The Past pt. ii

MACK POV

Harrison does exactly what he promises. He takes us to his home where we share a meal prepared by his pack member named Drew, and it is the most incredible meal I've ever tasted. I can visually see Jip's eyes light up with every bite she takes. We sit side by side with many of his other pack members and despite having never met any of them before, we seemingly blend right into this group of individuals. It is surprising to comfortably converse with these strangers when Jip and I could barely get by a conversation with our nurturing pack members we’ve known since we were children. It is quite refreshing.

We return the very next day and the day after and the day after. We meet more of Harrison's pack members and pretty soon we are visiting every other day. Drew even starts to memorize Jip and I's favourite meals. Overtime I learn every person's name and counted close to twenty total pack members - most are werewolves like myself and Jip.

After a few of weeks of free meals I offer to hunt and gather food for the meals with Jip's help so that we would be contributing. Harrison says Jip and I should join his wolf members on hunts and Drew agrees for this arrangement. I didn't wish to impose but the two of them were insistent and the next thing I know Jip and I are regularly joining the team of hunters and gatherers.

We grow close to another werewolf member named Raina who is the same age as Harrison. The three of us will regularly team up to target prey together and I find we were quite successful at it. Among the three of us, Jip is usually the strongest with her bigger build, Raina is the fastest, and I am the best at spotting prey's vulnerability. I come up with the planned attacks and the three of us will corner prey very effectively together. We consistently gather one of largest amount piles of kill on the hunting trips despite the three of us being some of the youngest wolves. The rest of the wolf members are very impressed and praise our efforts.

"I've noticed the number of hunting trips have decreased in the past couple of months."

The voice of the person who says this one day after a hunting trip is cold and steady. Jip and I had been hunting with the team regularly for about two months at this point. I can practically feel the hairs on my skin stand up and my hands tensing.

"Have you all been busy?" Tina, the alpha of this pack, continues to speak.

"Our kill count per trip has gone up significantly," John, another wolf member, says. "We haven't needed to schedule as many trips."

"Oh? Have the target groups of prey been larger than anticipated?" Tina asks and casually takes a sip from her drink.

"It was Mack and Jip," Drew says. "They've teamed up with Raina and the three of them have been consistently catching piles upon piles of prey. It's quite impressive actually, their hunting strategies."

Drew says this confidently with a smile but it quickly fades when Tina's gaze meets his eyes. "Teaming up with Raina?" Tina says. "That tiny girl and poor excuse for a hunter?"

I'm utterly stunned at the harsh words coming from her mouth and unfavourable opinion of Raina's hunting skills that I almost choke on my dinner. Her swift abilities and exceptional, strategic ideas make her an invaluable team player. I glance at Raina who hangs her head low and doesn't say anything.

"Well- That's not-" Drew says.

"Raina is an excellent hunter," I say. "She's moves with precision and makes plenty of strategic moves for us to follow and apply to plans. You should be crediting her for your team's successful hunts."

The room is silent after I say this. I can't help but notice the look on Drew's face and his sad eyes that lock with mine. His head shakes subtly and my heart sinks.

"Is that so?" Tina says. She leans forwards onto the table. "Mack was is?"

I break eye contact with Tina and nod softly.

"It's rather bold of you to be speaking so blatantly as a guest in this house."

I don't say anything.

"Well I suppose I should be thanking you,” Tina says and leans back into her chair while sipping her drink. “After all, you and Jip have created such a strong hunting team. And it's quite admirable of you to have found use for that tiny, meager wolf that I have yet to find a good use for. I mean seriously, I was growing concern trying to find a purpose for a wolf member that can't hunt. So I'm glad you've resolved that issue for me."

"Tina," Drew says. "That's enough."

"There's no need to be a jerk," John says.

Tina ignores both comments and turns to me and Jip. "Which of the two of you leads?" Tina asks.

Jip and I freeze at Tina's question. Tina's face grows annoyed in our silence.

"Alright," Tina says. "Which one is older?"

"Mack is," Jip says. "He's nineteen."

"Excellent. He shall be our newest addition to our leader team. His first assignment will be to lead the hunts."

The room goes silent.

"Do you accept?"

"I-I uh," I say.

"Look me in the eye and say your answer with confidence. You both clearly have bonded with our team and have proven to have valuable skills. It only seems logical that you should join us here rather than live alone in that cabin."

I look at Jig who stares back at me. She shrugs and smiles sheepishly.

"That would be great, actually," I say.

"Good," Tina says. "Kim and Drew, I want you to prepare a room for Mack and Jip on the third floor."

And that's how we ended up in the pack as official members.