Wifwolves Pt. XXXXIII Explanations to Brian

“Now then” Brian chuckled the next morning, “apparently I’ve missed out on a few things.” We were all sitting in my kitchen around the table. The storekeeper was on one side and Alex and I were on the other. “What is all this shenanigans about a wolf pack?” Brian continued.1

I told him about Michael’s invitation and subsequent dinner, then about the pack meeting. Alex put in his observations as well. Brain leaned over a frazzled notebook, scribbling shorthand notes furiously. “How many guys were there Alex?” I asked, “thirty?” Brian gave an audible squeak of glee.2

“It sure felt like thirty,” Alex laughed. He squeezed my knee under the table and I cracked a grin. “Maybe twenty though, I’m not sure,” he continued. Brian looked back up from his notebook.3

“They were all werewolves?” the old man clarified. I shook my head.4

“Eleanor and Alex aren’t, but the rest are.” I described the gang as best I could: the leather and denim, the chains and knives and .45’s. Brain wrote like impatience personified, trying to take it all down as fast as I was speaking.5

“What about pack dynamics?” Brian asked. “How do they all interact?” I glanced at Alex before answering.6

“Hairball is the alpha male,” I began, “but I really don’t know much about everyone else. Wild wolf packs usually don’t have so many males in one group. And its interesting that there is only one female and she belongs to Daniel, the beta male. That almost never happens in the wild.”7

Brian looked thoughtful for a moment, then took a long drink from his coffee mug. He exchanged a meaningful glance with Alex before eyeing me warily. “How much do you know about wolves?” the shopkeeper asked. “Particularly when it comes to their ways of allowing new members into the pack.”8

I shrugged. “They’re still humans, right? Its not like they’re going to insist I mate with Hairball or anything.” Alex twitched slightly at that statement but didn’t remove his hand from my leg.9

“Don’t be too sure, Beth,” he warned. “They still have their wolf side. And I’m a man. I know a look of lust when I see one. Half of those guys wanted you pretty bad. Brian and I just want you to be careful.” I looked up at him and smiled, putting my hand on top of his as it rested on my knee.10

“Does that mean I can still go to the pack meetings?” I asked. Brian nodded.11

“But I want you to be extra careful,” the old man said sternly, shaking a finger in my face. “No more of this wandering around in your wolf form. I don’t suppose it occurred to you that those twenty men might have the same idea as you. At that point, a dog catcher would be the least of your worries.” Brian stopped there. He didn’t have to continue because I caught his drift. Being coveted by a wolf pack was one thing. Being raped by a pack of wolves was quite another. I squeezed Alex’s hand worriedly and he shifted closer to me reassuringly.12

“Don’t worry Beth,” he smiled. “I doubt that will ever happen. But you understand why we have to be careful now, don’t you?” I nodded. Brian drained his coffee mug and slowly got to his feet.13

“Now then,” he sighed, “We should all get some sleep. I can’t imagine things calming down around here just because you two see eye to eye now.” I giggled as Alex leaned in to kiss my cheek.14

“I don’t plan on ever calming down,” Alex smiled, pulling me to my feet and holding my hand as we walked Brian to the door. The storekeeper rolled his eyes and put on his cap, giving us a wink before shutting the door behind him.15