With the kids safely tucked away in the back, you and Sergi take the middle seat. Minjo and the Alpha sit in the front. You buckle up as the engine reluctantly rumbles to life and the van rolls onto the road.
For a while you ride in silence.
The street lights flash by the windows, and a light dusting of rain smatters on the windscreen. After a few minutes, the kids start playing Scissors, Paper, Rock.
"Can I say one thing?" Sergi asks suddenly.
"You just did," you tell him.
Sergi's laugh smells like vodka. "Okay, smart-arse. What I meant to say is this. I'm really glad I'm part of this pack and not that one."
You see the Alpha's eyes in the rear-view mirror. "You don't like the other pack?"
"I mean... I don't not like them. But... you know."
"I thought they seemed nice," Minjo says.
"Oh sure, they were nice," Sergi slurs out the word. "But that's just it, ain't it? They're so nice. But did you notice how they all looked up when their Alpha left? Like, they were expecting an order. And there was this one guy who was at the bar the whole time, but didn't drink, not once. He told me the Alpha had him on guard duty. And I'm like... guard duty? What the fuck? Do they think we're going to attack them or something?"
"You're drunk," the Alpha says.
Sergi sighs. "I suppose you're right. But still, I'm glad we're not like that. I'm glad my Alpha is my cousin who broke his nose falling off the monkey bars when we were kids. I'm glad we're just this big, messy family with a couple of pet strays."
You swivel to face him. "Who you calling 'pet stray'?"
He laughs. "Ah, you know I'm just kidding, Gideon Mercer. I love you! For real, this pack wouldn't be the same without you." He grabs your face and pulls you forward to plant a loud kiss on your forehead.
The kids giggle.
At the same time the van slows.
"What's wrong?" Minjo asks.
"Where are all the other cars?" the Alpha asks.
"Oh," Minjo says. "How strange. Do you think the—?"
And then the windows explode.
Next