6. Welcome to the Pack （No Refunds Offered）
6
Welcome to the Pack (No Refunds Offered)
“Abby!” Ellie gasped suddenly. “Your face!”
“What now?” I managed hoarsely, trying not to let panic get the better of me.
I realized everyone was staring at me with varying degrees of shock. Even Bo’s jaw had dropped open.
I swallowed and crossed swiftly to a gilt-framed mirror on the wall, dreading whatever fresh horror awaited me. Relief made me weak-kneed when I saw my reflection.
The fur was gone. Well, most of it anyway. My face looked normal again, if slightly flushed and marked with a fading unibrow. Even my hair had settled down from its previous feral state.
“The mate bond must have stabilized your transformation,” Hugh said, stunned.
His words sent a shiver down my spine.
Samuel reached the bottom of the steps and addressed me curtly. “Who’s your friend?” He cut his eyes to Ellie. “She smells human.”
I returned to Ellie’s side and shifted protectively in front of her. “This is Ellie Martin.”
Ellie swallowed convulsively, a rabbit in the headlights. She blew out a sigh when Samuel’s gaze switched to Bo.
“Your dog seems to have special abilities,” the alpha observed.
It was more a statement than a question.
“Yes,” I admitted grudgingly. “Although I just found out about it myself.”
“Hugh seems to think he’s part werewolf,” Victoria murmured.
Samuel examined Bo with a critical mien. “Which part?” He paused. “Also, he looks weak for being part werewolf.”
Bo sat up straight. “And your cat’s a snob mister, but you don’t hear me complaining.” His ears flattened at Samuel’s deepening frown. He slinked behind me, tail between his legs.
A sound I’d never heard before worked its way up my throat. “How about you stop picking on my dog?”
Samuel’s eyebrows shot up at the feral growl. Something that looked like admiration flitted in his gaze.
I was certain I was wrong.
This guy seemed too pigheaded to look favorably on anyone.
Victoria cleared her throat in the tense hush.
“Perhaps we should sit down.” She led the way to the formal sitting room.
I hesitated before heading after her with the others, Samuel bringing up the rear. His gaze scorched my nape.
The room was exactly what you’d expect from the mansion’s exterior: antique furniture, Persian rugs, and oil paintings of people who looked like they’d rather be anywhere else. Kind of like how I felt right now.
Bo plopped down beside me, his body pressed against my leg. I wasn’t sure if he was seeking reassurance or trying to reassure me.
Ellie looked uncertain as she perched on the edge of a chair, her initial enthusiasm at discovering Amberford had a supernatural side fading in the face of my new reality.
Samuel stood by the fireplace, his presence filling the space like a brewing storm. He hadn’t stopped staring at me since we came downstairs, his amber eyes burning with an intensity that made my skin prickle.
“Now, how about we start with how my idiot brother managed to turn someone in the middle of downtown Amberford?” he asked in a carefully controlled voice.
“It wasn’t downtown,” Hugh protested where he’d taken refuge behind a sofa. “It was on Abby’s doorstep.” He scratched his cheek awkwardly. “More precisely, it was when she and Ellie took me up to their apartment so I could sleep off my hangover.”
Samuel’s face darkened. “Because that makes it so much better.”
Hugh flinched.
Pearl’s tail swished like a metronome of judgment from where she sat on a side table. “I suppose we should be grateful he didn’t do it at the mall in front of everyone.”
Victoria pinched the bridge of her nose. “Why did you bite her?”
Hugh squirmed. “I was high on werewolf nip and thought she was a squirrel.”
You could have heard a pin drop in the deafening silence that followed.
My mouth pressed to a thin line. At least the guy was honest.
Samuel and Victoria stared wordlessly at Hugh, like they couldn’t believe he was that dumb.
“You were what?” Victoria mumbled, pale-faced.
A muscle jumped in Samuel’s jawline. “We should have sent him to rehab, like I’d suggested.”
I was in agreement. Rehab sounded like a nice place for Hugh to keep out of trouble and not turn random strangers into werewolves. Shame they didn’t decide to do it before he bit me.
Hugh opened his mouth to protest and closed it hastily at his brother’s glower.
I raised my hand. “Excuse me. I know we’re all disappointed in Hugh, but I have a burning question. Can I be turned back?”
The Hawthornes studied me like I’d grown a second head.
“No,” Samuel finally said. “Once turned, you can never go back.”
“Samuel is right,” Victoria affirmed.
A bout of acid burned the back of my throat. I swallowed the urge to scream or punch something. Deep down inside, I’d suspected that was the case, but it still stung to hear it.
“What about the bond thing?” I said sharply. “Can that be reversed?”
Victoria exchanged a guarded look with Samuel. “No. The mate bond is permanent.” She hesitated. “The only thing that can break it is death.”
Ellie sucked in air. Bo’s ears flattened.
My hands curled into fists.
“Shouldn’t I have been consulted before that kind of thing happened?” I asked in a dangerous voice.
“The mate bond isn’t something you choose.” Victoria frowned. “It’s fate. Neither mate has any control over it.”
I lowered my brows, fury a bitter taste on my tongue. “Fate needs better timing!” I snarled. “I like my life just the way it is. I don’t need werewolves in it or a”—I cut my eyes to Samuel—“ mate .”
He narrowed his eyes.
“There’s nothing you can do about it,” Victoria said adamantly. “You’ll just have to come to terms with your new life.” She hesitated. “Ideally before your first shift on the next full moon.”
I blinked, the rage draining out of me. I’d forgotten about the full moon situation.
“That’s in three days, right?” Ellie quavered.
“Yes.”
I realized the Hawthornes were avoiding my eyes. “What?”
Hugh gave in to my suspicious glare first.
“The first transformation can be, er, difficult,” he admitted nervously.
My stomach clenched. I did not like the sound of that.
“Shut up, Hugh,” Samuel snapped.
“She should know this, Samuel.” Sympathy softened Victoria’s face a little as she studied me. “The first transformation will feel like every bone and organ in your body is breaking simultaneously. It gets better after that.”
My head started ringing.
Ellie reached over and took my hand, her own trembling.
I squeezed her fingers and swallowed hard. “What happens if I decide not to shift?”
Victoria’s expression turned grave. “That’s not an option. Fighting the change can drive a werewolf insane.” She faltered. “Or kill them.”
Bo made a distressed sound.
“There are ways to make the process easier,” Samuel said. “Training is one of them.”
I blinked. His voice had turned surprisingly gentle.
“What kind of training?” I said hesitantly.
“The kind that teaches you to control your new abilities. You need to learn how to manage your strength and your enhanced senses.” His eyes darkened. “And your temper.”
I squinted, my ire returning tenfold. “What’s wrong with my temper?”
“You growled at me earlier,” he pointed out.
“You insulted my dog.”
“I merely made an observation.”
“Yeah? Well, observe this.” I showed him my middle finger.
Hugh choked on air. Ellie swallowed a snort. Bo grinned. Victoria sighed and muttered something under her breath.
“How uncouth,” Pearl said haughtily.
“Bite me, Veronica,” I snapped.
Samuel’s lips twitched. “Case in point.”
I opened my mouth to deliver another snappy retort when Victoria cut in smoothly.
“Samuel is not wrong. A luna’s mood can affect the entire pack. That’s why you’ll need to be in control of your emotions at all times.”
That made me pause. I chewed my lip. “Is a luna really that powerful?”
“Yes. She’s the alpha’s mate, after all.” Victoria tapped a finger on her knee. “Since we’re laying our cards on the table, we might as well broach the matter of your future responsibilities. Of course, I don’t expect you to take over your duties straight away.”
Her words derailed my train of thought. I stared. “My what now?”
“As luna, there are certain tasks you’ll have to take care of.” Victoria’s expression grew calculating. “Tasks I have been in charge of until now.”
This was all happening too fast for my liking. I also couldn’t help but feel Victoria was about to dump a whole bunch of stuff I had zero inclination in doing on me.
“Like what?” I asked warily.
“Pack administration, social obligations, maintaining diplomatic relations with other supernatural entities,” the Hawthorne matriarch recited like a laundry list.
I grimaced. “Other supernatural entities?”
“Witches, vampires, fae.” Victoria waved dismissively. “The usual crowd.”
“Oh.” Ellie’s eyes sparkled with renewed interest.
“Don’t forget the gargoyles,” Hugh added.
“We don’t talk about the gargoyles,” Victoria said sharply.
Samuel, Hugh, and Pearl exchanged a loaded look.
Evidently, the Hawthorne matriarch had issues with certain aspects of her supernatural life.
“Let me get this straight,” I said carefully. “Not only am I stuck as a werewolf, but I’m also supposed to be some kind of supernatural socialite and pack leader?”
“While maintaining your cover in the human world, yes,” Victoria said. She hesitated. “Speaking of which, what is it exactly you do?”
“I’m an accountant at Pennington & Graves.” I looked at my watch and frowned. “Which reminds me, I have an important meeting in an hour, so how about we wrap this up for now?”