Serving the Alpha at His Whim
Life Goes on but Never Changes

It was now well into the morning. Jessie helped many of the elders replace their must-have items.Packing them up with as much respect as for them and their age. It was heartbreaking as shelistened to stories they could not resist telling. It was a time before her father's time as Alpha.They'd thrived here in that time. Jessie knew it was too late, but she hoped one day she mightexperience a similar story.

One glare from Alrick told Jessie it would be a chilly day in hell. Every time she looked up; it was tosee Alrick watching her. His expression looked made of stone, and he waited for a storm to hit. Henever said a word to her. Though he responded to anyone else that approached him.

Jessie felt like she was dragging herself from one place to the next. Like everyone else, she wanted aplace to sleep. In the vehicle, as it drove the quiet with the repetitive motion. Jessie must have sleptbecause she woke up when she found herself pulled from the SUV. There was no consideration forher mental or physical state. At least she didn't expect any. Therefore, said nothing about it.

Crying out, startled, Jessie looked up into Alrick’s face. He steadied her on her feet even while hegrimaced in irritation. “Take your things to the packhouse and leave them there in the mainentrance.” With that said, he released his hold on her arms and walked off shouting orders atvarious other people.

Sighing, she helped pull the baggage from the vehicle she arrived in. Leaving it all on the ground forthose that they belonged to. Jessie picked up a single duffle bag and backpack. They parked all thevehicles in front of the packhouse. So, it wasn't far to go with her bags. Others were hauling outthings that they removed from her old packhouse. Yeah, “old’ was the correct description. This wasthe closest to a packhouse they'd get. This packhouse was nothing like the “old one. People cameand went without permission. The lights all worked; sunlight entered through the windows. Therewas evidence of damage, but it appeared all recent. The main staircase led up to the second floorshowed damage to the banister rails and a stair-like someone fell thrown them. One window bore acrack too. That was just the main entrance. Hector couldnt go anywhere without destroyingsomething.

It sank in for her. Hector wasn't just gone. He was gone, gone. As in dead, gone. Jessie was alone.The realization hit her so hard Jessie needed to replace support from the wall behind her. Alone. Hermind reeled with feelings she found unexpected. How many times she'd wished Hector gone? Nowthat it's happened, she wasn't sure what was next.

While she'd been leaning there ruminating. She couldn't understand the goings-on around her.Alrick entered and was scanning the entranceway. He fielded a few more questions before Craigfollowed him in with Kelly and her pup. They ushered her up the stairs. Jessie heard she would staythere. Until they could replace something more permanent.

At least they were caring for her and the babe. The only problem would be when they realized whothe pup’s father was. Kelly was a sweet girl and young. Jessie never approved of Hector's obsessionwith her. She wasn't his mate, and he sure as hell didn't treat her like one. The pup was Hector's andwhen he'd found out she was pregnant. He'd tossed her aside. A pup didn't fit into his lifestyle. He'deven gone as far as accusing her of cheating on him. He'd been the one cheating on her.

Jessie liked the girl and helped her deliver the pup during the evening. Her sweet nature made hereasy to like. A long time ago, Jessie had hoped that her sweet nature would have a calming effecton Hector. But they'd both been wrong. He'd rebelled even more instead

Jessie needed to remind herself that was over. He was dead and gone. Did she have to bury him?Ugh, she didn't want to deal with that. Even if he was her brother. With everything going on, herfeelings were in pieces. Jessie wasn't sure she could pick up all of them. She didn't want to thinkabout putting them back together either.

She couldn't handle Alrick’s censure right now. So, when the door opened again, she slipped backoutside.

Alrick saw her come into the packhouse carrying just a couple of bags. He couldn't believe that sheexpected others to carry most of her bags. She was nowhere in view when he entered. The new pupand mother came in and he sent them up to rest. His men found her in a derelict trailer, alonewithout running water and just a generator for electricity. She'd tried to make excuses for her pack,but Alrick was having none of it. Where was the pup's father? No one could or would tell him.Which gave him the sinking feeling that Hector wasn't just a nasty waste on the planet. But a blighton his pack, too

They'd gathered people together with minimal belongings. It became apparent that the land andbuildings saw better days than decades ago. Alrick wouldn't let anyone live in those conditions.He'd wished that Hector spent his money on his people. But feared his hope misplaced in thisconcern. It looked like the money went into partying and travelling. There were hundreds of dollarsin returnable bottles lying about inside the packhouse.

He'd found that Jessica-Lyn and her brother weren't on good terms. But how much of that wasbelievable? What crimes did Hector do around here? He'd sent her away, so she was out of sight.Just like his lover and son. Jessica-Lyn must learn she was no better than her brother. She'dneglected speaking up against the rot that occurred within her pack. She'd encouraged herbrother's actions. For that, he'd take a personal interest in teaching her where she belonged. Hecould smell her. It was near intoxicating. Alrick realized now that her scent mixed with the smell ofhome, it was pleasing to his senses.

He could smell her, but he couldn't see her.

That made him experience some confusing feelings. Pleasant, but odd in that he didn't like notknowing where she was. He needed her to understand her place. She'd left to carry more of herbags in. It would be nice to know that she'd some independence and work ethic. “Craig, where's thesister?” Alrick stopped Craig as he came back.

“What Jessica-Lyn? She was standing in the corner there. Didn't you see her? Maybe she's outsidehelping?”

“I told her to bring her luggage in here.” Alrick looked about. Bags and boxes lay scattered in theentranceway. But he didn't see any extensive collections of things. “Where is it?”

“In that corner where she dropped it." Craig had gone with Jessica-Lyn and overseen her picking upa few things.

“That's it?” There was a child's backpack and a small duffle bag. Where were her clothing and herpersonal items?

"If you saw where she was staying. You couldn't keep much in it. Alrick, we're doing them all afavour. I suspect we'll just have to bulldoze all the buildings. Then build what we need. It will cost. Ithink that will be the easiest.”

“I'm pissed. Every time I have the answers. Or think I do. I end up with more questions. Why won'tanyone willing to tell the unvarnished truth? Why didn’t anyone tell report this? How come we nevertold of this? I don't care right now. Nothing is adding up, and it smells fishy to me.”

"Yeah, I remember meeting Hector at a gathering of pack officials. They had tied you up inmeetings. I don't remember him ever not being drunk. He was a right asshole to everyone. I'msurprised NARC didn't intervene in his pack’s business. Did you know I didn't see a single workingvehicle out there? I think we should replace out if he prevented them from reporting by isolating them.We're still looking for cellphones or if they know how to use one.”

“I don't know if it's because I'm so tired. But it boggles my mind that it could be true. It just provesmy point that as the Alpha’s sister she had a responsibility to the members of the pack. She shouldhave reported this.”

Craig gave Alrick one of his buggy-eyed looks. Alrick knew them well. Craig used this look fromwhen they were small pups. He tried understanding what was off in what he saw. He'd too muchrestraint to say what he thought.

“Find her and get her in here. I want to talk to her now.” Alrick stormed into his office and study.Pleased to see its neat and organized state. He couldn't stand that chaos and filth anymore.