Timber Pack Chronicles - 4. Chapter 4

“O.M.G! Tell me what happened!” Shell exclaimed as she flopped down onto Parker’s bed. She rolled onto her stomach and propped her chin on her hands, wearing a grin that could be seen from space.

Parker put in the mix CD Shell had brought over, and then sat down on his bed, crossing his legs, Indian style. “Nothing, really.”

“Liar.”

Parker couldn’t help but blush a little bit. “Okay…” He knew Shell would get it out of him one way or another and he really was dying to tell someone. The whole story came pouring out in a single breath. “Seth and TJ started messing with me. I mean, they were going to kick my ass or worse. Next thing I knew, Trey and Colton appeared out of nowhere. Colton twisted TJ’s arm and snapped it. I mean, he literally snapped it. Broken bones sticking out, blood and everything. So gross. Trey punched Seth and gave him a fat lip. I’ve never been so scared in my life.”

“Holy shit!”

“I know right! I swear my life flashed before my eyes.”

Shell rolled her eyes. “Girl, you are so damn dramatic.”

“Don’t call me ‘girl’.”

“So get to the good part already. Girl.”

“That was the good part.”

“Boy, I’m gonna slap the shit out of you. What happened after Colton drove you home?”

Parker’s eyes flicked to the bedpost of his headboard where Colton’s blue flannel shirt hung. He had slept with it under his pillow last night, holding it so that he could smell it. God, he was pathetic. He turned his eyes back to Shell, and tried to shrug and be casual. “He took me home. We sat in the car for a little bit. He said he’d see me Monday to pick me up for school and that he was coming to my birthday party.”

“Oh my god.”

“I know.” Parker let out a little giggle. He clapped a hand over his mouth, embarrassed at having made the girly sound.

“Parker’s got a boyfriend,” Shell said in a sing-songy voice. “Parker’s got a—” She suddenly sat up on her knees, face completely serious. She pointed her index finger at Parker. “Okay, hold up. You said you guys sat in the car for a little bit.” One eyebrow went up and she twirled her index finger at Parker.

Parker rolled his eyes. “You don’t miss a thing, do you?”

“Hell, no! I want details, boy. So, is he a good kisser? Is he packing or what?” she asked. She held her index fingers together and then slowly spread them apart a few inches. “Here?” When Parker didn’t say anything, her eyebrows shot up and she moved her fingers wider apart. “Here?”

“Oh my god!” Parker exclaimed, slapping at her hands. “Stop being so nasty. We just kissed is all,” Parker muttered, his face going completely red. He subconsciously rubbed the base of his neck, where Colton had marked him.

Shell gasped and jerked at Parker’s shirt collar, exposing the huge hickey there. “You are a first class hussy!”

Parker deadpanned, “Not yet, but I’m gonna be very soon.”

They both started to laugh uncontrollably, and flopped down onto the bed in a fit of giggles.

Once they stopped laughing, Shell lowered her voice to a whisper. “So, you have protection right?”

Parker furrowed his brows. “He’s just picking me up for school. I don’t think we’ll be needing that.”

She didn’t look convinced. “Mm-hmm.”

“Okay, well give me one just in case,” he said, holding out his hand.

Shell slapped Parker’s hand away. “Boy, you think I’m some kind of ho who carries condoms around in her pocket?”

Parker cradled his hand against his chest. “Ow. You’re the one who brought it up. Whatever. Anyway, I don’t think I’m really into, you know, the butt sex.”

Shell reached out and clasped Parker’s hand, her voice dead serious. “Please, I beg you to never say ‘butt sex’ ever again. Especially to Colton. You must promise me this.”

Parker yanked his hand away. “Remind me again why I like you?”

Shell grinned. “You know you love me, boo. Now, more importantly: what are you going to wear on Monday?”

* * * *

Colton arrived with his father to the Alpha’s home.

The Alpha’s mini-mansion was set on a multi-acre plot of land at the edge of the forest just outside the city. The back yard was plenty big enough for the pack gatherings, and with the forest right there, running and hunting was always allowed and encouraged after the meeting.

People mingled around the back yard, talking and grazing on the plentiful food. The smell of the meat on the barbecue grills permeated the air.

Colton normally would be fixing a plate and mingling himself, but today his mind was elsewhere: on his boy. He wondered what Parker was doing. If he didn’t have the weekly pack meeting, he would have called Parker and found a way to spend the day with him. Sure, he had an image to maintain as an aloof alpha dog – pun intended – but the fact was that he was tired of waiting. He didn’t have time for these bullshit games the other high school kids liked to play.

There were nearly a hundred wolves in the Forest View Pack and most of them had already arrived.

“Deputy Butler,” one of the women greeted Colton’s father with a smile. “It’s nice to see you again.”

“Now, didn’t I tell you to call me Carlton?” he replied with a charming smile as he placed a hand on her shoulder.

Colton didn’t have the stomach to watch his dad try to flirt. He scanned the crowd until he found Jed. His friend was with his parents, his sister and his hundred brothers. Okay, so there were only four other brothers, but damn, six kids was way too many.

Jed’s dad stood out in the crowd, standing a head taller than the people around him. He was one of the pack enforcers. He kept the other wolves in line, plus acted as a bodyguard; he was fiercely loyal and always had the Alpha’s back.

Jed inherited the same mentality as his dad. In a way, Colton was the alpha of their small group and Jed naturally fell in line as his enforcer.

In the same manner, Trey was like his beta. He was his most trusted advisor. He never failed to back Colton up, but he also gave Colton advice when he thought it was needed.

They were like a mini pack inside the big pack. The only thing missing was Colton’s mate. But Colton had let his intentions be known. Parker belonged to him and now his pup knew it. And soon everyone else would know it.

Jed nodded at Colton and Colton made his way over, joined by Trey.

Trey and Colton tapped fists, then did the same with Jed.

Colton spotted Seth talking with a couple of his goons. Seth looked back and engaged in a staring contest. Colton sneered. He didn’t even care that the Alpha was starting the meeting. He kept his eyes on Seth, not blinking even once. After a few long, intense moments, Seth finally backed down and looked away.

Like always.

Pussy.

With a satisfied grin on his face, Colton turned his attentions to the Alpha while he gave his weekly update. He even managed to keep his mind on what the leader was saying instead of Parker.

Once Alpha finished, Jed and Trey followed Colton to grab a plateful of food. After they had their fill, Colton decided he needed to relax and, other than getting laid, there was one foolproof way of doing that.

“C’mon. Let’s run.”

The trio walked over to the treeline and stripped off their clothes.

Colton watched the big brown wolf and the massive auburn-brown wolf playfully nip at each other, then wrestle around on the ground.

He let out a low growl and nodded his head. The other two quickly snapped to attention, their eyes on the black wolf, ears twitching, waiting for instruction.

Colton turned and took off into the woods. The other two took chase, flanking him as usual, as they ran at top speed. The razor sharp claws on his huge paws dug into the earth, propelling him deeper into the woods.

Colton breathed in the forest air, crisp and fresh. The distant scent of prey wafted across his snout and he turned direction. Jed and Trey turned with him, perfectly in tune with their leader.

Jed and Trey boxed in the small buck and Colton made the kill. He snapped the deer’s neck with his jaws, making the kill quick and painless for the animal.

The trio of wolves gnawed on the deer until they were stuffed.

Colton closed his eyes and breathed in deep. He felt free, at one with nature. He felt powerful.

He looked at his pack-mates, his brothers, and felt a sense of belonging he never felt with his old pack. Yes, this was exactly where he belonged. And once he had Parker by his side, he would only grow stronger and more powerful.

Life was good.

Colton tilted back his head and let out a howl. His brothers joined in and the sounds of their celebration of life echoed through the forest.