As she got up to join the others, she noted that Dru was absent, and she swallowed down the urge to go and wake him with her lips.
She spent the day keeping herself busy and being helpful. She had kept an eye on Jakob, and he seemed to be healing quickly. But she hadn’t stayed around him too long. Now that the Nowhere pack they had accepted her into their group, she wanted to prove to them that she had been worth their support and that her alliance laid with them. There was still lots of discussion around the pack and the town, and some of the group had even woken up and were reconsidering their options. But most of the group seemed excited. As members walked through the town that day finding new treasures as they went, there were plenty of ideas flowing around about potential buildings or jobs that could be done. The excitement was infectious, and as Nicci found herself nestled between a group of men and woman as they prepared the communal meal for the evening, her thoughts were buzzing. Dru sidled up alongside her, and she felt her body respond and turn towards him involuntarily.
‘‘You had a good day?’’ He was smiling at her as he peeled a potato across the scraps bucket. Her brain registered how calm and relaxed he seemed in doing such a menial task. She wondered how he even managed to make everything he did look effortless.
‘‘Yes!’’ It burst from her lips, and she blushed as he chuckled at her.
‘‘It’s nice to see you happy.’’ Their eyes caught, and so did her breath in her throat. Their moment was interrupted by Gloria passing Nicci some more carrots, a small glint in her eye in the process. Nicci refocused on her task, and tried to ignore the aching need to lean over and rub herself against him.
They sat apart for the meal, and despite Corey’s best attempt at keeping her attention her eyes were continually drawn back to Dru. He was squished between two young men who seemed intent on giving him all of their ideas in one long stint. He gave her an apologetic smile.
As the meal ended, Dru stood up and found a space at the front of the pack, knocking a knife on the side of a mug to get their attention.
‘Now everyone. With that settled, we have the next part of the evening to conclude. We have to start the discussion of how this pack will work, and what it will look like. Things like setting up a pack protocol. I know you have all been coming up with ideas all day, and it would be great if you can write them down and we will collate the information as soon as possible. Can everyone please prepare anything that they wish to speak about and we will call on you one-by-one to say your piece? We won’t get this all resolved tonight, but we want to take down as many ideas as we can to see what could work. We can make one single document and get everyone a copy and I don’t know, maybe in a week, we have another meeting to vote on the most promising. Remember this is a long term plan.It might take us weeks, or even years, to finalise everything, but all great stories start with a single idea.
As Dru has already mentioned, we will have to vote in our temporary leadership team, so now is the time to put up your hand if you want to be considered. These roles may, or may not, stick around. But it gives us a basis for our little group to work effectively together and get basic things like bank accounts set up.’
‘Can anyone apply?’ a young man asked, his face eager.
‘Anyone over the age of eighteen, yes,’ Dru responded. ‘It’s a legal thing.’
The young man’s face dropped, but another’s smile increased.
Discussion around the fireplace got heated as the evening drew on. With a mixture of pack rankings and experience between them all, some had a better idea than others of the worst events in the pack’s history. From tales of exile and rejection, to betrayal by mates and kinsmen, there were plenty of scenarios for them to consider. All their ideas were noted, and the ones with the largest support were underlined for future reference. A draft list of principles for decision making was made. Last, there was the consideration of the leadership roles. As the names for nominations were called out Nicci was surprised to hear her own, and it wasn’t from a face she recognised. A ripple of pleasure ran through her.
‘Nicci should be an Alpha,’ a short, young woman yelled out, her blond bob moving as she spoke.
‘She has no experience!’ an older man next to her challenged.
‘Exactly!’ the younger woman replied. ‘She has spent her life being without a pack and having to make her own decisions along the way. She doesn’t come with a preconceived idea of what we should do or be. Hers are the only eyes that see people for who they truly are. Even after breaking the law, she was honest with us as a pack and was prepared to sacrifice her own happiness if we required it. There are few of you around here that would do the same.’
There was a murmur of agreement. ‘But we also need to respect our past and acknowledge her bloodline. She might not have known who she was, but we do now. And I, for one, would submit to her as Alpha.’
More whispers radiated around, and Dru gave her a smile. ‘I agree,’ he nodded. ‘Let’s add Nicci to the list.’
It felt strange to be a part of something bigger than just herself. She didn’t even mind that some people wouldn’t vote for her, or that they thought her inexperienced. When it came to packs, she was. Everything about it was new, and as she felt another tremor in her veins, she felt excited. This time Nicci got to vote with the others. She couldn’t bring herself to vote for herself, so instead voted for Gloria.
Under their newly erected rules, the Alpha pair no longer had to be a mated bond. Each role, and its subsequent responsibilities, came with its own independent title. It was a novel idea for a pack which had for generations depended on the mating of the key couple to solidify their union. As she scrawled Dru’s name in for Alpha, she felt a rush of happiness seep into her soul.
#
CHapTEr THirTy
As the firelight flickered around the group, his new pack, Dru smiled. Nicci stood beside him, the light reflecting off her dark hair, her face looking calm and considered as she nibbled on her pen before scribbling down names. He knew, without questioning, that she would always be his Alpha, no matter what the vote decided. His heart had chosen her, long before the pack had.
Corey walked around the group and collected the votes. Several of them patted him on the shoulder. The only thing that worried Dru was that they would make Corey and Nicci Alpha together. He had enough concerns about their relationship already without having to consider that. They had designated Clare to count the votes, being both impartial and not listed for leadership. So as she sat there writing the tally, Dru leaned over and whispered in Nicci’s ear.
‘Best of luck, I hope you get it,’ he murmured, revelling in being so close to her.
‘You too,’ she whispered back, her breath hot and sweet. He yearned to reach down and close his lips around hers, and feel them soften and yield beneath him. Drawing away, he held his breath. It was important he didn’t ruin this moment. Both for her, and the group.
After what seemed like an age, the votes were all counted. Clare stood up from her seat and manoeuvred her way through the crowd. Raising a hand, a hush descended on the group.
‘Okay everyone,’ she began. ‘We have a decision.’
Faces expectantly watched her, their eyes large and rounded.
‘The new temporary Alpha leaders for this pack are Dru Maxwell and Nicci Robinson.’
A rush of elation hit his veins like lightening, and he swooped down and scooped Nicci up in his arms and swung her around. Placing her back down on her feet, he brought her lips to his own and felt the rumbling thrill of a purr radiating in his chest. From the crowd there was a murmur, and Nicci pulled away, her hand planting between them. ‘Not now,’ she said, looking back out around the faces surrounding them. The light reflected off her eyes, and it made his heart melt to see the glow of happiness in them. Finally, he felt complete. He turned and looked at his new pack, unable to remove the grin from his cheeks.
She was right, there was plenty of time for them. Now was the time for the group to focus on their plans.
Corey slapped his hand down on Dru’s shoulder, his wide smile as he congratulated them both. ‘Well done, mate, I’m glad for you.’
He leaned in close to Nicci and whispered to her, ‘I voted for you Nic. You’re going to be amazing.’ He felt the hairs raise on the back of his neck as a blush flooded her cheeks.
‘Right well we have a lot to prepare and plan for, not the least we need to decide what to rebuild and the roles each of you want to take for housing and work going forward. But these are all long term plans. Tonight, I think we should just celebrate. It’s been a stressful day and a hard start to what I hope will become one of the best strongest packs in Australia, but I cannot emphasise enough how excited I am to have your support. I would like to request Corey as my Beta. He will be my right-hand and will help me to co-ordinate your skills and ideas to make them a reality.’
There were claps from the crowd, and Corey’s chest puffed out.
Nicci interjected, ‘And I would like to choose Gloria as my Beta. I think she has a lot of wisdom, a good heart and I would greatly appreciate her support in coming to good decisions. ‘ Again, the crowd broke into celebration, with Mark beaming as he planted a kiss on his wife’s head. The twins cuddled into their mother’s side, and together the family looked happy and complete.
Dru felt a pang in his chest as he remembered the day his father had become Alpha. Upon the death of his grandfather, they had been taken in a solemn line to the cemetery with the rest of the pack, his mother insisting on them all wearing black suits and itchy grey ties. It had been a sweltering forty degree day, and both the young boys had been feeling tired and grumpy. As the final words were said at the top of the grave, and aas his grandmother flung a handful of dirt onto the shiny black coffin, Dru had felt removed from the sorrow that such an event should have caused.
There were no funny anecdotes at this funeral. No joyful tales of times shared. The only stories told were religious ones filled with doom and fear of eternal suffering. Dru couldn’t even remember when he last saw his grandfather, because they were always told to keep their eyes lowered in his presence. He only knew that he wore dark, tan shoes. That was all.
His father frowned as he turned to look at Dru and Michael, his brows drawn tight and his lips in a tight line. ‘One day that will be me, just like it’s your Grandfather down there now,’ he had told Dru. ‘And it will be your turn to be Alpha. The burden of your birth will weigh on you until the soil hits your head. So make sure you throw in a good handful so I know it’s finally time to rest.’
Dru’s father He didn’t talk about his father ever again. But often when he was angry with his father, Dru would pick up a handful of dirt in his hand and feel the weight of it on his skin, letting it slowly slip through his fingers until there was nothing left to throw.
‘Here’s to the Nowhere Pack,’ Dru picked up a can of beer and popped open the lid. ‘May we always be strong, fair and true!’ He raised the can in the air and the crowd let out a whoop of joy. With a smile he looked down at Nicci, and his life, for the very first time, felt like it was perfect.
#
CHapTEr THirTy oNe
Peering out from the edge of the tree-line, Ashley could see their faces reflected the glow of the campfire. Caitlin had told her that the turnout was good, but she was still surprised by how many people were prepared to risk leaving an established pack to join Dru’s new venture. She knew most of them. Even if they wanted to, they couldn’t return now. The Maxwell family were not known for practicing forgiveness. A shiver ran down her spine as she imagined how angry Mr Maxwell would be at their disloyalty. She had seen his rage when he heard that Dru had taken off and had tried to placate him by giving him the car co-ordinates and showing him that Dru was safe. But he had been so angry he haddriven straight there to punish him without even considering the reason he might have left. When he returned he seemed quieter, more subdued. As if he was contemplating something. But this atrocity of a town would ruin his reputation and all their plans.
She could feel the rumble of a growl deep in her chest. Her eyes focused in on Dru, his blonde hair glowing bright and his broad shoulders and chiselled features so familiar to her. He was animated, the crowd enthralled with whatever it was he was saying. He was too far for her to hear clearly. She caught only snippets of the words in the breeze. It tempted her to draw closer, but she didn’t want to get her scent on the wind.
Corey wandered around the crowd distributing what looked like snippets of paper, and it looked like Clare was doing the counting for whatever it was they were voting for.
Sitting down on her haunches, she observed. Her eyes darted from one member to the next as they moved about. Finally, Clare stood up and made an announcement. The crowd erupted and Dru reached down and kissed the woman with the dark hair beside him.
Was that Nicci? The one who was supposed to be with Corey? A snarl escaped her fangs. Her legs ached to launch forward and attack, but her brain knew better. If they had just agreed to become a new pack, as she suspected they had, then it would be her against them all. Not a fair fight at all. No, she would have to bide her time and wait. As the dark-haired woman pushed Dru away, she clenched her teeth together. Maybe this one wasn’t a threat after all? No woman she had ever met had the power to push aside Dru, even herself. He was irresistible, despite all his flaws and shortcomings. She would have to figure out later what to do with Nicci.
As she watched the celebrations begin, she knew it was time to bring in the reinforcements. And the only man with the power enough to do that was James Maxwell. She would have to tell him what she had seen and convince him it was a genuine threat to his legacy. She didn’t think it would be hard. His reputation of managing the pack with an iron fist was well earned. This event would not go unpunished. With one last glance at the crowd, she turned and started back towards her car in the distance. As she loped along, her heart thudding regularly, her mind hatched a plan.
<<<<>>>>
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AbouT The AuThoR
VK Tritschler is a full-time busy body, and part-time imagination conjurer. She lives on the amazing Eyre Peninsula in South Australia, having moved there from her hometown of Christchurch, New Zealand. Her family consists of a very patient husband, two rampant boys and too many pets to mention.
She has a wonderful set of amazing writers who support her in the form of Eyre Writers, and in return she offers crowd control services for the Youth section who are the future best-selling Australian authors.
Her first book “The Secret Life of Sarah Meads” was released in 2018 and since then she has kept herself busy participating in the Anthology “Magic & Mischief”, publishing “The Risky Business of Romance”, participating in the NYC Writing Challenge, the Clunes Booktown, and helping to organise and run the Eyre Writers Festival.
Ever available to her readership you can find her at www.vktritschler.com
A Town Called Nowhere Page 16
