The girl who cried wolf

Chapter 20

Clara lay by her pond, she had only just shifted back. It was becoming routine. Whenever the time would near for them to denature, they would all take their places and as soon as they shifted, all of the wolves headed towards Clara's wolf, even Ivan's narky wolf occasionally joined them. 

Clara realized how accustom she was growing to her new lifestyle, in a way, it frightened her, but it also excited her, Alex was becoming her life. 

Alex blinked in the bright sun as he pulled on his jeans. Two weeks since Clara had joined them, in those two weeks, he had gotten to know her in a way he hoped no one else would. 

"Clara?" Alex called, she looked up, instantly her green eyes lit up, as she adjusted her dress. Tim had stolen a creme shift dress for her. It suited her perfectly. Alex sat beside her, 

"It's pretty isn't it?" She commented wistfully, watching the morning mist reflect off the green of the pond. "Today feels strange." 

"What do you mean?" 

"It feels calm. Everything is peaceful." 

"What's wrong with that?" Alex asked with a grin, "Peaceful is nice for a change." 

"But what if it's the calm before the storm?" Clara whispered, "What if the wolf hunt is just the start?" 

Alex put his hand on her thigh, she was right. There was something in the air. 

"You pair do not learn do you?" Tim's voice made them both jump. Alex's hand returned to his side.

"Where have you been?" Clara asked, dismissing his comment.

"Where haven't I been?" He replied with a wink.

"You can't answer a question with a question." Alex muttered. Tim shrugged.

"I think Ivan wants to see us." Tim announced, "In his office...."

"THE office?" Alex questioned, surprised. "I don't think I've ever been in his office before."

"Come on." Tim nodded towards the house, "You too, Clara."

Ivan sat at his desk, it wasn't anything special, just a simple IKEA flat pack. His walls were plastered with news paper clippings, claiming titles about wolf attacks and spottings. His dark eyes lingered on Clara as the three members of his pack walked through his office door.

"Are we about to receive a mission?" Alex asked, Tim snorted at his choice of words.

"What do you think this is, Charlie's Angels?" Tim taunted rolling his eyes, Clara laughed, the three boys all looked at her, she had such a beautiful laugh.

"In a way, Alex, yes." Ivan answered, "There are two werewolf hunters in town." 

"I'm sorry, what?" Tim's grin disappeared. "Hunters?"

"I believe that's what I said." 

"How do they know about us?" Alex questioned seriously. "I mean, plenty of werewolves destroy human lives all around the country, why come to us?" 

"They have a personal connection with us." Ivan replied, his voice cold and unnatural. Tim swallowed, how had Ivan found out about Olivia? Had he known all along? Tim suddenly thought back to when he had first spoken to Olivia, when she had held a double barrel to his head, and demanded to know what he was.

He had been interrupted that night by Ivan's wolf howl. Ivan definitely knew something they all didn't. Tim suddenly felt extremely underhanded. 

"So, what's the plan?" Clara asked, her face was pale.