Chapter Seven

An hour into the ride and by some miracle I find myself still awake and functioning. The pups around me are still holding onto me tightly remaining silent just like we have been taught to do, it was vital in our survival keeping quiet meant we could hide in the shadows and out of sight meant out of mind. However, in this instance it made everyone feel awkward in the confines of the limo, I could feel the same awkwardness in the other vehicles where I was keeping tabs on the other pups.

The silence is soon broken by the pups grumbling stomachs making me sigh as Valkyrie whimpers in my head, it's our job to look after them and we are currently failing letting them suffer from hunger because I let the bloody wolfsbane knock us out.

"Jenni, can you go hunting when we get there?" Lily whispers to me, Alpha Joe hears her loud and clear though, alphas have an exceptional hearing ability and its quiet, so it's hard not to hear her question.

"I'm sorry sweetie. I know you are all hungry and I am really sorry to make you wait. The diner isn't much further away. We wanted to make sure we were far away from your old pack. You can order whatever you like when we get there, our treat." Alpha Joe responds to my sister apologetically before I can open my mouth to say a word.

"Sis, will you have enough time to hunt whilst they eat?" Sam asks me in a whisper, concerned yet hopeful that I can produce food for them. He is so used to not having anyone care for or about us that he doesn't grasp what the alpha is talking about.

"You miss understand me, Sam" Alpha Joe softly and calmly speaks to Sam giving him a heart-warming smile, just like the ones are father used to give us.

"Sorry, Alpha Sir" he stutters nervously, I feel his whole-body shudder as he no doubt remembers the way Alpha Rick used to do that before hitting him and how the alpha would then punish me when I managed to divert his attention to me promptly by getting in the way.

"You are coming inside with us, and we are paying for you. You can have any meal you want."

"And what does my sister have to do for that?" Sam snarls by mistake, he quickly snaps his hands over his mouth and his panicked eyes dart to me. Giving him a half-hearted smile, I draw him closer to me and place a kiss on top of his head.

"There is nothing to worry about, Sam" I say at the same time Luna Sarah says, "What do you mean?"

"Sorry Luna, Alpha." Nodding in respect at them, I then turn my attention back to Sam and his worried eyes, so he knows I mean my next few words. "Sam it is ok. Nothing is going to happen."

"You said that last time" he accuses me in a mutter, everyone hears it though, the adults in car swivel their heads so fast towards me I am surprised they didn't fall off, even Chelsea and the beta. They all stare daggers at me as though they can pry the information out of me. Little do they know that it will never work, choosing to ignore them I shake my head trying to let them know it's nothing. However, I feel the alpha's eyes burrow into the side of my head further and I know he is giving me the 'we will be talking about this later' look.

"Sam, I promise you that you do not have to worry. Plus, it is my job to take care of you all. So how about we use those manners I know you have and drummed into you, and you thank Alpha Joe and Luna Sarah."

"Sorry, thank you Alpha Joe and Luna Sarah" the pups quickly say an echo effect where they all started at different times.

"I meant no disrespect to you" Sam adds.

"None taken Sam. I hope in time you will trust us. I know none of you know us yet, but we plan in getting to know you and hopefully with time you will accept and trust us."

The convoy of vehicles finally pulls over half an hour later and we find ourselves outside a well-kept diner, it seems popular with the number of cars parked outside of it. Spreading my senses, I check the area as I was trained to do to see if there is any danger in the area. Though I cannot sense any danger I do pick up on the presence of other wolves and a few other supernatural's, I haven't felt other sups in ages, and it takes Valkyrie a second to distinguish what they are. She soon works out there is a couple of witches in the establishment and a group of bear shifters, none of them are giving off any malicious intent.

Heading into a diner feels weird, I haven't been in one since I was a pup and some of the pups have never before been in one, scratch that none of them have apart from myself so they soon gather around me as their nerves get the better of them. The adults however move swiftly in the diner organising an area for us all to sit placing tables together and the waitresses grab us a couple of highchairs and some booster seats for the younger pups.

They all fidget at the table, none of them have been able to sit at one before and they take their cue from me in what to do, as always, we keep quiet a hard habit to break whilst all of them looked at the menus. "So, what would you guys like to eat and drink?" we didn't realise they were talking to us believing we were only getting scraps still out of practise of someone caring for us. "How about burgers?" he asks, and we still sit quietly he looks at his mate confused before she tries.

"Jenni sweetheart would you all like burgers? Or you can have anything else on the menu. There is a separate menu for the little ones."

"What are burgers" Scott asks me more loudly than necessary beside me to impatient to find out what they are "Are they like the deer's you catch?"

"You have never." the alpha starts flabbergasted "Actually don't answer that. I am going to just order for you lot" he points to me and all the pups "a whole ray of food and then you can pick and choose whatever you want to eat" They all look shocked at this making the alpha and luna smile triumphally. As soon as the food arrives the adults set to plate a little of everything on everyone's plates so they can try a bit of everything. The alpha looks at me as I let a small smile grace my lips at the sight of the pups' happy ones. "Pick whatever you would like to eat Jenni."

Nodding I let everyone start eating to see who I need to help with their meal first before I even think about myself, even though Valkyrie is salivating at the mouth with hunger, we may be dead on our feet, but food is food. Picking up Scott's cutlery I help him cut up his food before helping Suzy to my left, I notice that my brother and Conner are helping the other two tots out on their side. A meal is suddenly placed down in front of me by the luna, stunned I freeze, I feel the cutlery being taken out of my hands and I turn to see Rob helping Suzy out, turning back to Scott I find another warrior helping him giving me a nod to imply that I should start eating. Nodding back, I pick up a fry, I haven't had them since I was a kid, I go to take a bite, but I see the mournful looks that Sammy and Conner give their empty spots their food all eaten. I know they need more food seeming as they are growing teens and know I can go without.

Picking up my plate I slide it across to them "split it" I say softly, and they shake their heads at me 'I will go hunting later, you share that' I mind link them. I can see their urge to argue but I turn my attention back to Scott as he taps me on my bicep before pointing to a fry out on his plate ignoring the warrior at his side holding one for him, chuckling I pick it up and hand it to him so he can feed himself. Seconds later the waitresses appear swapping empty plates with huge ice-cream sundaes making the pups eyes bulge out of their eye sockets. the waft of burger and chips pass my nose as a fresh plate of food is placed in front of me, head shooting up I lock gaze with the alpha.

"Enjoy" he simply says smiling with so much affection.

"Thank you" I whisper loud enough for him to hear.

"No need to thank me, you are pack. But I do need to apologise on behalf of myself, my mate and our betas. We have been negligent and rude in not saying it sooner. Thank you for saving our pups. I hate to think what would have happened if you hadn't" a low growl slips from him as his wolf tries to take control.

"You don't need to thank me, Alpha."

"You saved our pups-" the luna starts to object.

"No disrespect to any of you but anyone would have done it. I just happened to be…I suppose in the right place at the right time. I do however need to thank you for saving them" I nod towards my pups "and for giving them a chance to have a fresh start."

Alpha Joe POV

All pups fed we were back on route to my territory and still in disbelief of everything that has happened. Sarah was busy messaging the head omega of the pack probably sorting out where the pups were staying in the pack house until we could find them homes, she didn't want anything left in the air on their arrival, she wanted to make them feel welcomed and wanted, what their old alpha should have done.

"Who was looking after them all?" Sarah asks bringing me out of my thoughts as she snuggles up to my side in the back of the limo as we watched over the pups, who all ended up congregated to the one side of the limo again, apart from Poppy who was nestled in Dean's arms. Our children didn't even want to know us at the moment, even Luke had lost interest in Poppy wanting Jenni's attention as much as our Harry did. They all pretty much laid on top her, her siblings leaning against her whilst she held onto Scott my daughter holding tightly around Sam's neck as the boys sat on either end clutching onto Jenni's arms, so they had contact with her too, making me and my wolf chuckle.

"I believe that Jenni has been beautiful" I sigh as I stare at all the sleeping pups.

"But how? She is like fifteen?" Chelsea asks astounded taking her eyes off Poppy alongside Dean to look at her.

"No idea but when we get back to our pack lands perhaps, we can find out what on earth happened in that god awful pack and how she managed to take-out full-grown wolves on her own."

"Do you think we can keep her?" I look up to see Chelsea asking Dean if they can keep Poppy as he cradles her in his arms rocking her gently, she wraps her tiny fist around his pinkie finger, and I can see the love he has for her only deepening.

"No one is taking my princess away" he growls quietly his wolf shining through as his eyes flicker to black, making Jenni stir, glaring at him he looks sheepishly at the pups, I go to reply but get interrupted before I can even get the first syllable past my lips.

"If she is your princess then ok. But know if you hurt her, I will kill you" I stare at the young female wolf still sitting with her eyes closed, how long had she been awake? And how can she threaten my beta with her eyes closed? I smirk at my beta who stiffens at her almost challenge, his wolf not happy that a pup dares to threaten him.

"How dare you threaten-"

"I would shut up now dear" Chelsea warns lovingly with her own growl "Are you saying your happy for us to have Poppy?" she looks hopefully towards Jenni as her words soften to ask her the question.

"I see the love you have for her, especially that brute of a beta. From the moment he snatched her out of my arms I knew she was going to be yours. Calling her princess just shows how much you care for her already. She deserves that. I do ask you don't change her name though, if you allow it, it was her mother's name."

"I love the name Poppy and thank you so much, did you know her mother?"

"Briefly I will tell you about her one day." She says sadly.

"Thank you." Chelsea replies softly.