Pack of Freaks: Beasts Among Us - Book 2

by Jennifer Zamboni

  This was not the idea, by the way, this was for discussion of my idea. And I didn’t own a coffee maker.

  “Sounds great. Do you want me to ask Percy for your client cards?” Amanda referred to the files we kept of color formulations, perms, and changes in information.

  “If she doesn’t mind.” I hadn’t known if I could go back into business when I’d quit, so I’d left them all behind.

  “Awesome,” she said again. “When?”

  “Any morning before noon or any evening after six.”

  “Tonight?” she suggested, her voice full of excitement.

  “Should be fine. I’ll call you if it’s not. Remember how to get here?”

  “Dude, I helped you move, of course I remember.”

  “Right. See you tonight then.”

  “’Kay, bye!” she said.

  “See ya later,” I replied, then hung up the phone.

  After fixing the kids some lunch, I headed to my security job and filled Doug in on my conversation and my plan.

  “So, what do you think?” I asked him.

  “I think it’s a good idea, which means it would also be good to rent her a room,” said Doug.

  I threw my arms around him and smiled. “So I just need to talk her into it.”

  He kissed me and I him until I forgot I was supposed to be working.

  “I think she will be a good fit. I’ll see you tonight. Is she coming before or after supper?”

  “Not sure,” I said.

  “I’ll be sure to make some extra then.” He kissed me again, then left for home.

  I kept out of sight as I prowled the grounds. From time to time I caught a whiff of zombie in the woods but paid it no mind. They couldn’t reveal themselves in the open as I could, but they could still hide out as surveillance.

  My shift passed without incident, and I ended up following Amanda to my house.

  I climbed out of my truck and walked to the door with her.

  “Hey there, stranger!”

  “Hi!” said Amanda.

  “Come on in. Doug should have supper ready if you’d like to join us.” I ushered Amanda to the mudroom, so she could shed her hat, gloves, and coat.

  I wasn’t pretending anymore, so I just got rid of my winter boots and put on some slippers. I had a thing for squishy memory foam slippers, especially if they were fuzzy.

  “Sounds good to me, so long as it isn’t your cooking,” she said, taking her boots off as well.

  “Watch it,” I said with a mock growl.

  She stuck her tongue out at me, then greeted everyone in the kitchen. She hadn’t met Emery yet, so I introduced them before taking my seat.

  “So, have you thought about it?” she asked, after taking a few bites of her steak, asparagus, and mashed potatoes.

  “We have, and I’d love for you to be a part of my business, but we have a condition on the room.” I put my fork down on the table.

  Her body stilled. “A condition? What is it?” She sounded worried.

  “We want you to become our pack mistress,” said Doug, and I nodded my agreement.

  “Um, what’s that?” she asked.

  “You’d be in charge of us wolves, especially during the full moon, making sure we’re cared for. You’d have to obedience train us, things of that nature.

  “I’m not gonna lie, it would be dangerous for you, at first. But later, you’d be in control of the pack, which, if things keep escalating the way they are, would be a very good thing for you.” I leaned back in my chair.

  “Oh, and the room would be free,” I added.

  “And if I say no?” she asked.

  “Then we’ll charge you rent,” I said.

  She bit her lip. “Can I think about it?”

  “Take as much time as you need. And ask any questions you’d like.” I leaned towards her, ever so slightly. “Oh also, if you say yes, you’ll be set for life, money wise. This pack is well off.” Not that I was putting on the pressure or anything, but it was definitely a perk.

  “I’d be a part of your pack?” she asked.

  I shook my head. “You’d own my pack, either up front or behind the scenes.”

  “Well, I’ll definitely think about it. In the meantime, when do you plan on opening the salon?”

  “Hopefully in a couple weeks. I’ve got some calls to make and some advertising to do.”

  “I can help with that. I’ve got your files in my car. Should I bring them in?” Amanda seemed to have forgotten about her meal.

  “Sure, after you finish eating. I’ll make some tea.” It occurred to me that when I ran out of my stock, I’d have to buy some more from Percy.

  I so needed to plant a garden in the spring.

  The day before we held our grand opening, Amanda moved in and gave me her answer.

  “Yes, I’ll do it. I’ll be your pack mistress,” she said after unpacking her last box.

  “Really?” I asked. “Accepted.”

  Suddenly an unseen force drove me to my knees, and I threw my head back, exposing my throat. There was a thrumming in my head, and I was unable to move.

  Amanda’s bedroom door flew open and my husband, Evangeline, and Emery came to their knees in front of her, baring their throats as well. Her eyes went wide with shock, and her smell changed as it filled with pack magic.

  “Stop it! Get up!” she shrilled.

  We immediately obeyed.

  “What’s going on?” The fear in her voice matched the honeyed fear of her smell.

  The humming stopped.

  “I think it’s official,” I said after a long pause. “And might I request that you consider any orders you give very carefully?”

  “Can I take it back?” she asked in a whisper, her eyes huge and brimming with magic and questions.

  I shook my head. “I don’t think so. But don’t worry, I think this is still a good thing.”

  She didn’t look convinced, but she did relax a bit. Curiously, it was Evangeline that made a move of welcome. I watched as my 15-year-old daughter drew Amanda into her still too skinny arms.

  “Thank you,” she said in her flat voice, her eyes shining with emotion.

  “For what?” asked Amanda.

  “Control, here.” She tapped her temple.

  She could still be a stubborn teenage girl but her wolf was no longer in control, she was.

  Later, while working on some new knitting techniques, I filled Natasha in on everything that had been going on.

  “Well, you gave her quite a gift,” she said, her voice quiet as patrons wandered her shop.

  I tilted my head to one side. “What do you mean?”

  “You changed her, gave her some of your magic. She’ll live as long as you now.”

  “She’s immortal?” I stopped what I was doing.

  “Almost as much as you. She won’t have the quick healing, but so long as she doesn’t bleed to death, she’ll live forever.”

  Well damn. Not that I wanted Amanda to die. I had expected her to age as normal, then when her time came, we would be free, with full control all month long.

  I thought it best to withhold that tidbit of information, so I didn’t inform Amanda of her new immortality. I did tell Doug, I had to tell someone after all. And he was as troubled as I.

  Shoving those thoughts to the back of my mind, I focused on the positive. My business was doing better than I could have hoped. I was gaining more control every day. I was even starting to remember bits and pieces from the full moon, like remembering a dream upon waking.

  There was growing unease in the world, but my personal world was doing pretty well.

  Once again, I sat in the soundproof booth at Blake’s recording studio. This time I was alone with Clarissa, recording a solo album. Mark and Austin had both congratulated me and offered to play backup, but I turned them down. I was ready for something new.

  As of yet, I’d seen no evidence of the ghost in my new home, but I had been careful to leave the room undisturbed
, except to do a little cleaning from time to time. If there was a ghost, I didn’t think they’d enjoy dust bunnies anymore than the next person.

  My kids were thriving under Doug’s tutelage and had at last filled out enough to look healthy. It’s amazing how much groceries a teenager can put away, never mind a teenage werewolf! We had grown so much closer away from Olympian’s and with Amanda’s influence on the pack.

  Happy. Pack. Mine. Music now.

  My wolf was still using single word sentences, for the most part, but we seemed to be operating more and more as one every day.

  I took a deep breath, placed my bow to the ancient violin’s strings, and started to play.

  Dear Pack Family,

  Thank you so much for reading Pack of Freaks! I hope you enjoyed it as much as I loved writing (and even editing) it. This one took me for a ride, that’s for sure. I had a thorough outline written, a clear map to follow. Well, Gretchen decided to take the reins and visit Lacey-Marie in NYC. That’s right, I never planned for that perky blonde murderous vampire to ever make an appearance ever again. But here she is again. (I’m interested to see what people think of her now. I wanted to hate her, but she sneaked right back in and planted herself back in the world.

  I’d love it if you’d continue to hang out with me, Gretchen, and the rest of the pack!

  Website: http://jenniferzamboni.blogspot.com/

  Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Jennifer-Zamboni/e/B07J1XSR3J

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  BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jennifer-zamboni

  Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jenniferzamboniauthor

  The Zamboni Pack’s Lair (reader group): https://www.facebook.com/groups/zambonipackslair

  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/write_read_tea/

  Twitter: https://twitter.com/write_read_tea

  So much goes into writing a book (besides the blood, sweat, and tears of the author!) and I have to thank everyone who made this whole endeavor possible.

  First off, I have to thank my husband, Devin. There is no way this book would have made it into readers hands without him. Also, I wrote the very first draft of Pack of Freaks when we first began dating. Falling in love with you saved Doug’s life. I love you, darlin.’

  To my kiddos, who are still teaching me how to be a mother. I love you, girls! (I’m working on some short chapter books for you. They might never see the light of day beyond the four walls of our house, but they’ll be your introduction to the Beasts Among Us world)

  To my beta readers: Casie, Roxi, and Katelyn (Melissa & Stacey, I hope you can jump back in for book 3!) thank you soooooo much for reading and critiquing! ( Katey, welcome to the team, I’m so glad you answered when I reached out to you!)

  To my cover artist, Mirella Santana. You are seriously talented! This cover is gorgeous!

  To my editor, Callie. Thank you so much for taking me on and turning this coal into a diamond. You, da best!

  To the NGoS! Guys, you’ve been so encouraging. Plus, you don’t care when I plug in my earbuds and ignore you for hours on end! (It may be a good thing we haven’t recorded ourselves and turned it into a podcast).

  To reader group in the Lair, I’ve loved getting to know you all and I’m looking forward to more.

  To my newly formed Alpha Pack, you guys have no idea how much you’re helping me. Seriously.

  All these people are my pack family, and I love you all!

  Jen loves books. Reading them, writing them, reviewing them, and collecting them. (She claims it’s not hoarding)

  Urban fantasy is the name of her game, and being a mom is her day job. She also is a licensed cosmetologist, though she no longer works in a salon.

  She lives in the boondocks of Maine with her husband, 2 tiny tornadoes (girls), 2 dogs, 3 cats, and 1 vocally insistent cockatiel.

  To learn more, check out: jenniferzamboni.blogspot.com