The car's ceiling felt too low, and the space felt much smaller from the inside. At least the seat belts were normal, and I could buckle myself in.
Harvey started the engine, and it burst to life quite noisily. But if I thought that was bad, it was ten times worse the moment Harvey stepped on the gas.
It was noisy, as if we were driving on pure explosions. The car interior warmed up pretty quickly too. I noticed Harvey took to the empty roads, and then I realised what sitting in a Lambo felt like—it felt like I was in a racing car. Vroom!
This made it fun for a few seconds, maybe even a full minute, as Harvey sped down an empty expressway.
When we shot through the tunnel, it felt like we drove through a very angry dragon.
Except it got a bit warmer than I had expected it to. I guess when I'm going fast, it would be like in wolf form with the wind blowing through my fur. But I was in an enclosed metal hull. No wind. In a winter jacket, uncomfortably warm. And belted up.
And as the ride went on, the engine noise kept drilling into my head.
It was too noisy.
And at the speed we were going, I'm glad the driver was a wolf equipped with all the reflexes of a wolf.
We got home pretty quickly. I grimaced at the way the loud, irregular spurts of the car startled people along Gate City Road.
Now I had three things I didn't like:
Guns, drills, and Lamborghinis.
Once through Gate City, Harvey sped up again, and I think we sounded like a speeding lawn mower. Cutting through the roads in the woods, we passed the feeder bus that sent me to the train station in the morning.
Needless to say, it was too noisy for conversation.
I guess I'm not a car person. I'm especially not a noisy car person.
We pulled up at the packhouse parking lot. Killion was waiting for us. He waved and smiled sanguinely. He didn't seem to notice that the angry metal beast was roaring at all. I've never heard a lamb make this kind of noise before.
Harvey pulled up into the lot and cut the engine. The moment it was quiet again, I told him in all seriousness, "Harvey, I never want to ride in this again."
Harvey looked surprised and then completely amused. "Understood, Princess."
He got out of the car, and I would have too, except I didn't know how to work the door.
Killion opened the door from outside, and I grabbed my stuff and climbed out. The seat was definitely lower than usual.
"Welcome back**,** Goddess," Killion said. "Your parents are waiting for you in the penthouse."
To Harvey, he said, "Ben wants me to tell you that he wants the Lambo."
Harvey quirked his brow. "Did he tell you why I should let him have it?"
Ki smiled. "He said he would have the school jam room cleaned up by next week."
"Anything else?" Harvey asked.
"And the logistics accounted for at the end of the promo gigs," Ki added.
Harvey took out the Lambo key from his pocket. He had his usual calm smile. "Did he think I'll let him have the Lambo just for that?"
Gasp! Harvey was wrangling to see what he could get out of this. My good beta was suddenly a shark.
"Well, he did say he would be the lead beta for all rogue interrogation as long as he is driving the Lambo," Killion said.
"What has that got to do with me?" Harvey asked.
Killion smiled. "Well, it would free me up a bit more when he takes over. I'm just wondering if you had any better reason why I should let you have the Lambo."
Oh, and I thought Harvey was bad. Killion was obviously even worse.
I wondered what Harvey would offer. Killion beamed at the other Beta.
Watching them regard each other, I imagined I was watching a documentary. I watched the bigger shark encircle the smaller one.
Harvey pressed his lips together, as if considering his options. Then, with a wry smile, he said, "Alright, deal."
He handed Killion the key to the Lambo and then dropped the truth bomb. "I wanted the Porsche anyway."
Killion went to the key box and exchanged the keys for him. "I thought both of you wanted the Lambo?"
"The princess didn't like riding the Lambo," Harvey said. He unlocked the Porsche. "Tell Ben to clean up inside the cabinets of the jam room too."
"Poor Ben." Then Killion looked at me. "No Lambo for the princess?"
I shook my head. "Never again."
Harvey drove away in the Porsche, blinking the headlights at us as he passed. Killion waved him off.
We headed back into the main packhouse building. Passing our town car, I couldn't help but notice that it was being cleaned.
"I'll be heading up with the Princess. Finish up here, don't skip the hubcaps, and then head over to Beta Lucas' car at his place," Killion instructed the man.
"Yes, Beta," the guy replied from behind the car.
"Thanks for the good work," Killion answered in all cheer.
So now I knew that Killion didn't hand-wash and take care of the cars on his own. Why did that surprise me?
When we got to the lift, I realised that Harvey never got to fill me in just now.
I asked, "Do you know why I'm home early?"
"Maybe it'll be better to let your parents tell you," Killion said.
And at that moment, I knew it had to be something serious. Killion knocked on the door, unlocked it with his keycard, then pushed the door open. "The Goddess is here."
Mum stood up from the sofa. Dad was using his phone at the dining room table. Savy was home too. She popped out of the room the moment I entered the apartment.
"So... what's up?" I asked.
Mum put her hand on my shoulder. "Sam, your Grandpa Alpha passed away this morning."
I looked out the window. It was still morning.
"Pack your things. Savy will help you. We will be driving over to Night Forest after lunch," Mum said.
"After three, I'm afraid," Dad updated from his place. "Lucas is unable to clear the schedules any earlier. I need to go back to work, darling."
"It's fine. You go ahead. I'll pack our things and get the girls ready," Mum told Dad.
"Ki, have you arranged for the transportation?" Dad asked.
Ki smiled. "Of course, Alpha. Your entourage has been arranged. If Luna Bell arrives by three, we will join you. Or else I will wait here for him, and we will arrive at Night Forest with the Lorents."
{Mate! Mate! Mate!}
On the outside, I asked, "What makes you so sure Bell's coming?"
"Luna Bell has another fight at midnight. So he would probably spend the morning at the gym, have lunch, prepare for his match, and take a nap later in the afternoon to rest up," Ki explained.
So Ki was just assuming Mate would dream travel here when he napped?
"What about the girls' clothing?" Mum asked.
"They should arrive by lunchtime," Killion promised.
"That's a relief," Mum said.
I wondered what we would have done without Ki.
Dad received a mindlink and excused himself thereafter.
Mum took the time to give instructions to Savy and me before rushing off to pack her luggage.
We would be staying at Night Forest till Sunday morning and would have to help receive Alphas from all over the continent. Beta Lucas and Ben would be coming with us.
Beta Gerald and Harvey would be joining us at Night Forest by nightfall. The Lorents would also be making an appearance at Night Forest later tonight. Ki would take care of Bell and join us by the end of the night.
We were also expecting Alphas and maybe even Future Alphas from other colored packlands, including even more visitors from the neighbouring packs in White Packland, where Night Forest was, as well as the Black Packland's Black Forest Pack, which was a long-time ally to Night Forest.
Uncle Pierre and Uncle Andre would be arriving with their mates by Saturday evening.
Mum thinks Uncle Louis and his Luna Jade might need some extra hands, so Savy and I should try to help out. Our betas and men would also be expected to assist and were not there for show.
Grandpa Alpha would be buried early Sunday morning, after which we would immediately return in time for Breakfast with the Alpha—which would only start at 9:30 a.m. this Sunday.
We were to pack dark-colored clothing only. No loud music (this was directed at Savy), and no getting into fights (this was directed at me). My Grandma Luna was very strict, and we should be on our best behaviour. Especially me.
"Why me?"
Mum pursed her lips at me. "You should know why you."
And then we went to our separate rooms to pack.
Savy was despondent. She pulled out two sets of clothes each time. One for herself and one for me.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
Savy sighed as she dropped the clothes into two piles. "I don't want to go. We'd have to hang out with our cousins while everyone compares us and makes comments about us now that we are all shifted."
"Maybe they won't this time," I said. "Maybe everyone will be too busy."
Uncle Louis had three children. Twin daughters, Estella and Esmeralda, who were our age and were known to be very beautiful like their human mother.
His third child was a son named Edgard.
Let me see... Edgard was born when I was ten. That made him five now? He was probably the youngest Future Alpha on the continent.
I doubt there was any way Night Forest would accept a female Alpha. Uncle Louis will have to wait a long time to retire.
Savy and I actually liked Estella and Esmeralda, and we got along well enough. What we didn't like was the way we would be compared.
Estella and Esmeralda were a year older than I was, so they had already shifted. This would be the first time we were meeting after our first shift.
"At least you have super cool powers," Savy said. She pulled out more clothes and then decided, "Ki! We need your help!"