The Rise of Blue Moon

Chapter 18 short staffed.

7years later.

I could hear the phone ringing loudly at the reception desk, as I left the toddler room.

“Hello this is the nursery, Alexis speaking. How may I help you?” I asked politely.

“Ahh, just the person I am looking for.” Came the alphas voice. The hairs on my skin raised.

“Oh hello Alpha. How can I help you. Is everything ok?” I asked him. I was worried that something was wrong with Max.

“Yes everything is fine. Are you free to come to my office at some point today?” He asked me.

“Erm, yeah but it won’t be until after all the pups leave sir, is that ok.” I replied nervously.

“Yes, that’s fine, is all ok in the nursery. I know we have that fever running through the pack?” He asked me. I could hear the concern in his voice.

“Yes. We have a few staff members struck down with it unfortunately, including Kim,, so we are a little short staffed.” I told him.

“Yes, apparently it’s still spreading. Who’s in charge of the nursery instead? What about the pups?” He asked.

“Kim has given me that honour sir, and that is the strange thing, hardly any pups have had it sir, just the parents. We have opened the nursery for any pups, if the parents are ill so they can rest a little.” I told him.

“Yes, Lauren said you had done. That is very good of you Alexis. I will be making sure you and your staff are rewarded for all your hard work. We appreciate all the sacrifices you have all made.” He said gratefully. “Right. I will see you later then. Any idea what time?” He finished off.

“Well, we have been staying open until 8:30 ish. I then have to lock down the nursery so will possibly be free around 9:15 or 9:30. Is that ok sir?” I said questionably.

“Yes, that will be fine. Thank you, Alexis, see you later.” He finished off. The line went dead then. I placed the phone on the receiver and looked at the time. 12:30, lunch would be arriving soon. I walked around the desk and was about to go into the baby room and make sure everything was ok, when the main doors burst open.

“Oh look, it’s the rouge.” Came Lisa’s pungent voice. I turned and began to walk away as she and her gang laughed. She never gave up tormenting me, no matter what I did. I learned it was best to just stay away. She had become relentless a few years ago, she even broke my wrist again after I had ignored her.

“Don’t ignore me you pathetic piece of s**t!” Lisa screamed at me, as she and her gang surrounded me. I prayed for someone to walk nearby but I was on my own this time. I was in the after-school room one evening cleaning up. Kim had been letting me lock up more and more the longer I worked here.

“I got an earful after the stunt you pulled with that warrior.” She said coldly. She was talking about Damon. He heard her tormenting me a few weeks back and had apparently gone to the Alpha. I tried to say it was nothing, but the Alpha gave Lisa a punishment anyway.

“I tried to tell him it was nothing Lisa. You have to believe me!” I pleaded. That’s when she pushed me into the bookcases, making a loud noise as she did. I slid down and stayed on the floor. I wasn’t as strong as her, I hoped that she would leave me alone after that. She looked around quickly, then turned her attention back onto me. She developed a horrible grin, and I knew it wouldn’t be the last.

I had my hands either side of me supporting me, she stood on my right hand and lowered down a little.

“You will pay for it.” She grabbed my hair and began to try and lift me up, then she threw me against the cabinet again, my head hit the wooden frame hard. I grabbed the back of my head with both hands. She grinned at the sight of me in pain, then she pushed me again. This time I went sideways, as I tried to brace my fall with my hands, one of her gang shoved into me causing me to fall on my right wrist alone.

I felt it pop and buckle underneath me. I tried my hardest not to cry but the pain was so strong, I cried a little and they all laughed and giggled. They were about to walk away and leave me in a heap on the floor. Lisa grabbed my hair again and made me look at her.

“You will be sorry if you tell anyone.” She said sounding serious. I was actually fearful of her. She was a warriors daughter, and even though she was not training to become a warrior she was naturally stronger. Tears were falling down my face and my wrist was throbbing badly. I remained sat on my knees and waited for her to leave. They were all laughing between themselves as they walked out the door.

I got to my feet and walked towards the main reception desk. I needed to go to the medical wing but I didn’t want to leave any mess. I looked around before I left the nursery and walked towards the medical wing, holding my arm close to my body. It didn’t help with the pain much, but it helped me feel a little better.

I walked into the baby room rapidly, before she could get any closer. She hardly ever came in here now, she spent most of her time in the rec room chasing the young Alpha. When she did, I managed to avoid her, however her little brother was often in the after-school room. Especially at the moment as both his parents were ill with the fever. She must have come to fetch him.

I watched her walk past the window, she glared at me as she passed, I turned away as quick as I could.

“Claire, how are you feeling?” I asked her, she was looking rather drained.

“Actually Alexis, not brilliant. I have a nasty headache and my throat is getting sore.” She replied. I looked at the time. It was now 1pm.

“It’s almost lunchtime. Do you think you will be ok till after lunch then you can go home and rest if you want?” I spoke.

“Are you sure Alexis? It’s bad enough that Kim’s out with the virus and half the staff, I can’t be off too! it’s probably just because of the extra hours I have been doing.” Claire said to me.

“Either way you need rest Claire. Head home after lunch and don’t worry if you can’t get in tomorrow. If you do get the virus don’t worry, you can’t help it if you catch it. It’s going through the pack like wildfire. Kim gave me this position for a reason. I can manage. I have a few extra staff I can call in if need be. It’s not that busy. You need some rest.” I told her. Kim had put me in charge while she was off, as I was good at the office work and good with the pups. She called me a master of multi-tasking, not to mention none of the others wanted to do it. They all preferred the childcare part. I admit the office work was boring, but it had to be done.

Just then the main doors opened up, and Libby walked through them pushing a cart full of food, I could see her through the glass windows. She began to look around and spotted me after a brief moment. I smiled and waved at her. She gestured for me to go to her, so I did.

“How’s the nursery doing?” She asked me cautiously.

“Another one is about to come down with it. How about the kitchen?” I replied.

“Half the staff are out with it. Even Chloe has it. The Luna has been coming in to help us a lot. Most of the victims are the adults. Not many of us youngsters are getting it.” She explained.

“Yeah same here. Not even the pups are getting it. Well maybe one or two but it’s mainly the adults. Unfortunately we don’t have many younger staff members. There’s only 3 of us.” I told her. We had begun to separate the meals up for the specific rooms. The baby room had hardly any today as most of them were on bottles. The toddler room had the most. It took us about 15 minutes to split it all up and deliver to the rooms. The last to deliver was the bakery items to the after school room. I let Libby do that and said farewell as I walked to the baby room again.

“Claire, you ok?” I asked her. She had gone quite pale and looked exhausted.

“Actually I am feeling really out of sorts now. My heads pounding too.” Claire told me.

“Right, head home now. I don’t want you back until your feeling better. I will call later and see how you are.” I told her. I had a feeling I wouldn’t see her for about a week. That’s how long the virus seems to last.

“Ok Alexis. Thank you. Are you sure your ok with these guys?” Claire asked me.

“Yes, now go. You need rest. I will get someone in to help so don’t worry.” I told her, trying to reassure her. I had no idea who to call mind you. Most of the staff were out with the bloody virus. I helped Claire grab her stuff and sent her to rest. I looked around the room. Now we were going to struggle. The baby room was out of ratio. There were 4 babies and only me in here. All the other rooms were at maximum too. There was no one I could get to help.

“I need to contact the Alpha.” I told myself.