They soon entered the cafeteria and Logan led Katey away from the usual place where she and Lily usually sat. She had no chance to protest as he pulled her by the hand to a corner of the cafeteria that was occupied by a large round table.
At the table, sat a handful of students, all guys, laughing and behaving like general teenage boys. Katey noticed that they all had strong bodies like Logan’s and as they drew closer, she began to feel that caffeine buzz in the back of her head steadily strengthen. She blinked and shook her head to erase it like an etch-a-sketch.
“You okay?” Logan asked, seeing her scrambled expression.
“Yeah, just felt my head tingle a bit. Maybe I need to eat soon.”
Logan chuckled. “No, you can sense them.”
“What?”
Katey looked to the table of students they were approaching and then she understood. They were loups-garous just like her and Logan. She stepped closer to Logan for security as they turned their eyes toward them. Curious looks all around, but none were hostile in any way.
“Who are they?” she asked in a whisper.
“A few of the Devian refugees I was telling you about. Them and a few others take classes here. The rest are usually home schooled or don’t go to school at all. These students are third or fourth generation descendants. A couple are newly turned and the rest turned earlier in their high school years. Darren and the others try to keep an eye on them as well. We all know each other from gatherings and change nights spent together,” Logan replied.
Katey nodded in understanding as they came to the table. The closer she came, the tingling sensation in her skull began to dull away, growing accustomed to their signature. Looking between their faces, Katey recognized a few. One, a quiet boy named Shane, sat next to her in Spanish class back in her freshman year. He had bulked up since then, but Katey never knew it was because he had changed into a loup-garou. The others, she had seen around school or knew them by reputation as star athletes.
The group cleared a spot at the back of the table for them and they sat with their backs to the corner.
“Hey, Logan, how you been?” one with dark hair and green eyes asked. He was wearing an ACDC t-shirt that was a little too tight for him across the chest. “Haven’t seen you in a while.”
Logan retrieved his lunch bag from his backpack and pulled out their sandwiches. “I’ve been all right. Guys, this is Katey,” he said, motioning his head toward her. She withdrew back a bit, still unsure of how to act around them. How was a lady supposed to act in the presence of so many men of her species? One day, she hoped to meet their mothers, sisters, and wives, and not just the loups-garous themselves.
She couldn’t see any kind of hierarchy amongst them, none appeared more dominant than any other, except perhaps Logan, who glowed with pride for the new addition to his pack. If what he said was true about their age, he was also the most experienced.
Any two wolf packs who happened to clash might have created a territorial conflict, but Logan seemed to integrate as seamlessly as if he were one of them. He said that their packs ran together on change nights, so Katey wondered if this was another aspect of loup-garou culture that did not mirror the pack dynamics of wolves. If more than one pack could exist in a town, cooperation amongst the packs must have been a normal thing for them. What did that say for the loup-garou race as a whole? Or were the Devians an exception?
She found it interesting how, even though they were also loup-garou, she didn’t share the same pack bond with them. It was only with Darren, Dustin, Ben, and Logan that she felt the strong tether of affinity. There must have been something special about each wolf that tied them to their packs, but not to others.
But, what established that bond? Was it hereditary? Darren mentioned something about breaking a new loup-garou, did that have something to do with it? Or was the pack bond created in the imprinting, as they ambiguously explained that first night Logan tried it on her in his bedroom? She made a mental note that she would have to ask Darren when they arrived home after school.
Logan introduced Katey to each of the men. They all gave her enthusiastic and sincere greetings, while she replied with a nervous smile and a nod. A loup-garou on the other side of Logan leaned in, the one named Kenneth. He had blonde hair, dazzling brown eyes, and wore a turtleneck sweater and dark jeans.
“Logan, is she what I’m thinking she is?” Kenneth asked.
Logan smiled smugly. “Yeah, but don’t make a big deal of it.”
Another loup-garou from across the table who had brownish hair, dark blue eyes, and a muscle shirt spoke up. “Is that what I’m feeling?” Parker asked. “How can we not make a big deal out of it? How’d it happen? My dad said it wasn’t possible.”
Logan handed Katey her sandwich. “Well, it is for Katey.”
“Did you do it or Darren?” the first loup-garou with the ACDC shirt - Allen - asked.
“I did,” Logan said, trying not to sound as pleased as he really was.
Katey ate maybe three bites into the sandwich, not feeling near as hungry because she had been eating throughout the day, and then sat back to watch the group. They all had similar lunches of meat - some raw and some cooked - and water with the occasional side of berries.
Getting in on the conversation was another loup-garou with black hair, brown eyes, and wore a red long-sleeved shirt that was pushed up to his elbows. His name, Katey recalled, was Jared. “What? You’re joking!” he exclaimed.
“Nope,” Logan replied through a mouthful of deer meat.
“Who else knows about her?” Kenneth asked. “Can we tell Jacob?”
By the way the name was so reverently spoken, Katey assumed that Jacob must have been their alpha. The alpha of the Devians.
“We’re trying to keep it quiet for a while, so don’t go blabbing your fat mouth through the pack; especially, to Jacob, got it?”
“Are you going to talk like I’m not here all lunch period?” Katey muttered amusedly. Some of the guys chuckled and she felt a little more at ease around them.
Parker leaned over his lunch and cupped his hand around his mouth, as if wishing his comment to be secret. “Hey, Logan, can I get me some of that or is she taken?”
Katey was taken aback by such a comment, but she was glad to hear Logan’s response. “She’s taken, don’t even think about it.”
Jared chimed in laughingly, “With the way he kicked your butt a few years back, I’d take his advice.”
The group hooted and even Katey cracked a smile. Her eyes drifted over to the rest of the cafeteria and her heart lurched in her chest.
Unable to pull her attention back to the pack, Katey watched the other students. Some ate their lunches, some talked and told stories. A few were sitting alone and silently slumped over their meals. All of them human, as she was just days ago.
She wondered how her life could have changed so suddenly. She went from being one of them; a human with flaws, alone in the world, except for a few friends and a dysfunctional family life. Now, she sat amongst a group of supernatural creatures and she wasn’t afraid because she was part of them.
Yet, something drew her back to the mundane world of humans. Life was simpler. She could do as she pleased without having to consider the ramifications of her actions. She could choose to eat what she wanted, when she wanted. She could socialize with her friends and never worry about hurting them or exposing her secret.
Now she understood why Logan envied humans. Though, she was part of a global community of loups-garous that would have her back, there was a freedom in the human life that she would never experience again.
Katey looked back to her sandwich and wondered if all the perks of superhuman strength and speed could make up for the limitations that being loup-garou invoked.
“Katey!” she heard a voice cry from across the cafeteria.
She looked up to see Lily bouncing toward their table with a grin. Katey braced herself against the table to rise and intercept her friend before s
he ventured too close into a restricted zone, but Logan forced her back down. Did he not want her to make a scene?
When the other loups-garous around the table lifted their gazes, she saw the glint of recognition in their faces. They greeted Lily in their own ways, all cordial and openhearted.
“Hey, sugar!” Parker said, standing to hug her around the shoulders.
Katey’s eyes went wide as she hugged back. Was Lily cheating on Forrest? Impossible. Parker sat down and resumed his meal as Lily moved around the table. Logan gave her a tiny gesture of a wave when she passed behind him.
“Hey guys, how’s it going?” she asked and moved around to stand next to Katey. “Aren’t you gonna move?” she barked at Allen.
He wrinkled his nose and stuck out his tongue in teasing and scooted over to make room for the petite blond.
Lily bumped shoulders with Katey. “So, this is the crowd you’re hanging out with these days?” She leaned in as if to whisper. “Watch out for that one…” She pointed at Parker. “Never turn your butt to him or he’ll pinch it.”
Parker crossed his arms over the table. “You know you like it,” he replied, wiggling his brows at her.
“Uh… She’s taken, buddy,” Katey quipped. “And I know her boyfriend, so don’t think I won’t tell him.”
The loups-garous laughed at her remark.
“We know Forrest, Katey,” Kenneth explained. “He’s in the pack.”
Logan scratched nervously behind his ear as Katey’s jaw dropped. “What?”
Lily looked between Kenneth and Katey, as if silently chastising him for the misspoken word. She made the motion of slicing at her neck, but it was too late.
The guys snickered at Lily’s flustered expression.
“Lily, she knows,” Allen said. “Quit flipping out.”
Lily and Katey looked to one another, completely thunderstruck.
“You know about – “
“Forrest is a – “
They began in unison, both fumbling for the words as the two longtime friends tried to reconcile this new information.
Forrest was a loup-garou. It explained his physique and innate grace, but somehow it was hard to think that someone she had known for years could be anything different than what she had known him to be. Thinking back now, there were little nuances that made perfect sense, given this new revelation. It wouldn’t stop her next meeting with Forrest from being awkward, though.
Katey slapped her hand over Lily’s mouth to stop her rambling. “Forrest was a loup-garou and you never told me?”
When she let go, Lily gave her an apologetic look. “They’re really picky about who they tell. I’m surprised they told you.”
Katey swallowed back her nerves and took a deep breath, ready for the volley of questions that was sure to come. “They didn’t just tell me. I’m one of them now.”
Lily was quiet for a second, a blank stare plastered on her face as her brain tried to process what she just heard. Then, she let out a squeal and hugged Katey around her neck. “Oh my god!” she cried. “This is amazing!”
Logan shushed her as half of the cafeteria looked to their table.
Katey couldn’t help but giggle. Finally, she had a friend who would understand her struggles, even on a rudimentary level, and she was sure that Lily felt the same way. They were both involved with loups-garous and could share their stories or frustrations.
Lily let go of Katey and started to explain how she knew about the loups-garous soon after she and Forrest started dating. Katey listened, enthralled by her story as the others continued eating their meals.
After a while, Logan had to nudge Katey to remind her that she still had a half-eaten sandwich of her own to finish. Through mouthfuls of deer meat, Katey told Lily in a low voice about how she was part of Logan’s pack now and the circumstances of her change.
“This is amazing!” Lily repeated, still trying to keep her excitement under control. “I’m so happy for you!”
Her words seeped into Katey’s heart and it made her wonder why Lily would feel that way. She had far more experience in pack culture, knowing that she had been a loosely connected member of the Devians – through Forrest – for a couple of years. Perhaps, Katey hadn’t seen enough yet to know why it was such a joyous occasion, but she looked forward to finding out.
Suddenly, those at the table grew silent as they all turned. Lily saw the change and directed her attention that way as well. Their ears and heads perked up as they looked over to the two double doors that led into the cafeteria. She followed their eyes and saw only one person coming in from the halls.
Erik was striding across the room, lunchbox in hand and a clear bottle filled with some sort of red liquid. He had an arrogant look on his face as he walked straight for their table. Instinctively, Katey shrunk into Logan. The Devians turned their backs on Erik, but all had anxious expressions as they continued eating their lunches in silence. Lily sighed and watched Erik closely, as Logan and Katey did.
As Erik stopped at the opposite side of the table from them, Logan’s hand shot underneath her chair and pulled her in close. Their chairs bumped together with a crack of finality, as if the gesture were a warning that she was claimed.
Logan kept his head held high as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder and let his hand dangle in front of her chest. Katey could tell that he was showing this as a sign to Erik that Katey was Logan’s territory and to distinguish his dominance between them. This surprised Katey, but she went along with it and leaned into Logan, glad that he was finally expressing his possession over her in some way.
“May I join you fine gentlemen?” Erik asked cordially, putting on his best impressive smile.
Logan gave him a fierce glare, but Erik didn’t seem concerned at all. Then, his eyes turned toward Katey and Lily. She needed to find her poker face at a time like this. She knew that if she smiled affably, Logan would scold her later for encouraging him, but she knew that if she glared, Erik would take offense and cause trouble. Not knowing what kind of conflict was between them, she didn’t want to risk upsetting either.
“Why, what a couple of pretty dolls amongst a bunch of ugly mugs. How are you, Katey?” Erik said, slowly moving around the table to get closer.
“Go blow yourself, Erik.” Lily smarted. “This isn’t your table.”
Erik slid a resentful glance her way, but continued moving as if she hadn’t spoken.
Katey could hear Logan growl in his throat, but Erik still persisted, taking step after bold step.
When Erik placed his hand on the back of an empty chair, Logan bolted out of his seat and stood defiantly between her and the offender.
Katey watched with piqued interest as the two sized each other up, both standing tall with chins high. A spark of dominance flared up between the two, clashing like two swordsmen who were equally matched and the sparks sizzled around the pack. They could all feel their dominance and none dared to move. Even Katey found herself lowing herself closer to the table as if it would save her from the coming wrath. Katey at least had the surety that these loups-garous would back Logan up one hundred percent. What could a human like Erik do to him anyway?
“You need something, Logan?” Erik said low, his tone laced with an unspoken threat.
“You’re not welcome here,” Logan snarled.
Another long hard moment passed as a silent play for dominance unfolded that Katey felt, but could barely describe. All that existed was the premonitory sensation that she was standing in the middle of a war zone.
Finally, Erik bent his knees a bit and lowered his head in submission. Logan won this time.
“If that’s the way it is, fine. I’ll see you around, Katey,” Erik said as he walked out of the cafeteria.
Logan stood still until he knew Erik was out of sight and sat down beside her again. He replaced his arm around Katey and it was as if Erik had never interrupted them at all. She snuggled herself into him and held the hand that was around her, savoring his
comforting embrace.
It took such a traumatic event for Shane to finally speak up. “Man, I wish I had your balls, Logan, for standing up to him like that.”
Parker nodded in agreement. “Yeah, he could tear any of us apart without breaking a sweat.”
A light bulb went off in Katey’s mind and she looked up to Logan in a panic. “Wait... Erik’s a- “
“A rougarou,” Logan finished.
“No!” Katey gasped. She frantically tried to wrap her head around the concept that Erik had been a rougarou the whole time. It explained his unerring confidence and athletic talents. First Forrest, and now Erik. Was there a man she knew who wasn’t a loup-garou?
Allen nodded. “Afraid so. Him and a couple of others are here at school. They’re kind of the bullies around here. I heard he’s only enrolled in school just to torment us. He’s nearly Logan’s age and doesn’t need to be here at all.”
Lily grumped and propped her chin in her hand on the table. “He’s a jerk to everyone, werewolves and humans. He tried to convince me to go out with him a week after I hooked up with Forrest, but I knew better by then.”
“I had no idea,” Katey mumbled, blinking down at her half-eaten sandwich. She suddenly lost her appetite thinking about all the girls he had dated and wondered if any of them knew what he was.
Then her mind retraced to the cases where girls went missing from school and word got back that they had mysteriously left town without explanation. There weren’t many instances of it, but just knowing that it did happen and that Erik was probably behind it, sickened her.
“Now you know why I don’t want you around him. He’s dangerous. He could easily take advantage of you,” Logan said softly to her. His voice was warm and calming and she took heart in it.
There was a reason for Logan’s protectiveness, she knew that now, but there was something more in the way they faced one another down just moments ago. There was a deep, personal offense against Erik apart from just being a rougarou and Katey couldn’t quite place it. The others felt an obvious disdain for Erik, but more so in Logan. If they were about the same age, had they known one another for a while? Did something happen between them in another decade that he wasn’t ready to tell her?
Becoming the Enigma (The Loup-Garou Series Book 2) Page 11