CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE.

(MELIORA'S POV)


The early morning sunlight shone through the small window when a loud knock sound on the door woke us up from our light sleep. My head was hurting from not getting enough rest and feeling very tired.

"You girls need to get up and come to the kitchen now!" Elder Abigail shouted through the door. "I told you earlier that I would come get you myself, even if you were up all night making babies!"

"Oh, we'll be making babies very soon, I've already been dreaming about it!" Beth joked back quietly.

"We're awake, Grandma Abigail," Suzanne called out reassuringly. "We'll be out soon." She added.

"Well, you silly girls should be glad there are plenty of leftovers from last night that just need to be warmed up for the whole pack,"

Abigail responded gruffly before walking away. "Otherwise, your backs would be hunched over from so much hard work cooking everything fresh!"

After barking her threat, Elder Abigail's footsteps retreated back down the path with a few parting grumbles about dishonored schedules. We all allowed a few more fatigue-laden moments of silence to blanket the room.

At last, Beth blew out a noisy sigh and began the arduous process of rising and dressing herself in her simple kitchen smock and skirts.

"Well, you heard the old woman," she grumped without any real venom. "Best not to get her barking at us when we have visitors in the compound."

"I'm so glad I'll be leaving and won't have to do this kitchen work anymore," Anna sighed as she got dressed in her plain work clothes.

We all dragged ourselves out of bed and headed to the kitchen. Our primary task was simply to reheat and re-portion the abundant reserves from last night.

It wasn't long before we had the main dishes simmering and emanating tantalizing aromas once again.

After breakfast was served, the girls decided to take advantage of the unexpected pockets of spare time by tending to personal needs.

"I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm desperately in need of some freshening up and laundering," Anna announced as she wrinkled her nose pointedly at the sweat-stained garment she wore.

The others gave agreeing nods.

"Of course we need to wash up our dresses before packing," the buxom blonde declared, tucking a stray lock of mussed hair behind one ear. "We better be ready and cleaned up before our enchanting mates need us to flee away!"

Chuckling amongst themselves at the thought, they quickly bundled up their soiled dresses, cloaks and linens before slipping outside to make their way toward the river's edge.


"I'm too tired for that today. You girls go without me. I'll rest up." I told them.

Martha came into our little cabin while I was resting before the afternoon meal preparations.

"Where are the other girls?" she asked me.

"Oh, they went down to the river to wash their clothes. We didn't see you at all morning," I told her.

"That's right, I got mated to Hunter Brian last night!" Martha announced proudly. "In fact, that's why I'm here - I need to gather up my belongings so I can move into his chambers to live as his wife now."

"Wonderful news, Martha! I'm so happy for you," I said with a smile. "Does this mean I'll still see you around?"

"Of course, why wouldn't you?" she replied cheerfully. "I'll always be there for you if you ever need any help or get into trouble. But you definitely won't see me working in the kitchen anymore!" She winked, making me laugh.

As Martha started packing up her modest pile of personal items, I asked, "You'll at least come say goodbye to the other girls before they leave with their new mates, right?"

"Absolutely, I wouldn't miss that," she assured me. "Too bad they'd miss a grand event while they're gone, because I heard there's going to be a huge wedding celebration thrown by Prince Luther before he takes his new mate back home to his pack lands. More of his people will be arriving in a couple days to witness the event."

"How do you know all those details already?" I asked curiously.

Martha winked conspiratorially. "Well, now that I'm mated to a hunter, I'm higher-ranking in our pack. So the important news and gossip never slips my ear."

"Ah, I see," I replied, lying back down on my pallet.

It didn't take Martha long at all to finish gathering her few belongings. With one last friendly smile in my direction, she headed out, leaving me alone with my whirling thoughts and emotions.

Life was going to feel so lonely for me once all my closest friends here departed to start their new lives with their mates and in their new home packs. I knew I would miss them dearly.

I didn't feel envious of them. Because I knew I chose this. With that I felt a renewed sense of determination and purpose.

Because I had allowed myself to get sidetracked and distracted from my original mission in recent months.

But now, with my friends moving on to their next chapters, I could feel the flames of my resolve to uncover the truth about my father's death being stoked and reignited once more.

My personal quest for justice and vengeance would have to take priority again. I could not afford to keep losing focus or slacking off from that vital goal any longer.

Not when the future stretched out before me, unknown and fraught with potential perils at every turn.

I would need to be strong, resilient, and utterly committed to seeing my duty through to its ultimate conclusion - whatever that might end up being.

This new phase of my life would undoubtedly be lonelier to navigate alone.

But I knew in my heart that I possessed the inner fortitude and conviction to prevail, no matter what obstacles awaited me along the way.

My father's spirit, and the pursuit of justice in his name, would help push me through even the darkest, most uncertain of times to come.