Page 3 of Her Arrival

Chapter 2- Wesley

She’s breathtaking.

Her long, black hair goes down to her waist. Her hair is parted in the middle, providing two curtains that frame her heart-shaped face. She has full lips, the kind you want to suck on. Freckles cover the bridge of her nose.

I don’t know what her place is in this pack, but she must be someone important. I haven’t seen a woman like her in ages.

Harrison says, “Huh?” He turns his head, and his eyes fall on the woman in front of us. He rolls his eyes. “Oh, that’s Alana. She doesn’t talk much, not that many of us would ask her to.”

My eyes slide over to Harrison and I say, “Why not? She’s one of the best women in your pack, right?”

My question cues several snorts and Jenna, the one and only female pack leader, laughs. “Alana? God, no. She’s lucky that we even allow her to stay here.”

Why are they talking about her like she’s not even here? What the hell did she do to warrant being treated this way? I have a lot to learn about this pack, the ins and outs of the hierarchy, the unspoken rules, hell, even the hunting preferences, but what could I be missing about this Alana girl?

I take a step towards her, and I feel a bundle of curious eyes fall on my back and face. I grin and extend my hand towards her. “I’m Wesley. You’re Alana?”

Her eyes flick between my extended hand and my face. Alana’s nervous eyes scan my face, as if trying to gauge whether or not I’m joking.

“I’m new to this pack. I left my old pack, on the other end of Minnesota.”

Not that anyone needs to knowwhyI left my old pack.

Alana manages a stiff nod, then takes my hand. Her small hand is soft in mine, and I catch a whiff of her fresh scent. She smells like the forest, but like the fresh dew that comes after the rain.

Her green eyes glance between my face and the ground. As if she’s come back to Earth, her eyes fall on Harrison and Jenna. She shakes her head and mumbles, “Nice to meet you.”

Her slender body slinks away from me, and she moves towards a row of cabins further into camp.

I poke my thumb towards Alana’s retreating form. “Does she not like newcomers?”

Jenna sighs. “I don’t know what Alana likes. She’s been in this pack her whole life, but she won’t give anyone the chance to really get to know her,” she leans towards me and says, almost conspiratorially, “not that many of us want to know.”

I frown and Harrison clears his throat.

“None of that matters,” he says, “Alana is a mystery. Let’s talk about you. How do you see yourself fitting into this pack?”

Oh, right. I’m trying to sell them on letting me be in their pack.

“I’m a solid hunter, leader, and I don’t let anyone give me shit. I’ve never met a wolf that I couldn’t handle.”

Harrison nods and says, “That’s what I like to hear! Let me introduce you to the rest of the pack leaders.”

I follow Harrison past a bonfire, soaking in the looks from desperate-looking female wolves. If only they knew that I’d be far more interested if they pretended not to look at me.

He comes to a stop in front of two tall men. He gestures at them. “This is Rico and Niles. They’ve been in the pack since birth. They’ve each replaced their fathers.”

“Wow.”

Rico and Niles lumber towards me. Both of them could be compared to small buildings. Rico easily towers over me, but my energy is stronger than his. The confident look in his eye withers as our eyes meet, and he nods at me.

“Welcome. Your name?”

“Wesley.”

Niles shrugs and says, “Welcome, Wesley. I hope that you’ll be an asset to our pack.”

“I plan on it.”

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