James

By Alexis Donkin

After the bubble burst on his father's business, James and his alpha family find themselves in an old farmhouse in Vermont, fantasizing about the life they left behind in Pittsburgh. As the third of five boys, James was the good son compared to his wild werewolf brothers. That changed when he turned fifteen. He wasn't just the good son – he was the biggest and most natural werewolf of his generation, upsetting his older brothers' family ranks. In light of his transformation, pack politics begin to upset his life, his love, and his family. Follow James as he comes to terms with just what it means to be an alpha of the Rollins pack.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Alexis Donkin
• Release date: May 3, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476091617

Alexis Donkin

Alexis Donkin is passionate, purposeful, and prolific. If Margaret Atwood and C.S. Lewis had a lovechild, it would be her.Alexis currently lives in Southern California with her family and real-life familiar. She has lived many places and studied many things. Between writing, speaking, and chasing her kid, she paints, sings, and dances. Sometimes she does it all at once. Be sure to connect with her and sign up for her newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/btmIPD

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The Rollins Pack: James

By: Alexis Donkin

Copyright 2012, Alexis Donkin

All rights reserved.

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Chapter 1 – The Move

It had been a while since we visited the old house. The thing had been in our family for generations, up in the green wilds of Vermont near the New York and Canadian borders. I don't know why the family kept the thing. I knew from the last time I visited the wood was rotting away, the foundation was listing, while the roof and paint were both on their last legs. Add the fact that it was in the middle of nowhere, where none of our friends lived, and it was a teenage nightmare. I certainly wasn't excited about moving back there.

We had been lucky. My brothers and I had grown up in less snow, and more humidity in the great state of Pennsylvania. However, I will say it was nice to avoid the thick air. In such a northern latitude as Vermont, you don't have problems with the air being so thick you can cut it. Instead you have layers on layers of black ice, snow drifts the size of houses, and ice so heavy it downs trees and power lines. Yes, we were lucky to have that benefit.

My uncle said it was his favorite place to go, the Vermont house. He talked about it like it was a dream place to live. The long grass in summer, the corn fields, the rushing streams of spring, and the smells of maple and apple were enough to make Vermont sound like a Thomas Kinkade painting. But I liked the pace of Pittsburgh. I liked the rough edges of the city, Primanti Brothers sandwiches, Vincent's Pizza, and the Strip District. I liked having the prestige of my father's company, and the friends it brought with it in the surrounding area. I liked the idea of asking the prettiest girl in my year to cotillion. I wanted that, just like my oldest brother had done.

My mother, bless her heart, had been cursed with a brood of boys – five. Five loud, overly active, and completely cocky boys. And I was number three – smack dab in the middle. My claim to fame in our family was I got into the least trouble, which really wasn't saying much considering my older brothers.

Honestly, I got into as much trouble as any teenager did, but my younger brothers were just hitting junior high and my older brothers were at the end of high school and in college. Needless to say, I was forgettable in the wildness of the other four. So my mother loved me – really loved me. But that didn't make our move any better. In some ways, it made it worse.

As we drove up to that house, the seven bedroom farm house with all the charm that peeling paint can have, I knew this was the official end of my dreams for the rest of high school. My uncle had told me about the people up here – the New England reserve. He wasn't sure how they would deal with us – being that the land had been ours for generations, but no one had lived their consistently for just as long.

"New Englanders have a habit of being cold," he had said, right before we hopped into the car to drive away, A person is an outlander – a foreigner for three generations. It's hard to break into a place like that. The memory of my uncle's words did nothing to assuage my concerns. Even with his disconcerting words, I wished he was there along with us. I wished the whole family was there, but I didn't have that luxury.

My oldest brother wasn't there that day – Jeremiah. He was off at some college thing, even though school hadn't officially started. We had a little bit of time before that mess – thank god! But college, or so I'm told, is supposed to be better. Lucky bastard. I would have hated him, except, I couldn't. He was my brother after all.

James! There was the call. I had been dawdling, avoiding getting out of the Jeep. If I stayed inside, it couldn't be real. I knew as soon as I stepped on the dusty drive, there would be no take-backs.

Yeah Mom. I slammed the Jeep door shut behind me with a crunch. I cringed, but didn't look back. I don't know why my mother was intent on keeping the same car we'd had for years and years. I guess it was just force of habit. My mother was frugal. Stupidly frugal. So even though she had five huge boys who were still growing, she kept her beloved Jeep. My dad, well my dad at least had something that wasn't new in the last century.

The house clearly hadn't been worked on in some time. The wood steps creaked as I made my way to the wrap around porch. The screen door was barely on its hinges, and squeaked atrociously as I pulled it open. I scowled knowing full well what our weekend would consist of – work. Suddenly a sharp jab hit me in the kidney.

OUCH! I yelped as I rubbed my side vigorously and turned to find my immediate younger brother, Freddy. He was grinning with all his teeth, his dark hair messed and a sparkle in his eye. Looking down at him, I growled, "Now is not the time Fred!"

What? I didn't do anything! he protested, sticking his chin out in defiance. I wanted to haul off and hit him, but if I did, there would be hell to pay. I really didn't feel like paying.

Whatever, numb-nuts!. I glared at him because anything worse would have given me grief, and I was more interested in a smooth transition from Pittsburgh to nowhere Vermont. I let the screen door slam in his face as I walked into the cavernous farm house. The walls were plain white, and the floors were old wood, in desperate need of a wax. I wondered how much fun waxing those was going to be, because no doubt, we would end up having to do it.

Isn't it great? my mother asked brightly as she waltzed into the room. She was still a beautiful woman in her late forties. Her hair was still dark, and her eyes a sparkling hazel, both of which I had inherited. Freddy was now the same height as my mother, a whopping five feet seven inches. She might have been taller than average for a woman, but it meant nothing next to me. I now towered over her at my pinched six feet. If history was any teacher, I would be just as large as my older brothers. Both Jeremiah and my second brother, Andrew, were six feet three inches, and scarily broad in the shoulder. It was one of the reasons we were so good at sports. My sweet mother smiled enthusiastically at me and gripped me to her with her slender arm, even as she pushed me towards the stairs.

Go check out your room sweetie! She beamed, all the lines on her face accentuating her smile. I sighed, smiling reluctantly back. She knew how unenthusiastic we all were about the move, but what could we do? My father's business had gone under with the market crash and we had nowhere else to go. It was our last vestige, and thankfully had enough rooms so we could all get our own. We even had a spare bedroom! It was as though the place had been made for our family, even though it had been in the family for several generations without any additions as far as I knew.

Sure thing. I nodded and trudged up the stairs. The movers had already dropped off all our things. I just had to find the room with boxes marked "James" to know which one was mine. My parents were smart – they didn't let us make choices about things like this. It meant less fighting – and we were infamous for fighting. Each room was assigned. If a boy didn't like it, he had to deal.

At the top of the steps was a long hall that went either direction. As I glanced down each side, I could see there were many doors leading one way or another. I decided to go left and peered into each door in turn. The first door I came across already had Andrew taking out his things. He had somehow found his music player speakers and was blasting some whiny rock band. When he caught me looking into his room, he grinned.

Hey!

Hi. I stopped short at the doorway.

The rooms here are huge – everyone's! he beamed.

At least there's that, I scowled.

What? he grimaced at me, Don't worry. There'll be another Megan Grayson at our new school. You'll be fine. I blushed at my brother's comment. Megan Grayson had been the girl I wanted to go to cotillion with, but that wasn't happening. I thought longingly of her silky blond hair, perfect skin, and bright blue eyes. Instead, some other guy would get that prize. I pushed the thought out of my mind.

It's not the same and you know it, I said softly.

Look, it'll be cool! Andrew grinned at me. It was easy for him to say. His voice didn't crack any more. His muscles had filled out to alarming definition, and he got good enough grades to get away with anything. Plus, he knew how to handle himself with girls. I envied my big brother Andy. He also inherited Dad's gray eyes. A shock of dark hair and gray eyes always gets girls. I sighed making Andrew laugh. I know what you're thinking, but just wait. Really. His eyes went dark for a moment as he studied me, This year is going to be big for you and it'll be fun in a new place. He tore down another box and then nodded at me, now go find your room! He threw an empty box at me, and I jogged playfully down the hall to the next door which my youngest brother Charlie promptly slammed shut in my face.

Okay...guess that's not mine. I found a final room at the end of the hall. The boxes were completely untouched and the bright light from the summer day was pouring through the large windows. For a moment I forgot myself and quickly checked the boxes. James' Crap. Sweet! I grinned and promptly set to work unpacking my things.

Boys! my mother yelled from the bottom of the steps, We're gonna go to town and get some pizza or something! Be ready in ten minutes!

From my room at the end of the hall, I could hear Charlie and Freddy racing out of their rooms, and pounding down the stairs. They were snapping at each other about something – probably where they were going to sit in that stupid Jeep. Sitting on my newly made bed looking out my window I sighed. The sun was still high in the sky, but the light had turned that orange color that marks the latter half of the day. Through my window I could see fields, forest, and mountains. In the distance there was something that glistened – Lake Champlain? I wondered.

James and Andrew Rollins! Get your sulky teenage butts down here! roared my mother. I sighed. A door closed quietly. That was Andrew. Feeling like I shouldn't be much later than my older brother, I followed quietly as we marched down the stairs to see my brothers crowding around my mother, anxiously waiting to eat.

Mom?

What is it Freddy? my mother asked as she gathered her purse and keys.

They have pizza here? Is it any good? Freddy frowned at my mother and she sighed as she ushered Charlie out the door and motioned for the rest of us to follow.

Of course it's good. It's fine. It's pizza! she said exasperatedly.

But Mom, you know all pizza is not created equally, Andrew said reasonably which drew a death glare from our mother. Andrew snapped his mouth shut quickly.

Once we were piled into the car, my mother blasted the local NPR station which was playing some obscure classical composer. This made everyone unhappy except her, which of course, was my mother's goal.

Mom why can't we listen to country? Freddy asked.

Blech! We should listen to the rock station! Charlie chimed in. Andrew and I glanced at each other and rolled our eyes.

Mom's car, mom's choice. My mother sped down the country road to a small cluster of buildings nestled among some trees.

Is that the town? I asked.

Yep. My mother smiled widely at us.

Is that where we're going to school? Charlie's voice trembled slightly with anxiety.

Yes it is. And you'll like it! My mother glared at my youngest brother who grinned back mischievously.

It was only a few more minutes before we found ourselves parked in a packed gravel lot in front of an average sized restaurant, advertising pizza and Italian deli in big neon letters. We piled out of the car and were instantly eyed by the few people in the parking lot.

Mom, why are they looking at us? Charlie whispered as he stuck his hand in my mother's.

We're new. It's a small town. It's fine! my mother hissed back and then smiled at a couple close to the door. They nodded reluctantly back. My uncle's words reverberated through my head – New Englander reserve. I sighed as Andrew ran before my mother to hold the door for her, and the rest of us. Now that Jerry was in college, and Dad was out trying to find investment for his next business adventure, Andrew was the man of the house. My brother took this role very seriously.

Once in the door, it was clear to me the place hadn't been renovated since the early 1980s. Plastic laminate coated the walls in a hokey imitation of wood. Red checkered laminate coated the tables, which matched the plastic red benches of the booths. Just inside the door was a girl smacking a wad of gum and fiddling with the cash register. She only looked up when Andrew's shadow fell across her. Slowly she took us all in.

How many? she asked between gum smacks and her wide-eyed stare.

Five. My mother smiled graciously, even though the crabby girl didn't deserve it. The girl snapped up five menus.

Follow me. She brought us to the far corner, where there was a large corner booth that would comfortably seat us all. My youngest brothers scooted in eagerly, with gangly me behind them. My mother brought up the one end, while Andrew slid in the other. The hostess' eyes lingered on Andrew. The large muscular frame, gray eyes, and dark hair had certainly caught her attention. Catching her in the act, he let loose a dangerous smile which sent her running.

Why did you do that? I snapped at him.

What?!

We could have gotten drinks by now! I scowled at my brother who merely leaned back in his seat and grinned.

Dinner was relatively quick, despite my brother's meddling. Normally we would have eaten quickly anyway, but this meal we inhaled. Everyone in the place openly stared at us the entire time. It was enough to make you wipe your mouth twenty times just to make sure you didn't have a wad of red sauce on your cheek. My younger brothers were oblivious, but Andy and my mother knew what was going on. Had I been even a year younger, I might not have noticed, but now – things were different. Now I felt every look - every stare.

After four pizzas, we were full enough. That's the problem with five boys – you can never have too much food around. I think my mother normally would have stopped for icecream, but the staring townies made her uncomfortable.

So without much fanfare, we piled back into the car, and drove back to our new home.

Remember boys, you just have this weekend to get everything together. School starts on Monday and you're not going to have time to fool around with your things! My mother said as we pulled into the driveway. I sighed. School – a new school. In Pittsburgh we had gone to a private prep school. I had never gone to a new school, because the prep school was kindergarten through twelfth grade. We had known everyone for years, and now, we knew no one. A sinking feeling of dread gnawed at my gut. I remembered how we had treated new kids at my old school. Now I'm the new kid.

It will be fine. I promise, Andy whispered.

Right, I growled under my breath.

You know it will. He glanced at me for a second and then added, It's almost your time. Andy's eyes sparked at the thought, but this only increased my dread. I pushed the thought out of my head. Thankfully, the car stopped and we all got out. Our younger brothers and mother went inside immediately, but Andy and I stood outside looking at the dying light of the day and listening to the chorus of chirping crickets.

It freaks me out. I winced as we slowly walked up the porch steps.

You'll be fine. I'm here. Jerry will come back, and hopefully Dad will be here. Andy smiled reassuringly. Think about this, Jerry only had Dad. I shrugged and nodded slowly.

Yeah. And look how Jerry turned out.

I had Jerry and Dad, and now you have three people to help you. Andy grinned, showing all his sharp pointy teeth. It sent a shiver down my spine. But to Andy, I nodded and gave a tight smile.

Yeah. We slowly moved to the railing, covered in peeling paint, but I didn't care. I leaned on it and looked up at the sinking sun. Three people to - help me. I shook my head grinning nervously. Would three be enough? Do you think there are any other families up here? Andy was quiet for a minute. I began to think he hadn't heard me, and was about to repeat the question when he finally replied.

I think there's at least one other family in the general area. But other than that, I don't know. I know Dad talked about it a little. Andy threw an uneasy smile my way, which made me wonder what he had heard, or what he had overheard.

I just don't want to be alone out here, I whispered.

You won't be. Andy pushed off the railing and walked backwards toward the door. You've got three brothers here, and another that's going to visit constantly. I think you'll be fine. I shook my head at him and smiled as we walked into the house together.

Chapter 2 - First Day

At six in the morning, my alarm blared.

Ugh! I covered my head with my pillow. I didn't want to get up that morning. My first day in a new school was the scariest thing I had to deal with thus far, and I really didn't want to.

Rise and SHINE! my mother's voice ricocheted throughout the house. I heard a chorus of groans echoing down the hall – I wasn't the only one who didn't want to wake up.

Ugh! I turned over and pushed the pillow off my face to stare at my bare white ceiling. First day of school. It's going to be okay. It's going to be okay. I needed it to be okay. There was only so much I could handle at this point, especially with my transformation looming. I sucked in a deep breath and pushed that thought away, trying to focus on school – on normal.

Dude! Get up! bellowed my brother as he pounded on my door.

Yeah, yeah! I'm coming! I roared back as I slipped on a pair of jeans, a t-shirt, socks, and sneakers.

As I opened my door, I was greeted by a barrage of sounds and smells. Cabinets banging, pots and pans clanging, were joined by my younger brothers yelling. Water ran and something crackled in the kitchen. Is that bacon? My mouth watered. I raced down the stairs to the kitchen table where three of my brothers were already wolfing down their pancakes drenched in syrup.

Mom, you're so great! I beamed as I ran over to her to kiss her forehead. She beamed back.

Nevermind, just sit down and I'll get you a plate! Obediently, I grabbed the nearest empty chair and a full plate of pancakes and bacon was immediately in front of me. Like my brothers, I inhaled the stack of five pancakes and four strips of bacon. I could have eaten more, but it was time to go to school. In a flurry, I ran to the bathroom and hastily brushed my teeth, grabbed a backpack, ran downstairs and out the door through the frenzy of my family.

Did you see my -?

It's in your -

Found it!

"Ready!

Let's go!

We're going to be late!

Suddenly we were all in the Jeep and driving to our doom. After the frenzy in our house, the silent drive to school was nerve-wracking. The classical station competing with the noisy Jeep did nothing to assuage my fears. My lungs rattled in my chest and my palms grew cold and clammy. Frantically, I rubbed my hands against my jeans.

Dude, chill! Freddy hissed in my ear. I glared at him.

I'll rip you a new one if you don't leave me alone today! I hissed back. Freddy scowled, but folded his arms and looked straight ahead. I caught his leg jiggling up and down. He was just as nervous as I was.

We had to drive through the town in order to get to the school. We passed the pizza place from our first night in our new home, to drive down the main drag of the little village. This was lined by quaint little stores with hand-painted signs and colors that should have been reserved for the Victorian era only. I sighed. At the end of the road, I could see the fencing enclosing my fate – ugly weathered chain-link.

Because we now lived in the middle of nowhere, the elementary, junior high, and high school were all on the same campus, separated into their own enclosed spaces, but connected by long halls. There was one principal, and one parking lot. I chuckled as I laid eyes on the place.

This is it? Charlie asked disdainfully.

Yep. My mom pulled into the parking lot and stopped a good distance away from the crowded entrance. Great. Enough space for me to make a fool of myself before I've even stepped into a classroom. I sighed. Okay boys. My mother turned and looked us each in the eyes. You know the deal. No fighting. No detentions. No suspensions. I don't want to get called in for a parent-teacher conference in the first week. She fixed us with her hardest mom stare. It was enough to make us cower.