Chapter Two- The Unit
Jack sat across from Goodwin as they had breakfast. He had woken up feeling refreshed and full of energy. He mentioned it to Goodwin who smiled. "Your body has fully adjusted to being a werewolf. You will experience wolf instincts at night but you are stronger, faster, and have sharper senses all the time." He drank some water. "Now, about the units. Each one can only have up to six at a time, though there are exceptions, and is led by a beta. Mates tend to break from their old units and form their own as they could have a litter of one to four pups."
"So, a unit doesn't stay together?"
"Some do but most don't and now is the time to meet yours. I looked through the units' records to recall who has space and who the members are. I think you'll fit in with the one I selected."
"I'm sure I will," Jack said as they left the house and headed deeper into the territory. Jack suspected that he and Akiza would form their own unit within two weeks. He was so certain of his future, he didn't consider the possibility that the two of them weren't destined mates. He looked around as he followed Goodwin, seeing nice houses, a large enclosed wooded area called simply The Park, and stores and businesses specifically tailored for, and run by, werewolves and wifewolves. He was led to a nice townhouse that seemed connected to a bar. Goodwin mounted the steps to the porch and rang the bell with Jack behind him.
The door opened to reveal a teenage boy with black and yellow hair and blue eyes. He had a lean, yet muscular body and an air of command mixed with deference. "Alpha," he said, stepping aside and bowing.
"Good morning, Yusei. I chose your unit to welcome our new member." He pulled the tall teen forward. "This is Jack Atlas. Jack, this is Yusei Fudo, your beta and the one whom you will follow."
He considered Yusei's action to Goodwin before bowing to Yusei. "Beta," he said.
Yusei smiled at the omega. He was thrilled that his unit had been chosen to help Jack acclimate to pack and werewolf life. His nose flared and he found a scent coming from Jack that he liked- a lot. He pushed it aside as he said, "Come on, Jack. Let me introduce the rest of the unit to you. Alpha, thank you." Goodwin nodded as he left the house and Yusei led Jack to where the unit hung out; a room called The Den.
Jack entered and nearly fainted. Akiza, his Akiza was there! We're in the same unit! What luck! Again, he saw the two of them mated and forming their own unit with pups of their own. He pulled himself out of his thoughts as Yusei said, "Everyone, this is Jack, our new member. Jack, this is Blister, Akiza, and the twins Leo and Luna." He gestured to each as he said their names. He nodded to them as he looked closer at them. Blister had light brown hair with some facial hair on his chin. Leo and Luna both ha aqua-colored hair and goldenrod eyes but it was easy to tell them apart. His gaze lingered on Akiza with her red hair and brown eyes and planned to get to know her before admitting interest in her.
Yusei took his customary seat and Jack settled next to Akiza on the floor with the others. "Well, Jack. Is there anything you want or need to know about our kind that Goodwin didn't mention or briefly touched on?"
"No, but I do wonder about what's called The Park."
"Ah, yes. The Park is where the pack goes during the full moon. It keeps us safe from attacking humans or by attacking vampires while our minds are simple wolves. There is plentiful prey and water as well as space. Even as wolves, we instinctively know the alpha, our units, and our territory inside The Park."
"Goodwin did mention wolf instincts but didn't elaborate."
"Those instincts are wolf sounds, the actions appropriate to your pack position, and the normal actions of a canine such as marking territory but that only happens while being actual wolves."
"So, what does a unit do?"
"We're a family. I'm the beta, the leader. You and the others are omegas who follow my decisions."
"So, we can roam our territory and the human one day and night, yes?"
"Correct. We don't intrude into the vampire one and honestly just being near it is disgusting. I went close to it once, about five hundred yards when I smelled decay and spoiled meat. I immediately sprinted all the way home for fresh air, pine smell, and our own wolf smell."
"Has anyone seen a human turned into a vampire?" Jack asked.
"We have a human friend who saw it," Leo said. "The way Dexter tells it, it's rough and awful. The human has his arms pinned behind his back and then the vampire bites the neck, and sucks almost all of the blood. Then, another vampire slits his own wrist and forces it into the human's mouth and makes them drink some of their blood. The human goes pale and they die only to wake up a few minutes later as a vampire."
A shudder ran through the entire unit. "God, that is awful," Jack said. "Becoming a werewolf isn't that painful.
"So, I noticed a bar connected to the house," Jack continued.
"That's my business," Blister said and then smiled. "Even adult werewolves like to drink. I've set it up so I can serve drinks at night despite having paws."
Jack nodded. "Makes sense. I'm guessing all businesses have some kind of adaptations?"
"For some things," Blister said. "One thing that can't is anything that requires hands like cutting food or sewing clothes. Our territory can operate independently of the other two but we can go into the human part of the city to interact with them and go to the butcher shops. Yeah, we can eat raw meat while human," he said, anticipating Jack's question.
"I don't think I could do that."
"You will," Akiza said. "We all do as raw meat is all we can eat at night."
"Speaking of which," Blister said, standing. "I and some others need to go to the human side for food for the celebration tonight."
"Celebration?" Jack asked as the man left.
"We always celebrate the addition of a new wolf whether bitten or born," Yusei explained. "It is a very joyous occasion and you'll get to meet the rest of the pack. In fact," he got up from his seat. "Why don't I show you the rest of the territory? I'm guessing you only saw the part that comes before our home."
"You guessed right." Jack stood and followed Yusei out of the house. "Yusei, what are the beta's responsibilities?"
"My job is to insure my unit's safety and that the alpha's laws are enforced. One law no one is inclined to break is traveling into human territory alone. A vampire would love to attack a lone wolf."
"If a law is broken, what then?"
"Depends on which law was broken. The punishment fits the crime. Let me use the one I mentioned as an example. The punishment is having an escort for a week or so. The beta of the offender is usually the escort. A group trip usually requires one beta or a strong omega." Yusei looked Jack up and down. "You could be our unit's protector wolf. I get the feeling you are big and strong as a wolf."
"Perhaps." Jack wasn't sure if he would be a good protector. He was usually a loner. I should forget about that. I'm a werewolf now and wolves are social animals.
Yusei kept sneaking looks at Jack as he pointed out anything of interest. Damn, but he is handsome and his scent is very enticing to me. It might just drive me crazy by the Mating Moon. He could be my destined mate. Well, whether he is or not, whether I find a mate or not, I'm staying with the twins. They're too young to be on their own and should not be shuffled around again. It's my job to take care of my unit's safety and well-being and I will.