No one really liked Jeffrey, and anyone who did is long dead. My half-brother had a way of making people fear him, fear for their lives. He was cutthroat and ruthless and while he was able to take what he wanted, he never made friends.
No one here misses him.
“Behavior has gotten lax. This will change. We’re a pack. We’re a unit. We need to move as one, hunt as one, trust as one. There are other packs who would try to infiltrate our own. Some packs, such as Nightfall, are our friends, our brothers. Others are not. We need to take the necessary steps to grow closer as one.”
“What are you suggesting?” A wolf shouts from the back of the room. I turn around and peek. It’s a young man who has his arm draped casually around a female. From the looks of things, they’re dating but unmated, which is unusual. From what I can tell, wolves tend to commit quickly to the right female. They want to mate fast so no other wolf can lay claim.
“First of all, there will no longer be any nudity allowed in the main areas unless we’re preparing for or returning from a hunt. I mentioned this last night. When we’re in our human forms, we should behave as humans, and part of that means wearing clothing.”
“Hey, that’s not-“
Nash shoots the young man a look, and the man lowers his head glumly.
“This is not negotiable,” Nash continues. “While nudity is normal, it also serves no purpose in the main lounge area or the kitchens.”
A few murmurs of approval spread throughout the room, but Nash isn’t done yet.
“We’ll also be organizing more regular hunts. We just went on one yesterday and it was successful, but we need more practice working together. We’ll begin going twice a week to hunt. Since there are so many of us, we’ll alternate groups. One will go on Wednesdays and another on Saturdays to gather food. Of course, if you are so inclined to go out on your own, that is permissible; however, food gathered during group hunts will be shared with the group.”
At this, I notice Nash looking at Lex and Jam, who both look a bit uncomfortable.
“We’ll also be creating a childcare schedule for the wolves who have cubs,” Nash continues. “We all need to run and shift occasionally, including mated couples. There’s no reason a couple shouldn’t be able to shift together just because they have cubs. Mrs. Beaver has volunteered to handle getting that set up, so if you’re interested in volunteering, talk to her.”
Wow. Although I’m Nash’s mate, I had no idea he was thinking about these changes. They might seem minor, but hunting and running as a pack will solve many problems. Most of all, these changes will help the wolves grow closer together.
“We’ll also be having morning runs,” Ryder adds. “It’s important for us to keep in shape. If you’re elderly or have a physical ailment, come and talk to me about it. Otherwise, you’ll be required to run with the pack at least three mornings each week.”
At this, groans sound throughout the room, but Nash shoots everyone a nasty look and they immediately quiet down.
“Any questions?” He asks.
“I have a question,” Tessa says, shooting her perfectly manicured nails into the air. She stands, and once again, I can’t help but stare at her huge tits. Are those real? They have to be real. Don’t they?
Biting my lip, I try my best to focus on listening to what she actually says and not on how much I hate her guts.
“Easy there,” I hear a voice next to me and I turn to see another wolf shifter watching me. She’s young, probably in her mid 20s, and like Tessa, she’s beautiful.
Unlike Tessa, she doesn’t look like she’s evil.
“Excuse me?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.
“Take a deep breath,” the woman tells me. Her long blonde hair falls past her shoulders and her eyes, which are a dazzling green, sparkle. “Tessa is a bitch, but she’s been in the pack a lot longer than you. Sorry, honey. No need to look at me like that. It’s true.”
It’s not worth arguing about, especially now. I turn back to Tessa. She’s talking to Ryder and Nash, breathing deeply so her breasts are heaving up and down and I can’t help but wonder how many males she’s slept with in the pack.
Has she slept with Nash?
Has he wanted to?
Damn. It shouldn’t bother me, shouldn’t make me jealous, but somehow, it does. Maybe it’s because our mating ceremony is coming up and the women helping me keep commenting me on how I don’t look like a wolf, don’t act like a wolf, and don’t fit into wolf-sized wedding gowns.
“We shouldn’t have to wear clothes in the common areas,” Tessa is saying. She’s standing now and her hands are on her hips.
“This is not up for discussion,” Nash says.
“Why? Because your mate can’t handle a little competition?” Tessa turns to me and sneers.
“That’s enough,” Ryder says.