Every once in a while, our pack needed to restock. We usually did this once a week when the representatives of each section went shopping in the city. I mostly did it for our part. I was a warrior, I was able to find my way in bigger cities and blend in with my surroundings. Plus, I loved doing it. 

In the part where I lived, I was surrounded mainly by families with children, sometimes even several generations together. My family lived just down the street from me, so we saw each other all the time even after I moved away.

My brother Jacob studied to be a pack doctor. He completed part of his studies at a human school, just like me, but because he wanted to nurse wolves, he learned the trade in different packs. We were used to him always leaving for a few months so he could come back and spend a few weeks with us. Moreover, although he travelled constantly, he had yet to meet his mate. So for him, returning home still meant returning to his family.

I met my father most often, as he was also a warrior. Sometimes we had patrols together, and other times we met over the map to plan the next strategy. And although there were other wolves, my father liked to call it our time together. He was the first warrior in the family, so when I decided to become one too, he was more than proud.

While I spent time with my father, my sister Cora mostly assisted our mother. Together they collected herbs for various decoctions and ointments, which were later used by the whole pack. Come to think of it, we were all beneficial to the pack in our own way. The desire to help was simply in our blood. 

Maybe that's why, after my return from school, I tried to find as many ways as possible to be useful. One of them was shopping. With an empty car trunk, a full wallet, and a shopping list that could almost serve as wallpaper, I was ready for my weekly shopping spree. I was just on my way to the city, planning in my head where and what to buy so that I could do it in the shortest possible time. Not that I don't like spending time around humans, but with so many items on the list, I was glad to have everything I needed already loaded in my trunk.

However, something was different today. A nagging feeling somewhere in the back of my mind kept reminding me to be careful. The hunter attack was reason enough to be cautious, but the fact that my mate was out there was another problem that forced me to be keen-eyed.

It wasn't certain that he came from this city, but there was no doubt that he came from that direction. It was the only road that led to our territory. And we still had no idea if the hunters were planning another attack. Or rather when they are planning the next attack.

“Everything okay?”  Sam's voice echoed in my head. By having a close relationship, we were able to sense each other's emotions if they were strong enough. Sam obviously sensed my uneasiness, though I didn't think it was that pronounced. It was just a bad feeling, not a premonition. I didn't have those skills, although they would come in handy sometimes.

"Everything fine. I was just thinking about the hunters who attacked us," I answered truthfully.

"You didn't forget to spray yourself, did you?" His voice sounded almost concerned as if he thought I might really forget. Forgetting was not something I would do. Especially when it was something as important as a scent control spray.

A few years back, our pack managed to invent our own product that literally changed our chances of survival. By combining herbs and other ingredients, they created a spray that could mask our supernatural smell. Its effect lasted all day and then we simply had to spray again. And if we wanted to get rid of it sooner, it was enough to simply take a shower. It was brilliant.

It was still in the testing phase though, since like I said we've only had it for a few years so far. We didn't want to give all the wolves some miracle potion, only to find out later that it didn't work for everyone, or that there were adverse effects. Plus, it still wasn't strong enough to cover the omega scent in the heat, so our pack scientists still had some work to do.

"Don't worry. My smell is officially gone, except for the sweaty one since it's super hot in here." My old Toyota was a gift from my grandfather and although it was a wonderful car that I couldn't let go of it didn't come with air conditioning.

“I'd tell you that you need a new car, but I value my life,” Sam chuckled. He always pretended he didn't like it, but we both knew he couldn't afford his own, so he had no choice. Plus, we spent most of our teenage lives in this car trying to see the world as fast as possible in order to attend to our pack duties. Yeah, good old times.

"You obviously don't value mine since you keep talking to me while I'm driving,” I answered him amused. Not that I couldn't concentrate on the road, but I was almost there and in a city like this I needed full concentration.

"I'm done. Take care."

With a quiet mind, I drove the rest of the way and it wasn't long before I parked in front of the supermarket. Luckily for me, there weren't that many people here today, so I could afford to park near the entrance.

With a typical accompanying sound, the door in front of me opened for me to enter. Pushing the largest shopping cart possible, I entered and headed for the first item on the list - fruit. Our environment in the forest was suitable for growing various vegetables, but the fruit did not do well, so if it was not wild strawberries or raspberries, we had to buy it.

I filled the cart with bananas, apples, and some oranges. Not gonna lie, most were for adults, as convincing kids to eat more fruit was a superhuman task. Well, a superwolf task.

Dairy products were next in line. Most wolves loved cheese, not to mention yogurt and milkshakes. As predators, our diet consisted mainly of meat, but our human side craved something sweet every now and then. And that's exactly why I had a full list of sweets, too.

I had to brag, I was doing a good job shopping today. I didn't stay anywhere too long, I managed to get everything on the list so far, and there were only a few items left. Of course, peace never lasts long. 

As I was crossing to the next alley, I heard a child crying. Naturally, I went to see what happened. Werewolves were family creatures and children came first for us and even though there was little chance of this child being a werewolf I felt the need to help them.

Expecting a child with their parents, I was surprised to see a little girl sitting by the shelf alone. But what shocked me even more was the smell that came from her. Although weak, it was there. She smelled like a hunter.

I hesitated for a moment. It could have been a trap, although we were in an open area. As Sam liked to remind me, hunters never played fair. Setting up a crying child to lure a werewolf was the perfect plan.

I didn't know what to do, but in the end, she decided for me. She raised her head and looked at me with those big eyes full of tears.

I knelt down so that we were at the same height and carefully addressed her: "Hey, are you okay? Can I help you somehow?" I kept my tone low so as not to startle her, but she didn't seem to mind my presence.

"I got lost," she murmured quietly, bowing her head as if she knew she'd done something wrong. I felt sorry for her. She could be six, maybe seven, but the dejected way she sat made her look younger.

"Did you come here with your mother?" I asked her cautiously, considering all the possibilities. There weren't many places I could take her, our pack being the last. Taking her to the police sounded like the best idea, but that would have also drawn attention to myself, and shunning authorities was the first werewolf law.

She nodded her head in agreement before quietly adding: "Yeah." She didn't seem like she would start talking on her own, so I had to keep asking.

"Don't worry, kid. Your mom is definitely looking for you. Okay?” I waited until she showed me that she understood. “Can you describe her to me so I can help you find her?" I smiled at her to reassure her that she was okay.

“She…” she began to speak, but in the end, it was unnecessary as a loud female voice interrupted her.