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Pack Mentality

Summary: In the years after his escape from his family's pack, Tobi has learnt to survive on his own. The only problem is that in this day and age, a wolf without a pack is a walking target. With no alpha to protect him, Tobi spends his days looking over his shoulder until he runs into an old friend. It's a far from happy reunion as Tobi releases just how much danger he's in. This new pack invites him with open arms. Unfortunately, they don't care whether he's interested in staying or not.

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Chapter Two

Meeting the Alphas

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The main foyer was a host of warm tones and cool stone flooring. Tobi might have been impressed if it wasn't for the woman that captured his attention the second he stepped inside. Beside him, Holly seemed as equally transfixed by the tall elegant woman who stood in a large doorway off to the left. Looking past her, he could see aspects of a grand sitting room with a large leather backed armchair.

He didn't need Holly to tell him who this woman was. This had to be Lorena. She was undeniably beautiful with full curves and height. She had long black hair that curled gently at the ends. Her face was oval with eyes so dark blue they could almost be black. She was smiling but rather than comforting him, the sight of it set Tobi on edge. The smile was somehow creepy and almost porcelain. When she spoke, Tobi noticed that her human canines were pointed.

"Come sit down you two," she said, her voice honey sweet. Tobi followed Holly mutely. Holly walked around the woman as though she might bite. They stepped into the sitting room with its low ceilings and timber furniture. There were also several couches and three armchairs. The space was full but not in a cluttered or claustrophobia way. Following Holly's example, he placed his back pack against the wall and sat down on one of the couches next to her.

Loana slid the door closed and came to join them. She reclined herself in one of the high-backed armchairs, crossing one long leg over the other. She looked very much the queen of this place.

"Holly, who is this handsome young man you've brought us?" cooed the alpha, leaning her chin on a hand carrying one inch long manicured nails. Holly seemed to have lost her voice. She was staring down into her lap, her hands clenched.

"Come now Holly, surely you want to introduce your friend?" Her eyes were so intense. Tobi felt paralyzed just looking at them. They glittered like iridescent shells or the wings of some rare beetle.

"My name is Tobi," said Tobi, wanting to break the nasty tension that was building. It took a great effort, like talking through a mouthful of sawdust. He saw something flash in those cunning eyes and the alpha's smile broadened.

"Tobi? The Tobi?" she asked in a worryingly bright voice.

"I grew up with Holly," he said uncertainly. Holly's fingers were almost white with how hard she was clenching them together.

"Oh, but I know! Holly speaks so fondly of you! Oh, it's lovely to have you here at last!" Have you here. The phrasing sent a shiver down his spine. The way this woman was staring at him reminded him of an avid insect collector waiting to pin up her latest specimen.

"I'm just here to visit," he said, testing the waters. To his surprise, Lorena laughed. His nerves spasmed under his skin at the sound, like a hare reacting to a gunshot.

"Of course! Surely, you'll stay a few days though? You two must have so much to catch up over!" Lorena chirped delightedly. Tobi shot Holly a confused look. Before he could try and ask her anything, there was a polite knock. He looked over. A tall man neatly dressed and pale was standing in the doorway with a tray, face resignedly blank.

"George, you're so sweet. Set the tray here dear. Tea, Tobi? Do you take sugar?" Tobi had a funny feeling that George didn't really have much choice in bringing the tea. The man gave a low bow to his alpha and left without a word. He didn't even glance at the newcomer, his face stoic. Lorenadidn't wait for Tobi to reply before she was pouring him a cup so he just nodded mutely. She added a sugar lump. Tobi took it, trying to not let his hands shake.

"Is your alpha coming to collect you?" she added sweetly. She had waited to ask just as Tobi took a sip. Immediately he began to choke and cough on his hot tea.

"My, um?" He thought he saw Holly stiffen beside him and quickly added.

"Well yes, in a couple of days," he invented. Lorena's black eyes narrowed ever so slightly.

"Well that is good. It can be dangerous, leaving a member of the pack alone in another's territory."

"He meant no disrespect, madam. It was a mistake on our part. We didn't notice any territory markings," he said with as much calm as he could voice. Her smiled widened yet more.

"And yet I wonder, if you didn't know there was a pack here, how did you know to find our young Holly to visit?" He flinched with pain as some of his hot tea spilled onto his hand.

"Urgh-"

"So, where are you staying?" she cut across. Tobi blinked, reeling. He hadn't had a chance to even consider accommodation.

"I hadn't really had time to look yet but-"

"Then you must stay! We have plenty of room and it would be much safer than a motel," she exclaimed.

"I couldn't do that; I don't want to intrude any further," Tobi chocked, trying to gain some sort of grasp on the situation. He felt like a rabbit watching his escape routes vanish as the hounds closed in.

"Not at all! I insist. Consider yourself a guest on pack land. I'll have a room set aside for you. It's always exciting to have a new face around." She stood with a flourish and left the room in a rapid set of silent strides.

Tobi sat there, breathless with shock.

"What. the Fuck!" he hissed. Holly shook her head.

"I warned you," she moaned quietly. He opened his mouth to speak but she slapped a hand across it.

"Not here. The walls have ears," she whispered.

"Finish your tea," she added flatly at a proper volume. Tobi sipped his tea without tasting it. When the cup was empty, he placed it back down on the tray. Holly stood and beckoned him over to the door. He followed. The huge manor was very impressive. It had clear input from several different cultures. Each grand room was styled differently but the colour, tone or material helped it blend with the room either side so the changes were never particularly jarring.

"This place is incredible," he admitted. She nodded.

"It's very old. I'm not entirely sure how old exactly but they have been adding rooms and remodelling for decades," she explained. Despite the grandeur of the building they walked through Tobi couldn't but find it a little eerie. Where were the other people? He could smell other wolves and there was evidence of other people.

A half-drunk coffee lay abandoned on a coffee table in one room. A woman's lavender cardigan was thrown over a banister they passed. He had this weird feeling that the people were just out of his field of view, as though they were being watched. He kept expecting to see someone around the corner, the next corner or maybe the next.

As they headed down a carpeted corridor, he swore he heard the sound of running footsteps but when he looked back over his shoulder, there was no one there. It was also disquieting at just how little noise he could hear of the outside world. He was used to his hearing picking up everything being much more sensitive than a mundane human but from the inside of this manor, he couldn't make out anything. Not a bird call or a crunch of gravel.

Nothing.

"This way," Holly muttered as she turned them down yet another corridor and finally out onto a little patio. Tobi greeted the outside world with a deep breath of relief. The back garden (if it could really be called such) was a massive spiralling design of flowering plants and large old trees. A neatly trimmed lawn spread out for hundreds of meters before a hedge marked the edge of a large forest. It had to be the same nature reserve Tobi had been considering visiting. He knew stretched right down one side of the town. Holly didn't speak again until they had walked right away from the mansion.

"Do you live in there?" he asked, nodding back to the massive building. She nodded unhappily.

"Yes. Many of the older, more trusted wolves have been given their own smaller cottages but the alphas like to keep the younger and newer wolves close to them. My room is in the west end. I expect yours will be to. The rooms aren't bad. They're pretty much the only sanctuary we have. No one is allowed in each other's rooms except the alphas," she said.

"Well that's... something." Tobi said, thinking back to his old pathetic sleeping quarters with his old pack. There had always been a gnawing dread, knowing that one of the older wolves might try and barge in at any time. He shivered, trying to chase the old memories back into his subconscious.

"How long have you been with this pack?" he asked. Holly looked up at the afternoon sun, its light making her red hair practically glow.

"Three years. It's a little crazy to think it's been that long," she murmured. They stopped by a cluster of neatly pruned roses. She plucked one of the strong-smelling orange blooms.

"I wasn't very good at living on my own. I tried, I really did but I found it very hard to fit in with humans. I never quite realised that humans could be just as cruel and evil as wolves until I had to shift to defend myself. I guess I was just naive for thinking people would want to help a stranger." She starting plucking the soft petals from the rose. They drifted slowly to the ground like colourful tears.

"Lorena found me wandering beside the road. I wasn't good enough at travelling through the forest as a wolf. I had already been shot at by a hunter once. At the time I was grateful when she picked me up. I thought... Well. like I said. I was naive," she said, scattering the last of the petals. They watched them tumble soundlessly across the grass. Tobi wanted to ask what had happened since but her jaw was so tight that he didn't think now was the time.

"I'm sorry," he murmured for nothing better to say. She shook her head.

"There's nothing to be sorry for," then,

"I am sad that your here, but I'm glad for the company. I had wondered what had become of you. I knew you would get away. You were always braver than me." They strolled over to a large elm and sat beneath it. Neither of them spoke again for a long time, just enjoying the evening sun and watching the wind move about the massive garden. Her shoulder pressed against his for comfort.

"I need to tell you the rules," she sighed after a while. Tobi frowned.

"House rules?" he guessed. She gave a short nod.

"Yes. Lorena and Anton are very strict. They don't allow anyone to break the rules. First off, everyone over the age of sixteen eats together in the main house. If you're sick, you have to inform one of the alphas or the pack medic. New members always stay in the main manor. You won't be allowed to leave the property or apply for a job without prior permission from one of the alphas. Members of the pack are not allowed to horde funds. Everything goes into a joint account and is handled by the pack's own financial officer. Overseen by the alphas, of course."

"Of course," Tobi said dully. It was not overly different from his old pack. The wolves instinctually needed to stay close. Their instincts pushed them to be subservient to the alphas but this meant that alphas often ran the packs like a dictatorship. Or a cult.

"And it goes without saying, don't challenge the alphas," Holly finished.

"Be honest with me. How violent are they?" Tobi said quietly. Even as he said it, he felt her tense.

"They aren't... violent exactly. They are very creative though. Just don't do it, okay?" she said as she got to her feet. She held out a hand and he took, standing up and following her.

The property was very impressive with many hidden nooks and paths that led to ponds or secluded stone benches. There were also several massive greenhouses. He stared at the glass structure with some awe.

"The pack is fairly self-sustaining. Sometimes the alphas have recruited new members based solely on the profession the wolf had. We have our own lawyers, our own gardeners, cooks, all wolf, all pack, all living here," she said.

"That's... impressive," Tobi admitted. Holly shrugged.

"Like I said. They are thorough," she explained. The sun had been slowly drifting across the sky as they had walked. Holly seemed reluctant to return back to the manor. Tobi didn't blame her. He was getting hungry though having only eaten once that day.

"They're not all bad," she said thoughtfully, as though only just realizing herself.

"Emily is the librarian. She's really nice. She let me hide in there a few times. Darsh is one of the gardeners. He's also not too bad. He mainly looks after all the greenhouses. Someone else does the flower beds and ponds." Finally, she turned in the direction of the huge house. They were about halfway across the lawn when Tobi felt it.

A harsh electric tingle shot right up his spine, making him stagger. Holly's head whipped around; her eyes widening in alarm. The presence was like nothing Tobi had ever experienced, not even when Nathan had slaughtered the previous pack leader in cold blood and let out his first blood curdling howls as the new leader. This was so much more, like being plunged into ice water unprepared. It drove the air from his lungs and crippled his senses. He turned his head with incredible difficulty, the muscles in his shoulders and back twitching.

There was a man walking towards them.

Even at a distance, Tobi knew with the very core of his soul that this man was the other alpha. He was taller, like Lorena, with similarly midnight black hair. He had a strong jaw and wicked smile that curved to one side more than the other. Tobi would never have been able to guess the age of the figure coming towards them. He could have been twenty-five, forty or three hundred. As the full weight of the alpha's aura crashed over him, storm like and complete, Tobi's knees buckled and he collapsed to the damp grass.

"Tobi." The man's voice was like honeyed death. It rolled over him and made him shiver, his muscles twitching under his skin. He had never experienced an alpha prescience like this before in his life. He wanted to roll over, to show his belly and his throat. His spine arched in reaction.

"I'm sorry to approach you like this, but my love told me about you and I just couldn't wait to meet you." The man crouched beside him and reached out a hand to brush back a lock of Tobi's platinum silver hair. At close range, the man's scent was overpowering. It filled his mouth and his synesis. Tobi squirmed, his body heating under the intense smell of power and musk. A small thin whimper escaped his lips.

"You are just as she described." He purred. Tobi could only lie there and gasp, like a banked fish waiting for the bear to severe his skull from his spine.

"Holly, you've done so beautifully. You are always such a good girl." He went on. There was a second thump, letting Tobi know that Holly too, had collapsed. Tobi tried to breathe through his mouth but the smell and taste coated the roof of his mouth. He wanted to rub up against the man to ease some of the intense itching that had begun under his skin. The need horrified him as much as it choked him.

"It's so exciting to have you here." The phrasing was almost exactly as Lorena had said. Tobi strained to look up. The man's eyes were a shifting electric blue. They bore into his with such intensity, Tobi couldn't hold his gaze , his animal brain shrinking away.

"Darling, get them up. Dinner will be ready soon." Lorena's ringing laughter came from somewhere over head. Anton smiled and as quickly as it came, that devastating energy vanished. Tobi lay there, completely winded and panting. A large hand cupped his chin and turned his face up to the alpha's.

"I look forward to getting to know you Tobi." Anton purred. The man let him go and stood, walking back into the warmth of the manor. A hulking figure Tobi couldn't yet process stepped up beside him and he was roughly pulled to his feet. Stumbling, still utterly uncoordinated, he was marched into the house after the retreating backs of the two alphas.

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END

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