The Hunter and the Rogue Workers Union

Chapter 5

Work, Non-wolves, and Picnics

The next couple of days were spent in the presents of the Luna and the Alpha going over war damage during the morning hours. After lunch, they endured long conference calls with May and other members of the Union and The Great Council on possible expansion and the max number of wolves they could safely take.

“Now we need to know how you feel about non-wolf shifters. We have some smaller groups of cats, bears and a few other shifters that could benefit from the resources of a larger pack. We need to get their numbers up for them to once again prosper in their own packs. Of course, if you are interested, that will raise your pack up on our priority list very quickly, but we have to be sure that your pack is open to different shifters. All money would be cut if we find that the other shifters are mistreated.”

Sally could tell that Alpha Siman was mind linking the others in the room, which took only a couple of minutes before he spoke. “We had never considered including non-wolves before, because the topic simply never came up. But as long as they follow our pack laws like any other pack member, I do not see why not. We just want to raise our families in peace and, as long as they share that same view, then we will be more than happy to include them in our pack. If they get into a position where they can maintain their own pack safely, then we will help them with that process as best as we can.” Said Alpha Siman to May and the others.

“This will also include placing at least one non-wolf shifter in your inner circle as a representative. This person would have to be someone that you and the non-wolf shifters would have to agree on. We do not want someone that you are unable to work with,” said Sally. Silence for a few more minutes before both the Alpha and the Luna agreed.

The third day was spent with Sally and Russell going over possible locations for the new pack members to live in. Each morning, a little someone kept just in the shadows watching Sally work with the Alpha.

“Alright, that is enough for today. Are you going to return with us, Captain Sally?” Asked Alpha Siman.

“I will catch up with you after lunch. It looks like someone is hungry again. I will have lunch with her.”

“The pack house is open. I have no idea why she will not walk in there like everyone else.” He said to Sally.

“She is young with no one to really watch her. I understand where she is coming from. I had trouble making friends when I was a kid.” Said Russell, looking over where the tiny little girl was hiding.

“I made sure to pack a kid's health drink for her today.” Said Luna. “Do try and get her to come to the Pack house to eat tonight. Maybe after the main crowd has left. I do not like how skinny she is. I simply cannot handle underweight children.” The Alpha started to laugh at his love.

“Children do not stay underweight around you for long, my love.” He kissed her sweetly on the cheek as they made their way back to the Pack house.

Sally found a cool place in the woods and put out a blanket. Russel started to set the plates and put out the food. “Oh, no, we have way too much food for two people but the perfect amount for three. Russell, where are we going to find a third person?” Sounds of movement could be heard not far from them.

“I even made brownies and it seems I may have made too much for us to eat. I wonder who could help us with our problem.” The sounds got closer.

“I am just going to place this brownie down on this third plate and maybe the creator will send us someone to talk to. We spend so much time working together that we are so bored. We need someone to help us have fun.” Said Sally. Suddenly, a tiny child stood by the blanket looking at the food already on the third plate.

“I like brownies and having fun” she said in a very soft manner with her eyes centered on the plate of food.

“Well, that is wonderful because I do too! Why don’t you join us,” asked Sally?

The girl hurried to the plate and ate the small amount of food on it way too fast. Sally looked at her carefully, trying to ask her something without upsetting her.

“You know I love to eat, but I really do not know how to pick out fun foods to eat. I am really a boring person, so why don’t you tell me the last thing you ate so maybe I can have a better idea for myself.”

The little girl stopped, not really liking the question too much but also not seeing it as too intrusive of a question. “I had some chicken.”

“Did your mom make it special for you,” asked Russell? The child shook her head "no" with her mouth full of brownie.

“Mommy has a sick headache for a long time so I got some from a nice lady a couple of roads over from us. I told her how good her chicken smelled so she let me have some.”

“Where is your daddy,” asked Sally? She was trying to hold back her emotions when she thought of her mate.

“He has a sick headache too. I can’t bother him when he is sick.”

“How long have they had a sick headache? Does someone need to check on them,” asked Sally?

“No, they took their medicine so they should start to feel better soon. Then daddy will take me to the park. I love it when he takes me to the park. And we will eat ice cream. That is a fun food that I love. I love ice cream.”

“You do too! Well, I happen to know a place where we can get some after I get done with work today,” said Sally.

“You do, where?”

“We can go to the Pack house and you can eat dinner with me and Russell and then we can get some ice cream. Maybe we can play hide and seek after that if you like.” At first the girl looked excited and then suddenly sad.

“I can’t go there without daddy and he has sick headaches a lot. I hate his sick headaches!” She said in anger.

“Don’t worry about him. I will talk to him and then we will go to the Pack house and get ice cream.” Said Sally with a mischievous grin. Starlit did not seem sure about it but she just shrugged her shoulders and finished her drink. They would not give her any more to eat, trying to be careful not to make her ill.

After they had finished up the details of the new contract orders for workmen and supplies, Sally made her way to the Rogue Alpha cottage. She knocked on the door and heard nothing. She knocked a few more times and then closed her eyes to listen for their breathing. There were two beings in the house and it seemed they were in different rooms, nowhere near each other. The child walked past her and opened the door. A wellness check. If anyone asked, she was doing a wellness check. She had already spotted an empty bucket outside the house. A smile crossed her face as she entered the house and followed his smell to the master bedroom at the back left of the house. He seemed to relax into his sleep when she walked into his room. Right as a slight smile started to cross his lips like he was just starting a wonderful dream; Sally threw a bucket of water at him. Arms and legs were up in the air, he looked like he was trying to swim away from his bed. Sally laughed as Starlit hid in the living room. Still armed with her mischief smile, Sally walked to the bed and sat next to him locking eyes with her wayward mate.

“I am taking Starlit to the Pack house to get a proper meal, after which we will watch a movie in the children’s entertainment room followed by ice cream. I want you to finish your shower properly in the bathroom and meet us for the movie.” His eyes never left her eyes as she spoke to him. “Okay?” She added.

“Yes Ma’am.” He whispered back to her. She kissed him on the forehead and for the first time she felt a spark. She jumped just a little as a look of surprise covered her face.

“Your first spark, my love?” He asked with a half smirk. Sally only shook her head "yes" while looking into his eyes again. He reached up, softly touching her cheek with his first finger. “I was not sure if you could feel it. You have no idea how happy that makes me.”

She broke from his eyes, shaking her head. “I need to get her some fresh clothes for Starlit. We will not wait for you, so do not fall back to sleep and no more nasty habits.” She started to walk to his bedroom door. She stopped, “Do not disappoint or it will be quite regrettable on your part,” Sally said before leaving the room.

Her heart dropped a little as she walked into the child’s room. The closet was not even a quarter full and half of what it held was too small for the child. Sally was having trouble processing why anyone would treat their child this way. If they kept this up, Starlit would be half wild before the age of seven. The idea seemed to make her blood boil. If it was not for the mate bond, she would have walked straight into that rogue’s room and knocked him to the ground, but how would that help this situation? She would have felt better, but there was a strong chance the little princess would be mad at her. Sally hated the idea of making the child mad.

Starlit picked out an okay little outfit and some shoes that were almost nice. It was something, but still she felt it was not even close to being good enough for Starlit. Even if he was serious about her taking the child, how could she be good enough for her? She tried to push the idea out of her mind for the moment. It must have been him just talking crazy. If they could get the little girl’s mother to clean up, that would be best for everyone. She needed her real mother, and Sally needed to work stupid hours so she could move to the next step of her plan. She had to stick with her plan, it was important to her. After all she had given so much to the war, she needed this one thing. All she wanted was peace and she needed to follow through, but the little girl kept popping into her mind. Starlit finally picked out an outfit which had seen better days but that one seemed to somehow breathe new life into the outfit.

“Alright Princess, let's go to the Pack house and party hard with cartoons and ice cream.” Starlit started to dance upon hearing this, making Sally laugh with delight. They met Russell outside, and he joined in on their fun. He looked like a prince with his black hair slicked back and dark brown eyes smiling at his two friends. He always looked like a happy kid. A big kid but a happy one none the less.

“Princess! That is a great name,” said Starlit with great energy. “I love it! The Princess wishes to eat now. Please take my hand, and I will lead you to the Pack house.” She put her hand to Russell so he could take it, which he did. He kissed it and started to walk with her to the Pack house.

“Oh, what will we do if we come across a scary dragon?” Asked Russell, in a playful, silly tone.

“I will protect you with my ice powers.” Said Starlit, jumping and running in a circle. They all laughed as they playfully made their way to the packhouse.