Vows of Silence

3

Water filled the basket in the washers and melted down the little squares of soap. Purple and green swirled under the bubbles as I started throwing in the t-shirts. Mud and dried grass and leaves were caked on most of them. Everytime I straightened out the wrinkles bits of dirt clinked onto the floor like glitter after new years eve. I'd have to clean this up after. There had been heavy rain lately. It gave way to cold chilly nights with lots of strong wind that snuck in through the cracks of the basements. The washing and drying machines were in a seperate room connected to the basement so that was fun. It meant I was closer to my space. I tossed in shirt after shirt until they formed a mountain. I slammed it shut and moved the basket back to the laundry shute. There were three. One for shirts, one for pants, and one for other forms of clothing like jackets. The chutes led the joint showers upstairs. I cleaned those weekly except for summer when they were used a lot more so I cleaned twice a week. All these clothes were technically pack clothes. It was all shared because it was kept by training grounds, hidden spots in the woods, and varying locations I didn't know about. I had only been allowed outside a few times. I was allowed to dump the dirty mop water out by the porch and I was allowed supervised blanket hanging if no one else could do it.

Today was not one of those days. I sighed and locked the wheels on the last basket as the washer beeped. This was my final chance to throw something in before it locked for the cycle. It was mid-afternoon now and dinner prep would start soon. I hung up the mop and broom on the hooks that were screwed into the cement wall. Water dripped onto the floor leaving dark spots behind. I flipped the bucket over the drain on the floor so the rest of the water would continue to drip out.

''Is there a chance to throw this in the washer?'' Him again. Alpha Damian was standing on the stairs that led into the basement.

Damn it. The washer just beeped. I can't tell him no.

''I'm sorry. The washer's locked Alpha. I can't open it again until the cycle stops.'' I kept my eyes trained on the floor as I spoke to him. Last time I looked up at Alpha John, he busted my lip open. I had to hold it together with tape until it healed.

''Damn it, I need this shirt for tomorrow morning.'' I could be useful.

''Can I see it?'' I squeezed my hands together and waited. He would either hit me or thank me. I really hope its the second one.

"Sure, it doesn't stink or anything, there's just this stain on the front where I spilled something on myself and some other stains. Do you think you can get them out?'' His hand reached towards me. It was long sleeve button downed shirt. White. I grabbed it and opened it up. His scent was heavier on the shirt. Rich and alluring. Exactly how an Alpha should smell. He didn't smell anything like his father. Alpha John smelled like sweat and worn down cologne. Damian smelled like the forest and fresh rain on a winter day when it wasn't yet cold enough for snow but it was cold enough that rain drops felt like ice when they hit you.

''What do you think?'' I blinked. I forgot he was here and I'm thinking about how he smells!

''I can get this out by tonight.'' Crap. Tonight is in a few hours.

''Great, bring to my room later.'' He left without a second thought. I was still in shock. His room? I've only been allowed upstairs to clean but Rebecca has always cleaned the Alpha's room. I wasn't allowed to so much as breathe in that direction. I eyed the wine stain on the shirt. That was easy enough. Now the lipstick on his collar might be a bit tricker. The bright red shade stared back at me. I felt a small foreign tug at my heart. Am I dying? It would make sense. I haven't spoken to my wolf in weeks. I barely eat. I barely sleep. There's not much going for me. My stomach grumbled. Rebecca hadn't let me eat the breakfast scraps this morning. I almost dug them out of the whole in the sink but she turned on the blades before I could move.

I scrubbed at the wine with one of the bottles of laudnry stuff and rubbed it up and down on the washboard sink until the shirt turned clean. My fingers were stinging from the solution soaking into the cuts on my hand where my skin broke. In the winter, my hands became so dry. They looked like they were sprinkled with flour. I rinsed the shirt until the bubbles stopped and then I grabbed the bar. The lipstick lifted easily after I scrubbed it for a few minutes. I gave a final rinse in a little bit a fabric softner and hung it up to dry. A shirt like this would shrink in the dryer if I left it for too long. I may have to run it through later but right now, I was late for dinner.