Haunted by the Sins of the Mother

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Adira

I stood where I had been stooped over in the garden. I put a hand on the back of my neck and stretched. Every inch of my body hurt. I held my hands out in front of me. They were calloused and rough. I barely recognize them as my own.  I used to have nice hands.  Manicured nails. Back when we didn't have to sweat all day working to feed others.

 I had been a teacher.  But all of that changed when the pandemic hit.  Our pack had been hit particularly hard.  So many had died.  There was barely food for those who were left.  The supply chain around the world had been decimated.  We tried to live off the land as best as possible.  Those of us who could, tended to the gardens.  Others sewed.  Some built things, but mostly we just dug graves. So, so many graves.

My whole family had died, except for my little brother Avan. He was 14. He was a handful at times. Cocky.  Didn’t know when to stop talking. Always getting in over his head on things. But he was smart. He could also be very sweet, especially if he wanted something.  There were times where you wanted to strangle him and hug him simultaneously. 

It was getting very late.  I picked up my bushel basket filled with fresh vegetables and headed towards the packhouse.  We needed to make dinner for everyone.  I was expecting my brother to return soon.  He had been out for days trying to hunt for something we could use as meat.  Fresh meat was few and far between these days.  Most days the best we could do was some sort of canned fish.

I heard shouts coming from just outside the packhouse.  Several of the young men from our pack were breathless and trying to explain something.  Their arms waved wildly as they spoke.  It was like I couldn't understand what was happening.  Or maybe I did, and it just wouldn't sink in. 

“He has him! He has Avan!” yelled one of my brother’s friends. 

I paused and grabbed the boy by his shoulders.  “Calm down!” I said.  “Now, who has Avon?”

“He does! Some of the guards grabbed him.  They took him to the packhouse.  Alpha Williams!  The alpha has Avan! He's going to kill him!  We gotta help him escape!”

 My brother had been captured.  By one of the most unforgiving Alphas, no less. Goddess, what had he gotten himself into? 

“What were you doing on the Dark Moon land?” I asked.

The teens all looked guilty. “It wasn’t Avan’s fault.” Said another boy, Paul. “ It was my idea. I knew Dark Pack had lots of food. More than they even need. So…well…we sorta snuck into their warehouse…”

“We were only going to take what we needed. I swear. Nothing more.” Chimed in Danny.

I finally sunk in. My God, they were caught stealing from the Dark Moon Pack. Alpha Williams was going to seek justice for that.  There was no doubt it wouldn’t be pretty when he did. 

“What are we going to do?” asked Paul.

All of the boys looked at me.

“We’re going to go to our Alpha and ask him to meet with Alpha Williams and arrange a release.” I said matter-of-factly.   I stood tall and marched to Alpha Davis’ office.