Chapter Eight

Excitement flows through the pups when we cross over the border into the Evergreen Forest pack's territory, the forest is beautiful and reminds me slightly of the ones I used to run in before the attack, the Red Moon's Forest pales in comparison to the one currently whizzing past me as we approach. I have the urge to shift and run in my wolf form, Valkyrie yips in my mind wanting to do just that. 'Soon Val, soon' I tell her.

It had taken us all day to get here and now pulling up to the packhouse I can honestly say I am not disappointed, it is going to be a big change for us all, a good one but one that will take time to get used too. Listening to the conversations between the alphas and betas whilst the pups slept and I pretended to sleep I already managed to confirm that this pack is different from Red Moon and I know the pups will be looked after with so much love and care, due to them wanting to treat them all as one of their own pups.

Staring out the window I cannot believe how big their packhouse is, it's a mansion and I feel the surprise coming through the bond link from the pups. Standing out of the limo I see Luna Sarah and Chelsea being greeted by an omega wolf waiting on the porch steps for them as the rest of the pups' rush to myside. I can hear the murmurs and whispers of the wolves around us as they gasp at the sheer number of us, I even hear a few 'Oh mys' gasped here and there along with 'aren't they adorable.'

"Ok pups let's get you inside and show you around" Luna Sarah says turning around ushering us inside and showing us where everything is on the ground floor before taking us up to the first floor. "Ok all the rooms down this hallway our yours some have bunks. You may pick which you want. I advise letting Jenni have this one though being the oldest" she suggests, looking in I see it has a queen size bed lounge area and what looks like an ensuite and walk in wardrobe, it is also closest to the stairs so I can listen to any intruders without them creeping up on me. It is also big enough for all of us. I have a feeling even though they can all pretty much have their own bed and own room they will still want to stay with me, just like they did in the cottage.

"Not to be rude Luna Sarah but you want us to stay in the pack house?" asks Sam still mistrusting the luck we have.

"Well yes, you are part of the pack" her eyebrows furrow in utter confusion. "All these rooms are empty" she points along the corridor"

"You are giving us a room?" Sam asks suspiciously again.

"Perhaps I am saying this wrong. These rooms are yours" she points at the rooms again "We would like you to stay in them until you find a new family like Poppy"

"Poppy?" they all search around just realising she is not with us.

"Sorry Luna Sarah allow me" she nods, thankful I was taking charge again "Ok guys calm down; Beta Dean and his mate Chelsea have adopted Poppy."

"If they don't take care of her. I'll kill them" Sam growls quietly, the luna hears him though, and has to quickly cover up her smile, Chelsea has no qualms about smiling as she walks down the hallway towards us.

"My mate seems to be getting a lot of death threats should I be worried?" she raises her eyebrow in amusement, ignoring the fact that Sam actually threatened her too.

"Not as long as Poppy is happy and safe" I say calmly giving her a wink, there is something about her I like. "Thank you, Luna. We appreciate everything you and your pack have already done for us; we will take this room if that is, ok?" I say pointing to the one she suggested I take.

"We?" bless her cotton socks "but all the others are free" her brows furrow deeply.

"I doubt they will stay elsewhere yet" I say and to confirm my suspicion they have already bundled into the room I had pointed into.

"Oh" she looks saddened but soon blanks her face.

"Where do you want us to start to work?" I need to see if there is a school nearby that I can sneak the pups off too again. Back in the Red Moon I used to sneak the pups out of the territory into the human town for school and nursery. Thankfully the wolves of the Red Moon pack went to a designated school on the other side of the human town which meant no one picked up on them attending school.

I even managed to secure childcare for the younger ones with an old lady who needed help with odd jobs in return, she would leave me a list and I would complete them. Her garden being the main job and with my wolfs help I was able to do it in the moonlight.

"Work?" Luna stutters, bless her "You pups you don't work" her voice rises and rises until it is an octave higher than she started.

"Sorry Luna but we do. We know how to do everything in the pack house promise." Sofia comes to cling to me with her soft toy wolf, stroking her hair back she squeezes me tightly.

"Not in this pack you don't" Sarah says sternly. "You need to concentrate on school." Before they can say anything, I jump in.

"School is something they were not allowed to do in the Red Moon pack Luna Sarah." I have no qualms in throwing Alpha Rick under the bus for that one and I may be slightly bending the truth a little, they did go but they weren't allowed.

"They weren't allowed. Where is my mate?" she almost screams "I need to settle this, this outrage. That unruly pack needs-" she carries on ranting as she storms off leaving Chelsea behind.

"Ok kids we have fresh towels in that cupboard and bathrooms there and there, and you also have the one in the room. Why don't you get cleaned up?"

"We can use a shower?" squeaks Suzy.

"Of course, why wouldn't you?" she looks at me and I just shake my head she isn't going to like the answer, she knows it to as anger flares on her face, they probably thought we had water in the cottage but as a punishment they cut the water "Yes Suzy why don't you get cleaned up some of the families in the pack have brought over some clothes for you all that their kids have grown out of I will bring them up shortly."

"Thank you. Please thank Luna Sarah for us too and the pack who have graciously given us clothes."

"You are all welcome, once you are ready come back down it is almost dinner time."

"As soon as they are all cleaned up, we will head in the kitchen to sort it" I automatically reply forgetting myself.

"No sweetie you all are coming down to sit with us to eat. We have kitchen staff to help the chef to cook and prepare dinner."

"We can eat?" a chorus of voices says around me in surprise and excitement, and I see Chelsea's face redden further.

"Yes, my sweeties you can have as much as you like" she sternly says before excusing herself and heading after the luna muttering "Just wait until my Dean gets his hands on them mutts, the Red Moon Pack will not know what hit their sorry arses."

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Heading to the dining hall we are waved over to a long table with the high-ranking wolves. Soon as Rob sees Suzy he jumps off of his seat and dashes towards us dragging I suppose his mate along. "Suzy this is Gary my mate. Gary this is the princess I told you about."

"Oh my gosh sweetie, aren't you just adorable" he gushes before looking at me apologetically, they would make great parents to her, crouching down to her she leans into my side the other pups had already moved over to the high-ranking table leaving us behind. I'm glad they are starting to feel more comfortable with them and don't feel as though they need to be attached to my side.

"Hey Suzy, why don't you eat with Rob and Gary?" I suggest watching as the two light up in excitement of having Suzy with them.

"But they-"

"I'm pretty sure they are dying for you to sit with them so they can get to know you better." They nod enthusiastically "You told me you liked talking to Rob in the car so why not spend more time with them." I add giving her a friendly reminder that she liked him and to let them know that Suzy liked him too.

"Oh-kay but what about Charlie and Maria?" she glances to where they are waiting for her glancing at the table that Rob came from, I see two more couples looking at the pups almost longingly. Picking up Suzy, I pass her over to Rob before heading over to Maria and Charlie.

"Where is Suz-" I lift them both up with ease making them giggle at my antics as I swirl them around, grabbing the attention of some of the pack as I do, they start chuckling along with the pup's, balancing them on my hip I head over to the table where Rob is now setting Suzy up.

"Hey, this is Charlie and Maria they are really close to Suzy would you mind if they sat with you too?" I ask the table they all shake their heads enthusiastically and Suzy squeals with happiness "The three of them may need help cutting their food but if you need me to come back over and help, please let me know" the females take a kid each off of me and I see their mates' eyes shine with happiness as they all introduce each other.

Making my way over to the others I get stopped by an older couple "Hello dear, I'm Luna Lucy and this is Alpha Ken we are Alpha Joe's parents."

"It is a pleasure to meet you" I bow keeping my eyes to the ground.

"Oh no dear, don't bow to us" she waves me off and I stand up straight "we were wondering if you could introduce us to all your adorable pups and yourself of course" nodding I head over with them and start introducing them, Val strutting with pride in my head at the pups being called ours "Oh my so who is the youngest?"

"That will be this one?" Beta Dean strolls in proudly with Poppy and Luke at his side.

"I have a new sister aunty Lucy" Luke shouts making everyone smile

"Oh, my isn't she a beauty" I feel a tug on my shirt.

"Sis"

"Yes Lil, what is wrong?" I ask her as I crouch down to her level to rub the tears off her cheek.

"Are they splitting up our family?" the adults all stiffen with mouths wide open looking like a punch of fish gasping for air not sure how to answer her.

"No" Scott screams and runs to me. Lifting them both up I confidentially brace myself for what I am about to say.

"It's ok guys. Our family is just getting bigger. Poppy is going to have a mum and dad to bring her up now, but we will get to spend lots of time with her and Rob and Gary want to be part of Suzy's life. You never know someone may want to take care of you too and you will become part of another family and they will be able to give you everything you deserve that I have been unable too-"

"But you look after us your family" Scott sobs into my shoulder his tears soaking into my shirt.

"And I still will but you will have adults to help, and Luna said you can even go to school-"

"Sis"

"Yes Sammy."

"Though we didn't have much we always had you. And you are worth more than anything to us all. You did so much for us and never let us-"

"Thanks Sammy. Remember what I used to tell you? A pack is a family. Red Moon did not understand that, but this pack does. And this pack is now family, we are not splitting up we are just extending our family to include all these other amazing wolves. So how about we all cheer up?" I give them all a reassuring smile. "Plus, Luna Sarah promised you, you could eat all you like" she chuckles wiping a tear away from her eye that she didn't manage to hold back, like so many other wolves in the room. Alpha Joe nods at me, pride flowing off him in waves in having his pack recognised, his eyes flickering to black and back as his wolf comes forward.

Settling Scott on my lap after him refusing to settle on his own chair, I start cutting some food up to feed him making sure the pups are eating. I can feel the Alpha and Luna's eyes on me and can tell they are talking about us through their link.

"Jennifer?" turning to the voice to my left I smile at Harry.

"Yes Harry?" I answer, I think Harry and Luke still want to be near me seeming as they sat to my left.

"After dinner would you play with us?"

"After dinner is your bedtime" Luna replies sharply giving her son a knowing glare.

"Tomorrow?" he asks hopefully.

"Sure, if I am not needed in the kitc-"

"We are taking you to the shops tomorrow. Harry you can come with us" Luna replies chuckling as Harry fist pumps the air "That son of ours has a crush love" she whispers to the alpha just barely enough that I overhear it as they smirk at me.

"Mum always has to ruin things" he mutters to Luke thinking his parents weren't listening.

"I'm sorry Harry even if I wanted to play today, I wouldn't be able to as I need to put some very tired pups to sleep" I nod towards Lily and a few others at the table.

"Story?" Scott yawns "please"

"Yes, I will tell you a story" kissing him on the forehead and rubbing his tired cheeks.

"Can we join?" Luke asks hopefully.

"Thought you were too old for stories" Chelsea eyes him suspiciously trying to hide her smirk.

"Please" both boys plead, and I turn to the parents.

"If it is ok with them" they all nod amusement flaring on their faces.

I don't get around to eating as Scott starts to drift off and a few others are just as bad. "Conner, Sammy can you give me a hand" they nod grabbing a tot each as I grab up Lilly slouched to my side as I get the others moving.

"Here let us help" Harry and Luke grab two of the pups struggling as the adults looking after Suzy, Charlie and Maria head to us with them in their arms. Getting them all upstairs is a mission but not as big of one with the help of others, it makes a nice change to have help looking after the pups. When I head into the room, I am shocked to find another two big beds in there.

"I wasn't letting any of you sleep on the floor now" Luna Sarah says firmly bringing up the rear looking pleased with herself.

"Thank you, Luna" I bow deeply before tucking Scott in, the others finding their place as I tell them to get in, they all manage to squeeze into the beds and I watch as Harry and Luke squeeze in too along with Cassey next to Sam. Turning on the lamp a novelty for us after our power was cut alongside the water, I start a story about the King and Queen of wolves about half way into the story they have all fell asleep. Sighing I go to settle myself against the door, I was just drifting off for half an hour when I felt a hand squeeze my shoulder.

"Why are you on the floor?" he asks before peeking at all the pups sleeping in the beds and realising with his pups and Luke there is no room for me, not that I mind I am used to the floor. "I know your tired, but would you mind just coming to talk with me briefly? I also bare a gift" he lifts a plate up with a sandwich "got a sandwich for you as you didn't eat" he says disapprovingly.

"Thank you, Alpha Joe. You really didn't need to make me a sandwich, I am sure you have much better things to do."

"It was nothing and you really should make sure you're eating. Will you talk with me?" nodding I take his hand to help me up the events of the last two days are definitely catching up with me, yawning I glance one last time at the pups before leaving with the alpha.