Chapter 3

As predicted the kitchen was gigantic. A group of women about her age sat on stools under a counter. James nodded his head at them and they smiled back.

One by one their smiles dropped when they looked at Clara. She glanced at James who wasn't paying any attention to the women and walked past them towards the cabinets. They started whispering to each other and Clara felt her cheeks grow red.

"What are your favorite foods?" James asked. "I hope you're not a vegetarian?"

Clara shook her head. James pulled open a door and walked into a largest pantry. Boxes and cans lined the shelves. Clara wasn't sure eighty-three people would eat this much food in eighty-three years. James must have sensed her amazement and chuckled.

"Another perk of the transformation. Your metabolism is exponentially higher now. You will have to increase your calorie intake significantly." He threw a protein bar. Clara caught it and wasted no time taking a bite.

"You have free reign on this floor," James said. "Including the kitchen. Twice a week we have dinner as a pack. Otherwise, food is what you feel like having. Tell me, are you a good cook?"

Clara shook her head no, she was raised on takeout and continued the trend into adulthood.

"I'm having a hard time coming up with a job for you."

"I have a job; I'm starting at a museum with the University. Maybe that could be my contribution?"

James rolled his eyes.

"Overall you are doing quite well with all the information I've been throwing at you. But I thought we covered this. Your old life is gone; your new life is gone. This is where you belong. It will take some time, but you will adjust and find your place."

A feeling of shame came over Clara. She dropped her eyes to the ground upset she disappointed James. Then the ludicrousness of her thought popped up and she locked eyes with him again.

"Stop using that voice on me."

"For being so young and so new, you really are quite strong. I think you're going to make a fine addition around here. Lesser wolves can't speak to me that way."

"That's a horrible way to talk about your pack."

"It's not horrible if it's the truth." James shrugged. "All wolves are not created equal."

"Then what makes me so special?"

"If there were a rhyme or reason I would tell you. Strong genes?"

James grabbed a banana and some other random items, ushering Clara out of the pantry and over to a table. The whispering women were on the opposite side of the room, but Clara had a feeling she knew what they were discussing.

"When were you turned?" Clara wanted to distract herself from the annoyance she felt.

A growl drove all the other concerns out of her mind as she locked eyes with a different side of James. The soft eyes and smile were replaced with harden straight lines that fumed with anger.

"I am a natural born wolf."

There was no sense of comfort in James' voice. It felt as if a cold front spread through the kitchen. Even the women on the other side stopped chatting. All the emotions and confusion Clara was feeling burst forward. She didn't choose this life; she didn't know what was happening to her.

She was lost and confused, feeling like a prisoner and now turned on by the only guard who would tell her what was happening. The dam keeping in her tears burst open and she found herself sobbing.

In a flash hands were on her shoulders and her head was being pressed to James' chest. He whispered comforting words into her ears.

"It will be alright."

"You will get accustomed."

"It will take some time."

"You have a new family."

Clara tried to fight against the warm feeling his voice spread through her heart, but she couldn't. He was too reassuring and soon the tears dried up. He stopped rubbing her back and returned to his seat. Clara wiped the last of her tears and he continued on with the conversation.

"Most of us were born into this life. In fact, it's been about twenty years since we've had a turned member."

He made no apology for his earlier comment and Clara didn't plan on holding her breath for one. She was glad she had no intention of staying, because he was making it pretty obvious she would always be a lesser wolf for this fact alone.

"How about you meet some of the other members?" James glanced at his wristwatch.

Clara wondered why he didn't check his phone for the time and grimaced. They probably didn't have cellphones or landlines even.

"Trust me, they're going to love you. We can start over there." James nodded to the women on the other side of the kitchen. "I would love to spend all day with you, but I have other things to take care of."

Clara wanted to object and ask to head back to her room, but realized that meant an escort from James. The girls seemed like they might be easier to ditch in the event Clara did figure out where they were at and planned her escape. She nodded her head. James stood up first and raised an eyebrow at her.

"Are you sure you don't have any more questions?"

"I'm a wolf now. I have to live here with you and your pack. You will find me a job that I have no say in and I am a lesser member? You say I'm not a prisoner, but I'm not allowed to leave pack grounds or be alone outside yet?"

Clara was glad the dam had rebuilt itself. James did not look amused at her recap.

"This is a transition for you, but remember what I told you. Nobody here will harm you. You have my word on that."

Clara didn't need clarification to know that only extended to physical harm. She wondered how welcoming the other ladies were going to be.

"One last questions," Clara said. "Is there anything else that I have to know right now? I don't want any more big surprises."

"I mentioned the high metabolism right?" James smiled. "I'm sure there are a few minor details I forgot to run over, but nothing major. I will stop by your room this evening and check in on you before bed."