The Howling Heart's Forgiveness

Chapter 13

The sudden sounds of “Monster” from Epic: The Musical blares from my phone, scaring me awake to the point I roll of the bed. Letting out a long sigh, I push myself off the floor and glare at my cellphone. I had stayed up late into the night with the Golden Fang wolves as we watched the pyre burn. Once all the flames had died down, I helped collect the ashes that we buried into the earth under the large willow tree just outside of the pack house. By the time everything was done, it was well past midnight and I hobbled my way into an empty bedroom on the third floor of the pack house, claiming it as my temporary space. Miss Asteria had sent Gale with two of my suitcases just before I fell asleep from exhaustion, telling me to call if I need them.

Now that the sun light filters into the room through the dingy windows, I realize this place could use a good cleaning. Noticing that I am still in the clothes from last night, I lug my suitcases onto my bed and search through them for a change of fresh clothes, my towel and my toiletries. With a quick shower and fresh clothes on, I find myself ready to start my day and exit the room only to be greeted with a dusty hallway. How in the Goddess’ mercy did I not notice that the pack house is dirty.

Walking towards the staircase, I look around hoping to find someone working and it is only when I reach the end of the hall do I find an Omega in what looks to be a dress with an apron tied around her waist with her black hair tied into a bun on top of her head going through the rooms and gathering linens.

“Excuse me.” I call out, startling the poor girl. I apologize for scaring her, helping her pick up the linens she dropped and place them in the cart she is pushing around.

“You must be Miss Brynlee.” The Omega states with a smile, her brown eyes staring into mine. I am glad to see she isn’t afraid of me.

“I am. Did Quincy tell you I would be staying in the pack house?” I ask, the two of us walking down the hall to where I am shocked to find a service elevator.

“He did and told us Omegas in charge of taking care of the pack house to listen to your direction. I am Odette by the way.” The Omega Odette answers.

“Well I am glad to hear that. Quincy and I are expecting the Council Representative to be here soon so could you link all the Omegas for me and ask them to be in the dinning hall. We need to clean the Pack house.” A look of surprise flashes in Odette’s eyes but she nods, telling me that everyone should be gathered within twenty minutes. After helping her bring the full linen cart to the elevator, I notice there wont be room for me and assure Odette that I am fine taking the stairs and that I will spend the twenty-minute wait by exploring the pack house to see what needs to be done.

It doesn’t take me long to realize the top floor is the one I am currently on filled with various bedrooms most likely used for those who need to work late into the night. Other than the changing of the linen, nothing else in this place has been cleaned.

Moving to the second floor, I find various rooms including offices, storage rooms and one filled with old files. I feel like it would take weeks to digitalize all these files and store them onto a computer for the new Alpha and Luna to use, but that is a task I find I am up to doing. I will need to find a few Omegas I can trust to help me with the process and go into the city to buy all new computers and bring the pack into the modern age as I have not yet found a computer in the pack house other than in the dark office I believe belonged to the late Alpha Stanton.

Finally, on the first floor I find a sitting room near the front door. It seemed dust free and clean, but taking a deep breath left me sneezing. It was easy to find the pack dining hall with the line up of wolves coming in to grab a meal. They nod at me as they pass me in the halls, their faces full of sadness mixed with a strength I did not see last night. The Omegas were hard at work dishing out meals and after making a quick decision to post pone cleaning until after breakfast, I pull an Omega to the side and after reassuring them that I am not upset that the dinning hall is full, I ask them if they could link Odette for me. He thankfully does, relieved that I am not causing the Omegas any trouble for feeding the pack. Odette soon finds me in the hall, a concerned look on her face while I munch on an apple.

“Is there a problem Miss Brynlee?” Odette asks as soon as she stands before me.

“None at all. I just wanted to post pone meeting all the Omegas till after breakfast.” I explain with a smile, nodding my head towards all the wolves quietly eating, the atmosphere inside somber and hollow.

“I have a feeling Quincy, Miss Asteria and Gale will be here soon to start the clean up process outside so when that happens, we can start the clean up inside.”

“We?” Odette asks with shock and confusion.

“Yes, we. I am going to be a member of this pack eventually so I might as well help clean.” I state with a smile.

“But you’re a Beta. Don’t you have more important things to do?” Chuckling at Odette’s question, I motion for her to follow me while I continue exploring the pack house.

“I may be a Beta wolf, but I am not the Beta of this pack. I am just a regular wolf that needs to put in some work too.” I state. Odette seems to accept this, the she-wolf finding the courage to come walk beside me deciding to show me the functions room that is covered in dust and white sheets covering the furniture as well as the pack house kitchen, the room leading to the dinning hall and in desperate need for new appliances.

I make a mental note on what will be needed to better the pack house before we make our way to a room that nearly breaks my heart when I see the state it is in. The packhouse library is dark and dingy, the dark brown curtains nearly looking black from the dirt and dust left on them. All the books and shelves fare no better than the curtains and furniture, each book having a thick layer of dust.

“When we start cleaning the pack house, I will be working on this room.” I state without hesitation, Odette once more looking at me in shock.

“You like to read?” She asks with scepticism.

“I do.”

“That makes two of us. Will you let me help you clean the library?” Turning to face the she-wolf, I smile at her and instantly agreed to her help. Asking her to follow me upstairs, I make my way to the second floor and find the office that caught my eye. It was still dusty like the rest, but there was a balcony that opened up to the perfect view of the willow tree and part of me felt calm in here.

Taking a seat behind the desk, Odette dragging a chair beside me, I rummage through the drawers until I find a never been used clipboard, a few pens that thankfully all worked, and a pack of plain paper. Looking at Odette, the two of us soon get to work making a list of where to start the cleaning process, agreeing to go floor by floor starting with the first floor.

∭

Standing in the library with my clipboard in hand, I watch as the three Omegas helping me gently wipe the dust off the books. I had met everyone after breakfast clean up was done, a group of twenty Omegas nervously looking at me as Odette and I stand beside each other. I explained why I asked them all to be gathered, telling them that a strong pack needs a strong heart and that heart was the pack house. That right now it was in such a state that we had no place for members to gather and come together as a family. As such, I wanted to get this pack house cleaned up so that those working hard cleaning the aftermath of the attack could come inside and relax without fear of pulling a muscle from sneezing due to all the dust.

A girl named Savanah tried to say that what I was asking was unreasonable, citing that the Alpha and Luna did not care about the dust and mess. I countered with that just because they didn’t care, doesn’t mean the rest shouldn’t care. That a strong pack works as one to grow stronger each day. That the Omegas provide a safe and welcoming environment for the Warriors and Hunters that protect the pack and bring back fresh prey. This seemed to sway some of the Omegas in my favour and so I continued with stating that if they want Golden Fang to grow and become stronger and get back at Onix Moon, then things needed to change starting with taking care of the pack house – the heart of the pack – and taking pride in our work.

Savanah did not like this so I asked Odette to link Quincy and have him come here. After explaining the situation, he dragged Savanah outside with him, stating that if she didn’t want to clean the pack house, then she can work hard at cleaning the damaged buildings. Before he left, I asked him if he could spare a few Warriors to help with moving furniture while we cleaned and in a few moments six Warriors and Five Hunters joined our group, including the four Hunters that helped me yesterday. They were all happy for the easy task of cleaning, but I warned them that cleaning would not be easy. The pack house is in disarray and many rooms were left in layers of dust that will need vacuums to help get rid of them.

Odette chose that time to inform me the pack house does not have enough vacuums to go around so I asked her to link pack members that could spare a few as well as if they could bring extra cleaning supplies until we could make a trip to the city to stock up on cleaning supplies. By the time we gathered enough vacuums for everyone to use and the sitting room I spotted was filled with cleaning supplies from mops to buckets, to even bleach and cleaning solutions, I had split the twenty-nine wolves into four groups. Seven Omegas and two Warriors would clean the kitchen thoroughly, going through the pantries and fridges and throwing away any spoiled, moldy or out of date food. If anything had freezer burn in the freezers, they would also be thrown away.

Two of the Hunters by the name of Ash and Quest that helped me yesterday were included in helping Odette, me and two other Omegas with cleaning the library while the other two Hunters were tasked with the remaining Warriors and Omegas in cleaning the first floor including the staircase leading to the second floor, windows and walls. I reminded them all to open up the windows while we cleaned and to let Odette know when you needed a five-minute break from the cleaning so we can be as efficient as possible. Quincy had confirmed that the Council Representative would be arriving at six O’clock tonight and I wanted the first floor done by five meaning we had eight ours to clean.

“Remind me again why we chose cleaning over clearing up rubble.” Ash grumbled as he set a pile of cleaned books down before me. I try my best not to chuckle as I start writing the names of the book and the authors.

“Because you were dumb and though the cleaning would be easier.” Quest states with an eye roll before turning to look at me.

“All the shelves have been cleaned and moved to the side and the Omegas are cleaning the floors as we speak. Is there a way you want the library re-organized?”

“Yes. I made floor plan for the library and should be over there.” Pointing to the table behind me, I focus on alphabetizing the books, Handing Ash each book to place it on one of the twenty-six piles we made.

“Wow. This plan looks good.” Reaching the last book, I turn to find Quest looking at my plans and smile. The library will be a valuable part to the pack especially for those in school considering the pups attend schools shared by two other packs. It would give them all an upper hand in research and completing their assignments knowing that they have access to proper materials relating to both the human and supernatural world.

“I want to make this place as headache free as possible for the pups and those in any form of school. Yes, this pack needs to focus on training to become stronger, but we also need wolves that are studious and can attain jobs that will help the pack in the academic society.” I state with a shrug, turning to see how the three ladies are fairing with cleaning the floor where the bookshelves will be placed. It seems we have gained another Omega while I was busy organizing the books, finding Savanah reluctantly moping the floor with Elen while Odette and a she-wolf named Alayne carried out dirty mop water and came back with clean, lemon smelling water. It was a great system that the four came up with and I am glad they are working hard.

“So how long until you think we are done?” Ash asks, his eyes focused on the plans in Quest’s hands.

“Judging by how clean those floors look, I say we have another hour or two before the Library is done.” I state, watching all for she-wolves take the buckets away. Odette comes to join us, informing me that the floor just needs ten minutes to dry before the men can move the shelves into. She takes her bucket of nearly clean mop water out of the room, promising to return with clean mops and buckets as well as food as it is lunch time in the pack and we have worked hard. Grinning, I tell the men to get ready to rearrange furniture before we eat as I set down my pen.