“Well, you wouldn’t, because it is right in the middle of a wolf sanctuary,” said Peter.
“What?” asked Meg.
“You know the wolf sanctuary up next to the national forest?” asked Kevin who loaded Luc’s plate up with scrambled eggs and toast.
“Yes, I’ve been up there a few times with friends,” said Meg. Then it dawned on her. “They aren’t all shifters are they?” she asked.
“No, in fact, most of the ones the public interact with are real wolves or wolf hybrids. However, did you notice how there were fenced off areas farther back?” asked Luc.
“I sorta remember thinking that there was a lot of pens and fenced off areas that we couldn’t get to…” her voice trailed off as she thought about the layout of the wolf sanctuary. “Oh! I get it. Most of the shifters live in fenced off areas away from the public.”
“Exactly,” said Luc. “Most are so far gone that they never shift to human form. The ones that do have a cabin with basic necessities. However, they are behind fences and the biggest deterrent isn’t the other shifters at the sanctuary, but the ranchers around the area.”
“Okay, why? What am I missing?” asked Meg.
“Simple. Most of the ranchers would shoot a wolf on sight and the nearest bit of civilization is over an hours drive away. So, if they did escape, they’d need to either steal a car and clothes, or go out on four legs. If they were seen crossing a ranch, they’d be shot,” explained Peter.
“Oh geeze,” said Meg. “So that’s where Duke is?”
“Yes, Jeff left with him yesterday and he will be in the innermost areas for a long time. Jeff has been known to tranquilize some of them until they adjust. Others seem to come to an understanding that they screwed up and others, well…” said Luc as he made a hand gesture of shooting something off in the distance.
“You know, in some ways, that seems really barbaric. Then again, at least they are outside instead of in a 6 x 6 foot cage,” said Meg. “Are there many of them up there at the moment?”
“No, only one or two besides Duke. A few try to starve themselves, but that really never works. For the most part, we shifters are rather law abiding,” said Kevin.
“Oh?” said Meg rather sarcastically. “You mean to tell me that you guys are saints?”
“No, but our penalties for screwing up when caught are a bit more severe,” said Luc. “No one wants to go to a human jail, so people tend to be a bit more honest. Those that screw up face family or pack judgment. Rape and murder have one penalty. Death. What we are on the whole is fast justice. Often brutal, but no one languishes in jail for years on end.”
Meg thought about it. “Then how do you deal with humans that hurt pack members?” she asked.
“Often the same way we do with shifters. Or, they get turned over to the human court system, and get locked up as insane. ‘I killed a werewolf. Of course it was my wife, but…’ gets you sent to the loony bin by a judge,” said Peter.
“I can see that. Goes back to the whole ‘my uncle is a wolf’ business. No one would believe the guy, and justice would be served, because a nut case like that would be locked up forever,” said Meg.
“For the most part. The ones that don’t,… well… usually get killed or they kill themselves,” said Luc.
“Alright, I think I get Duke and his punishment. Now, for the family and pack thing,” said Meg. “Am I right in thinking that you are the boss or leader of the pack?” she asked wishing there was some other way she could have said that right as it came out of her mouth.
All three of the men snickered. Peter rolled his eyes and Kevin stared at the ceiling. Luc cleared his throat. “Um…” he started.
“Well, are you or aren’t you. Rather simple question,” she said. Meg had had a bit of time to think about things and some bits only added up one way. Now all she really needed was Luc’s side of the story.
“You aren’t making this easy,” he said.
“No, but then again, I never expected to end up as part of a werewolf trial either. Quit stalling,” she said with a smile in her voice.
“Okay, I’m the head of my family. And,… my um, my branch of the family is the biggest in the area,” he said. He grabbed his cup of coffee and drained it. “Why in the hell is it so hard to explain to her?” he wondered. “It isn’t like I’m some kind of royalty, but damn… Oh hell.”
“That makes sense of a lot of things I’ve been wondering about,” she said.
“Like what?” Luc asked.
“Oh, how a fairly young guy has such a good business, or how everyone turns to you when something happens. And it really explains yesterday,” Meg said.
“No, not really. Whenever the pack or a family member is wronged, they are the ones in the hot seat. They ‘rule’ over the procedure. This time it just happened to me and I happen to be the head of the family,” he explained.
“So, how is it that you have older siblings that aren’t in charge, but you are?” Meg asked. She was thinking of Sandy when she asked this.
“Well, some are dead or shifted or didn’t want the job. It isn’t so much by birth order, but by ability and some days I swear by who didn’t say no fast enough,” Luc said. He got up and got more coffee.
“So Sandy didn’t want the job?” Meg asked.
“Sandy had the job right up until Jesse’s mom died,” said Luc.
“Oh,” said Meg.
“And before you asked, she got hit by a car,” said Luc. “Some idiot in a Land Rover was busting around the farm they lived on and thought he hit a wolf or German Shepard. At least the idiot had the brains to come to the door and admit they’d been trespassing. Luckily, they left the body and Sandy was able to pick her up,” finished Luc.
“Oh damn,” said Meg.