5: Hood - Pack Trust by Carys Weldon Page A

the habitat.
     
     
    “Fuck.” Tucking myself as far back into the darkest, tiniest crevice I could, I scooped dirt up around me, practically burying myself.
     
     
    The bitches, many more than two, set off a few royal roars, too, and I plotted the murder of the whole damn lot of them. Hood, included. I knew that he’d run first, let them chase, probably nip at each other a bit. It sounded like a wolf pack on the hunt. And I knew what they were hunting. It wasn’t me, that was for damn sure. Not then. All it takes is one bitch in heat to distract them for a bit.
     
     
    Oh, I had no doubt that the full building search was under way still.
     
     
    I heard noise outside the den. Then the howls again. More silence, and then the bitches:
     
     
    “Shit. We lost him again.”
     
     
    “He’s been here. Pissed right...there.”
     
     
    I made a face. Some things I would never come to understand.
     
     
    “I can’t figure out if that unnatural is doing us a favor, or not.”
     
     
    “Shit. I think I saw him.”
     
     
    They took off. More howling ensued. There was little doubt when the running finally stopped. The bitches started whining, growling, snarling and quarreling, and Hood got quiet. That’s when I climbed out of my cubbyhole. I knew it was the best time to get out of the habitat, when he was totally indisposed. I hoped I didn’t have to go past them. The idea of all those females all over Hood--I think it would have killed me. But then, he was in lupus. I told myself, “You might not even recognize the son of a bitch, Gis. What are you worrying about? That’s not the man you lo--”
     
     
    All noises stopped. Ever been in one of those spots where you know if you move, you’re dead? I couldn’t breathe. Silently, though, I cursed their fucking wolf ears.
     
     
    It didn’t take long for them to start up again. So, I crawled out of there. It surprised me to find a clear path to the creek. Quickly, I washed my feet. I didn’t want to trail mud. My scent was bad enough. Uh, I think I forgot to say that I peeled my shoes halfway up to the habitat, threw them out on one floor, clear down the hall--hoping to make them think that I was on that level.
     
     
    Crawling on my knees from the creek so as not to leave footprints, I crept through the place, toward a door that I didn’t think was used much. I had to veer away from that when I saw some losers--unlucky, unattached males--hanging out on some rocks there. Probably up high so they could watch the alpha orgy.
     
     
    The habitat has wind machines that change the airflow from time to time, to give a natural effect. I kept glancing up, wondering where the fans were. Fucking incredible place, actually. It looked like the real outdoors. There are a lot of amazing artists and special effects garou. I had to give the artistic ones some credit. I’m talking serious fantasy island, there. Real enough to lose yourself.
     
     
    Distracted, a little by that, I almost got myself caught. Almost went around the wrong corner--big time. One glance and a fast duck, and I was licking my own wounds. So, yeah. I recognize Hood in lupus, apparently. But then, who could mistake a male with a perfect ‘hood’ on his head--thus the name, duh--with a pack of bitches tonguing him. He was just standing there, but there were heads sniffing his belly, others licking his lips.
     
     
    I vowed that I’d single-handedly come up with a way to ruin their tongues. Maybe a seasoning that would kill their taste buds? I was a biology major. Or would have been, if Hood hadn’t stolen me a month from graduation. My poor parents thought I’d been abducted. Were probably still hoping I’d turn up.
     
     
    I decided that if I got out, maybe I’d head there. But then, no. He’d expect that. Little girl runs home to Mama and Papa. Oh, hell no. I had to find Jack. He could help me figure out what to do next, how to break away completely. Or maybe Fera could just slit my throat