Red handed
I slipped in through an open bathroom window, the air was stuffy, no wonder they opened it. I held my breath and tip-toed inside. My body trembling slightly at the thought of coming back empty-handed. The Boss. He wants me to grab some certain fancy jewellery. I did my rounds, there are 5 people living here, an older woman who works night shifts and sleeps during the day. The rest are males, they work during the day. So they should be fast asleep.
The piece of jewellery in question belongs to the alpha. They are still building their pack until they can head out and start settling. I passed through the kitchen slowly. If I remember correctly, it should be on a bookshelf in the study, if what The Boss said was correct.
Inside this house, there are two werewolves, the alpha is a werebear. I’ve heard he’s a real mean one. There is a werefox as well. The girl is a wereleopard. I swallowed slowly, I just needed to be quiet, like a mouse…
I opened the study door, cringing as it creaked loudly, my heart stopping. I have no sense of smell, which sucks because I can’t tell if anyone is nearby. As silence settled, I let myself breathe in quiet controlled gasps. I snuck into the study, this is my third time stealing, I’m not very experienced. I’ve already come back empty-handed twice because I cowarded out. It was way too terrifying.
He’s promised to sell me to pimps if I don’t start coming back with what he wants. Though that’s not as scary as the beating he will give me. I was beaten all my life, by my family, and now that I’ve finally escaped, I’m being beaten and threatened once again, because I need food.
I scoured the study, the room was dark, but I can't turn a light on. I moved my hands carefully in front of me. Feeling the desk and slowly walking…
I gasped and tripped crashing down. I held my breath, crawling desperately as the lights turned on. I hid under the desk. Holding my breath. Footsteps entered the room, something being picked up.
“Hmm, did this fall?” A voice asked, I waited quietly for him to leave. Legs appearing by the gap of the desk, something could be heard being put down. I gasped as my arm was suddenly yanked, sending me tumbling against the bookshelf. I stared up at the man with horror, shuffling backwards and hitting a wall. “Breaking in is punishable,” he stated, walking steadily towards me. I growled at him, trying to find my feet, moving to run.
I paused at the doorway, oh no. More of them stood watching me, blocking the doorway.
“I’m sorry for breaking in, I’ll go, no harm, no foul,” I stammered out, gritting my teeth. Before crying out in surprise, the one still in the room grabbed me in a bear hug with one arm, my arms pinned to my side, his other hand over my mouth. I kick and flail my legs uselessly, trying to bite his hand.
“We’ll figure out what to do with this one in the morning,” he growled, his voice close to my ear. I felt myself whimper, my knees curling in at his malicious tone. The rest stepped aside, and I was carried down a well-lit hallway. We entered a room, that was mostly bare, except for a few plastic bags and no windows. I was dumped onto the ground and yelped. The door slammed and locked. My body was trembling, but I tried to unlock the door, tried to find something I could use. Inside the bags were useless, there were only old clothes. After a while I fell limp with exhaustion, the bags piled around me like a protective barricade.
I opened my eyes blearily, blinking in exhaustion. Something touched me and my body immediately pushed itself backwards. I looked around and stared at the men in confusion, my heart going cold. I growled loosely, my eyes darting to all 4 of them.
The tallest had a head of white hair and green eyes. The one glaring at me with deep-rooted suspicion had dark brown hair and blue eyes. The one holding some of the garbage bags had lighter brown hair and grey eyes.
The final one stood in the front, his arms crossed and examining me with disappointment. I swallowed, looking at his brown eyes and black hair.
“I apologise for breaking in; I didn’t damage or take anything,” I said. Isn’t locking me up all night enough?
“As the alpha of my pack, I am the one that makes these rules. I am in charge of the punishment for anyone who does anything to threaten my pack or temporary pack house,” he said, his brown eyes glinting with frustration. I’m in a bad position, lying on the floor, too frozen to get up. “I’ve already called the authorities.” I felt myself sweating, the authorities will call my parents if they realised who I am! “And since we’re an established pack, I have to keep you here and decide on the punishment,” he muttered as if annoyed he had to do it.
The authority won’t come? And maybe The Boss will think I was mauled to death or something. I swallowed, I hope I don’t regret this small fleeting hope.
“Alpha Drake, should we have breakfast? She rolled in our scent all night, so I doubt she’s going anywhere,” the white-haired guy muttered, his stomach growling. I looked down at the clothes I had pulled out of the bags and used as an unintended bed after I had searched the bags.
“Yeah Racket, let’s eat. Come on girl, suppose we should get you fed as well,” Drake muttered. Racket grinned, heading out eagerly. The glaring dark brown-haired guy pulled me to my feet. I stumbled after them, seeing them sitting at a table as I stood, examining them. I’m not used to sitting at the table with people and I don’t trust it. I sat on a chair at the edge of the bench instead. Racket setting up the food, he looked at me and back at Drake, before setting a bowl in front of me.
I quickly covered it, as he walked to the table to eat. My arms on either side and a scowl on my face. I have to protect my food, I always do. Though brief memories of pain flickered through my mind, people don’t respond well when I protect my things.
“What is your name?” Asked the light brown-haired guy. I paused, I need to think of a different name, one I like, but one that’s not my given name.
“Maple,” I said quietly, hoping the name was believable and would stick.
“How old are you, Maple?” Asked Drake, it seems he believes it. Good, I’m better off with a new identity. It’s better than being called Feta. My parents weren’t very creative or nice.
“I’m 16,” I responded.
“Younger than I assumed,” another voice commented. I swallowed nervously, eating my food quickly, not wanting to lose it.
“Why did you break in? I assume you’ll remain in an honest mood,” Drake asked. I sighed, what’s the point of lying? The longer I’m away from him, the more he’ll assume I’ve been mauled.
“Someone… someone told me to steal a necklace, in exchange for food,” I muttered.
“Do you have any idea the worth of that necklace?” Asked Drake, a slight hint of anger back in his voice. I swallowed down my last bite of food, feeling like I’m going to choke if I get scared enough.
“Enough for a meal?” I asked quietly.
“A meal? That’s enough for many!” Snapped the dark brown-haired one in anger. I could hear a chair move and looked up, Drake standing.
“Enough yelling Trent,” ordered Drake lightly. I watched Drake move closer he reached towards me and I flinched backwards, immediately out of the seat and standing to the side.
“Don’t touch me,” I growled. He examined me through the corner of his eye before picking up my empty bowl and putting it in the sink.
“We should be off to work soon. You best go toilet before we put you back in your little cell,” sighed Drake. e doesn’t sound angry with me, but I won’t hold my breath to see if he’ll let me free.
“We should get stuff for the room, she’ll start smelling like us too much if we don’t,” the brown-haired guy said.
“She broke into our house! What about that deserves pleasant accommodation?!” Trent demanded. I stepped back at his anger. Drake shook his head. Racket stood and he moved with more grace and seemed more lithe than the rest, he must be the werefox.
“This way Maple, maybe you should sneak in a quick shower,” Racket said. I slowly followed him, facing a small side hallway with 3 doors, one for a bathroom, one for a toilet and one for the laundry. I quickly used the toilet and took his advice to have a quick shower. Quietly I scrubbed myself and got redressed into my clothes.
I quietly left the bathroom, lowering my head as Racket led me back to the empty room.
“You know Maple, if you really were so desperate for food, why didn’t you try joining a pack?” Asked Racket. I growled and shook my head.
“They wouldn’t want me anyway,” I murmured. I really don’t want to snap at him, he’s the only one not being aggressive about me, and I don’t want to give him a reason to.
“I dunno about that, maybe you should have asked around more. It’s better than listening to the Thief Guild members,” he commented. I stared at the wall and he shrugged, shutting and locking the door. There’s a whole Thief Guild? He was just using me… No surprise really.
Joining a pack? I was always told that mice aren’t meant for packs. That we should be alone because they become stupid, ungrateful daughters like me. I closed my eyes, and my body was sore and healing. I need more sleep. My body curled up behind the garbage bags again, using the clothes as a makeshift blanket. I don’t care what or who I smell like, I can’t smell anyway.
I breathed deeply, the walls of a house protecting me from the elements. I settled in, whimpering slightly beneath the clothes, tears trickling down my face. Why does everything have to happen to me? here…
