Kate

Kate POV

We all prepare dinner together. It is nice and almost feels family-like. The five misfits accept me immediately without question or resentment. I guess they all know what it is like to be an outsider. We drink beer, and I listen to them talk about the bullshit they put up with from the pack throughout the day. Tomorrow I will get my taste of it as I begin my service to the Alpha. At least I have a pack now. I have been alone for so long, and this feels so good.

We sit down at the dinner table. “The pack only gives us the scraps, but man, Cassie can make anything taste good,” Trip says.

I cannot help but smile as I look around the table. I found my place with the misfits of the Moon River Pack. “We could all go for a run after dinner so that we can show Kate around. She needs to know where she can go on her runs,” John says.

“What do you mean a run?” I ask John.

“You know, wolf out and run,” John says.

“I have never taken my wolf form,” I say to John.

Silence falls over the dinner table. “How old are you?” Angie asks.

“I will be twenty-one next week,” I answer.

“You didn’t turn when you were seventeen? That is odd; you have never turned, not even once?” Cassie asks me.

“I have never turned,” I answer her.

“I do not understand why you never turned,” Cassie says.

“I don’t either,” I say.

“Your father never discussed any of this with you?” Cassie asks.

“My father never gave a shit about me or being a wolf. So no, he never talked to me about turning into my wolf. I have never seen him turn either,” I answer.

Cassie reaches across the table and touches my hand. “No worries, we are all misfits here, and we will help you make your first turn,” Cassie says. Cassie wants to help me, but I am not sure I can be helped at this point. Turning into my wolf is terrifying for me.

“Really, that would be great, but will it be painful?” I ask.

“It is uncomfortable the first time, but it is a breeze after that. You will love it,” John chimes into the conversation. John is overly confident in my ability to turn. I am almost 21 years old. I do not see it happening so easily.

“How do I turn? I have no knowledge of anything wolf-related,” I say.

“Well, you just turn,” John says. He flashes a big smile at me again with the overconfidence that I am not sure I have earned yet.

“That explains everything,” I say. I shake my head at his simple explanation. Like, I will run out into the woods and immediately take a wolf form.

“Don’t worry; I will help you; it is a little hard to explain, but once we all get out in the woods, I assure you it will be easy for you,” Cassie says.

We finish dinner. The six of us clean up the kitchen together. All of us clear the table and do the dishes as a family. It is odd for me to see the men working alongside the women. I have never seen people working together as a collective. Is this what all packs are like? They are all playful and caring for each other. I have never had anything like this before in my life. I remember very little about my life with the pack before my mother died. I can't even remember the name of my pack.

After the kitchen is cleaned, the boys start getting a little rowdy; they are ready to run. “Don’t pay any attention to the boys; they always get like this before we go for a run,” Angie says. Angie has the sweetest smile and talks fondly of the boys. I guess she is like the house mother to all of us.

“I see that; I am nervous about turning into my wolf,” I say to Angie.

Angie turns to me and smiles. “Do not be nervous. We all have been where you are now. I promise it is nothing to be afraid of,” Angie says. Angie takes my hand like a mother about to help her child walk for the first time.

“I trust you,” I say to Angie.

The boys run out of the house ahead of us, hooting and hollering. I cannot help but laugh as I watch them jump and shout as they head toward the woods. They seem so happy and content, and I hope I feel that way someday.

“Remember to stay with me. I will not run fast. We are only allowed certain places in the woods. The rest of the pack has free reign, but we are the misfits, so we are restricted to certain areas,” Angie says.

“What if I don’t turn?” I ask her. My doubts are taking over my ability to be afraid of turning. I will be so embarrassed if I cannot turn into my wolf with the others.

“Oh, trust me, you will turn. Your wolf with do all the work; all you have to do is let your wolf know that you are ready,” Angie says.

Everyone begins to run behind the boys toward the woods. When we reach the edge of the woods, I watch as they start to turn into their wolf form. Angie comes up to me. I touch her head. “This is so cool,” I say to her. Her fur feels so soft.

“It is your turn. You can do it, Kate,” Angie says. Cassie and Karen come up in their wolf form to help me. “You all are so beautiful,” I say.

“You will be too, come on. Do it! Just get a running go, and your body and your wolf will do this rest,” Cassie says.

I start running. I have never run this fast before. “Guys, I don’t think it is working,” I say as I stop for them to catch up to me. I turn behind me, and they are all staring at me. “What?” I ask.

I look down and see my paws and white fur. “Woah! This is so cool!” I exclaim. Taking my wolf form is the most fantastic thing I have ever experienced in my life. This is crazy and feels unbelievable.

They all surround me. “What pack were you from?” Cassie asks.

“I don’t know,” I answer. It feels weird all of them staring at me.

“I bet I do; you are an Imperial, no doubt. Who was your mother?” Angie asks.

“My mother's name was Rainwater,” I answer.

“Shit, I bet I know why your dad was cast out then. There is only one reason an imperial is ever cast out of their pack, but we can discuss that later. Let’s run, babe,” Angie says.

I am very clumsy at first. It takes a minute to get my paws to go the way I want, but I am running alongside the rest of the misfits after a few minutes. We run through the woods. The wind in my fur is an incredible feeling. We run to the creek and stop. The creek is beautiful in the moonlight. I look down at my reflection in the stream. My deep blue eyes shine brightly against my solid white fur. I look beautiful. Angie runs up to meet me beside the creek. “We have to stay on this side of the water. The other side is for the rest of the pack,” Angie says.

I look across at the other pack members. There is one wolf who is solid black with white eyes. He is breathtaking. “Who is that?” I ask Angie. I keep staring at the beautiful creature across the water. I am completely mesmerized by him. It feels like I know him.

“Girl, that is Erick; he is the Alpha’s son and our future Alpha,” Angie says.

“He is yummy,” I say.

“You should see him in human form. He is a deliciously dark treat. His skin is like a chocolate bar, and I would love to devour him whole,” Angie says.

“I can’t wait to see him in human form,” I say.

“You will see him tomorrow when we go to the Alpha’s house to work. He is the only kind person in that damn house. Luna and Alpha are both assholes,” Angie says.

“Great, nice to know what tomorrow holds,” I say.

“Don’t worry. We stay out of their way. We go in, do our work, collect our scraps and get the hell out of there as quickly as possible,” Angie says.

Cassie comes up beside us. “I see you two are taking in the view,” Cassie says.

“He is starring over here; I wonder why?” Angie says.

“He is probably trying to figure out how an Imperial wolf ended up on this side of the creek with a bunch of misfits,” Cassie says.

“We should go back. We have to be up early in the morning,” Angie says.

I take one last look at Erick. I turn and follow the others back to the house; as we approach the top of the hill to run down to our home, I hear someone running behind us. We all turn around to look. It is Erick.

“We did not cross the creek,” Trip says to him.

“I know; I was curious about the new wolf,” Erick says.

“I am Kate,” I say to him.

“Hi, Kate, what are you doing here?” Erick asks.

“It is a long story,” I answer.

“I want to know this long story. You should not be here,” Erick says. He turns and runs away. I watch him as he runs back into the woods. I want to know him, but I know it is a bad idea.