The Pack

Violet was running through the woods. She could hear the panting of someone else close by. There was a sense of urgency they needed to get away. The bushes and trees moved around her yet she was not getting tired all of a sudden she stopped. She was sitting on the ground and there was Uncle Scott. He whispers "Give her to me." He is holding Violet and she looks over to see her father.

"I have to go back Hazel is back there," he says. "Hide and when the coast is clear I will find you." He stands up. She is moving again being carried by her uncle. They hide in a cave covered with vines. She peeks through and the man with the yellow eyes has found her father.

"Where is she?" He growls but doesn't wait for an answer. He puts his hands on either side of her father's head and twists. She watches her father hit the ground. She is then brought further into the cave and it gets darker.

She sits up in panic and yells "Dad!" arms out in front of her like she is reaching for him.

Eli looks at her with concern and gently says "It's a dream Vi, you're okay. It's just a dream." He sits up and pulls her towards him. He wraps her up in his arms, holding tightly.

"I could see everything, it's like I was remembering but I was a baby." She shook her head back and forth.

"It was just a nightmare. I can feel how tense you are. Just take some deep breaths." Eli says calmly. She relaxed into him then looked around the room. It was still dark.

"What time is it?" she asks.

"It's only a quarter to four. You can go back to sleep. I am here and it will be alright." Eli said, trying to soothe her.

Violet nodded and laid her head down on his chest. He ran his hands through her long red hair trying to relax her. How could I remember that? She thought I was only six weeks old. I couldn't have remembered. Eli was right, it was just a dream she thought. Eli kissed her forehead softly "It was just a dream he murmured against her head. No one will hurt you."

Eli murmuring sent a need through Violet. She kissed his chest while drawing circles on his perfectly sculpted abs. He took a deep breath of her scent, smelling the sudden state of arousal she was in. "Princess, you need to sleep. You have a big day ahead of you." Eli says with a soft chuckle of amusement. Elis growled, voicing his displeasure of stopping her. Violet gave out a little whine of her own. "I know princess but I want us to do this right." He kissed her gently and rolled her over on her side so he could be the big spoon. They laid there in silence until Violet felt under control.

"I am sorry I don't know what came over me." She apologized.

Eli turned her to face him. "You don't need to apologize for wanting me. Lettie was trying to take over. I didn't want to take advantage of you." Violet's eyes glimmered in the early morning light. "Will you not sleep?" He asked. She shook her head. "You only got 4 hours."

"I will be fine," she stated. "What will happen when we get to the packhouse?"

"I thought you might be thinking about that," Eli stated. "When we get there my dad will be waiting for us. He will show us our rooms and give you a little while to get settled. You will then meet the elders. They will greet you and go over ceremonies and protocol to make you Alpha. Tonight they will introduce you to the pack with a BBQ." He takes a deep breath before continuing "They will want to make you Alpha the next morning. Then they will want to do the Mating Ceremony to make me your Lunar that evening."

"It is all going to move so fast." she whispered.

"Not everything. We do not have to finish the mating process until you are ready." He said leaning in to kiss her nose.

"Have we done enough to do the mating ceremony?" She asked shyly.

"Yes, no one will question us since we are both marked." Eli looked at her with adoring eyes. "You still want me as your Lunar right?"

"Actually I changed my mind. I was thinking Alex might be a good Lunar." A teasing smile spread across her face.

"That's it." Eli said, turning on to Violet pinning her arms down and Kissing her marking spot. "Can Alex make you feel like this?" He then sucked gently on the spot making her moan. Then he took his hands away and started tickling her until she begged for forgiveness.

"Shall I make breakfast?" Violet asked. Eli nodded and they walked out of the bedroom to get ready for the pack.

When they got to the kitchen Cora was grabbing her purse and heading for the back door. "Cora, where are you going?"

"I left a note." Cora said pointing to the paper on the fridge. "I will be back, but Violet I have to check on the book store and get my laptop. I just started writing my book and I need to be able to work wherever I am. I already have my manager doing inventory. I have to do some ordering and make sure, she has everything under control."

"I am so sorry Cora. I forgot all about A Novel Idea BookShop. I am being so selfish. You don't have to come with me." Violet started and Cora put her hand up to silence her.

"You are not being selfish. If you do remember I wanted to move here with you but you told me to stay. I am just going to get things set so I can be with you. I will make my way back to town once a week to check on things. That's the plus side of owning your business and having good staff."

"You know the pack could use a good book store. So if you want to expand we could make that happen." Eli said.

"What do you mean?" Violet asked

"Oh, you'll see. Cora, will you call when you are on your way back so I can let the scouts know and they will let you in." Eli said. Cora nodded and gave Violet a hug. Then she went out the door.

They took the Jeep further into the woods on a small dirt road Violet never knew was there. As they got closer to the center of pack territory the road became paved and she noticed stores, a cafe, and a diner on the main road. "It's like a little town," Violet exclaimed.

"What did you think Vi, we would just have random houses in the middle of the woods. We aren't barbarians." Alex says.

Eli chuckled, "We even have a salon." They turned down a side road with many small houses spotting it. They then turned down a driveway lined with trees. There was a large field on either side. She saw a group of men sparring on one side and a group of women sparring on the other. Down a little farther she noticed a sand volleyball court, a tennis court, and a basketball court. "This is the pack common ground leading to the packhouse where we will live." Eli says.

Then a huge house, no not house, mansion came into view. Violet gasped at the large brick and stone house. "It's so big." Violet whispers.

"Duh. It is where the pack meets and banquets are held. It is the center of our pack." Alex says like a sassy teen. Earning him a smack from his brother. "Sorry. Violet your office will be there and the whole bottom floor is like a common living area with gaming systems, foosball, and pool table. You are going to love it."

On the front steps was Christoph. He walked down and opened Violet's door. "You are right on time. Come on out." Violet saw a woman with Eli's nose and Alex's hair and instantly got nervous. Eli walked to her side interlacing his fingers with hers.

"Am I meeting your mom right now?" She asked urgently.

Eli grinned "better now then never." He pulled her towards his mom, Christoph beside them. Eli smiled at his mom while Alex ran past them giving her a great big bear hug. When they got to her, Eli said "Violet, I would like you to meet my mom Charlotte. Mom, this is my mate, Violet."

"I would know this beautiful girl anywhere. Violet, you have grown into such a beautiful woman. Just the right amount of your mom and dad." She then scooped Violet into a loving embrace. "I do hope you will come to me for anything. Now let's take you to your room." They walked through the bottom floor. It was just as Alex had described. However, he forgot to mention the banquet hall was connected and there was an actual theater. They took an elevator to the third floor. Eli explained the second floor was her office and the meeting room in one wing and then separated by large wooden doors was the pack rooms for those who do not have houses yet. When the doors opened Violet saw a large sitting area with bookshelves and a TV mounted on the wall. Down the hall were 3 doors on each side. Charlotte said each door is a bedroom with its own private bathroom, walk-in closets, and sitting area. At the very end of the Hall were large double doors. She opened them up and said "This is your suite." Violet's jaw fell to the floor as she took in the room that she could have fit her old apartment into. There was a large four poster bed on one side. A flat-screen TV mounted on one side with a fainting couch and cushioned chairs in charcoal gray framing it. There were two walk-in closets and a large bathroom. "What do you think?"

"It's amazing!" Violet said.

"Well, I will let you get ready to meet the Elders. Eli, they will be here in an hour, have her ready please." With that, they were left alone in their new home.