The pack

Toby

We arrived in the Rio Verde area at lunchtime. I stopped Vicky's car on the hill so she could take some pictures of the landscape. The first thing I did was call the guys I owed. I arranged to meet at the border. I asked Vicky to keep quiet.

Even though I knew it would be hard for her. But it was either that or receive an unexpected surprise when they found out I had returned and I didn't want those guys in my pack.

I smelled the thieves' bad smell.

They were coming.

They had a very promising loan sharking business. But it was better for everyone than being hired killers or mercenaries. But the high interest rates were a snowball. Not that the credit card wasn't too.

The wolves’ eyes zeroed in on Vicky’s mouth, drawn to the defiant curve of her lips.

The taller man circled the car, his boots scuffing the dirt, his shadow falling over her as he leaned closer to get a better look. “Get up, beautiful,” he drawled, his tone dripping with menace wrapped in charm. “Let me take a look at you!”

My wolf stirred inside me, a low growl rumbling in my chest as instinct clawed its way to the surface. Protection mode snapped on like a switch.

Vicky caught my gaze, her eyes steady despite the tension, and she stood up slowly, brushing off her jeans with a casual air that didn’t match the situation.

“There’s a lot of meat here,” she said, her voice sharp and teasing, “if I were the payment, you’d owe little Toby some change.” She tilted her head, sizing them up with a boldness that threw them off balance.

The leader, a broad-shouldered brute with a patchy beard, grinned wide enough to show yellowed teeth. “This delight is cheeky. Good girl.” He stepped closer, his shadow swallowing hers. “How did you find out my name, baby?”

The other one, shorter but just as eager, sauntered over to join the fun, his eyes glinting with mischief. “And what does she know how to do to please us?”

I’d had enough. “Guys, she’s my half-sister, okay?” I snapped, forcing my voice to stay level. “I came to pay you, and we have a schedule to keep.”

Vicky, though, wasn’t done playing her part. She tossed her hair back and flashed a grin at them. “Oh, little brother! That’s why I wanted to come along and meet your cool friends. And I can see you’ve got a great one here.” She turned to the boss, locking eyes with him, and winked—a move so brazen it almost made me choke.

“My brother’s no fun, sorry,” she added, her voice lilting with mock apology. “But daddy’s waiting for us, and he’s strict with his stupid rules. You’re going to make me get grounded on my first day.”

I saw her performance falter for a split second as she leaned over to give me a quick kiss on the cheek. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, a flicker of vulnerability she buried fast. Didn’t she like the stage she’d set for herself?

She was a natural—hell, she could’ve been a movie actress with that kind of flair.

The boss chuckled, a low, rumbling sound. “We’re going to bump into each other around here, sweetie. You owe me one.”

“Consider it paid, big guy,” she shot back, flashing a smile as she slid back into the car.

I seized the moment, shoving the wad of cash into Karl’s meaty hand—the agreed payment, damp with my sweat—and jumped into the driver’s seat. The engine sputtered to life, and I peeled out of there, tires spitting gravel.

Vicky was giggling beside me, clearly enjoying herself at my expense, while my knuckles whitened on the steering wheel.

I’d been an idiot to drag her into this, to mix her in with these men and their appetites. But damn if she hadn’t handled it like a pro.

“Sorry, sweetie,” I muttered once we were a safe distance away. “I didn’t measure the consequences of the guys seeing a human. Sometimes I forget that you are one—but in fact, you’re not. You’re a witch, Vicky. I was starting to feel sorry for them—another ten minutes, and they’d be sending you flowers and love notes.”

She threw her head back and laughed. “Growing up in a nightclub, it’s hard not to learn the art of seduction, Toby. Men and their egos—they’re so predictable. But I liked that. Can you tell your pack I’m a witch? That way, the men might think twice before getting too close.”

I frowned, mulling it over as the road stretched out ahead. “I don’t know. I’m not sure if witches smell different. We’ve never had one around here, at least not that I’ve heard. But we could float the idea—see if it sticks.”

Half an hour later, the headlights swept across the parking lot of the guest cottage, a squat little building nestled against a stand of pines.

Vicky

The cabin greeted us with the warm, earthy scent of rustic wood, its rough-hewn walls exuding a charm that felt both timeless and inviting. Inside, it was surprisingly cozy, a blend of rugged simplicity and modern comfort.

The kitchen was well equipped. It was clear that food held a sacred place here, a ritual that bound this pack together in ways I was only beginning to grasp.

Would I get used to having so many wolves around?

And what about the animals in the woods? What do you do in a pack to have fun?

Could it be me? It was strange to meet Toby's father.

Did he know my mother, I mean my foster mother?

Remembering the Madonna made me nostalgic. I didn't even hear Toby calling me.

“Vicky!” His voice finally broke through, warm and insistent. “I’m hitting the shower. Pick a room—each one’s got its own bathroom.”

I nodded, shaking off the haze, and chose a small room at the end of the hall.

The bathroom was tiled in pale blue, with a shower that steamed up fast. I let the hot water sluice over me, washing away the day’s tension, and then rummaged through my bag for something modest to wear. I settled on a simple gray sweater and a long skirt—nothing flashy, nothing that screamed outsider. Tonight, I’d meet Toby’s parents, and my nerves were a live wire.

If there was one type of man I understood, it was the so-called family man. I’d seen plenty at the nightclub—pillars of virtue at home, all stiff collars and prayers, but wild-eyed and wandering in the neon glow of the bar.

What were werewolves like?

When I stepped out, Toby was waiting, his damp hair curling at the ends. He flashed a smile that softened the sharp edges of my anxiety. “You look lovely,” he said.

This was a big step for him, bringing me here, and I wanted to ease the weight he carried. We walked hand in hand toward his parents’ house, a two-story lodge just visible through the trees, its windows spilling golden light into the dusk.

Mr. Thompson stood on the porch, his silhouette framed by the fading sun. He was an imposing figure, broad-shouldered and steady, with a face weathered by years I couldn’t begin to guess. His golden-brown eyes met mine with a quiet respect. He stepped forward as we approached.

“Welcome,” he said simply.

Up close, the resemblance to Toby was striking—the same strong jaw, the same glint of something wild in their gaze.

Toby

Seeing my father approve of Vicky was a big deal. I'm so fucking excited. I lowered my gaze in respect. Vicky did the same. I let go of her hand. And introduced her to him.

" Dad, this is the Victoria I told you about. My foster sister."

“Hello, Victoria. Welcome to our pack and my home.” His tone was warm but carried that quiet authority I’d always admired. Then he glanced at me, his smile widening. “You can look up now, young man. I know human ways are different from werewolf ways, but it’s good to see you’ve got respect for me.”

Vicky took it without hesitation, her grip firm as she flashed a broad, dazzling smile that could’ve lit up the whole damn forest. “You’re very important to Toby, so you are to me too,” she said, her voice ringing with sincerity. “He’s my family, Mr. Thompson, and I’ll do whatever it takes to fit in with your ways. You raised your son so well—and, if I may say, you have a beautiful home and family.”

Her gaze drifted past him, out the wide window where the teenage twins tussled playfully in the yard, their mother, Clara, keeping a watchful eye. In the other window, my oldest sibling, with her curious stare peered in.

Dad chuckled, a low rumble that eased the tension in the room. “You’re lovely and kind, Victoria. Can we keep the nightclub part a secret from my second family? Not for me, but for Toby. Here, they think your birth was the result of an old relationship.”

“Sure, Mr. Thompson,” Vicky replied smoothly. “Anything that’s good for Toby. Anything else I need to know?”

I blinked in surprise as Dad stepped forward and pulled her into a quick, warm hug.

“Call me Thomas,” he added, stepping back with a grin. “Everything’s under control,dear” he paused, his brow furrowing slightly as he studied her. “I just don’t know how Toby’s future mate didn’t get jealous of you. Soul mates are possessive, you know. You’ve got a different smell… What is it? Are you really 100% human?”

I jumped in, eager to back her up. “We suspect she might have some witch blood, Dad. Would that be a problem here?”

He shook his head, his expression easing into something like relief—or maybe curiosity. “No. We haven’t heard of witches around here for a long time. None in this region for over a hundred years, at least.”

“What a relief!” Vicky said with a playful wink in my direction.

Suddenly, the door opened and Clara and my brothers came over to us. Vicky straightened, her smile bright and ready as she greeted each of them with that effortless charm of hers. Clara offered a warm nod, while the twins, Andrew and Hunt, circled Vicky like curious pups, their wide eyes sizing her up.

They’d never lived around humans before, and it showed—they stared at her as if she’d just stepped off a spaceship, half-fascinated, half-wary.

Then there was Fábio, my older brother, the quiet one with a warrior’s build and a mind that turned inward.

I caught a flicker of something between him and Vicky—a spark, maybe, in the way his dark eyes lingered on her a beat too long. He was still unmated, no girlfriend in sight, and a pang of jealousy twisted in my gut. Not just because he was my brother, but because I didn’t want to lose her to him.

Everyone warmed to her quickly. Fábio, breaking his usual silence, offered to take her to the pack’s hidden gems—secret overlooks and waterfalls perfect for photos, his voice low and earnest.

The twins, buzzing with energy, begged her to play video games with them, their competitive streaks already shining through. Clara, ever the matriarch, chimed in with a request for professional family photos.

Vicky didn’t miss a beat, agreeing to everything with a laugh and a nod. Watching her weave through their demands, I felt a swell of pride—she was fitting in, and it made me happier than I’d expected.

Lunch unfolded in the dining room, a long oak table groaning under plates of roast chicken, mashed potatoes, and Clara’s famous cornbread. The clatter of forks and the hum of conversation filled the space, and Vicky slid into it all like she’d been born to it.

Afterward, we migrated to the porch, the afternoon sun slanting through the pines as we settled into weathered chairs. Dad pulled me aside, his voice dropping to that serious tone he used for pack business.

“Until she meets everyone, one of us needs to stay with her,” he said, his golden-brown eyes steady on mine. “The alpha’s away for a few days—didn’t get a chance to tell him we’d arrive early. Otherwise, he’d be here to welcome her himself.”

He paused, then added, “Beta James mentioned you’re due back in the kitchen as soon as you return from the Eastern Mountains Pack with Melissa. He’s looking forward to meeting your sister—and your mate—soon.”

“Foster sister,” Vicky interjected smoothly, her voice cutting through the air.

She’d caught Clara’s slight stiffening at the word “sister,” and I could tell she was trying to ease any tension. Clara’s lips twitched into a faint smile, but her posture stayed guarded.

Hunt, the twin who edged out his brother by a measly inch, leaned forward with a mischievous grin. “Can you tell us some terrible stories about Toby?” Andrew nodded eagerly beside him, his identical face mirroring the glee.

Vicky didn’t hesitate. She stood up, brushing her hands on her jeans, and launched into a tale. “Okay, so there was this one time we went for a walk in the forest,” she began, her voice animated. “Toby, genius that he is, picks up a rock and chucks it straight up into the air. It hits something—a nest, turns out—hanging from a tree branch. Next thing we know, hundreds of wasps are swarming us, buzzing like a chainsaw choir. We bolted, screaming, and ended up diving into the river to escape!”

She mimicked my flailing arms, and the porch erupted in laughter—Dad’s deep chuckle, Clara’s soft giggle, and the twins’ outright cackling.

“Idiot!” Andrew crowed, pointing at me, and Hunt nodded in agreement.

Vicky grinned and shrugged. “Yeah, he kind of is.”

The boys kept ribbing me as the sun dipped lower, painting the sky in streaks of orange and pink.

Eventually, we trudged back to the guest cabin, tired but buzzing with the day’s warmth. I hugged Vicky goodnight, her hair still carrying the faint scent of the porch’s woodsmoke, and collapsed onto my bed, the mattress creaking under me. I’d barely closed my eyes when my phone buzzed on the nightstand.

Melissa’s name lit up the screen, and my heart leapt.

I answered, and we fell into hours of talk—her voice a soft lifeline across the miles. We traded stories of missing each other, her laugh easing the ache of distance, and I rambled on about how excited I was for her to meet my parents.