The pack house was a big log house with six bedrooms and three sprawling entertainment areas. I think it used to be the hotel or clubhouse when the place was a resort. There was a small lawned area in front of it with a huge cottonwood tree growing in the middle of it. Except when it rained, that was where you could find the pack omegas, Lola, Lilac, and Sue. Out of everyone in the pack, I knew them the least. They were always there, lazing about in the shade of the tree, all broad hips and small waists. They didn’t really seem to be close friends with anyone except for Dalton and The Brothers. The omegas were older than my mother, but they hadn’t held up all that well. They looked a bit tatty, to be honest, and their behavior often fell just short of being vulgar. They murmured softly to each other when I walked by and then cackled loudly as if I was the butt of their joke. They made me uncomfortable. If Jules was around, Lilac was sure to offer him a cookie. Just Jules, not me. It was weird. Jules and I weren’t their biggest fans but even we couldn’t deny they smelled damn good.

If you were to walk up the hill from the pack house, you’d pass a few empty cottages, then you get to the Hawkinses. Bob and Melinda. They were the newest members of our pack. They joined when Jules and I were about ten. They were well into their forties, but they didn’t have any kids. For a while, when they joined, everyone hoped they’d have pups, but I guess it was one of those things that just didn’t happen.

Across from the Hawkinses, were the Zielinskis. Maggie and Janec. If you wanted to know what the Zielinskis were like, all you’d have to do is to picture two people who were permanently in a bad mood. Like PMS level ten. Grouchy didn’t begin to describe it. Despite that, they were all right. They meant well, as my mother always said. Jules and I knew we could knock on their door anytime and Maggie would serve up a plate of snacks for us. We could count on it. Sure, she low key scolded us for something or other the entire time we ate, but we didn’t mind. What can I tell you? The woman made one hell of a snack.