In The Beginning, Chapter 45
Charlie POV
Daniel dropped Bailey and me off at the meeting hall, while he and Robert went to the boarder to wait for the incoming wolves. Even on pack grounds, with so many unknown wolves approaching, he needed the reassurance of my protection. The women had already transformed the largest of the meeting halls into a makeshift canteen, cots had been delivered and were being set up in another room, and a third smaller room was outfitted with toys and a TV to keep the kids entertained. The kitchen was enormous, industrial looking, with two massive vats that the women were filling with chopped meat.
“What can I do to help?” I asked as I entered, rolling up my sleeves, Evie had made sure the large rooms were warm, but this made the kitchen scorching, and I saw more than one sweaty face as they dashed around the room.
“We have started the soup, but there isn’t enough of us to bring all the groceries into the kitchen, we have to keep running back and forth... Could Bailey help carry some of the heavier boxes in here, and if you could make sure each item goes to the corresponding station? We are keeping the meat here, away from the vegetables, it needs to go in first with the onions, which are here.” Kathy pointed to different sections of the kitchen, as she led me through. “The rest of the vegetables are being prepared here; they will go in once the meat is browned. I have assigned everyone an area, and a different item to concentrate on.” She flushed as she finished.
“Looks good, excellent work ladies!” I called as I squeezed Kathy’s hand softly. “Bailey looks like we will be hauling the rest of the groceries in here. Do you have a place for the bread to be stored? Or should I find somewhere after all the meat and vegetables are in here?” I asked Kathy who beamed at my encouragement.
“There is a pantry through that door,” she pointed behind me, and I spun around to look, “if you could store it in there, we can get to it after we have finished preparing the soup.”
“Come on Bailey, you heard the lady, we have work to do!” I teased while the hulking man stared at me incredulously.
“Luna, you should not allow a Psi to boss you around, nor should you be doing manual labour.” He softly chastised, once we had left the kitchen, it was also the most I had heard him speak, in the short time I’d known him.
“I’m not Luna yet, so call me Charlie, and as I’m not the Luna, I have no standing or rank, but even if I did, I defer to those with more experience than me. Kathy knows much more about how to feed a large party, as I have none, and I will go where I am needed, even if it is just bussing tables, or taking out the trash.” I informed him, he squirmed uncomfortably, glancing over my shoulder, where a few of the workers setting up chairs in the hall were eavesdropping. “Are you finished already?” I asked them sweetly, and they scattered, as I picked up a box and walked back into the kitchen.
By noon, all the produce was prepped and in the massive vats, simmering away softly, as the women split themselves into two groups. One group, with the aid of the workers, who had finished setting up the chairs, tables and cots, were unpacking crates of bottled water, the other was cleaning the kitchen. Bailey had been recruited to the first group, while I had been left to carry box after box of bread rolls, out of the pantry, ready to unpack them once the surfaces were clear of debris from the food preparation.
“They’re here, we will be at the hall in about ten minutes.” Daniel informed me through the link.
“Okay, I think the soup is about ready, and there are chairs and cots set up.” I replied.
“I can’t wait to see you.” Daniel added before he closed the link, I blushed at the hungry undertones of his voice, and took a breath to steady myself before I addressed the workers.
“They will be here in ten minutes, so let’s get the last of these things ready, and can someone start boiling water for hot drinks please?” I called, so the room heard me before going into the hall to give them the same message, only to almost walk into Maria.
“We heard.” She giggled when she saw my face.
“I’m so glad you’re here, have we forgotten anything?” I asked as I looked around the room. The vats were too big to move, so we had set up the utensils on the tables, the crockery was piled next to the vats ready to be filled. Water bottles were grouped in the centre of the tables, and there were large urns in the kitchen ready to prepare tea and coffee for the adults. The young girl who I had seen in the house, but hadn’t been introduced to, had asked if she could make hot chocolate for the children, so there was also a stew pot full of milk, heating to being prepared.
“Not that I can see!” Maria smiled. “The doctors will be here in a moment; I’ve been told to direct them to the cots?”
“Yes, we want to get everyone something warm to eat, and then we will talk to them about allowing the doctors to examine them. They might be resistant at first but I’m hoping the food and a warm welcome will buy us a little trust and good will.” I replied with a sad smile, hers dropped from her face, and she lowered her head as she wiped away a tear. When she raised her head, after a little shake, she had made her face a mask of determination. We worked steadily, depositing baskets of bread to the tables, and arranging the workers, letting some leave to go back to their jobs. I didn’t want to overwhelm the newcomers with too many people. A pair of strong arms wrapped around me, and I smelled Daniel’s amazing scent.
“You’ve worked wonders.” He mumbled as his cold lips moved over my neck making me shiver.
“This is Kathy’s brainchild, I’m just a helping hand.” I replied as I turned, his cold lips capturing mine. “You’re freezing!” I chastised as I took his face in my hands, he grinned, before kissing me again, and straightening his back. He looked behind him, and the hallway was full of confused and weary faces. I smiled warmly at them, but a man at the front of the group scowled at me, something about him made me uneasy.
“Please, come inside, there is a wonderful beef and vegetable soup, bread, water, tea, coffee, and hot chocolate.” I stage whispered conspiratorially to the children clinging to their parents’ legs. Daniel grabbed my hand and led them into the large hall, as his eyes searched for Bailey. The hulking man, appeared at my side, silently, as the workers encouraged people to sit at the tables. The longer I watched them, the more I saw the difference between the Applewood wolves, and those that had just arrived. They were the first Lycans I had met that didn’t look strong and healthy, their skin was dull, and pale, their bodies looked much thinner than the workers bringing out the bowls of soup for them to eat. “How many?” I asked Daniel through the link, as they kept pouring in through the doors, the large room filling quickly.
“We didn’t wait to get a full count; they were half frozen and angry. I thought we could do it while they’re eating.” Daniel linked back, scanning the crowd. It took a while, but we eventually found everyone seats, some went straight through to the cots, as they were being carried by pack warriors Daniel had brought with him. I saw Robert carrying two children while a woman, who looked like she was about to fall over, clutched his arm and looked up at him with affection. I nudged Daniel and raised an eyebrow, he grinned back at me. “They’re second chance mates, Robert lost his mate in a car accident shortly after they met, it was a long time ago, they never got the chance to have kids, so he is thrilled to have pups in his home.” He linked, watching the man with pride as he placed the children on a cot. The woman eyed the doctors suspiciously as they handed the children blankets and food, but didn’t stop them, or Robert from wrapping her up in a blanket. The man I saw scowl at me seemed to be doing it to everyone, and I saw Bailey watching him carefully. A little girl with dirty blonde, waist length hair and big brown eyes was looking around the room away from everyone. She was clutching a stuffed animal like it was her only possession, as tears filled her eyes. I let go of Daniel’s hand and approached her slowly while he watched us.
“Hello.” I said as I crouched down to get on her level. “Are you looking for your parents?” I asked her, she shook her head, and I saw her clothes were little more than rags. Daniel handed me a blanket and I wrapped her up in it, as a deep voice cut through the din, silencing everyone.
“They’re dead, she’s a rogue. Don't know why the Alpha took her in, should’ve left her to die with her parents.” The scowling man growled.
“Well, she’s not a rogue now, she is part of this pack.” I said with a smile, the scowling man scoffed, I handed the girl off to Kathy quickly.
“What does a human know about a pack! I knew this was a mistake, we should’ve picked our own Alpha, not come here to be bossed about by some filthy human.” He spat at me, before the man had picked up his spoon, Daniel had him against the wall by his throat.
“Maybe it’s the cold, or the lack of food, or maybe you weren’t taught right, but no one disrespects my mate and gets away with it.” He spat at the man, letting him drop to the floor.
*Hello everyone, I apologise for going AWOL, between the world and the state we have found ourselves in, and some upcoming themes that are dark and difficult for me, I've been struggling to focus and write. I will be resuming updates from Monday, and I hope these chapters will be enough for those still reading. I will be taking a week off at the end of the month, but I will keep you all updated. Don't forget to like the chapters, or leave a comment, I always appreciate your thoughts. Thank you, sending love as always
Constance xoxo*
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