Alpha Adiera

Choosing jars

Coffee time!!!

I took one of my nice dresses out of the closet. OOF! That was tighter than I remembered it being! Going to need to buy some maternity clothes! Maybe after going through the email applications I can look online for some.

I bounced down the 4 flights of stairs for breakfast. Stairs were a great time time waster. Going up and down all the time was good for burning off energy.

I twirled into the kitchen and greeted the morning crew.

"Good morning! I'm going to say, thank you all for your hard work now, because we're going to get busy shortly. Today will be your test for tomorrow. Tomorrow, from lunch time onwards, you are all not to work. That time is for yourselves. I'm telling you all this now, because my brain is going to be running a mile a minute and I'll forget ... There will be an alcoholic punch set up for you ladies in here. In the kitchen near the hot drinks area, away from the food, and out of the pup's reach. You will need to add ice to not only cool it, but also, to water it down. I'm not adding ice at the beginning because it will melt too quick and it will taste gross.

Beware! it will pack a punch even though it will taste like fruity goodness! You have been warned!

Now, let's have a good day. if you need help with anything! Mind. Link. Me.

Margo is not to enter the kitchen after she has sat down. If you get into a pickle, it's me you have to call. Have a good day everyone!"

Margo nodded her thanks to me, and I left them to it.

I sat with my hot and cold breakfasts side by side, eating my muslie, and crunching on eggs with bacon and avocado on toast.

Stella came up and gave me a funny look. Started to say something but didn't ... I was looking at her trying not to laugh.

"Apparently this is what my taste buds felt like today." I said without an ounce of emotion on my face or in my voice.

"Okay" Stella said looking at me with big eyes.

Ben joined us at the table. There is something I needed to ask the guys. I chose to mind link them.

"Do either of you want Hayden's ashes?"

Hayden had no family. He was an only child, and his parents died alongside Gus' parents in the plane crash, and he hadn't had a mate or pups.

"I will" said Mike gruffly. Ben nodded his head towards his friend.

"Do you want to choose a jar or are you happy with whatever?" I asked Mike.

"Get him the ugliest pink colour you can find." He smirked at me.

Ben started laughing and it was odd to hear it after the link conversation but I couldn't help but join in and Mike soon followed.

The ladies at the table looked confused.

"Sorry guys. Private conversation. Just talking about Hayden's ashes." I nodded to Mike. "I'll find an appropriate jar."

I waved to them, and headed to the office. Stella was hot on my heels.

We got stuck straight into it.

More applications.

More sorting and stalking.

That link you posted? Not cool bro.

That pic of you posing next to a drunk lady with her underwear exposed? You're not getting a call from me.

... and so it went until we had once again reached the bottom of the messages.

Phew!

I have time to shop before lunch.

"What are you looking for?" Stella asked looking at the screen.

"Stretchy pants and dresses for my belly. Plus nice stuff too. Just in case."

Ooh! What am I going to wear to the Alpha's meeting? A maternity suit? High pants. Flowy top. Nice jacket. All in black. I'll add an open green scarf for a pop of colour, and distraction from anything below my bust.

Oh wow! It was almost 11!

"Alpha? Marco is pulling up now."

"Thank you! Can someone ask if he needs any assistance please? He's got lots of ceramic jars to bring in!"

"Marco is here!" I said to Stella. "Let's go!"

We raced downstairs to greet our esteemed guest. Marco was the 4th generation of his family to work at the crematorium. His son was almost of age to take over but Marco loved what he did so much, I'm sure even after handing over the reins, Marco would still be helping where he could.

"Marco!" I embraced him warmly.

"Hello again Alpha Adiera"

"Hello Dan!" I greeted the young man, who was assistanting Marco with a clipboard, taking notes and marking off names.

He nodded politely at me.

We heard a bit of a clunk and we spun to see the warriors carrying some long wooden crates.

We had set up some long tables, along the wall off the dining area for the jars

"Put them down on the tables please."

They placed them gently and Marco walked over to them and removed the tops of the crates. There were so many lovely little ceramic jars lined up neatly in rows. They had wood shavings in between as a buffer to keep the jars safe and intact.

I grabbed one on impulse. They all had a white lid, and the base was white, and they all had a swirl of unique colour around the centre with a lovely matte finish. Just looking inside the crate I could see hints of blues, purples and pinks. I put the one I had picked back where I'd grabbed it from, then reached for a pink one that caught my eye. The jar looked a bit misshapen, looking almost droopy on one side.

"My apologies Alpha! I did not want to pick out what to bring with me, so I brought the entire order, just as it was delivered to me. I thought this way, the family members had a wider variety of choice. It also meant I haven't checked them already for quality. This one will have to get returned as it falls below my standard!" He held his had out for the jar.

I didn't want to hand it to him.

"Marco? Is it alright that I choose this one? I'm under strict orders to find an ugly pink one, and this is the closest one I think to match that description!"

"Are you sure?" Marco frowned.

"Yes! It will probably only be destroyed and it's still perfect to use! it's just not as pretty on the outside as the others." I smiled at the little jar in my hand. The lid came off and on nicely, and there were no cracks or other faults as far as I could tell. I think Mike would approve.

"Of course you may Adiera!" Marco said smiling at me.

"Perfect!" I grabbed one of the labels and wrote Hayden Gelespie on it and stuck it on the jar's lid. I returned it to its spot in the crate.

Then I found a lovely dark blue swirled jar and wrote Alpha Augustas Altruist on the lid, then also put it back where I'd grabbed it from.

Everyone that was expecting ashes would chose a jar today, and be presented with their loved one's ashes in it at the ceremony tomorrow.

I wrote the names on the lid so that other's would know they had already been spoken for.

Marco smiled at me. "If only everyone was easy to please as you my dear." He then grabbed my arm and we headed towards the tables set for lunch.

"You didn't bring Markus with you?"

"No. My son stayed at work to finish some things so we could both enjoy a stress free day with our pack tomorrow."

"Smart like his Dad." I patted Marco's hand on my arm affectionately.

.....

"Marco has brought the jars for our loved ones ashes. Anyone wanting to pick a jar for the ceremony tomorrow can do so for the next hour. They are along the wall in our greeting room. Anyone not wishing to choose one will get what they are given." I linked the all the families who had ashes being presented to them tomorrow.

.....

I delivered Marco to the table where Margo's husband Harrison, had just arrived at.

"Hello Harry! Good to see you! I'll leave you two to catch up, and I'll go see if Margo is ready to join you for lunch."

I walked into the kitchen just as Margo was on her way out with a big smile on her face.

"Have fun!" I linked to her.

I walked in and saw all the crepes all lined on trays already filled and waiting to be served. Everything looked to be well in hand.

I got an urgent sounding mind link from Dan.

"Alpha? Jessica is sorting a jar for Troy's ashes. But Troy's mother is here causing a scene!"

"I'll be right there!" I replied.

I walked quickly back out to the greeting room to see the two women upset, both with a jar in their hands.

"Jess? Are you okay?" I asked the young woman who was in tears.

"I was just choosing a jar for Troy's ashes, but Edith is insisting that she gets to have them!" she glared at her mother in law.

Troy was a Mamma's boy, and Edith had lost her husband Ed many years ago, so Troy was the only family she had until Jessica came along. Troy spoiled his Mother, so this situation didn't come as a surprise to me.

"Edith? Jess is Troy's mate. The Mother of your grandpups! You are all part of the same family. I understand you wanting a part of him too though... Have I told you what I want to do with Gus's ashes?"

Both women looked at me and shook their heads.

"I'm going to use his ashes to get a piece of jewellery made. Maybe you guys could look into something like that too? That way both of you could have a piece of Troy to remember him by?"

Jess frowned in thought. "I wanted him to be in our home where he can watch his kids grow. But, I like the idea of his ashes in some jewellery."

She turned to Edith. "Would you like something like that made, to remember him by?"

Edith looked heartbroken. "I just wanted him to be close to me still. Talk to him, and have a part of him close by."

"You don't see that in your grandpup Terry? That little raggamuffin is the splitting image of his Dad!" I said tying to lighten the mood.

"Yes, I suppose I do." Edith looked a bit lost in her own thoughts. She seemed to give herself a shake and looked at Jess. "Thank you Jess. I'd really appreciate getting something made from Troy's ashes." She said quietly.

"Of course!" Jess reached over and hugged Edith. I wrapped my long arms around them both in a group hug.

Grief was hard.

"Thank you Alpha."

"Glad I could help." I gave their shoulders a squeeze.

"Dan? Make sure when you're done here, please grab yourself some lunch." I mind linked him.

He nodded. "Thanks Alpha." Then he was off, talking with another family.

I returned to the dining room hungry. I grabbed myself a plate and sat at the table with my crew.

"Did you find a suitable jar?" Mike asked.

"Yup. Pink just like you requested."

It was a lovely lunch.

Margo, Harrison and Marco had many old friends join them at the table and I could hear lots of talking and laughter coming from their table.

After lunch I stuck my head in the kitchen.

"Need any help cleaning up?"

"No need! We have it all well in hand. Thank you Alpha!"

I nodded and snuck upstairs for a nap. I'd need to save my energy for the big day tomorrow. That's what I told myself anyways.