CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

(MELIORA'S POV)

We finished clearing the long tables and taking the heaping piles of dishes back into the kitchen after the pack's evening supper. It had been an exhausting day of cooking 3 meals and serving.

"Oh I can't wait to sleep already. I'm too tired," Anna groaned, stretching her arms over her head as we began scrubbing the pots and plates.

While she was the one who voiced it, the truth was we were all utterly drained. My feet were throbbing and my back ached from being on them for so many hours over the hot fires.

After we had washed and dried the last dish, I started making my way back to the dank little cell I had slept in the previous night. But Suzanne reached out and stopped me with a hand on my arm.

"No, you'll no longer be sleeping in that dungeon," she told me, a Kind smile on her lips. "Luna said you should join us girls at our cabin from now on."

Relief washed over me at her words. I returned her smile gratefully and followed as she led the way across the village to a small, rough-hewn cabin on the outskirts.

Inside, it was simply but cozily appointed with a fireplace, storage chests, and pallets laid out on the floor to serve as our beds. Suzanne dug through one of the chests and handed me a lightweight sleeping gown.

"Here, you can change into this for the night. It will be more comfortable than those travel clothes."

"Thank you," I murmured, taking the soft linen gown. I slipped behind a privacy screen to change while the other girls prepared for bed as well.

Once we had all changed and settled onto our respective pallets, Beth piped up. "Okay, who's going to tell us a story before we sleep tonight? How about you, Liora? Why don't you tell us a bit more about yourself?"

I tensed, uncertain if I wanted to reveal much about my history yet. Anna must have sensed my hesitation.

"Leave her be for now," the blonde girl chided Beth. "She'll open up to us in her own time once she's feeling more comfortable here."

But Suzanne gave me an encouraging smile. "No, it's alright. Even if it's just a brief tale, why don't you tell us a bit about your old pack and how you came to find our territory?"

I found myself unable to deny the sweet girl's request. Taking a deep breath, I began speaking in a soft voice.

"Well, my father passed away recently. And my mother died when I was quite young. After that...life became unbearable for me living with my stepmother and stepsister. So I decided I had to leave and make my own way."

I kept the details vague, revealing less of the unnecessary drama about the abuse and deprivations I had endured.

"Oh dear, we're so sorry to hear that," Suzanne said, her expression crestfallen. The others murmured agreement. "But...weren't you ever mated or anything? Didn't you find your mate to help provide for you?"

I shook my head. "I did once. But...he rejected me in the end." I said flatly to cut off that painful story as briefly as possible.

"Awww, that's so sad," the brunette girl said, grabbing my hand and giving it a sympathetic squeeze. "Well, we certainly hope you can find yourself a new, better mate one day then."

The others all nodded and echoed similar wishes. Only Martha remained pragmatic as always.

"Okay, enough tales of misery and heartbreak for one night," the blonde said with a roll of her eyes. "We don't want to start bawling like pups and have puffy eyes in the morning. Let's just get some shut-eye, yeah?"

"She's right," Anna agreed with a yawn. "Good night, ladies."

"Sweet dreams, Liora," Suzanne whispered, giving my hand another little squeeze before releasing it.

"Good night," I murmured in return. "And...thank you."

I drew the thin blanket up to my chin, suddenly feeling an overwhelming weariness sweep over me. Allowing myself to release the pent-up stresses and strains of the day, I let out a deep sigh and permitted my eyelids to drift shut.

The next thing I knew, an old crone's reedy voice was piercing the silence and dark stillness of the cabin.

"Alright, you lazy youngsters! The cock's already been crowing for a good while. Time to rise up and get to your chores!"

We all startled awake with grunts and groans of protest. Martha whined loudly, "But Elder Abigail, the sun's not even up over the horizon yet!"

"Well you know the drill here," the oldster snapped, unimpressed. "Up and at 'em, then!"

A murmur of grumbles followed before we all started stretching, yawning and leveraging ourselves off the hard pallets. Suzanne padded over to the window and cracked the shutter to peer outside.

"It's still nearly pitch black out there," she reported. "The old bat's right, first light is ages away."

Despite our drowsiness and complaining, we girls all knew better than to truly defy Elder Abigail's orders. She ruled the pack's chores and kitchen duties with an iron fist.

"Fine, let's just get dressed and start kindling up the fires," Anna sighed, running her fingers through her tousled blonde locks. "That old witch will have the younger boys fetching us water for the morning porridge soon enough."

After pulling on our simple linen dresses and cloaks against the early morning chill, we trudged outside and over to the large kitchen hut.

Smoke was already starting to wisp up from the chimney, so at least one of the bleary-eyed kitchen hands had beaten us there.

As we entered, Elder Abigail's stooped, gnarly frame came into view, silhouetted against the hearth's fresh blaze which she was tending.

"Look alive, lollygaggers!" she barked without even turning around. "That morning meal won't cook itself!"

Beth rolled her eyes hugely at me as we hurried to throw some logs into the other cold ovens. "Listen to that old biddy already riding us. Her barking orders truly are five and six around here!"

I couldn't stop the small giggle that escaped me at the other girl's sarcastic quip. Suzanne shushed us both with a cautionary look, but her eyes were sparkling with amusement as well.

Despite the gruff treatment, I could already feel the bonds of camaraderie forming between us kitchen conscripts.

Over the next couple of hours, we worked as a well-choreographed team to stoke the fires, mix up thick porridge and hearty stews, knead and bake loaves of bread, and set out the assortment of breakfast fare on the long trestle tables in the main hall.

By the time the first rays of buttery dawn light began filtering through the windows, the tantalizing aromas had my mouth watering and the dishes were ready.

"Alright let's serve them breakfast so we can rest with all these orders." Martha said and we all laughed.

Perhaps, just perhaps, I had indeed found more than just a temporary solace. This could be my forever home.