Big Bad Wolfie

Chapter 2) Oh, Heck No

". . . So, you guys gonna get in the car civilly," grumps mocked me. "Or we gonna have to do this the

hard way?"

"Oh, you wish! We —"

"The easy way," I cut Harper's protests off.

"What?!" She hollered.

"What else are we gonna do Harps? We're gonna end up back at the house either way. Unless. . . You

want to abandon everyone too."

It wasn't the most sensitive thing I could have said in the moment, and I know it's not true. But I don't

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 don't even know for sure if they're telling the truth," Destiny squeaked.

"You're right, we don't. But if they're not, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it," I told her calmly,

hoping it'll rub off on her.

"So you're 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 actually 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 I'd 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 that's all figured out, let's get going," the beta chirped, extending his hand toward a

van none of us payed any mind to before this.

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

"Really? I didn't even notice it. All I smelled was blood," I commented, walking towards it.

While heading towards the car, the dogs are happily breathing 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.

I'm just gonna give these three seven dwarf's names until I find out their real ones.

Happy, grumpy, and. . . Quiety?

That's not a dwarf name from Snow White, but it's 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 she's holding back by the

way her little nose is twitching.

Happy turned to us from his place in the front seat. "Oh c'mon, it's not that bad."

"No, it's pretty bad," I commented.

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

The way we're sitting is Happy in front, at the wheel, Grumpy next to me in the first row of seats, and

Quiety 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?

He's so. . . Well, Grumpy.

An awkward silence swallowed us up.

". . . So, what are y'all's favorite colors?" I asked in an attempt to break it. . . And piss Grumpy off.

Happy chuckled, Grumpy mumbled some not so polite words, and quiety stayed true to his name.

None of them bothering to answer my question.

They're 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 wouldn't 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 it's not blood." I looked to Happy. "What's 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 it's. . . Ugh! This is gonna bug me," I shook my head.

What is that smell?

We finally entered the actual territory, and it got 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 others were being manhandled by the invaders. The one thing everyone had in common was the

fear in their faces. Or the rage.

I felt a twinge in my heart at the sight.

The van rolled to a stop and Happy turned around. "Alright, we're here."

I went to open the door.

Child proof locked.

I looked at him blankly.

He only grinned. "It's 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 don't 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.

He's 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 can't be good.

I racked my brain for any reasons 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 quite obvious he truly was different than other wolves. In more

ways than one.

He was massive. And I've seen some pretty big dudes, so that's saying something. He's not the biggest

I've ever seen, but d@mn if he wasn't close. Muscle covered every centimeter of his body. It was to the

point his black T-shirt and jeans were having trouble containing it all.

My own muscles clenched at the sight of him.

Goddess he's 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 wasn't even phased. He still stood like a stone wall staring through me.

By this time, I had gotten Harper and Desi's 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 Desi's 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 can't 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. "What're you gonna do?" She asked me, concern lining her voice.

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

"Well yeah, he'll need to 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, 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. "You're gonna reject him."

There was a pause.

"You sure?" She asked uncertainly.

Another pause.

Then. . .

"Of course I'm not sure! This is a HUGE decision!" I exploded, turning to face her. "You know how I am

about making life altering decisions. He's my MATE. I'm tied to him, and if I try to brake that tie. . ."

"I know, I know. That's why I asked."

"Weren't you a leader? What kind of leader can't 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 don't know," she shrugged helplessly. "It's not like stuff like this happens all the time."

She looked over my shoulder, and her face turned even more worried. "He's 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 I'm too busy freaking out to even care.

"What are you gonna 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 I'm gonna do. I'm just gonna ignore it."

Award winning idea making, right?

"I won't reject him, I won't except him. I won't do anything, until I have a grasp on this whole situation,"

I decided. "In the mean time, I'm going to figure something out for both of the current predicaments." I

answered, ringing my hands.

I took a breath to. . . Prepare myself, 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 I'll bite your hand off," I promised

darkly.

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

Your MATE saying something like that — your other half — it's 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 didn't do either of those things. Act sad or bitter.

He just looked pissed.

Which, is obviously an option as well.

But he didn't 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. He's walking very quickly towards the Master

House, and I'm having 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 didn't you?"

This time, I didn't 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 he's

forgotten his own 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 seams you already know the answer," I cut him off with an eye roll.

I don't like stupid questions.

He looked at me, still not slowing down his stride. "If I or my men aren't mistaken, you're Maria. You

were second in command, correct?"

"No, I'm 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 didn't listen."

His grip tightened, but he didn't 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

wanna know how everything stands. Is everyone okay? What about —"

His sudden response cut through my rambling like a knife. "I'll tell you how everything stands. I'm the

boss now. For the time being, you and the rest of your house are a step below an omega. I don't have

to answer any of your questions," he barked, clenching his jaw.

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

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

. . . Interesting.