Wan sunlight filtered through the thick glass of Darrien’s window. It spilled across the bed where I lazily blinked the sleep from my eyes. Darrien snored softly beneath me, my body rose and fell with his breath. Courageous in the morning light I ran my fingers through his grey pelt. I desperately wanted to lay against his wolfen form for the duration of the day; however, I knew there was much to be done in preparation for the festival, nor did I fancy beginning my day with a beating for being lazy.
I sat and stretched the sleep from my limbs before getting to my feet. I glanced over my shoulder to see if I needed to wake Darrien. His wolf eyes watched me; a yawn revealed his sharp teeth. I suppressed the urge to shudder at the sight of his gaping maw, and found myself chuckling instead when Darrien finished his yawn by licking his nose. Sparing me a grouchy glance he shook out his coat and transformed back into his human state.
“Darrien!” I shrieked, turning away and covering my face.
“Emi, I swear, you’re the only one in the pack with an unnatural propensity against nudity.” He sighed. I could hear him tugging on his clothes from the day before and waited until I was certain he finished dressing before turning back to face him, an indignant expression plastered across my face.
“I’m also the only one in your ‘pack’ that isn’t one of you.” I replied, “I’m only human D, and no matter how ‘natural’ werewolves find nudity I refuse to incline myself towards your animalistic ways.”
Darrien rolled his eyes at me, running his fingers through his shaggy ash-blond hair to comb it from his face. Before he could say anything I shot an accusatory glance at him and added, “I’ve never understood why you all insist on giving into your feral instincts anyways; you’re people.”
“We’re wolves too Emi.” Darrien retorted. “We have to balance the nature of both sides. I know you don’t understand, but it’s different for us. That’s why we keep to ourselves and don’t mingle with humans.”
“Then why-“ I cut myself off, my hand plastered over my mouth in an effort to keep the unspoken accusation that hung between us at bay. Then why did you take me in? Why did you save me that day instead of leaving me to die with the rest of the town? I turned abruptly, not wanting to see the rift I’d caused between us. I stepped out of his room, “I’m going to hang my bedding so it can dry while we’re gone today.”
I swallowed around the lump in my throat while pressing my tongue to my clenched teeth in an effort to keep my lip from quivering. I inhaled heavily through my nose. I had just destroyed the one good relationship I had left in the world. I gathered my bedding, rivulets trickled down my arms from the ragged waterlogged towels and blankets. I reveled in the icy paths that ran over my skin and soaked my threadbare clothing. I deserved this, just as I deserved every ounce of pain I’ve carried for the past fifteen years.
After stringing up my wool coverlet with the other throws and pieces of cloth I made my way to the dining hall. I was greeted with a curt nod by Willow as I entered the kitchen at the back of the hall. She pointed toward a pile of fruit that was to be sliced and arranged for the eight long tables in the front of the hall. I nodded, washed my hands, and began meticulously slicing pears, apples, blood oranges, kiwi, persimmons, grapefruit, and pomegranates. As I finished each plating the dishes were whisked away by wolves who’d been assigned to serve the meal that morning. I allowed my mind to wander as I completed my task. I noticed the pile of fruit was larger this morning. There were also more wolves running about the kitchen than normal. Perhaps some of the neighboring packs have already arrived to help with preparations for the festival I mused as I separated pomegranate seeds from the membrane that made up the chambers of the fruit. I dumped a slew of them into a large crystal bowl, opened three more to look like stars and arranged them in the center of the dish before it too was whisked away.
I could smell the sweet juice that coated my hands combined with the cooked foods wafting through the air. I bit my tongue to keep from licking my fingers as my stomach clenched in protest. I would volunteer for dish duty after the meal and be able to pick through what was left after everyone else ate their fill. Willow appeared out of the corner of my eye. I set down my paring knife and rinsed my hands in the basin on the counter before toweling them dry.
“Ma’am?” I inquired as politely as possible. Willow stood, arms crossed, scrutinizing me. Her deep brown eyes raked over me three times before she spoke.
“When is the last time you purchased a meal?” Her tone was more of a statement than a question as we both knew I didn’t purchase food or anything else for that matter. I was too afraid of draining my account. In lieu of a reply, I simply blinked at her. “You know Omegas are paid weekly so they can cover any expenses they might have. Yet I never see you eat. I never see you buy food or anything else for that matter.”
“I’ll be nineteen in three months.” I protested weakly. At nineteen I could cash out my account and leave. I could start over in the human realm.
“Yes, and I know that you are terrified of Charolette taking your wages again, but you know that guardians only have access to a minor’s account until they turn eight.” I nodded in response. She continued, “There will be lots of unfamiliar faces running around, more so in the next week as the equinox approaches. You need to go buy some new clothes at the very least. Something that actually fits you. Remember that you represent our pack. Don’t let me see you like this again.”
Without waiting for my reply she turned on her heal and left me to my duties. Willow was right, I did have the money to buy myself clothes, as did Darrien. Between the two of us, we likely had enough to fix the house we lived in. The only thing that stopped us was the fear of ending up like Charolette and Devin. They had been given full access to their wage accounts at age eight, like all pack members, and had blown through all their wages as well as obscene amounts of credit by the time they were in their late teens. Too much to ever be able to pay back at their status, thus binding them to service within the pack for the remainder of their lives. I refused to allow that same fate to befall me. Upon the pack recognizing me as nineteen, I would cash out my account and leave this place. I would find another human town, or maybe a city, and do my damndest to forget these past fifteen years.
I finished the prep work and took my knives to the industrial sink before returning to my water basin. I scrawled my name under the dishwashing log and began to fill the large sinks with steaming water. I started with the dishes that had been used to cook the food. I knew several wolves would be finishing their breakfasts soon and their dishes would begin filtering back. I slogged through the stacks of ceramicware, scraping half-eaten food into the trash beside the counter. Whenever a serving dish came back with food remaining I allowed myself a couple of bites. Willow may have ordered me to buy some new clothes, but she’d said nothing about my eating habits.
I wandered through the back streets away from the multitude of boutiques that lined the main roads of the pack’s village. Despite having been ordered to find something nice to wear while visiting packs were present I couldn’t bring myself to enter any of the chic window shops that lined the market area of the village. So instead, I settled for schlepping flowers to the festival grounds while doing my best to stay out of sight. As I was carrying my third basket laden with lilies, daisies, and tulips Darrien caught up to me. “Em,” he called. I did my best to pretend I hadn’t heard and kept walking toward the garland makers' booth. I heard him jog to catch up with me and felt his grip on my shoulders. I stopped walking, still, I refused to look at my adoptive brother. “Emilia, please, we need to talk.” He stated as he tried to take the basket from me. “I have nothing to say, Darrien,” I replied. I refused to relinquish my grasp on the handles. “I’m working.” “Yeah, I can see that; an
I swallowed thickly, unable to shake the feeling that I was in the same position as a fly caught in a spider’s web. “Sure, but Ava-“I was cut off with a wave of her manicured hand. “I’m doing this for myself as much as I am for Darrien. I know we’ve never really talked in the past, but I promise I’m not going to try and swindle you out of your wages.”I nodded hesitantly, “What do you mean, exactly?”She had been sorting the items into stacks of tops, bottoms, lingerie sets, and evening wear; but paused when I asked about her intentions. With a wistful sigh, she turned back to me, “Darrien is strong and he’s a great guy, but my family won’t let us be together unless he passes the warrior exam and begins his official training. Here, try this on first.”I took the clothes she offered; a simple black turtleneck with dark wash jeans and a black lacy underwear set. I opened my mouth to protest. The jeans and turtleneck I might do, but new undergarments were out of the question as far as m
“There’s no way,” I retorted, “It was over a thousand dollars when you first rang everything out.” Ava grinned at me cheekily, “It’s my shop. Besides, you can’t honestly tell me you’ll be back in three months to use your birthday discount.” “Well, I- I mean, well- th-that is- I” My mouth snapped shut when I felt my words begin to catch in my chest as I became more flustered. Ava smiled kindly, the warmth of her smile made her hazel eyes sparkle. “Exactly,” she said softly, “truthfully Emilia, it’s no secret that you’re planning to leave when the pack recognizes you as nineteen, and I don’t blame you. I couldn’t imagine having to live among those who weren’t my own kind. Let me do this, please?” “Okay,” I consented. I pulled out my pack ID and tapped it on the reader. Relief that I was only losing a week’s wages allowed the tension in my shoulders to dissipate. A small ding from the register let me know the transaction had gone through. “Why don’t you go change into something and
The rest of the week passed in a blur. I did notice a few new faces among the streets and within the dining hall’s kitchen, but nothing substantial until three days before the equinox. It began that morning while in the kitchen. I overheard an argument between Willow and some unknown male.“This is my kitchen!” Willow growled, “and I will not serve undercooked food. I don’t care how the lord prefers it, the lowest I will cook it is rare.”“This is simply unacceptable; you knew we were coming.” The man replied, “Alpha Lucas brought his own blood slaves, as your pack requested. Out of courtesy, he is making a point to join your meals.”“So you want me to slap a completely raw steak onto a serving platter and give it to him?” Willow challenged, her hands balled in fists on her hips, and her lithe frame looked ready to pounce at the slightest provocation.The man sighed and shook his head, loose honey-blond curls bounced around his face as he did so. “Will you at least have one of your co
I had just finished the arrangement of tulips and lilies for the next garland when he found me. It was the cheerful tune he hummed that pulled my attention away from my task. I glanced up to see a newly familiar face with a sweet smile that revealed his elongated canines, just as it had this morning. He commented pleasantly, “There you are! I’ve been searching for you since that incident at breakfast, I never imagined they would squirrel you away out here.” “I don’t know what you mean.” I replied respectfully, “I’ve been assisting with the flower arrangements for the equinox since preparations began.” “Oh?” He inquired, an eyebrow arched gracefully to show his disbelief. I was thankful when he didn’t press the issue, instead, he informed me I was needed for the noon meal. “I apologize, sir-“ “Eskal,” he corrected. I paused cautiously before I continued, “I apologize Eskal, however, Willow has instructed me to assist here until she calls for me.” The smile Eskal was sporting vani
“Perhaps not,” Eskal stated as he snatched the dish from me before it clattered to the floor and ruined the meal. “You should train your staff better mutt.” He sneered at me from where I sat on the ground, dazed from the disgust at what I’d poured into a mug to be consumed. Vampires a second realization hit me. Vampires were the only beings besides demons to regularly consume blood in any form. My confusion grew at the realization. Vampires had a tenuous relationship with werewolves at best. It must be about the war with the band of demons on the pack’s border. It was the only reason vampires would be allowed to enter pack lands, which meant the negotiations were over an alliance to help rid the pack of the band. No one in the pack spoke openly about the matter. I knew the situation had worsened by the longer hours Darrien spent training, as well as the frequent injuries he came home with. I took a deep breath to regain my composure and carefully placed my feet under myself once mor
The night of the equinox had finally arrived. The air hummed with excitement from the wolves as they dashed about in their finery. I was thankful for the simplicity of the gown Ava had practically given me as well as the comfort of the lace block heels since I would remain on kitchen duty throughout the night. Willow had apologized to me, though we both knew I would have worked the festival regardless. Equinox, Solstice, and other formal events paid triple the normal hourly rate for those who had to work the events. I slipped on my designated outfit for the night, a slight shiver ran through me at the thought of having my neck bare around Eskal, the other vampire, and whatever Alpha Lucas was. I glanced in the mirror of the Lykfos changing room, Ava had offered to allow me to change there since it was closer to the dining hall than the house. She had also helped me tastefully apply the makeup she claimed was a standard birthday gift from the boutique and curled my hair so it hung in
A sudden hush fell over the grounds until Alpha Ber rose to his feet. The calm tenor in his voice kept order as he commanded, “Gather the women and children. Place them within the pack house where they’ll be safe. Warriors attend to your stations, we are being attacked.” I rose to my feet in order to make my way to the pack house with the others. The pack house was fortified to withstand most attacks and keep the most vulnerable pack members safe from harm while the warriors fended them off. I looked around for Eskal and noticed he’d made his way to Alpha Lucas’ side, they seemed to be having a heated argument before Eskal stomped off in a huff. I jumped when I felt someone grab my wrist. I turned to find myself being pulled toward the pack house by one of the men I’d previously seen with Alpha Lucas. This must be his second in command, I concluded. While the leaders would fight at the front lines with the warriors, the betas are often charged with defending the pack house during ti