Chapter 22: The Herd

Zeus and I took turns fiddling with his radio inside his truck. The radio picked up many radio stations, but none of the songs they currently play suited our taste. 

Although Zeus has some burned CDs, he told me that the truck wasn't his and belonged to his friend. So, I should expect some odd and old songs.

"We should play just one. The old songs are gold. I still like to hear some of them rather than the new-aged music. I don't quite like it," I told him as I flipped the cd holder.

"Well, you probably won't like it. But be my guess," Zeus replied, concentrating his eyes on the road.

I found some eighties to early nineties songs such as Bolton's, Shaina, and Bon Jovi.

"Are you kidding me? These are all my favorites!" I told him before removing one of BJ's CDs and feeding it to the cd player. When the song started to play, my mood suddenly changed.

I'm a sucker for old songs. My dad used to have many of them, and he would play songs while I watched him fix his car. Or sometimes I see him and mom dancing to one of those songs—Ahh, so many memories that I have treasured.

I occasionally hum and tap my fingers, especially on my favorite part.

We had been on the road for nearly two hours when we stopped for food. My stomach couldn't have been happier. Eating was not exactly on my list of things to do tonight, but I am now paying for it.

I stuck out like a sore thumb when Zeus and I got out of the truck. 

I wasn't used to it in bigger cities, especially those with bright lights. I could count on the one hand how many times I've been in one. The tall sparkly building and the neon lights are blinding me. Since it's night, the city is alive. Zeus, on the other side, seemed unbothered. He is probably used to this place.

We chose the restaurant with fewer diners and offered seafood. As werewolves, we are accustomed to meat. We eat large quantities of meat every day. That's why the budget for food is more than any necessities in a pack. But tonight, my appetite wanted to try seafood.

Sitting in the brightly lit seafood restaurant and waiting for our food, I could study Zeus better than the first time I did. Yes, he belongs to the Middle Eastern race. Not only do those deep black eyes prove he's one of those undeniably good-looking men, but he also has the charisma of a strong Dragon. Maybe if I hadn't drowned with Kknox back then, I would have flirted with him. It made me curious why Emerald left this handsome man. I know it wasn’t just that he was a hybrid. He is definitely a catch.

My eyes traveled downward and landed on his muscular chest and arms. There is a tattoo hidden behind his short sleeve over his left bicep. I quickly noted how he excelled in the looks and build department.

I blushed when he caught me staring at him.

"Like what you see?" he asked teasingly.

"Um, actually, I noticed your tattoo."

His eyes traveled down to where mine were studying the darkened skin, and he shifted in his seat awkwardly. He fumbled on his sleeve, trying to pull it over the mark, trying to cover it up.

"It's a thing for dragons," he said when satisfied with the shirt's coverage. His voice was a little heard. “Especially for  high hierarchy ones.”

"I see,” I said. “I wanted to see it." I explained.

"Maybe after we settle down,"

Zeus said, his voice returning to its normal one.

The red-haired waitress returned with our food and sat the plates down in front of us before refilling our drinks.

"Can I get you anything else?" she asked us while stealing glances at him.

I tried not to giggle.

She looked to be at least seventeen and a human, and he wasn't hiding her infatuation for him. She squealed when he sent her a friendly smile, showing her dimples.

I thought it was cute.

"No, thank you," he answered, trying not to laugh.

"Okay, let me know if you change your mind."

The waitress quickly disappeared from the table, and Zeus chuckled after her.

"It seems like you have an allure here," I smiled, amused.

He took a bite of his fish cake, chewed it for a second, then swallowed it. "What do you mean?"

"Well, just now, with the waitress with us a few seconds ago," I explained.

"Hmm…" He mused. "I guessed I did."

I rolled my eyes at his casual response. Please, he would have to be blind not to notice it. I'm sure this happens to him a lot. He's too handsome to be not noticed.

I was watching him eat increased my appetite. I looked down at my clam pasta and wasted no time satisfying my hunger. It tasted as good as it looked. I even burnt my tongue because I was eager to fill my complaining stomach. Zeus laughed at me, and I glared at him.

An hour later, the sun started to rise. He said his herd was outside the city, we turned down the paved road and then turned to another graveled one a while later.

Thirty minutes later, an insanely large house came into my view. It was the biggest one I have ever seen. It was over the top and extravagant. To call it a house is underestimated. It is a mansion! The biggest one I have ever seen! It was a beautiful one. And I couldn't help but be awed.

The tan four-story house was breathtaking. There were more windows in the mansion than I could count. A few pack members stood outside watching us as we pulled up, and a few had puzzled expressions.

A large garage was off to the side that stood alone and separate from the mansion. When Zeus raised the garage doors with one click of a button on his key chain, I was even more in awe. A couple of sports cars, a motorcycle, and five solid black SUVs are lined side by side. It looked like something you can only see in a mission-themed movie.

Holy cow! Is he that rich?

"This is your house?" I gasped.

He chuckled as he parked the truck. "You seemed surprised."

I was stunned. "Are you serious? Look at the condition of this truck. What am I supposed to think?"

"He shrugged, killing the machine. 

"I had to be inconspicuous." He turned to the other cars in the garage. "Driving any of them would have drawn too much attention for me."

"Yeah. Someone might think you are a billionaire or something," I said, stating the obvious.

"Actually, it's the herd house, not just mine," he corrected.

I furrowed up my eyebrows in confusion. This was the first time I had seen a packed house as solid as this. 

"All your herd members live here?"

"More or less. Some prefer to live on their own. We have housing for them in a wooded community just behind this packed house. We're close in the distance."

This was new to me. My pack territory has a small packhouse, but that is only for the alpha and his family and relatives. Most of the pack members live separately.

"It must be nice to have so many people in one house, and it's easy to communicate."

"It is," he agreed. "I keep my second and third in command very close along with the fighters. They occupied most of the room on the top floor along with me."

We sat silently for a couple of minutes.

"So, what's our story?"

He seemed confused by my question. "What do you mean?"

"Who I am to you. What are we going to tell your people? I don't know what they know."

He nodded in understanding. "I called my second in command after I left you to pack your things and told him everything. In our pack, we have a complete disclosure. I don't believe in keeping secrets. Secrets separate people; if we are separated, we can't be a strong herd."

Well, that made sense. I didn't know what it was like to have someone being so open and honest all the time.

"Okay, to honesty. I like that."

"To them, you are my mate, and that's all that matters. My pack is happy that I have found someone after  Emerald."

His voice sounded a little strained at her name. Talking about her still affects him, just like Knox to me.

He cleared his throat and stepped out of the truck. "Come, I'll introduce you to our herd. "

That single word clicked on me, and I paused whilst opening the door.

"Our"

That word has more meaning than it ever did. Zeus was right; this would be my pack now. As soon as he takes it back, I will become his partner and it will be our herd. That was exciting and scary for me at the same time. I hope they will accept me.