“Good, Winter, being brought into the pack is simple. Usually, we would share blood and you would feel a link to us but as your human, you only have to link to one wolf in the pack to feel the link. Jaxson will be the best option for you. Jaxson is the only wolf who works outside the pack and therefore can check up on you.” Fergus tells me, getting my attention.

“Right, what if I don’t want this?” I ask.

“Then Freddy will keep coming to you. Being part of this pack is just for protection purposes, we could teach how to protect yourself from our kind who have gone rogue, and other supernatural beings that could be a danger to you.” He tells me firmly. I don’t want to even know in this moment what other kinds of beings there are but I don’t want Freddy to suffer because of some link between us.

“Why would they be a danger to me?” I finally say after thinking quietly for a while

“The whole town is full of them, you don’t have to learn, just an offer,” Fergus says like he couldn’t give a damn if I do or don’t.

“She wouldn’t be able to protect herself, even if I taught her myself,” Jaxson scoffs.

“You’re a real asshole, you know that?” I tell him and he just shrugs.

“Jax, you’ll need to check on her often anyway, so why don’t you teach her?” Fergus says with a small smile. I have a feeling he is testing Jaxson in some way and I have no idea why.

“Fine, let’s get this done” Jaxson growls out and stomps over to me. I watch as Jaxson slides out a silver dagger from his boot. The dagger is small but looks like one of those throwing daggers I’ve seen in movies.

“Your finger.” He holds out his hand and I slide my hand into his. I watch as he carefully hands the knife to Fergus with a nod. Jaxson holds my finger up to Fergus who makes a small cut and I hold back a squeak of pain. I watch as Fergus cuts Jaxson’s finger, and then pushes it into mine. For a second all I see is Jaxson’s green eyes as they glow, looking straight through me before he pulls away and walks back to the wall where he was standing.

“All done, welcome to the pack,” Fergus says and I hold my finger with my other hand to stop the bleeding. I don’t feel any different but I feel a warm sensation on the back of my neck.

“I should go; I’ve had a long night,” I tell Fergus who nods and Jaxson turns to me, from his spot near the wall.