Chapter Twenty-Nine – The little lost girl

“Where do you need me?” Talia reemerged not ten minutes later, her hair braided into a large braid, and her body now covered in more than Adam’s t-shirt. It was a disappointing look for Damir, who had been eager to join Talia in the whole changing process. But Adam stayed put, helping Devan and Marjatta make up a list of people while Monica was busy writing down a list of things she needed for the newcomers.

“Can you find out how many houses are actually vacant?” Adam asked, and she nodded. When she had first woken up on this property there had been nothing but an old farmhouse and a stable. But the land was big, the whole reason to why Adam had settled there in the first place. And the more wolves that arrived, the more huts they built. Some were habited, while others stayed vacant in case any passing wolf or others who needed a place to stay.

As Talia walked around the compound more wolves woke from the rest, creeping out to see what was going on at the main house. “Miss – what’s going on?” Asked a young wolf as she passed the house the pup and his parents lived in. “It’s nothing to worry about, just some newcomers” Talia said assuring with a smile. “You should go say hello, I spotted a few kids that needed someone to play with” The little boy lit up and ran to the area, shortly followed by his father who gave Talia a quick nod on the way.

With a smile on her face, she continued to walk around, counting the empty huts and checking how many beds were in them. Why hadn’t anyone created some sort of register for which hut was empty and which wasn’t, and how many beds there were in each place.

She made a mental note of creating such a list as she reached the front of the house again, standing back at a distance while she watched the pack of newcomers register with Adam and Marjatta.

Looking at how they had made some sort of organization in just mere minuets made her feel proud. Proud of Adam, and proud of his back. Not one wolf disagreed to letting newcomers come into their safe space, as they had all been there at one point. In need of a safe place and protection, and Adam had given that to everyone in need. Her heart swelled at the mere thought, a big smile presenting itself as he found his golden locks in the midst of the group.

“Miss?” A little girl’s voice brought her out of her thought, and she looked down, seeing a little girl with her teddy bear tug at her shirt. “Yes little one” Talia said and hunched down to the girls level, taking her little hand in his.

The girl’s face was stained in dirt and tears, her hair cut short and uneven, and she was wearing a t-shirt that was too big and ripped at the bottom. It looked like she had been through a though time, and all Talia wanted to do was give her a big hug and tell her everything was going to be safe.

“I can’t find my parents” The little girl squeaked, her eyes welling up with tears again. “Oh. Where did you see them last?” Talia asked, taking the girls hand and standing up. “Maybe I could help you find them” She looked over the group, trying to see if anyone shared the girls color, or if anyone looked panicked, like they had lost a child. She didn’t see neither.

“I don’t know. They told me to go with that woman, that she would keep me safe. And that they would meet me once we crossed the border. But they aren’t here. Why aren’t they here?” The girl started crying, and Talia felt her heart break. “Come here” She pulled the girl to her, lifting her up in her arms and letting her cry on her shoulder as they walked back to the group. She hadn’t said which woman, but Talia had to take a guess at the woman leading them all there.

“Marjatta, was it?” Talia asked once she stood beside the woman. “Yes, that’s me” Marjatta looked at Talia for a second before her eyes landed on the girl in her arms, her expression falling. Talia didn’t have to guess why.

“They aren’t coming, are they?” Talia asked, her voice thick. Marjatta shook her head, her eyes telling a story Talia didn’t want to hear. “Does she…?” She couldn’t finish the question. Marjatta shook her head again.

“I can…” Marjatta started, holding her hands out, but Talia shook her head, taking an unconscious step back. Adam turned to look at them, eyes going back and forth between Marjatta and the little girl on Talia’s arm. “I’ll take her. You should stay her, help the others get settled” Talia answered, looking at Adam. He nodded agreeing before turning back to the group in front of him.

Talia turned to walk back inside with the girl before she remembered why she had walked around in the first place. “Oh. There are five vacant homes, they are all big enough for at least four people” She told Adam before walking into the house from the side entrance, carrying the girl past the kitchen where Monica’s band of helpers where preparing breakfast for them all.

“I’m hungry” The little girl mumbled into her shoulder. “You’ll get some food very soon. Is there anything in particular you really like?” Talia asked. “My mom always made me toast with peanut butter and jams” The girl answered sadly.

“Oliver!” Talia called out to one of the wolves in the kitchen. A young male popped his head out with a smile. “Can you make some toast with peanut butter and jam for me? I have it brought to my room?” Talia asked politely, and the young boy nodded. “Of course. I’ll have it up in just minutes” He promised before returning to the kitchen.

“You heard that, you’ll get some toast real soon” Talia smiled at the girl before carrying her up the flight of stairs and into her bedroom. “I don’t know where your mom and dad are. But you can stay with me for now. I’ll keep you safe, I promise” Talia said as she put the girl gently on the bed.

She didn’t have much to offer the girl other than love and protection. “What is your name?” Talia asked before walking into the bathroom, starting a bath for the girl. It didn’t take long before the girl was beside her, clinging to her side like her life depended on it.

“You said you’d protect me, you don’t leave the people you’re supposed to protect” The girl whimpered, and Talia’s heart broke once more. This little girl was so scared she couldn’t even leave her alone in a room. “You’re safe in here. No one comes in here unless I allow them to” Talia assured the girl, stroking her hair gently to calm her down.

“Do you want to tell me your name? And maybe how old you are?” Talia tried again as she put some bath bombs into the water, giving it an orange color and some glitter. “My name is Alehtta, and I’m six years old. And I miss my mommy so much” She started crying again, and Talia tried her best to comfort her. “I know sweetie, I know. I miss my mom to” Talia said without thinking. It made the girl stop for a moment.

“Did you lose your mommy to?” She asked, drying her nose with the hem of her t-shirt. “I did yes. A long time ago” Talia said, the whole situation was too much to explain to a little six-year-old. “I hope you find her again” The girl added, making Talia smile. Oh the sweet, innocent notions of kids that didn’t understand how the world worked just yet. “Me to” Talia said with a smile.

“Now. Do you want to take a glittery bath?” She changed the subject and turned off the water, checking that it wasn’t too hot with her own arm and showing Alehtta how her arm sparkled from the glitter. The distraction helped; the girl was smiling. “I want to sparkle to!” She quickly got into the bath, splashing the water around her to get as much glitter as possible on her little body. The scene made Talia laugh, it was so pure and innocent, such a joyous moment in the midst of a lot of misery.

The knock on the door sadly demanded her attention. “I’m just gonna go to the other room and see if that is Oliver with your toast, okay?” She made sure Alehtta nodded before leaving her in the bath to open the door, much to her surprise finding Adam with a plate of toast in his hand and a puzzled look on his face.

“You didn’t have to do that” Talia said as she took the plate from him, stepping aside to let Adam into the room and watched as he closed the door. “Alehtta, I’m gonna talk to my friend while you take a bath, okay. I’m right out here if you need anything. And your toast is ready for you”

Talia placed set the plate down on the desk in the corner and closed the door a little, giving both them and the young girl a little privacy.

“I just wanted to check on her, and you. And I met Oliver on the way, told him I’d do this so he could help prepare breakfast for the rest” Adam explained. He’d overheard the brief conversation between Talia and Marjatta, knowing full well why Talia had taken the little girl with her.

“How is she doing?” Adam asked as he got settled on the bed. Thankfully there had only been that one girl without family, the rest of them had traveled with former pack member or family. Devan was helping Marjatta get the people settled, while Monica was gathering a crew to get supplies in town. Turned out two wasn’t enough.

“As expected, I guess” Talia answered with a low voice, careful not to say too much. The girl was a wolf, even though she hadn’t hit puberty yet, Talia assumed she could hear more than any average girl her age.

“And you’re sure you want to care for her? You know, there are others…” The look she was sending him made him close his mouth. Even Damir stopped, just focusing on the female in front of them both. Her blue eyes darker, burning with determination.

“You look me in the eyes and tell me you want someone else to care for her. To love and protect her – I dare you” Talia said lowly, her voice a deep whisper.

“Talia – that’s not what I meant. Of course I want to help her. I want to help everyone. But she has no one, and we don’t know what kind of trauma she has been through. We don’t know anything about her” Adam answered her calmly, looking her straight in the eyes with as much understanding as he could muster.

“We might not know Adam, but I don’t care. She’s hurt, and I understand that kind of pain. She lost the people close to her. She’s alone with strangers, her whole life turned upside down. I might be in way over my head – but I want to help. And I’m not asking for your permission, I’m telling you what I’m going to do. And you can either be supportive or this, or you can go someplace else, and you know what” Talia crossed her arms over her chest. This girl needed her, and Talia would be damned if she didn’t come to her rescue.

“I support you, of course I do” Adam rose to his feet and crossed the room, wrapping his arms around his tiny little bundle of determination, love and affection. This girl had no one right now, and it wasn’t like either of them were crossing into unknown territory now that he thought about it. Had he not done the same for Talia when he knew nothing of who and what she was capable of? He’d taken one look at her and known he had to help, mate or not. It was the right thing to do, then and now.

*‘I told you she would lead good things’* Damir spoke in his head, his tail wagging in excitement over this new addition.

“Damir is supporting this as well” Adam added before releasing Talia from his hug, letting her go tend to the little girl. The mere sight of her sitting down next to the bathtub with a smile on her face, gently stroking the little girls head with a smile on her face made his heart beat faster, and he couldn’t help but grin.

“Do you know where my mom and dad are?” Lahtta turned to look at Adam. She had seen him earlier talking to the nice woman who had helped her get all the way here. He had to be the Alpha, he looked like one.

“I’m sorry, but no. I’ve sent someone to look for them though” He answered. He hadn’t sent anyone yet, but he was planning to. Once Katlyn was ready, he’d ask her to go search for the area. He hadn’t seen anything the day before, but maybe it was because she was looking in the wrong place? He’d have to coordinate it with Marjatta, she’d know where to look.

“Okay” The girl’s face fell into sadness.

“Lahtta, look at me” Talia spoke softly, gently putting her hand under the little girl’s chin, making her look up. “I’m here, and Adam is here. And we will both protect you from anything and everything, I promise that. You’re safe here, and we’ll help you find out what happened to your mom and dad. How does that sound?”

Lahetta looked between Talia and Adam. They both were so nice to her; Talia had even made her a sparkly bath! They were good people, she could tell.

“I’d like that” Lahtta answered, making them both smile.