Chapter 2)Oh Heck No

". . . So, are you guys going to get in the car civilly," grumps mocked me? "Or are we going to have to do this the hard way?"

"Oh, you wish! We —"

"The easy way," I cut Harpers protests off.

"What?!" She hollered.

"What else are we going to do, Harps? Were going to end up back at the house either way. Unless. . . You want to abandon everyone too."

It wasnt the most sensitive thing I could have said at the moment, and I know its not true. But I dont have time to find another way to convince her.

She looked conflicted, her eyes darting around trying to find something to say but came up empty. She looked down dejectedly.

"We dont even know for sure if theyre telling the truth," Destiny squeaked.

"Youre right; we dont. But if theyre not, well cross that bridge when we come to it," I told her calmly, hoping itll rub off on her.

"So youre okay with us just walking into a possible trap?" Harper glared at me. I guess someone suddenly got her voice back.

I shrugged, "believe it or not, I have confidence in the two of you," I told them. "We can get out of whatever we get ourselves into," I assured.

There was a pause.

"And besides, do you honestly think Id let them even think about hurting either of you?" I stared into her eyes. "They want to; they can go through me first."

Another awkward pause.

"Great! Now that thats all figured out, lets get going," the beta chirped, extending his hand toward a van none of us paid any mind to before this.

Harps scoffed. "I knew that van smelled funny."

"Really? I didnt even notice it. All I smelled was blood," I commented, walking towards it.

While heading towards the car, the dogs happily breathe down our necks.

"That was the goal. We drenched it in air freshener before we came. Wanted to get the werewolf sent off it," Happy explained.

Im just going to give these three seven dwarfs names until I find out their real ones.

Happy, grumpy, and. Quietly?

Thats not a dwarf name from Snow White, but its fitting.

We stepped into the van, and we were immediately submerged into something terrible.

The stench of wet dog.

Correction, the stench of three wet dogs.

"Oh my cheese," I gagged, covering my nose.

"What happened to those air fresheners?" Harps followed with my same actions.

Desi just stayed quiet with her head down and hands in her lap. But I can tell shes holding back by the way her little nose is twitching.

Happy turned to us from his place in the front seat. "Oh cmon, its not that bad."

"No, its pretty bad," I commented.

"Oh, just shut up," Grumpy mumbled next to me.

The way were sitting is Happy in front, at the wheel, Grumpy next to me in the first row of seats, and Quietly in the second row with Desi and Harps.

I get why they wanted to split us up and have someone in each section, but why did I get Grumpy? Hes so.. Well, Grumpy.

An awkward silence swallowed us up.

". . . So, what are you alls favorite colors?" I asked in an attempt to break it. . . And piss Grumpy off.

Happy chuckled, Grumpy mumbled some not so polite words and Quietly stayed true to his name. None of them bothered to answer my question.

Theyre no fun.

~~~*~

We eventually arrived back at the house territory, the blood truck following close behind, and the moment it came into view, my breath hitched in my throat in anticipation.

What have they done with the people?

Will I go on to find a post-war zone?

Will everyone be huddled into a circle surrounded by dogs?

I know a few warriors that wouldnt sit well with.

Will, I get there to find them all thrown in the jails. . . Or worse, dead?

What if —

I sniffed the air.

"Something smells good," I commented, completely forgetting my train of thought.

Desi gasped. "Is it blood?!"

I scoffed. "No, its not blood." I looked to Happy. "Whats that smell?"

"What smell are you talking about?" He asked, confused.

"All I smell is even more wet dog," Harper scowled.

Grumpy let out a low growl.

We ignored him.

"No, its. . . Ugh! This is going to bug me," I shook my head.

What is that smell?

We finally entered the actual territory, getting me back on course. I looked out the window and saw families standing outside their homes talking to the dogs. Some were cooperating and standing quietly, and the invaders were maltreating others. The one thing everyone had in common was the fear in their faces. Or the rage.

I felt a twinge in my heart at sight.

The van rolled to a stop, and Happy turned around. "Alright, were here."

I went to open the door.

Childproof locked.

I looked at him blankly.

He only grinned. "Its only gentlemanly to open the door for a lady."

Grumpy got out and came around to my side, opening the door. I got out, and Harps and Desi followed. Then —

The smell again.

I dont know what it is, but something is pulling at me to just glance behind me. I looked over my shoulder, and my eyes immediately landed on. . . A werewolf.

Hes crouched down, talking to one of the children, facing away from us. Broad shoulders, jet black hair, similar to every other werewolf but so. . . Not at the same time. I got a funny feeling in the pit of my stomach and had to fight myself to keep my feet planted instead of going closer. Found the smell.

This cant be good.

I racked my brain for any reason for this, other than my worst nightmare.

There is still hope. . .

He turned around.

Welp, so much for hope.

Standing to his full height, it became pretty obvious he indeed was different from other wolves in more ways than one.

He was massive. And Ive seen some pretty big dudes, so thats saying something. Hes not the biggest Ive ever seen, but d@mn if he wasnt close. Muscles covered every centimeter of his body. It was to the point his black T-shirt and jeans were having trouble containing it all.

My muscles clenched at the sight of him.

Goddess, hes pretty.

I saw his rock-hard features, and even worse, I looked into his eyes. I nearly got lost in the alluring chasms of stony gray.

One word repeated in my head

"Oh, heck no! You have got to be kidding me!" I seethed, instead of getting lost in his eyes and thinking about the word

I delivered a piercing glare his way while letting my canines elongate to look more threatening.

And be ready to use if I need them.

He wasnt even phased. He still stood like a stone wall staring through me.

By this time, I had gotten Harper and Desis attention. They followed my line of vision and stood confused.

Then he said something.

I knew it by the way his mouth moved.

On the outside, I hissed. On the inside, my entire world felt like it was being turned upside down.

Harps jaw dropped, and Desis eyes bulged.

"Did he just say what I think he just said?" Harper asked, dumbstruck.

Desi still stood speechless.

I blew out a huff of air through my nose in aggravation. "Yep."

He started heading over. He cant be less than 200 yards away, so we have time.

The word that shattered the very fabric of my existence and will probably make things so much more complicated from here on out is. . .

Mate.

Harper piped up, sounding anxious. "Whatre you going to do?" She asked me, concern lining her voice.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Nothing. He can bite me," I hissed.

"Well yeah, hell need to mark you," Happy butted in. "Oh, by the way, meet the alpha," he grinned.

The alpha?!

I turned, very slowly, to glare at Happy. Then, after giving him a menacing sneer, I rolled my eyes. "Werewolves," I muttered disapprovingly.

I glanced back at Harper before my eyes were drawn back to him. "You know what I mean."

". . . Yeah, I do," she hesitated. "Youre going to reject him."

There was a pause.

"You sure?" She asked uncertainly.

Another pause.

Then. . .

"Of course, Im not sure! This is a HUGE decision!" I exploded, turning to face her. "You know how I am about making life-altering decisions. Hes my MATE. Im tied to him, and if I try to break that tie. . ."

"I know, I know. Thats why I asked."

"Werent you a leader? What kind of leader cant make big decisions?" Grumpy interrupted.

"And you know he can probably hear you, right?" Happy pointed out as well.

I put my finger up. "HUSH! The grown-ups are talking!"

I turned back to Harper. "What do I do?!" I whined.

"I dont know," she shrugged helplessly. "Its not like stuff like this happens all the time."

She looked over my shoulder, and her face turned even more worried. "Hes getting close."

I whipped my head in that direction and instinctively hissed.

Then turned to Harper, back to being hysterical.

"Ohmycrapohmycraohmycrap!"

Happy laughed at my expense, but Im too busy freaking out even to care.

"What are you going to do?" Desi questioned, worried.

I bit the inside of my cheek in thought.

"Um. . ." I straightened up, trying to pull myself together and find comfort in this decision I just pulled out of a magic hat of nothingness. "This is what Im going to do. Im just going to ignore it."

Award-winning idea-making, right?

"I wont reject him; I wont accept him. I wont do anything until I have a grasp on this whole situation," I decided. "In the meantime, Im going to figure something out for both of the current predicaments." I answered, wringing my hands.

I took a breath to. . . Prepare me, I guess?

Then I turned to meet the dog-man himself.

He was right in front of me by the time I did, taking the last few steps to close the distance. He made a reach for me immediately in all of his hulking glory.

Like mates usually do.

I bared my fangs.

Animalistic. I know.

And NOT what mates usually do.

But I bared my fangs and narrowed my eyes at him. "Touch me, and Ill bite your hand off," I promised darkly.

I watched him closely after saying this, keeping my glare on him and waiting for his reaction.

Your MATE is saying something like that — your other half — its bound to affect you. Make you act at least a little sad and bitter, even when you first meet. Not to mention the physical discomfort.

But he didnt do either of those things. Act sad or bitter.

He just looked pissed.

Which is an option as well.

But he didnt even skip a beat.

"Come."

Before I knew it, there was a large hand around the back of my neck dragging me along.

I mentally rolled my eyes; woof woof, I guess.

I also had to ignore the sparks his touch lit.

I grunted in discomfort but walked beside him anyway. Hes walking very quickly towards the Master House, and I have to struggle to keep up. Every time I fall behind, he just yanks me back into step with him.

"We have a lot to discuss," he stated, looking straight ahead.

"Do we?" I responded distractedly.

"Yes, you helped run this pack, didnt you?"

This time, I didnt skip a beat. "House. Are there any dead?"

"No," He responded immediately. "Now, answer the question."

My eyebrows went up a bit. "Really? There were no casualties?" I asked, completely ignoring his instruction, a mix of shock and relief on my face from his answer.

"Yes, what do you think we are, animals?" He questioned, looking at me this time. It seems hes forgotten his instruction as well.

I snorted, "Okay, you walked right into that one."

His eyes narrowed, but he still looked back ahead of us. "Now, my question, you helped run —"

"It seems you already know the answer," I cut him off with an eye roll.

I dont like stupid questions.

He looked at me, still not slowing down his stride. "If my men or I am not mistaken, youre Maria. You were second in command, correct?"

"No, Im the other Maria," I stated.

He shot me a glare. "Stop talking."

"Was anyone seriously hurt?" I went back to being bothersome.

"I told you to shut up."

"And I didnt listen."

His grip tightened, but he didnt honor my justification with a verbal response.

I stayed silent for a few seconds, doing as he said.

"Come on," I persisted, forgetting to care. "Not everyone is out here. What did you do with them? I just want to know how everything stands. Is everyone okay? What about —"

His sudden response cut through my rambling like a knife. "Ill tell you how everything stands. Im the boss now. You and the rest of your house are a step below an omega for now. I dont have to answer any of your questions," he barked, clenching his jaw.

". . . For the time being?" I muttered to myself, but I knew he heard it.

He, again, said nothing. And judging by his little declaration, hes not planning to. . . For the time being.

. . . Interesting.