so Riley was still asleep, and they would both probably stay like that until lunch time. 

I crawled through Lucas's bedroom window, which was already open, and toppled into his room.

Lucas was already there: sitting on his bed, thumbing through a book.

"You spend a lot of time in here," I said.

"I wanted to be here when you came in. Besides, two other people are here. Other members of my pack." Lucas said.

I had forgotten. Wolf pack. Wolves were pack animals, they traveled in groups. Wolves weren't solitary, and werewolves were probably the same.

At that exact, very convenient moment, the door flew open. Two guys crashed in.

One boy was black, with a mischievous expression on his face. The other boy was paler, taller, with slick brown hair and an actor winning smile.

"Oooohhh! Lucas, you didn't tell us you had a guest!" the mischievous-smile kid said.

"And a girl, no less," the other boy said.

"Maya, this is Zay and Josh," Lucas said.

"The one you- you know-" the winning smile kid said.

"She knows what we are. She knows what happened," Lucas said.

In unison, Zay and Josh went pale, looking incredulously from me to Lucas, then back to me.

"She talked to old man Funicelli." Lucas said bitterly.

"Crazy old man. Tells everyone Lucas is the only wolfie. Lucas is a killer wolfie, no less," mischievous smile kid said.

The black kid shook my hand, "Zay, at you service, ma'am." he gave a little bow, and I smiled.

The other kid kissed my hand grandly, "Joshua, at your service, milady!"

I couldn't help but laugh.

"Would Maya like to join us for breakfast?" Josh asked, "Eggs and bacon, our specialty!"

"Sure." I said, "Sounds great!"

"I like her," Zay said, then they both crashed back out and down the stairs.

Lucas, laughing sheepishly, followed, with me yanking him along.

But, when we got downstairs, the fun and happy mood had died. Zay was pacing, looking terrified and anxious. Josh was talking frantically into a phone. He hung up and turned around, looking afraid.

"What is it?" Lucas asked, his happy mood gone along with the rest of the happiness downstairs.

"Pack needs us. Now." Josh said.

Lucas turned ashen, "Okay, let me take Maya home," he started.

"No," Zay interrupted, "No time."

"Take her with you," Josh suggested.

Lucas whirled around and slammed Josh against the wall by the collar of his shirt.

"Maya gets nowhere near the Pack Leader," he snarled, then released Josh. Zay shot me a pitying look.

"Rain check on the breakfast?" he said.

"It's fine," I assured them, "Go. I'll leave through Lucas's bedroom window."

They exchanged glances, then nodded. Lucas looked me in the eyes.

"Be safe."

Then they were gone.