Winterlust (COMPLETE)

Settling In

Travis

Travis lands in his office chair with a thud and checks his watch. He’s got about an hour before he has to go run warrior training. On his desk are three neatly stacked piles of paper with sticky notes on them.

Stuck to the top page of the first pile, the sticky note says “Elder Barry Davis, tomorrow 12:00”. Travis sets the note aside and flips through the pages. Each page is a few highlights and some background on different nearby Elders. After reading Elder Davis’s sheet, Travis smiles and sets the page back down. Owen is a fantastic beta, and picked the same Elder that Travis would have chosen to reach out to.

On the next pile, the sticky note on the top says “page 3”. Owen flips to the third page of the pile. It’s his PI Rick’s report on Violet and her family. Page 3 is where he itemizes what he knows about Daniel Taylor, who is apparently Violet’s father. Travis scans the page. Apparently Daniel has been off radar for a number of years, now. There have been a few reports that he’s living in south central Ontario Canada , off grid. There is one police report from thirteen years ago, signed by Evelyn Morrison. According to the report, Daniel attacked Violet and slashed her arm when she was only four years old. Evelyn took Violet and ran for help at a human hospital, presumably fearing her pack’s hospital. When a child is injured, hospital staff immediately call police and child welfare services. As Travis suspected, the next page is the CWS report which had deemed Evelyn fit to keep Violet in her care. I wonder what Violet knows about all of this.

The third stack’s sticky note says “Omega Katherine Wallace”. The top page is a copy of the memo about she-wolf self defence that Travis had asked for. The next three pages are the room assignment information for Violet, Evelyn and Muriel. The last page is a requisition for a second bed to be placed in Peter’s room in the pack hospital, for Lindsey. Owen, you’re a champ. Travis picks up the phone and dials Katherine’s extension. “Good morning, Alpha”, she greets him after the first ring. “Good morning, Katherine. Excellent job on the memo and room assignments, thank you so much”, Travis praises her. “It’s my pleasure, Alpha. Is there something else I may help you with?”, she asks him. “There is, yes. I’ll be sending a new pack member down to you at some point today. Her name is Evelyn Morrison, and she is to be considered a ranked pack member. Please work with her to arrange the she-wolf self defence classes.” “Certainly, Alpha”, Katherine says. “One more thing, Katherine. Would you please send two large mixed flower bouquets to each Evelyn and Muriel Morrison, and I’d like an extra large mixed bouquet with lots of violets to be sent to Violet Morrison in the Crimson Suite. I will stop by to write out the cards after warrior training.” “Yes, Alpha.”

Travis sighs as he leans back in his chair, looking at his watch again. “A moment, ladies?”, he links his mother and Owen’s mother, Wanda. While he waits for them to arrive, Travis goes out into the lounge and makes himself a coffee. Violet is a natural with this. She’s a quick study and she knew exactly how to carry herself from the moment she arrived here. I can’t wait to get her alone and…

“Hello, darling!”, Marie calls when she and Wanda step off the elevator, wrenching Travis from his near fantasy. “Let’s go in to my office”, Travis motions after kissing her cheek, “Hello, Wanda. Thanks for coming”, he nods to Wanda.

“Wanda, as you may or may not know, we have some new pack members that arrived today”, Travis says once they’re all seated. “I heard”, she smiles back at him. “What you probably haven’t heard is that our youngest arrival is our future Luna”, Travis beams at her. Wanda’s hands fly up to her mouth, “Oh! Travis, that’s wonderful news! I’m so happy for you”. “Thank you. And yes, she is my mate chosen by Moon Goddess and not a selected mate. I’ve brought you ladies in because she turns eighteen in six days, and I’d like to hopefully combine her birthday with her Luna celebration. I need both of your expert skills to get planning. I’d like to surprise Violet.” Marie nods approvingly, “We’re so flattered, Travis. Thank you!”, Wanda says gleefully. “Travis, Muriel and Evelyn seem lovely. I can’t wait to get to know everyone”, Marie grins. “Wonderful! It’s settled, then. Please see Omega Katherine Wallace for anything you may need. Now, I’m off to warrior training”.

Violet

This suite is… is… wow. Violet stands at the door, taking in her suite. In front of her is a small living area with very large windows and a sliding glass door leading out to a small balcony. Just like in a hotel, there’s a tiny kitchenette that includes a coffee maker, microwave and bar sized fridge in the back left corner. There’s a red settee and two dark purple tufted wing back chairs in the middle of the living area, and to the right is a grand four-poster king sized bed with sheer purple fabric draped along the top and sides. To the right of the bed is a door. The dark purple comforter and pillows on the bed look like they’re made of silk. To her left is a wall of glass separating the bathroom which has a clawfoot whirlpool tub and a separate shower with a rain shower head. Wait, a wall of glass? Violet walks over to the bathroom and closes the door, and all of the glass instantly frosts over. Holy. Crap. Violet crosses the room to the door by the bed and opens it wide. Inside is a huge walk in closet. Her suitcase has been unpacked neatly and stowed on the top shelf.

Violet kicks off her shoes and flops onto the bed where she finds a small remote. After fiddling with it for a minute, she hits the sleep button and blinds come rolling out of the ceiling and plunge the room into darkness. Perfect. Within minutes, Violet is fast asleep.

Evelyn

Evelyn and Muriel chat with a very animated Marie as she leads them to their rooms. She seems warm and welcoming, and Evelyn immediately decides that she likes this woman. “Link me if there is absolutely anything you need at all. I’ll be around all day. You both must be so tired! Travis had an omega unpack for you both, so please, all you need to do now is get some rest.”

Evelyn and Muriel each go into their rooms. Evelyn hears a knock from a door somewhere else in the room, and opens it up to see Muriel smiling at her sheepishly. “Mom,” Evelyn laughs heartily. It’s nice to see her mother the way she used to be, before Daniel forced us into hiding. “It was very thoughtful of them to give us adjoining rooms!”, Muriel muses as she pokes her head into Evelyn’s room, “What do you think of Marie?” “She seems lovely and welcoming”, Evelyn says, easing down on to the edge of her bed, “Do you think we could go see Peter later?” Muriel nods emphatically, “Absolutely yes. I’d like that.”

“Do you think Travis can protect her?”, Evelyn asks hesitantly. “I think he can do a better job with an entire pack behind him, than we could have done alone. We got her this far, Evelyn. Don’t lose sight of that. Let’s have a lie down, it will do us each a world of good”, Muriel pats her arm and closes the adjoining door.