“Uh, I have not been to sleep yet, but thank you for that. Do you know where Quin is?” She said blushing at the look the woman was giving her. She certainly hoped the woman did not think she was a slut. She looked like the grandma she never had, and for some reason, she did not want the woman to think badly of her.
“He is in the office a floor below. He slept there last night, after he called me to come and stay in the spare bedroom. Don"t worry; he explained the situation to me. I understand you may have some questions?” She said and began putting food on the table that was set for two. “Come on then, we can"t discuss this on an empty stomach.
My name is Grace; I am the unofficial grandma of the Pack. I am Quin's mama"s cousin.
She asked me to come, and help take care of these helpless men ten years ago. Trust me, if the big oaf screwed up the explanation, I will set it right.” Cami smiled and sat down at the table and watched as the woman served her a huge helping of eggs, potatoes, and bacon. It was more food than she usually ate in the morning, but she did not complain. It looked wonderful. Cami waited as the woman filled a cup with coffee, and a glass of juice, and then set them before her. Finally, she settled into the chair across from her, and started eating and talking.
“First of all, this Pack was started by a much larger Pack in France. The Gevaudan Pack, originated in southern France when there was rumored to be a monster living in the woods eating people of a small town. Of course, it was not true, but it was a good cover for a small Pack that lived in the woods. They used the people"s fears to keep them out of the woods. The Pack grew steadily when people heard there was a place Were"s could roam freely in the woods and not be killed. The Alpha at the time was an excellent financier, and the Pack flourished. When my cousin and her mate took over, they were one of the most successful Packs in Europe. Aris and Thon are Quin's parents. They are very well respected in the shifter community, first for their amazing strength, and second for their compassion. When visitors from the United States would come to Europe, and be changed, or their own wolves would rise, it became a concern that there were so few Packs in the States to help them. Aris and Thon went to the Council in Europe and asked them to set up a Council in the United States. It was a not a popular stance to take, because the wolves in Europe tend to be a little snobby. Once there was word that Rogues were attacking small Packs, they decided the time had come to send someone over, to help set up the hierarchy. Quin was set to be the next Alpha of the Gevaudan Pack. He was the strongest, and the oldest of their children. Quin has four brothers, all Alphas, and all pains in the ass, but that is another story. His parents asked him to come over to the States, and establish a smaller Gevaudan Pack. Always up for a challenge, he accepted, knowing that his mate was probably in Europe, and he would have to wait for years if not decades in order to find her. You see when an Alpha is unclaimed; he does not have the same strength as one that has his mate. Together they lead the Pack, and Quin has had to deal with everything on his own for the last ten years.
It has been hard on him to be alone. He told me you are his mate. I am sure you have a lot of questions you want answered, but let us get the most important out of the way first. No, you will not become a wolf.” The woman smiled at her. Cami blushed again because that is what she had been thinking.
“What did you mean when you said some people would come over to Europe to discover their inner wolf?” Cami said.
“Well that is a little more difficult to explain. Most Were"s are born and raised in a Pack.
Some of the others who refuse to accept their wolf ignore the call and never change.
They make a life, and never speak about what they are. Those people have children, and never tell them their true heritage. When a wolf comes in close contact with other wolves, they tend to try and push to the surface. That is why in the United States, there are a lot of wolves who do not even know they are wolves. Their families immigrated in order to get away from a Pack, and they did not tell their children. There are many people who are wolves, but do not know it yet. They have buried their wolves, or do not know how to call to them. They will feel it though.” The old lady said.
Cami nodded and thought for a minute before speaking. “So since I am not a wolf, what does that mean for Quin? I mean I can never be what he is, how I will ever help him if I can"t change?”
“Dear, just being by his side will give him what he needs. You do not have to be a wolf to share with one. You will be just as important, if not more so. You will be his calm in the storm. He could change you if you decided to. Of course, that would be a little harder on Quin since newly changed wolves are unpredictable. You are the Alpha mate, one of the leaders; it would not be good to have you running willy nilly all over the place. If you want my opinion, stay a human. You can decide later if you feel the need to change.” Grace said, stood, and cleared the table.
Cami jumped up to help. “How does all this work? If I am the leader, is that all there is?
I mean I have dreams too, I wanted to open a bookstore and travel.”
“First, you will have to get used to being the Alpha. You do not clean up your stuff, you have others do that. You can own a bookstore too, I am sure some of the Pack would be willing to help you set it up, and work in the store. You will be like a manager, work, Pack, and Quin.” She explained. “It takes some getting used to, but I think you are just the woman for the job. So do the spirits or they never would have chosen you for Quin.” Cami nodded and looked out the window again. How was she ever going to understand all of this? Did she even want to?
“What happens if I say no?” Cami whispered.
“A wolf will have only one mate, one person that is their true compliment. Once they meet, that is it. Quin will never tell you, but the madness from rejection will take over and he will end up feral. Most times then, the Beta kills them, and takes over the Pack.” Grace said gently. “You do have a choice. Make sure you truly understand what you are accepting if you say yes. If you are claimed, and then change your mind, Quin will not only lose his mind, but also his Pack. He can be banished for having his mate reject him after claiming. If you reject him before claiming, it will take years for him to go feral, at least he could get his stuff in order.”
Grace said it all so nonchalantly that Cami almost believed that she had a choice. A few hours later, back in the bedroom, she realized that really did not have a choice. She could no longer send Quin away, any more than she could deny what was between them.
She just needed time to see how things were going to work out. She could not just jump into bed with a man, and then be married to him. When she was younger, having a one night stand had been her way of not getting close to anyone who could hurt her. She could not just fuck this man, and leave him. He was going to be the only one she had sex with for the rest of her life. What if he sucked?
She fretted, and worried, until once again, the sun had set and she was alone looking out the window again. A soft knock on the door came, and she was actually scared to answer it. What if it was Quin, and he wanted an answer? Cami took a deep breath, opened the door, and let out her breath when she saw it was Grace who was knocking.
“Quin wanted me to tell you that he would not be here for dinner. There has been another attack, he had to go and deal with it.” The older woman said and smiled at her.
“Another attack?” Cami asked.
“The Rogues have been getting more and more aggressive over the last few years. They have an Alpha leading them, who, for some reason, seems to have a personal problem with Quin. So far, he cannot find out who it is and why he has such a grudge for us. The one attacked today was a young female. They roughed her up pretty good outside her parent"s restaurant.” Grace said and pulled Cami out of the room towards the kitchen.
“Restaurant, you mean Margie"s place?” Cami said and frowned. She remembered Quin telling her last night, the woman ran the place with her family.
“Yes, her youngest. Ruby just turned eighte
en last week, we had a party for her, and she was so happy and alive.” Grace replied and Cami saw tears form in the woman"s eyes.
“Oh no, we were there last night.” Cami said and then thought for a few moments, how much had changed since she was in the restaurant eating with what she thought was her new landlord.
“Yes, Ruby came in the morning to open like usual and there were five Rogues waiting in the alley for her. I don"t know the whole story, Quin would never tell me, but he was extremely upset when he left.” Grace commented, and pushed a plate of food in front of her.
“Shouldn"t they call the authorities?” Cami said and picked at her plate.
“We have to handle it in Pack. We have our own doctor and laws. Quin will take care of it.” Grace said confidently. “I suspect he and his Beta will be planning on what to do well into the night. Quin will never let this go unanswered.”
“Do? What will he do?” Cami asked.
“Hunt.” Grace said calmly, and Cami's eyes went wide.
“Wait, I thought that you said that Quin was the leader, surely he would have others hunt.” Cami said feeling very protective all the sudden. “The leader should never go where he can be hurt.”
“Dear, he is an Alpha Pack leader. He is the strongest of the group, and someone has challenged the fact that he takes care of the Pack. He will never send someone to do his dirty work. He will hunt with his Enforcers, and find the wolves that dare touch one of his. It is the way of the Pack.” Grace said gently.
Cami did not want Quin to go anywhere near some rabid dog, she pushed her plate back, and stood up. “I need to go.” She said firmly.
“Go? Home?” Grace said innocently.
“No, I need to be with Quin, to help. I have no clue what the hell I will do, but for some reason it feels like that is where I need to be.” Cami said, and walked to the bedroom to change her clothes. She wore the same thing she had worn yesterday. Sometime during the day, a duffel bag of her clothes had been brought to the bedroom, and she needed to change into her jeans.
Cami ignored the older woman who tried to get her to wait until she called down and found out where Quin was. Cami finally gave in and nodded, then waited in the hallway dressed in her comfortable jeans, a heavy sweater and hiking boots. She had the feeling she was going to need to be comfortable tonight. It could prove to be a long night.
“He is next door, on the third floor, which is the doctor"s office. Margie and her daughter are there. They made Rodger leave because he was getting angry and upsetting the girl. Quin is there with his Beta, Devon. I let them know you were on the way. One of the Enforcers will be here soon to take you over.” Grace said.
“Enforcer? Why do I need an escort? Surely I can walk across the street.” Cami said stubbornly.
“With the way things have been going, Quin has left orders for all females to be escorted when on the street.” Grace said.
“Oh, well then, I guess I can understand that.” She said grudgingly. She hated to feel like her independence was being taken away. She may be little but she could protect herself.
Grace smiled a little when she lowered her head. Cami was going to make an excellent Alpha. Once she felt a little more comfortable in the Pack, Cami was going to be a spitfire.
Chapter 2
Quin stood in the doctor"s office waiting area, and waited with Devon while the doctor examined little Ruby. She had at least been beaten, and maybe more. The girl had been afraid to talk in front of the males, and when the doctor ordered everyone but her mother out of the room, Quin had reluctantly gone. He wanted to make sure the girl knew she was going to be protected and safe from now on.
Devon stood next to him talking quietly about the orders he had given all the Enforcers.
They were to go from house to house, and explain the new procedures while in public.
From now on, no female was going out alone, and children were to remain in their parents care at all times. The men were being gathered for a meeting later tonight so they could tell everyone at once, why the new security procedures had been necessary.
He was not looking forward to standing before his Pack and explaining that a young female wolf had been attacked right on their doorstep.
The outer door opened and Cami stepped in, along with Tey, one of his loyal Enforcers.
He looked at the woman questioningly. Why had she come here?
Cami thought about standing by the door, and waiting for Devon to finish talking. But she decided she wanted to give Quin the right impression, and so she went and stood next to him reaching down and holding his hand. She was trying to give him silent support, but he was having none of it. He wanted everyone to know she was the new Alpha; Cami had come to him when he needed her, and it had to be a sign.
“Devon, this is Cami. Cami we have a situation here, and I am thinking you may be able to help us. Margie's daughter, Ruby, was attacked this morning when she went to open the restaurant, and we are trying to protect the rest of the females and children. When do you think you will be ready to move in the bookstore? I think it would keep everyone in the same place, without making them go stir crazy staying in their home all day, and help you at the same time. The kids would love looking at the books, while the women help. What do you think about that?” Quin asked.
“I am ready. I have the entire inventory in a storage locker a block away. I was just waiting to sort the lease out. I was originally scheduled to move into the building last week, when the owners sold it out from under me.” She grumbled. “I could have things organized in the next day or so. I have to get the shelves, and stuff put together and there was the coffee bar I wanted in the back. I was going to have a carpenter come in and give me a quote.”
“Well, we have a carpenter in the Pack. I would also venture to guess you would have more help than you wanted if we announce at the Pack meeting tonight that you needed some men for manual labor. It may help them take out their frustrations pounding something.” Devon said quietly.
Quin nodded, and thought for a moment. “Devon, give us a minute.” His best friend grinned, and turned to talk to the man who came into the office with Cami. They pretended like they couldn"t hear what was going on. Cami almost laughed, she knew enough about wolves to know their sense of hearing was excellent.
“Cami, I really wanted to give you time and distance. I am trying to do this right.” Quin started and Cami shook her head.
“Quin, we have to deal with the situation now. Let"s just say that I have a lot of questions, and really may suck as an Alpha, but for now, I am all in. No one hurts a little girl and gets away with it.” She said with determination.
Quin smiled and closed his eyes briefly thanking whoever sent her to him. She was going to be the perfect Alpha bitch. “Thank you.” He whispered into her hair and then kissed her cheek.
“No thanks needed. How is Ruby?” She asked, blushing because Quin put his arm around her.
“We are waiting for the doctor to come out. She was beaten pretty badly. I do not know about anything else.” He whispered.
Just then, the door across the room opened and an older gentleman stepped out into the room. “Alpha, I had to sedate Ruby. She has a broken arm, and a few cracked ribs.
When I tried to examine her further, she started screaming and refused to allow me to touch her. Her mom tried to help, but the girl panicked.” Quin growled, and looked at Devon who growled also. Beating a girl would be bad enough, but Quin did not think he could contain his friend, or himself, if she were sexually assaulted. There was one thing his Packs had always been taught, and that was to protect the women and children. He had failed.
Quin felt Cami's hand on his arm and turned to look at her worried gaze. “Let me talk to her, please. I just want to see if I can help.” She whispered, and Quin thought for only a moment before nodding.
Cami stepped forward, smiled at the doctor, and said. “Through here?”
“Yes.” He acknowledged and opened the door for her.
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Cami stepped through the door into a small examination room. Margie was sitting against the wall trying to hold herself together, and patting her daughter"s hair as she laid on a table sobbing. Margie looked up surprised and then tried to smile.
“Margie, I am Cami. I wondered if could talk to Ruby for a few minutes?” She asked and waited while the woman got up and leaned over to whisper into her daughter"s ear.
The girl was no more than eighteen, and Cami held her breath while Margie soothed her for a few minutes.
When the woman stood up, nodded, and then held out her hand to Cami, she released the breath she was holding and approached the opposite side of the bed. She did not know what she was going to say, until she looked at the girl and saw the saw the look on the girls face. She remembered the same look on her face, when she stared in the mirror the day after her mom"s boyfriend had tried to rape her.
“Ruby? My name is Cami. I just wanted to see how you were.” She said softly.
The girl turned and stared at her, she seemed to be unable to focus on her, but Cami was sure she was listening. Through the swollen black eyes and puffy cheeks, the girl looked at her. Cami noticed the doctor had made a makeshift cast on one arm, and had cleaned her as well as he could. She was black and blue from head to toe. Before this had happened, she was sure the girl had been a beauty. Unfortunately, you could not tell it now, from the way she had been beaten.
“I am fine.” The girl struggled to get out of her swollen lips.
“Good.” Cami said and then took the small stool next to the bed and sat down. She took the girls uninjured hand gently and spoke softly, “I don"t know you very well, but I wanted to tell you something. When I was young and living with my mother, she drank a lot. There were days that she would not even know I was there. When I was twelve, she met this man. I thought that maybe for once, she would find someone who would take care of her so I would not have to. Of course, that did not happen. He began to notice that I was changing when I was fourteen; when I was fifteen, he did not even bother to hide his interest. On my sixteenth birthday, he came into my room, told me it was time that I became a woman, and earned my keep around the house. I will never forget his smelly breath when he tried to kiss me, or the weight of his body, when he pinned me to the bed. I remember thinking this could not be really happening. It took me a few minutes to also realize, that no one was going to save me. I had to save myself.