Down Memory Lane…

Hey peeps! I was just going through some old files and stumbled across the first interview we ever had with the Pack! Do you remember? For those of you who have just started reading he Crimson Series here it is, the first interview we ever had with the pack…

This interview took place just before we began writing Crimson Midnight. We thought it would be a good idea to meet the pack, to get to know them a little and allow them to get to know us. We were invited to The Whisper after closing. Apparently, as Damon explained, The Whisper is one of the many pack properties in London. What started as an interview turned into a free for all and…well, why don’t you read on and see for yourself?

 

Amos: Thanks for agreeing to this, we appreciate how busy you are.

Harold: Not like we had a choice.

(Raven shoots Harold a warning look and Harold ducks his head).

Raven: It’s a pleasure. Besides we were curious about the two authors wanting to write about us.
Roman: Yeah, what kind of stuff do you need to know, ‘cos I’m a wealth of info, I’m a snuggler (he winks in Cassidy’s direction causing her to blush)

Raven: (in a warning tone) Roman.

Roman: Sorry, boss, just getting acquainted. You know I can’t resist a pretty face.

Amos: Um…anyway, I thought we could go round the table and each of you could tell us a little about yourselves.

Kris: (groans) Okay, now I feel like I’m back at school.

Raven: I’ll go first. I’m Raven Stonewall, the pack Beta. I’m a Psychology student and part-time professor-

Roman: Youngest ever!

Raven (shakes his head, an amused look on his face) – and in my spare time I enjoy listening to music, reading and watching movies (looks at Harold).

Harold: (sighs) Fine. I’m Harold, I like-

Roman: Tanning lotion!

Harold: Shut it squirt!

Raven: Behave!

Harold: (huffs) I like keeping fit (flexes his arms for Cassidy’s benefit), love sport and enjoy the ladies (he winks at Cassidy who rolls her eyes).

Roman: My turn (turns toward Cassidy). My name’s Roman, I’m a Capricorn and I love long walks on the beach followed by a nice steak, followed by a hot woman on a large bed.

Cassidy: I think I’ll go next. My name’s Debbie Cassidy, I enjoy reading, writing, love a man who can pull his head out of his arse long enough to hold a proper conversation, and enjoy my sugary snacks. Oh, and I like my men on the other side of thirty (she winks).

Harold: She told you, squirt! Get your baby face out of her face.

Raven: Damon, why don’t you go next.

Damon: I’m Damon, as you already know. I love art, fashion and cooking. I would be happy to show you around the art museums this weekend if you would like an escort.

Amos: We’d love that. Thank you, Damon.

Kris: I’m Kris, the youngest, and I love anything to do with extreme sport, although Raven won’t allow me to participate (throws Raven a hopeful look which is ignored). I love listening to live bands and socialising.

Cassidy: (nudges Amos)

Amos: Oh, yes. Richard Amos and I love music, art, travelling, chocolate, reading, writing, Jensen Ackles… Mmmm, Jensen…Jensen…Jensen…Jensen…

 

Cassidy: (ignores Amos as he slips into an obvious erotic daydream) So can you tell me a little about the pack dynamic. We understand that you have an Alpha, who isn’t with you on patrols and stuff, so how does that work? Does he just hand down orders and leave it to you, Raven, to make sure they’re executed?

Harold: (snorts derisively)

Raven: (pointedly ignores him and smiles at Cassidy) It’s slightly more involved then that. A pack is connected, we’re bonded to each other in that we can sense each other’s emotions. In wolf form we can even communicate telepathically. The Alpha is the main cog that connects us all, he is also the only one that can deliberately cut off or add to the pack.  To answer your question, yes the Alpha does not usually run with us on standard patrol, but he is always with us.  As the most important cog in the machine that is the pack, the Alpha must be protected at all times.

Amos: So what you’re saying is that only an Alpha has the energy to keep the pack under control…to keep the bond working?

Raven: (cocks his head in thought then nods) Yes.

Cassidy: Okay, so that answers that question.

Roman: Why don’t you ask us something else?

Cassidy: You obviously want to tell us something so please, don’t let me stop you.

Roman: (grins) Well, a little fact about werewolves – we have tons of stamina (winks) Cassidy: (stares blankly at him, biting back a smile).

Roman: (leans forward) If you know what I mean.

Harold: I think she gets the picture (rolls his eyes). Sorry about him. What he is trying to say is that we, as wolves, have an extremely high sex drive.

Kris: (clears his throat) We also have high metabolic rates, which means that we have to eat a lot and often.

Raven: Which reminds me. Would you like to join us for something to eat?

Cassidy: (glances at her watch) Now?

Roman: Hey, there is always time for food!

Amos: (looks at Cassidy and shrugs) I could eat.

Roman: (slaps Amos on the back) That’s my man!

Cassidy: Um…okay. What are we having?

Raven: (glances at Damon who pulls out his mobile and flips it open)

Damon: Pizza. So what does everyone want?

Raven: Large meatfeast.

Roman: Same.

Harold: Ham and pineapple for me. Large.

Kris: Pepperoni passion…large of course (he grins)

Damon: (looks enquiringly at Amos and Cassidy)

Amos: Um…Cassidy, you want to split a veggie pizza?

Cassidy: (nods and turns to Damon) A large vegetable supreme please.

Damon: (flips open his phone, hits speed dial and places the order adding his own vegetable supreme and five lots of cheesy garlic bread and three bottle’s of Coke.)

Damon: So you guys are vegetarians?

Amos: I am. But Cassidy’s not.

Roman: Cool…okay…so no burgers, steaks, ribs…nothing?

Amos: (shakes his head)

Roman: Wow…that takes will power.

Amos: Not really. I don’t really like the taste of meat, so it’s no real hardship, besides I do eat fish.

Kris: Tuna! Yum! (shoots Harold a mischievous look).

Harold: (glares back looking a little green.)

Raven: (chuckles)

Cassidy: Why do I get the impression that I’m missing something?

Roman: (laughs) It’s just that there was this one time that Harold went on this health kick and ate nothing but tuna and pasta for a whole two weeks. Man, his breath stunk! And he developed this real bad wind problem where –

Harold: Shut the hell up! (turns his attention to Amos and Cassidy). And you should know about the time that Roman decided to try out every position in the Kama Sutra and almost broke his –

Roman: Whoa! Too much info, orange boy (holds up his hands and turns to Cassidy). Honestly that’s not his natural colour, so if you were wondering if he had some kind of disease or genetic condition, then rest easy. I think I already mentioned…tanning lotion! Yes, our macho Harold fake tans! (Places a hand to his chest and widens his eyes in mock horror).

Amos: (stifles a laugh)

Harold: (lunges across the table at Roman.)

Raven: (clears his throat and Harold pulls back into his seat looking put out)

Roman: (winks cheekily at Harold)

Amos: Anyway, before the food gets here, I would like to ask a couple more questions.

Roman: Best get that out of the way before the pizza arrives.

Amos: (chuckles) Okay, I was wondering how a werewolf was chosen to be part of a pack?

Raven: It’s the Alpha’s pick, based on dominance level and general strength and intelligence.

Amos: So it doesn’t run in families then?

Raven: It can do. I mean, the Alphas usually produce other Alphas. There is no magic formula though.

Cassidy: What about females? Can they join the pack?

Raven: No.

Cassidy: No? (Looks irritated). Why not?

Roman: (nudges Raven) I think she thinks the system is sexist.

Raven: (looks shocked) Oh. Of course not. Females can’t be part of the pack because female werewolves can’t shift.

Cassidy: Oh.

Raven: Well, that wasn’t always true, or so legend has it.

Amos: Really?

Raven: Legend tells us that a long time ago, way before our race became urbanised, when we lived in the forests and the mountains in close knit communities, all wolves could shift. The females however would stop shifting during pregnancy. We believed it was nature’s way of ensuring the pregnancy wasn’t compromised. Shifting, although it looks effortless, is just that, it is a magical physiological change. Anyway, for the female, it would become impossible to shift when they were pregnant. And this was how things were. Until-

Damon: Oh, yes I remember this story – Akasha, was her name wasn’t it?

Raven: (nods) Yes, until Akasha.

Cassidy: What was so different about Akasha.

Raven: (smiles ruefully) Akasha was in line to take over as pack leader. Both her and her twin brother were in line for the alpha-hood; both natural Alphas. Their father, unable to make a fair decision about who should step up and take the reins, decided to hold a sparring match between the two. Whomever should win would become Alpha. The fight would take place on the next full moon and it was ordered that they would fight in wolf form, because it was the wolf that was being tested. Akasha had recently become betrothed to her childhood sweetheart so alongside the wedding preparations she also commenced her training. It was on one of these sessions a week before the match that she found herself unable to shift (Raven pauses). She was pregnant. Although initially overjoyed she quickly realised what her predicament meant. She would have to forfeit the match; she would lose the change to be Alpha. Akasha was an ambitious female, strong and determined and in her determination she made a choice. A choice that would condemn all female wolves for the rest of time.

Cassidy: (sits forward eagerly) What choice?

Raven: There was an old seer woman, a witch, who lived not too far from the wolves’ village. Akasha paid her a visit and begged her to help. The legend is unclear on what exactly the witch did but the outcome was that Akasha was able to shift, just once for the match.

Amos: And did she win?

Raven: Oh, yes, she won. But she also lost.

Cassidy: The baby!

Raven: Yes. That night there was a terrible storm which ripped the village apart and killed many. The Alpha was one of the casualties. The pack was devastated but hot on that devastation came another. One by one the females of the pack lost their ability to shift. They called it a curse. A curse which spread like wild fire until every female then, and every female since, has been born without the ability to shift.

Amos: (nods) And without this they can’t be part of the pack because they can’t connect with their pack mates’ telepathically.

Raven: Yes. And a woman could not take on the role of Alpha as she would not be able to emotionally connect with her pack.

Kris: How come I don’t know this story?

Roman: Hey, don’t feel bad, this is the first time I’m hearing this too.

Harold: Interesting.

 

There is a knock at the door and as Roman gets up to answer it we realise that the interview proper is now over. The smell of freshly baked pizza wafts into the room and all further thoughts of making notes and asking questions go out the window. The rest of the evening, or early morning, was spent eating pizza and gossiping.

 

We hope you enjoyed reading about our first contact with the pack. Reading over this now we are both overcome with nostalgia for the way things used to be, for the way the pack used to be. So much has happened…so much has still to happen…