Chapter 4

James put his hand on the small of Clara's back and ushered her over to the women. The three of them gave forced smiles.

"I'm sure you've heard the news by now, but this is Clara, our newest member." James pulled out a chair and tapped the seat. Clara felt like a child, but sat down anyway.

"Hi Clara," the black haired beauty said. The three other women echoed her response.

"This is Roxy, Courtney, and Nicole." James pointed at each lady, Clara was sure she would forget their names.

"Ladies could you please take Clara under your wing for a little while, maybe spend the rest of the day with her? I'll find you in a couple hours."

Without waiting for a response, James turned and left. Clara wanted to reach out for him and tell him to stay, not to leave her alone, but couldn't find the words.

She turned her attention back to the women at the table. They all looked ageless and flawlessly beautiful. Clara knew she wasn't unattractive, but these women were all tens. She stood out like a sore thumb.

"So, you were attacked in the woods by an outcast? Lucky you." Roxy flipped her hair behind her shoulder. It seemed like she was the leader of this group.

"Lucky?" Clara was confused.

"Being a wolf is an honor." Roxy showed no hint of sarcasm. "The moon goddess must have shined down on you. Welcome to the pack."

The other three girls repeated the sentiment. Clara found herself relaxing a little. They wore the look of mean girls, but didn't seem to fit that persona. Roxy stared at Clara, making her feel the need to speak.

"So what are your jobs?" Clara knew it was a dumb question, but all she could think about was getting back to the museum.

"Jobs?" Roxy let out a laugh. "We are all with important men. We don't need to work."

"I thought everyone contributed?" Clara thought about James' self-sufficient comment.

"We do contribute. Our men are essential to the pack. Nicole and Courtney are with two of the top soldiers. They helped saved you. I'm with Lucas."

Clara shrugged, she didn't know the name. Roxy let out a sigh.

"The Beta? James did explain some things to you right?"

"Oh, his number two," Clara said. "I'm still new to all of this."

"There is a hierarchy around here. The first priority is always the Alpha, then the Beta, then based on skill and how you contribute."

"So your contribution is being with important men?" Clara didn't mean for her question to come out so offensive, but the three women nodded their heads. They didn't realize the subtext. Clara felt like she stepped into a time warp.

"Since you're a...new wolf you will be at the bottom," Roxy said. "Sorry about that, but maybe someday a solider will take interest in you, then you could move up."

"Or you could get pregnant," Nicole added.

"Yeah!" Roxy didn't hide her excitement. "When you're pregnant and have a young kid the Alpha takes pity on you, but unless the father is someone important once your kid is a teenager you lose the respect again."

Clara's mouth hung open. She had a Master's degree in art preservation. These women seemed to think getting pregnant was a respectable way to get ahead.

"I wouldn't get my hopes up," Roxy continued. "I'm sure whatever job James give you if you do really good he will promote you. Then maybe if you're high enough someone will take interest. I mean...It's not like you're ugly either. That will work in your favor."

"Thanks." Clara's desire to get out of here was increasing by the second. These women seemed dumb enough that it might be easier to escape than she thought.

"Lucas is coming back tonight. I can't wait. I've missed him so much!"

Clara looked around the kitchen, trying to guess what the rest of the floor looked like and where the front door might be. Roxy reached out and grabbed her wrist.

"He's been in Laramie for three days, getting the supplies that we can't make here. It's a real honor that James sent him."

"How did he get to Laramie? Did he walk?" Clara asked.

The girls giggled.

"How would he carry the stuff back with him? We have vehicles. I keep hoping one day Lucas will take me with him on one of these trips. Not because I want anything to do with humans, no, no, I mean because I miss him so much when he's gone."

"You've never met a human?" Clara asked.

"Human's aren't the special ones, of course we have."

"How often do you leave the lodge?"

"A few times a year. When it's mating season," Roxy said. "We go and visit another pack. The whole thing is stupid if you ask me. Lucas and I don't normally attend. Odds are, there's nobody out there for you anyway, being turned and all."

"There are other packs?" Clara wanted to keep them talking, and find more information out about this van.

"How far away are they? Do you drive there too?"

"There are a bunch," Roxy said. "I'm not sure the exact amount."

"Maybe one of you wants to give me a tour?" Clara hoped the tour included the location of the cars.

Roxy narrowed her eyes and turned her head.

"We're a little busy at the moment."

A sour feeling made its way to Clara's stomach. Before she could ask another question someone new walked in the kitchen. It was a girl around their age. She was pretty, but plain. She pushed a giant laundry cart.

"Suzy," Roxy said. "This is Clara our new member."

The girl stopped pushing and looked at Clara, giving her a smirk.

"Welcome to the pack." The sarcasm was not hidden from her voice.

"Clara I think Suzy is more your speed. Why don't you spend some time with her? I think that she will be able to give you a better idea of what your life will be like here."

It was obvious Roxy viewed this girl as a lesser wolf. Clara nodded her head, happy to have an excuse to leave the kitchen and try to find an exit.

"Bye hunny, it was great meeting you." Roxy forced a smile. The other two women waved and Clara stood up from the table, happy to leave them.

"Come on," Suzy said. "I'll give you the tour to the laundry room."

She continued pushing the cart and Clara followed, trying to take in her surroundings. Once they left the kitchen Suzy broke her silence.

"Don't mind the trio of bimbos, most members aren't like that."

"Do you know what state we are in?"

"I thought you were bit in the leg, not hit in the head." Suzy raised an eyebrow. "The great state of Wyoming, fifty miles Northwest of Laramie in the Medicine Bow Mountains. Did ten minutes with those three convince you we are all morons?"

Clara let out a laugh and nodded, relieved that not everyone here was uneducated.

"I grew up with Roxy. Since she was a baby everyone has been telling them her she is special and the pretty one, that all she had to do was stay beautiful, learn how to fight, and please her man. Courtney and Nicole have been here for a long time now, I'm sure their upbringing was similar."

"That's an interesting goal for a woman." Clara rolled her eyes over the sexism.

"Me? I was told pay attention in classes, learn whatever you can because you're going to have to claw your way to getting some respect and a decent position."

"And what is your position?" Clara asked.

"I'm sure that you've heard how there's a caste system in place here?"

Clara nodded.

"Well you will soon find out that it's not as bad as the flock of bimbos make it out to be. There are about sixty adults living here, I'd say about fifty of us are contributing hard working members who consider themselves equal. It's the top ten who think they're special. You might get a main job, but if you're a decent person you will put yourself in the rotation."

"Rotation?" Clara asked.

"The bad job rotation. This week I'm up for laundry."

They stopped walking and Clara cursed herself. She was listening to Suzy too much and didn't pay attention. She sighed and touched her forehead.

"Everybody knows you want to run away, but I wouldn't try, not for a while at least. The Alpha has extra people on security until you get settled. If you make a break for it and he catches you, then he'll throw you in a cell until you calm down."

"Why?" Clara grabbed some laundry, helping Suzy load the washers. "Why does he care if I stay?"

"Because you're his responsibility. We all are," Suzy said. "Say what you want about the Beta and his girl, but the Alpha is a caring man. He might be a little out of touch, but he does have our best interests at heart all the time."

"It's stupid, I will be fine at home, I won't shift, I won't let anyone know I'm a wolf or whatever."

"One of two things would happen if you left here. First, you would be too far away from the pack and go crazy, or second, a crazy outcast wolf would be drawn to you and kill you."

"None of this makes any sense."

"Not yet, but it will," Suzy said. "It's actually pretty fun here. We work hard and we play hard. James has a nice opinion of everyone and he is nice to everyone, but piece of advice?"

"I'll take any I can get."

"Stay away from the Beta and stay further away from Roxy."

"She seemed harmless." Clara grabbed more clothes. "And incredibly stupid."

"She's dumb like a fox. My guess is she was testing you out, more interested in observing your responses than listening to the words you were saying. She makes trouble for people, but the Alpha is blind to it. Stay off her radar and you will be fine.

"The Beta, Lucas, he's terrible. One of those people who is mean for the sake of being mean. He has no problem looking at you, spotting your weakness and preying on it. Don't even make eye contact with the man. I swear sometimes I think he's insane. Overall they're perfect for each other. I can't believe they're not real mates."

"How did he rise to the number two position if he's so crazy?"

"I'm sure physical combat is new to you, but believe it or not we all have had to fight at some point or time and you will too. It's a hostile world. Beta is an earned position. Lucas is the best fighter in the pack. I've only seen him in action once. It was almost majestic the way he attacked with speed and accuracy. It was like watching a dance."

Clara shuddered. She'd never been in a fight once in her entire life. She pushed Suzy's warning out of her head, but realized that even when she did escape going back to Laramie wasn't an option or else James would drag her back here. Clara didn't think things could get much worse.