MAYBE I MISJUDGED JUDE

26 FEBRUARY, FRIDAY, CONTINUED

Jude led us a little further through the woods and then along the first path we came to, so I knew there were wolves living near here even though it wasn't Night Leaf, or Morning Light, or Lorent Pack turf.

We slowed down to a brisk walk and I couldn't help but notice how this part of the woods looked rather pretty in the winter daylight, all glittery with the last bit of ice and snow on the dark brown of the ground and bare branched trees.

A robin landed perfectly on a nearby branch and chirped a little ditty.

It could have been a Disney Princess moment.

But I was with Jude, Neil, and Jax, so... No Prince Charming in the vicinity for an impromptu sing-along. Just... I tried to place them, Jude in his leather jacket and Neil and Jax in our warrior jacket. All three of them sported dark denim clad legs and black biker boots.

Snow White might have found her seven dwarves in the woods, and Sleeping Beauty had her three fairy godmothers, but I'm with three biker thugs here. I'm not sure what kind of fairytale that would make.

And then just beyond the next curve of the path, we stepped out into an open clearing where we were afforded a view of the side wall of a large and surprisingly pleasant looking red brick house.

"Home sweet home." Jude smiled, a dimple forming on his left cheek.

"Oh, it's been a while." Jax stretched upwards looking more relaxed now.

Neil shrugged, "How's everyone?"

Jude shrugged back, "Oh, you know. Same old."

We followed him around to the front of the building where I could see the white-washed wooden verenda, with its wintering shrubs cut down low, neat empty flower beds, and the wide red brick house sitting quietly, with a steady puff of smoke on its chimney.

Everything about it only proved how my first impression from its side view was right. It was a rather large and pleasant red brick house.

"Welcome to my humble abode, my princess." Jude touched his heart and made a bow.

"It's very nice." I told him honestly. It really was.

And then Jude smiled, like a smile that went all the way to his eyes, as if he were truly pleased that I liked it, "You really think so?"

I nodded.

"I'm glad." He said, his dimple appearing again, "It's not fancy, but there's no place like home."

I nodded again. Yeah, I know the feeling.

This was the first time I was visiting a minor pack in my Packlands. Until today, all that I knew about living in a minor pack was from what I've heard from the wolves around me, so I really wasn't expecting an grand old red brick house in the middle of a pretty maple forest.

I'm not sure exactly what I was expecting, but I heard there weren't any utilities lines here, so no metered electricity, gas, or water. I heard there weren't any street lights either (you know, because no electricity lines), and I remembered that the other pups had speculated the wolves here would have to go potty in nature.

I think there was a small fire in one of these Packlands some years back. It was during our peaceful years, so it got a lot of news coverage. Nothing else was happening in our corner of the world so the LyNCh delved into it with great aplomb and embellished details of the backwater dark slums that were just fire hazards waiting to happen.

Since they couldn't get past the security checkpoints, they made do with a strange assortment of footages which they played to a narrative that made it look like our wolves camped in cardboard boxes in the middle of the woods!

I don't remember which minor pack it was that had this fire, but according to the adult adult discussion around me, the problem was that minor packs didn't have to comply with fire safety or ANY safety regulations on these homes.

"But what can you do?" Beta Lucas shrugged it off, "Those guys... If one of them needs a home, they'd just call in a truckload of planks and slap something together."

So I wasn't expecting cardboard boxes, but you can't blame me for being surprised that Jude didn't live in a wooden shed.

Jude led us up onto the weathered porch and through the very presentable black varnished solid wood front door.

It was unlocked though. I'm not sure why that surprised me since I thought they were living in sheds to begin with. But maybe I was expecting sheds with bolts and heavy metal locks. Because, you know, it was dangerous place...

Now that I thought about it, I'm not sure why I had thought it would be dangerous. Oh right, because Mum had often told me not to ever wander into another pack's territory on my own, "It's not safe Sam...blah blah blah..."

If the three bears installed a lock, they wouldn't have had to deal with Goldilocks.

Okay, I had no idea. It just felt dangerous. Maybe the gravity of Mum's repeated warnings had instilled upon me a natural cautiousness whenever I was in another packs' territory.

I do remember one summer when Mum went with Dad to visit one of the Minor Packs and when they got home, Mum had to go upstairs to wash her feet and change her shoes because their roads were really dusty, but Mum didn't expect that so she was wearing a pretty pair of open-toed summer sandals.

That was pretty much the most dangerous thing that happened from visiting a minor pack in my personal experience. I don't even think it classified as an incident per say.

But while growing up, I've also heard less than glowing reports about Jude's gang in their leather jackets and large noisy bikes, the reckless driving, brawls, and property damage.

"Terrible! They are a public nuisance!" Gamma Harry had denounced.

So I was endangered by dust and public nuisances.

I followed Jude, stamping out whatever slush or mud stuck at the bottom of my boots on the metal grates on the porch before entering the house.

The interior of the red brick house was larger than I expected, but just as warm and special looking as it's exterior. We stepped into a large open foyer. There was an old but clean ornate rug in the middle. A low settee on the side, and on the other, a long built-in bar and built in kitchen counter.

An older woman, her hair piled up in a messy bun on top of her head turned at our entrance.

"Oh." She said as she put the dishcloth away, and then she smiled, "Why, look what the cat dragged in!"

"Hi Mimi." Neil said with his usual wincing smile, but he also added a quick and courteous bow.

Jax nodded a quick bow too.

Mimi smiled widely and dried her hands on her apron, "Neil! Jax! Come take a seat, I'll put on the coffee."

"Are you going to just ignore me, Mama?" Jude asked, his dimpled smile out in full force.

She didn't. I believe you're the "cat" that dragged us in.

"Oh Jude!" Mimi shook her head as she got around the counter to give her son a hug. And then her eyes met mine.

I don't think she had noticed me till now.

I had kinda dropped back behind the guys when we entered. Neil alone was big enough for a cow to hide behind. Plus I was scentless and soundless ATM.

I guess I did still have some trepidation about being here. I mean, the house was nice and all, but I was dream travelling and couldn't smell a thing. Plus... I was in someone else's Packlands... I couldn't help but feel a little guilty about being here despite Mum's many, many warnings.

"Is that the alpha princess?" Jude's Mum whispered into her hands. She looked at Jude for confirmation.

"Mama, meet my princess." Jude introduced.

"Your...princess?" Mimi looked a little confused.

Poor woman. It had to be tough when your son can't give a straight answer to anything.

I quickly shook my head, "It's not what it sounds like."

"You're Alpha Kingsley's daughter... the Alpha Princess." Jude's Mama looked like she was trying to connect the dots, "I read about you in the papers."

Oh. I wasn't quite sure what to make of that. Did the papers write something about me again? And more importantly, was it something weird?

I managed to smile though, "My name is Sam. Just Sam is okay. Getting called princess is weird."

I shot Jude a pointed look.

"Yeah, but we all do it because it's fun to annoy her." Jax sauntered easily over to the bar.

So now the truth was out, huh?

"Oh." Said Jude's Mama. She cast a side glance at Jude who only leaned back on the counter and gave her a lazy smile. Since her son wasn't offering any help to clue her in, Jude's Mama had to just go along with it, "I'm Miriam, I'm this brute's mama, but everyone here calls me Mimi."

Jude smiled, his dimple making yet another appearance, "She's everyone's Mama, really. We've got a lot of lost boys here and Mama is our Wendy."

"Who's Wendy?" Jax asked.

Neil hit him, "If you don't talk, no one would mistake you for a mute."

Cue the laughter and the place just felt that much cozier.

When Jude was at home with his Mama like this, he turned out to be less hatable as a person. Or could it be that I had misjudged him all this while?