TM [Complete ✔️]

17. Meetings

Zane's P.O.V

After I'd had a day to settle into my new duties and Julian had walked me through most of what I needed to know from finances to schools and donations Cedric had started making for the upcoming holidays, the meetings with pack members began.

I'd scheduled for the main gardeners to come first since the gardens were the main source of income for the pack at the moment, then the rest of the gardeners and helpers, those that wished to apply for the Gamma position next, followed by the remaining warriors and lastly, the Omegas.

The most important part of my leadership, if I would have any chance at making it last, would be to fill the budget and get some well-trained warriors.

Since I had zero idea where to find all the necessary money to rebuild this pack and pay the wolves their salaries, it built into my next problem - the lack of skilled warriors.

If I had the funds, I'd be able to get a couple hundred ready warriors from the packs that remained allied to Silver Claws, so what I was hoping to come from these meetings were mainly ideas, especially from the gardeners, on how fast we could get the pack back to where it was before Cedric destroyed it all, hence why they were first.

By putting those who wished to apply for the Gamma position, I was hoping to pick out whatever was left of the skilled fighters of the pack, or those that were of ranked blood and could help get the others in shape.

Also, Julian mused, if we could pick a Gamma fast, preferably a Gamma couple, there would be a certain workload that wouldn't fall upon the two of us, which at this point would be a relief.

Knox said I was doing a good job and that I was on the right track with my ideas, but I didn't expect him to say anything different after he was the one to shove me into this mess in the first place, so I had half a mind to believe he was being sincere.

I could've asked him for some warriors, knowing I was more or less the one that trained them, and we already worked well together, however after Blood Moon's losses during the war and with a brand new Beta couple, they weren't in any position to help out, either.

Until I could gather an army, even a small one, my new pack was completely defenseless against enemies and rogues, leaving me uneasy and on edge. I hadn't been able to sleep at all last night after finding out how pathetic our numbers truly were.

Silver Claws had lost about two hundred well-trained males and females because of Cedric's greediness, and now we were all paying for it.

"Come in!" I sighed, a headache steadily rising, whether from the problems, solutions to which seemed so far away, or because of the sleepless nights, I didn't know.

Sofia, as the pack's main gardener, and the one who apparently helped out the former Luna with her duties before she left (whatever that meant) slowly walked in, her steps unsure.

I couldn't help but wonder why she moved so slowly towards me but couldn't wait to run away, when any time I needed help with Beyla, she was there to suggest herself.

"Sit," I muttered, letting her make herself comfortable on the green armchair in my new office, right across the dark wood desk I was sitting behind, as I opened up the pack files on my computer and searched for hers.

"So," I began as soon as I found it, having not a second to spare, "you live alone. Any family?"

"None that I consider actual family, no."

"You have lost your mate and daughter, is that correct?" I asked, softening my voice. I hated having to ask questions I'd personally rather hit myself with a hammer than answer, but it was standard protocol, apparently.

Even if I hadn't had meetings, I would've had to go through these files, regardless.

"Yes." She gulped.

"I'm sorry." I found myself muttering as I scrolled down, wanting to get her over with as soon as possible.

Perhaps she reminded me just a little bit of me and my own grief.

"Is your salary enough for you to live comfortably while living on your own?"

"Yes, I'd say so." She answered absentmindedly, looking at her hands.

"Could-could we open a window, please?" I looked up from the computer to find her doing her best not to breathe, pulling at her sweater.

"Go ahead," I muttered, turning back to the file and reading through it until she sat back down.

"Where are you and the rest of the gardeners work-wise?" I asked, wondering if it had been the personal questions that had suffocated her.

"Well, it's November, so not much we can do in the gardens themselves but get them ready for the new season. There's some income we've made from the pumpkins from Halloween that I'd make a report for you on?" She questioned more than stated, taking my nod as a sign to continue.

"Currently, we're working on providing you with a detailed report on what crops were the most, and least, profitable throughout the last three years, so you could decide what we should and shouldn't keep growing in the spring, we will also be sending you a list of markets and online retailers that you'd need to apply in order for Greg, Genevieve and I to send in our applications. While we're doing that the other gardeners are working on producing jams, fruit compotes, drying and storing both fruits and vegetables to keep and sell, as well as some spices. Our pack is best known for its wide variety of them, actually."

I had to admit I was more than impressed with what one garden could lead to and why, since wolves were stronger and faster than humans, we still needed multiple to do the work. Now, however, I realized how truly little I knew about the process and that I was even slightly interested in finding out more one day, not that I could ever see myself buried in dirt as I plucked out carrots, but maybe for educational purposes.

"You seem to know what you're doing," I said, a small smile spreading on her lips.

"It wasn't my dream to be a gardener when I was a pup but then my daughter and I made a little garden in our backyard and..." she trailed off, the look in her eyes pained and distant, making my own pain resurface.

If Knox had been right about one thing, it was that the distraction of leading a pack would do me good. The pain hadn't eased by any means, only now I had no time to dwell on it, nor to allow my thoughts to spiral when there were hundreds of lives at stake and I was failing already.

"After I lost her, it was a way to earn some money while I was grieving but I guess I fell in love with it along the way," her gaze seemed to refocus, landing on me but never maintaining eye contact for longer than a few seconds, "and it reminded me of her, so..." After a few moments of silence, I could tell she wouldn't say anything else, allowing me to switch the topic.

"Work hours?" I asked, needing to create some sort of schedule for myself.

"The previous Alpha never set one for us so long as the work got done in time for the markets and the money made a steady income." She shrugged, continuing when it became clear that I wanted her to elaborate. "There are different things to be done each season, so it depends largely on that, as well. For example, during spring when we begin planting and uncovering the gardens, the workdays begin as early as five in the morning, while in the winter it's more about the funds and applications, as well as preparations, so we could start a little later in the day too." I nodded, doing my best to process all the information she was providing me with but knowing it was a futile attempt.

"Will that change, Alpha?" She asked. "Our work hours, payments, and workers?"

"I don't plan on making any changes yet," I admitted. "You know your stuff better than I do, so as long as everything runs smoothly, and like you said, your work is on time, you're free to continue how you were before." She gave me a grateful smile before glancing at the door.

"Was that all?"

"It appears to be, for now. Looks like we'll be meeting again soon, anyway."

"W-why?" She stammered, practically jumping out of her seat as her face paled.

"For the reports you said you'd send me?" I c****d an eyebrow, regarding her odd behavior but let the matter drop as she exhaled and shame painted her cheeks.

"I'm sorry." Was all she said before the door closed behind her, only letting me take a breath myself before the next wolf was called in.

***

After a very long day of work, during which I was forced to use one of the nannies recommended to me by multiple she-wolves during the ceremony, perhaps because they pitied the single father. I never asked for nanny references, yet even within the first three hours of meetings, it became clear I wouldn't get much done with Beyla in the room.

And if I was honest, I felt about as uncomfortable when strangers gave me advice each time she began to fuss, as I was leaving her with one of the babysitters in the next room, but at least the latter would allow me to get something done.

By the last wolf of the day, my anxiety had gotten the best of me, hands shaking and thoughts racing with what could've been done to my little girl while I was gone.

I couldn't remember the exact number of questions I asked the last wolf, for sure less than five, neither whether they were male or female nor if I put down their answers correctly before I sent them on their way, running out the door as soon as it closed shut behind them.

I raced into the room to find Beyla in the arms of the elderly woman, a kind smile on her face as she fed my pup a bottle.

The sight of her safe, unharmed, nearly sent me to my knees, finally allowing me to draw in a proper breath.

I'd never been away from Beyla for this long since she got out of the hospital. And I'd especially never left her with strangers, even though I pushed the nanny's meeting to right then and there and took that one very seriously, going over any and all records, reviews on her services, clients, and reports.

She'd practically raised Julian, much to my surprise.

Of course, I'd asked him about her before giving her my pup, too, though if I was honest I didn't believe a word he said.

"Alpha," the babysitter went to get up before I gestured for her to remain sitting.

"How is she?" I asked, gently running a hand down her tiny sock-covered feet, not wanting to touch her skin until after I'd washed my hands.

"She's an angel, Alpha! Ate almost everything, right on the schedule you gave me, and then I sang and cooed at her for a bit since you requested no toys. The only thing I had a problem with was getting her to sleep." The elderly woman looked almost ashamed of herself. "I tried everything but perhaps because she's only been around you, she didn't want to sleep at all, and when I finally put her down, she awoke within half an hour, I'm very sorry!"

I nodded, attempting a smile but my face once again refused to allow one to come through.

"She's been having some trouble adjusting to the new place," I admitted. "But I'm grateful you took care of her, regardless!"

My heart felt heavy as I dismissed the female, only to ask her to come again tomorrow.

When she left, I tried hard to stay strong but in the end, the pain overwhelmed me until I could barely swallow, let alone fill my lungs with enough air.

Feeling suffocated, I couldn't make the walk back to my suite, cold and empty from being unused all day, instead opting for a quick walk around the pack house, hoping that it would lull Beyla to sleep, therefore allowing me to close my eyes, at least for a bit.

I stopped on the first floor, getting distracted by a large floor-to-ceiling window. The moon was bright tonight, huge and magnificent as always, as if Rosie knew we'd see it tonight and had asked it to glow a little brighter for us.

"What's her name?" Came a voice behind me, startling me out of my thoughts.

A/N

Hi, Treasures! Make sure you join my F-a-c-e-b-o-o-k group Teddy's Treasures for extra content and discussions! This chapter was a bit more informative than my usual ones and gave me the most awkward phone call ever when I had to call my grandma and ask her random questions about gardens and vegetables with no context! (I wonder what the poor woman thinks my books are about)