1. Gray

1

GRAY

Huddled in my car, shivers coursing through me despite being covered in layers of blankets, I sighed as the cold penetrated every corner of the vehicle.

My growling stomach didn't help. My last meal was a sandwich from the convenience store this morning, or was it yesterday?

Focus on one problem at a time, I reminded myself.

The heater broke down again. Another thing on the ever-growing list of repairs my wallet couldn't currently afford.

Glancing at the meager contents of my wallet — just ten dollars — I knew priorities had to be set. The heater would have to wait until I found a job, any job that paid the bills.

Over the past five years, I'd gone from waiting tables to working the gas station, to the monotonous grind of the warehouse, and even the occasional harvest jobs.

As I stared out at the misting car window, I couldn't help but wonder if my life was destined to be a constant struggle.

Scraping by, chasing some kind of stability, and wrestling with the unknown every single day—this couldn't go on forever.

Tentatively, I pulled out my cellphone from under the layers of blankets and opened my latest message from Jack.

We'd crossed paths at a bar two nights ago. The owner knew me, cut me some slack, and let me warm up inside without needing to order anything a few times.

I sat in a lonely corner nursing my cup of water when Jack sauntered by, offering to buy me a drink.

Handsome Jack, with his wheat gold hair and bright blue eyes. I might not have much experience when it came to dating but I wasn’t born yesterday.

Guys like Jack didn’t hit on guys like me without wanting something. My inner wolf, always skeptical, chimed in, echoing my sentiments.

After a while, it became evident that Jack sensed I wasn't going to reciprocate his advances. Still, he casually told me to hit him up anytime, handing me his number.

Now, I found myself staring at it miserably. How pathetic was I that I had no one to turn to but this random alpha werewolf?

No, I decided, I wasn't that desperate yet. Shoving my phone away, I wrapped my blankets more tightly around my body.

Attempting to lie down once more, I realized it was no use. Sleep eluded me, and the cold became unbearable, seeping through the layers of inadequate warmth.

I blew out a frustrated breath. It struck me then—I'd finally hit my lowest point. Ever since my father passed away, I'd relied solely on myself.

Jack entering my life, it occurred to me, might not have been a fluke of fate. Were there genuinely good people out there?

Perhaps I'd been too stubborn, too set in my solitary ways to see it. As the notion settled in, I considered the possibility that Jack might end up being the one.

Shifters believed in mating for life, a concept I'd always viewed more as a curse than a privilege.

After my omega dad passed away in his sleep, my alpha dad, fell apart. He clung to life for my sake, but he’d changed and had always been a little distant.

Why was I thinking about all of this now? Maybe the cold was finally getting to me.

All I craved at that moment was a simple night's sleep in a warm bed. Was that really too much to ask for?

Pushing my stubborn pride aside, I mustered the courage to call Jack. After three rings, he picked up.

"Hey, Jack? It's uh, Gray. Not sure if you remember me, but we met two nights ago at a bar,” I began, my voice slightly hesitant.

It soon occurred to me that Jack might have completely forgotten about me, and I wondered if making this call was in vain.

With his striking looks and confident demeanor, Jack probably had no trouble luring anyone to his bed.

"Gray, of course, I remember you. You were the only omega wolf at the bar that night," Jack said, his voice cutting through my thoughts.

Alarm bells rang in my head at his words, but in that moment, I was too exhausted and hungry to care.

"So, um, is your offer—" I began, feeling my cheeks heat up.

It struck me that in five years, I'd never asked anyone for help. It was a humbling and humiliating experience.

"It is. I'll text you where I live. It's really good to hear from you, Gray,” Jack said, his voice reassuring.

We ended the call soon after. The lack of conversation should bother me if I were a bit sharper, but right now, I couldn't care less.

I tried to recall what I knew about Jack. He had bragged about being part of a big pack in a nearby town.

My father and I had always been solitary shifters, not big fans of packs. Still, if Jack belonged to a reputable pack, that should make him a little legit. Safe.

I waited like a child on Christmas Day, anticipation building as I longed for Jack's text to arrive.

I hated myself a little for what I had just done, my inner wolf pacing restlessly inside me.

"Suck it up. This is way better than freezing to death," I whispered to myself, attempting to quell the unease.

My wolf had no answer for me. When my phone finally beeped, I immediately inputted the address into my GPS app.

Returning behind the wheel, I drove, shivering uncontrollably. An hour later, I found myself waiting outside a tall, razor-wired fenced and gated compound.

I swallowed hard; this had to be some kind of mistake or prank. The little hope that lingered inside me stuttered out.

I jumped when one of the guards knocked on my window.

"Sorry, I think I made a wrong turn somewhere," I babbled, intimidated by the size of the guy and the gun he was carrying.

My wolf instinctively identified him as a shifter. I didn't need his warning to know I ought to be careful; my first instinct was to extract myself from this situation immediately.

"Jack, a friend of mine, must've sent me the wrong address," I explained.

"Jack? Oh, you're Gray then? Go on in," the guard said, returning to his post.

What was going on? I wondered, and finally saw a little sign near the gate.

"You are entering Blue Vale Wolves Territory. Outsiders without an invitation, keep out," I read aloud, then swallowed.

I expected Jack to send me his home address, not the address of his pack. As doubts crept inside me, my cell phone rang.

Jack's name flashed across the screen, and I pressed the answer button.

"Just calling to find out where you are. There's a storm coming, and I got a little worried," Jack said.

His words brought me some relief. Here was a guy who cared, even though we didn't know each other at all.

Maybe I was overthinking the situation, or my tired brain just wanted to shut down.

"I'm right at the gates of your pack compound," I answered.

"Great, then I'll see you soon. I've had a room prepared for you already, and a warm meal's waiting in case you haven't had dinner," Jack said.

"Sounds good," I whispered, lured by the promise of a bed and food.

After cutting the call, I realized the guards had thrown the gate open. I drove through, a mix of anticipation and apprehension swirling within me.

I stood before the mirror in the bathroom, a stranger staring back at me—frightened and pale.

A denim jacket hung loosely over my shoulders, the fabric offering little comfort against the chill in the room.

Straightening the jacket, I took a deep breath before shouldering a backpack that contained all of my life's belongings.

In my transient existence, I didn't own much; living out of my car dictated that less was indeed best.

Last night had been a blur. I remembered being ushered into the noisy pack house, Jack smiling way too broadly at me.

Chugging down that evening's dinner—stew and bread—a warm shower, and finally collapsing on a warm and wonderful bed.

Jack hadn't made any unwanted advances towards me, and I counted that as a blessing. He hadn't asked me a lot of questions either.

The simplicity of the interaction felt like a respite, giving me a space to breathe in this unfamiliar territory, but now it was time to go.

"You can do this," I whispered to myself.

I gave my new room a final glance. For the first time in my life, I had four walls and the protection of a pack.

I didn’t need to worry about the cold anymore, but in hindsight, I realized I could live without these comforts.

Honestly, I couldn't put a finger on why every instinct in my body urged me to leave, but Jack's grin lingered in my mind.

There seemed to be some sinister edge to it. Was my mind playing tricks on me? On hindsight, he had to want something else from me... right?

Doubt gnawed at the edges of my thoughts, leaving me uneasy and questioning the true nature of the warmth Jack had extended.

Perhaps I shouldn't have come here, shouldn't have been so quick to believe in the assurances of a complete stranger. It wasn't too late to correct my mistake.

I pushed open the door, half expecting Jack to have sent his buddies to keep a close eye on me.

Relief washed over me as I glanced down the corridor and found it empty. With purpose in my stride, I walked, silently hoping to avoid any encounters with the other wolves.

I couldn't bring myself to refer to them as my pack mates just yet. I had only arrived the night before, and aside from Jack, I knew no one.

Perhaps there were good people among them, but I wasn't planning to stay long enough to find out.

I groaned as I made a wrong turn into a familiar corridor. I'd been here before, I realized.

Two women chatting nearby paused from their conversation to give me a scrutinizing look. I quickly turned away and pretended I knew where I was going.

After some trial and error, I finally found myself looking at a familiar foyer. The front door lay beyond.

Tugging my backpack strap, I started for it, but a lofty voice stopped me cold.

"Leaving so soon?" someone asked.

"Don't turn around, keep walking," I told myself, reaching for the door handle.

Then a hand landed on my shoulder.

"Hey, I asked you a question."

Immediately, I felt cornered. I slowly turned around to face the speaker. It wasn't Jack, but the red-haired towering giant was one of the buddies Jack introduced to me the night before.

His name was either Clive or Chris, I thought.

"Well, I figured I could go outside for a walk," I replied, glad my voice came out even. "You're... Clive, right? Jack's best friend?"

"That's right," Clive said, relaxing a little.

I didn't like the way he closely examined me. My inner wolf was telling me to bolt as soon as I could.

"It would be poor form to just leave without saying goodbye to Jack, don't you think?" Clive asked.

"I just need some fresh air, that's all," I said.

"With your bag?" Clive asked, nodding to the pack I was clutching too tightly.

I forced myself to relax my hold on the strap and met his gaze evenly.

"I need to grab some stuff from my car," I said, keeping my voice casual.

"What's going on here?" asked a gruff voice.

A fit, gray-haired man in his fifties approached. Suddenly, it was hard to breathe.

The intense and massive aura coming off from this wolf... I realized, was overwhelming. It didn't take a genius to figure out this was the lead alpha of the Blue Vale Wolf Pack.

"Who is this, Clive?" the older werewolf asked.

"This is Gray," Clive said, providing no more information.

"Gray? I see. It's a pleasure to meet you, young wolf," Olaf said, extending a hand towards me.

Confused, I shook it, surprised by the strength in his fingers. I found it odd Olaf didn't seem surprised by my name.

Maybe Jack had informed Olaf he took a stray in for the night, or maybe it happened all the time in this pack.

Olaf soon left Clive and me alone, and I could breathe a little easier again.

"Alright then. I'll tell Jack to expect you later," Clive said with a smile I distrusted even more than the one Jack flashed me the night before.

I avoided a shudder as I exited through the front door. I could still feel Clive's stare behind me.

Once the door shut, the first thing I did was sprint for my car. Something felt very wrong here, I decided, and I didn't want to be a part of it.