Chapter Ten

I knew leaving the pups alone was a bad idea, especially when they are in a new unknown environment. I'm such an idiot mind you I am not exactly fully functional at the moment, when the alpha asked to talk to me, I wanted to make an effort after what he had done for us, what all of them had.

This pack was different I couldn't explain how I knew but I did, and I really wanted the pups to know this. The only way I could think of doing this was to show them that they were not in any danger by the way I acted and talked with the other wolves in the pack, in the hope that they would let down their guard and show their true selves that I get to see rather than the timid mice they have had to be in front of others.

I am pretty sure that Alpha Rick didn't even know how many pups I looked after, he used to dump pups in my arms but never once checked up on them and I kept most of them away from the pack, so they weren't used to any interaction apart from me and the others that lived with us.

"No please!" skidding around the doorframe I nearly knock over rob and other pack members who are trying to help Sarah and Chelsea calm down the pups. Unfortunately, they were only making them worse I could feel the terror coming off them, the pups were not used to being around others, only used to me and the other pups. All they could see was danger in their sleep state minds as the other wolves approached them to try and comfort them "we didn't mean to do anything wrong."

"Please don't hurt us we didn't mean to do anything wrong."

"I want Jenni" sobs Liam whilst a few others whimper out my name.

"Sweetheart. We. are. not. going. to. hurt. you." she enunciates each word to try and get them to realise they are only there to comfort them "We just want to know what is wrong?"

"Please Luna. Please forgive us. We didn't know. We didn't mean to do anything wrong." Sam pleads holding Scott sobbing.

"Jenni!" Lily screams as the Luna crouches down to try again, sticking my fingers between my lips I whistle to get everyone's attention and making everyone jump before pausing in their tracks in confusion.

"Jenni, we didn't mean to do anything wrong." they rush to me giving everyone else a wide berth, they don't know how to act with them and are just scared.

"It's ok, you have done nothing wrong." Heading to my brother I pick up Scott who is overtired and sobbing before wrapping my arms around the crying girls and everyone else huddles closely to me. "Shh its ok. It was just a bad dream, Sof. You're safe now." I whisper to Sofia as I rub soothing circles on her back, I had felt through our bond that it was her that had the bad dream. Turning my attention back to the others I nod towards all the panicked adults "They just wanted to make sure that you were all ok."

"Sis, don't let them hurt you again." Lily sobs into my shirt wrapping her small arms around my neck.

"Lily this pack is different. No one is going to hurt us."

"They won't make you bleed?" gasps come from around us.

"No one is going to bleed" I say firmly, Val growling gently to confirm it as she starts sending out calming vibes. "This pack is different Lily pie, and they are going to prove it to you tomorrow. So, you all need to get some rest as it is late."

"But-"

"No buts come on get yourselves back into these amazing comfy beds."

"Lul-lullaby?" Scott yawns nodding I start humming the tune before singing the lullaby my parents used to sing.

"That's the royal lullaby. How does she know it? No one outside the kingdom knew the words only the tune." someone whispers behind me but I take no notice I am not ready to tell them my full story yet and I promised my parents I would wait until I was eighteen and keep hidden until then. Last note sung all kids are fast asleep again.

"Are they ok?" Chelsea appears at myside helping me tuck them in, giving her son a kiss on his head.

"They will be, they just have nightmares"

"Do they get them often?"

"They do. But you and your pack will soon give them good memories and erase those nightmares away."

"I promise you we will" Luna Sarah says firmly hugging me, Chelsea comes in from the other side making me stiffen but I calm myself, they are not hurting me they are showing me that they care I try to tell myself, but years of pain has replaced my muscle memory on what affection is like.

"I know you will Luna Sarah. You and your pack are special." Deep down I know that this pack is going to have a huge roll not in just the pups' lives but my own. Turning off the light I go to settle back by the door to find Rob and Gary already slumped against each other, other wolves follow suit as they find a place around the room to settle. They all timidly smile at me as though they have been caught with their hands in a cookie jar and I have to hold back my laugh.

"You need to get some sleep. Why don't you use the room opposite" Luna Sarah suggests before slightly chuckling as she leaves the room, following her gaze I cannot help but laugh this time as I see pack members settling themselves out in the hallway. "Seems you and your pups have got my pack wrapped around your fingers already."

"I'm not sure how to answer that one and I think it would be best if I stay here with them just in case." Sitting down against the bottom of one of the beds.

"Well please try and get some sleep. There is enough of them to help look after the pups." She indicates to all the other wolves around "then again they aren't used to us" she frowns.

"I will make sure I get some sleep Luna and give it time they aren't used to anyone apart from me caring but they will soon see that you and your pack are different."

Through the night I spent a few more times settling them back to sleep only managing to doze off for an hour before the sun started to rise. Not wanting to try and force myself back to sleep I decide to head to the kitchens for something to do, being so used to having to cook breakfast for all the pack at this time, I find it hard to break the habit. Having to avoid and step over all the wolves in the corridor keeping watch over the pups, I finally make a clean break to the kitchen.

Pushing the door open I am met with a high-end kitchen with up-to-date appliances all sparkling clean. Searching the cupboards, I find the ingredients to make pastries and get to work. Taking out the tenth tray of various pastries I get everything else out to start the rest of breakfast when a bunch of omegas walk in, and stare open mouthed at me.

"Hi, err…may I ask who you are and what you are doing?" a short brunette-haired woman asks looking puzzled but not angry.

"Hi sorry I am Jennifer. I thought I'd start the pack breakfast." Looking around to check I had kept everything clean and tidy, worried of punishment for a mess, as well as for overstepping my welcome.

"You've cooked this amount on your own?" she asks looking around the kitchen to see if anyone else is about "when did you get here?"

"Sorry I didn't mean to cause a problem-"

"Problem you haven't caused a problem honey. I just cannot believe you done all this on your own. Why don't you go freshen up whilst we finish up?"

"I don't mind finishing-"

"Jennifer, its ok we don't mind. It is our job after all." She chuckles giving my shoulder a reassuring squeeze whilst smiling at me. The get to omegas take that as their cue to get to work, each going to a different station within the kitchen.

Nodding I leave them to it and head back to check on the pups finding it much easier to get back to the room now that the other wolves have left. In the room the pups are already getting ready, I feel completely in the way not used to being around when they are getting dressed due to working.

"Sis?" Sam asks confused. "What has happened?"

"Nothing has happened Sammy. I have come to help get you guys ready for breakfast, but it seems I am not needed."

"But why are you not making breakfast. They're going to-" Lily squeaks as she shuffles from foot to foot.

"Shh Lily pie. Nothing is going to happen." I say stroking her hair "So, let's finish getting ready and go down to breakfast." Stroking the tear away from her cheek.

"Jen-ni help me" Scott demands yawning at me refusing Conners help to get dressed,

"Bud. You traitor. What happened to boys sticking together?" he laughs handing me Scott's shirt.

"Sorry Con. You know I'm favourite." I chime cheerfully tickling his side making him skip away as Scott giggles.

All dressed I hold Scott's hand and start to herd them all down to the dining hall, some of the pack are already eating when we get there but soon stop when we enter. Dean and Chelsea enthusiastically wave us all over, the pups dash over to them feeling more comfortable with them. Rob jumps up with Gary and head straight over to Suzy whilst the others who looked after Charlie and Maria follow shortly behind eager to spend more time with the pups. "Can we" "Would you mind" they all start at once.

"Hey, you three wanna hang with these guys?" I say excitingly making them squeal with excitement before running over to them, they are thrown up in the air by the males before being caught and embraced into a hug, making them giggle.

"I wish mum and dad were here" Conner whispers next to me seeing the happiness in the pups' eyes.

"I know. I wish they were here too bud but there is still hope" he glances away from me still believing that they are dead "Have faith Conner. I believe deep down your family is out there and when I am old enough, I will search for them and get you back to them, same with the others." I know his and the twin's family are out there along with Sofia's mum, but I don't know where exactly.

"Promise?"

"Promise" I say kissing his forehead as I ruffle his hair "Come on" lifting Scott into the chair on my right, Conner takes the left.

"You guys ready for today?" they all look at me lost at Sarah's excitement.

"We are ready Lu-"

"Call me Sarah. No need for all the formalities."

"We are ready Sarah" smiling at the pups "they are just nervous. But they are all looking forward to the adventure. Right guys?" they all nod like a bunch of bobble heads.

"Good now you are going to all need your energy so eat as much as you can."

"Oh my gosh" Chelsea moans as she bites into one of the pastries. "Have you tried these pastries?" she waves it in the air like a flag "You all need to try them." she practically shouts, "where is Lisa?" turning this way and that to locate her "Lisa!" she shouts bouncing on her seat to everyone's amusement whilst Dean carries on giving Poppy her milk, grinning away like a lunatic at her excitement.

"Morning Chelsea, everything ok" the short brunette-haired woman from the kitchen earlier chuckles appearing next to her, she eyes me out of the corner of her eyes.

"Ok? Its bloody brilliant. Though you need to give me this recipe they are amazing." She chuckles before turning to me as my face becomes a furnace.

"It seems the pastries have been a hit." She smirks "But I cannot give you the recipe" she says still laughing as Chelsea looks defeated, deflating like a lead balloon.

"Lisa why will you not give my mate the recipe? Don't make me order you too." Dean says grouchily not happy his mate is now upset but it only makes Lisa laugh even harder to everyone's bewilderment.

"Sorry. Sorry" she gasps in between her uncontrollable laughter as she tries to hold back tears "as I explained to everyone else, I didn't make them, and I wouldn't even know where to start-"

"Who made them?" Chelsea asks straightening up with excitement once again. "Come on Lisa spill."

"Jennifer made them" she blurts out turning to face me.

"Jennifer?" they all frown confused not knowing my full name

"My sister Jennifer" Sam says straightening up with pride as he helps them out which just makes their mouths pop open like goldfish gasping for air.

"You?" she looks down at the pastries then back at me, trying to put two and two together.

"How did you make them all in time?" Luna Sarah calmly asks astounded at the revelation.

"I err…well err I am used to making meals for the whole pack on my own so just err…"

"You what?" Lisa stutters "You mean you have cooked for a whole pack on your own before?" waving her hand in the air to emphasise the whole pack.

"It was one of my jobs" I tell her, picking up a sausage for Scott to eat.

"One?" the females gasp out.

"Sis did all the cooking. Most of the cleaning we helped when we could. She also raised most of us from babies even when she was badly hurt-" Sam supplies pride shining on his face as he rambles away feeling comfortable around them after watching my interactions with them all.

"Anyway" I butt in trying to change the topic as my cheeks burning red hot "Lun-sorry Sarah" I quickly call her by her name rather than title as she glares at me "we are going to the mall today I forgot to advise you none of them have ever been and it may be overwhelming for them if I remember what malls are like, they are normally quite crowded."

"Yes, they are. We have a few warriors coming along and some others have volunteered to come along to help. A lot of them would like to meet you all" she supplies giving the pups an opportunity to join in the conversation, but they are not used to it and look to me for guidance again. It is way too soon for them to act normal, and I need to show them the way and hopefully with Sammy's help we will.