Chapter 4

I opened my sleep crusted eyes, feeling like my legs were strapped down to the bed. I looked to my left and found the reason for the extra weight; Pops passed out, star-fished, a leg of hers strewn over mine with her gob wide open catching flies.

Fucking wolves.

Talking of wolves, Beaux was jumping around in my head like a sodding pup, the very reason for me waking up.

‘Come on! Come on! Come on! We need to go find him!’

At that, I instantly woke from my fog, brain kicking into gear, excitement coursing through me.

‘Can you sense him? I don’t smell anything stronger than normal.’ Well, maybe Poppy's morning arse, but that was typical for her.

‘No, but I wanna get out there and look!’

At that, my hope dwindled just a little, making me start to worry about the possibility of never finding my mate. Self-doubt seeping into me and ever my worst enemy.

Maybe I am not meant to be happy, or what if I am that unlovable the Goddess never gave me one? I probably deserve to be lonely for the rest of my existence.

Maybe he is just not from this pack, I feebly tried to convince myself of better reasons of why I may not find my mate today.

‘Shut up you fool! We are lovable and we do deserve to be happy. Now go get up and sort your shit, I don’t want my mate finding me by sniffing out the worst smell in the room. And give that smelly fucker a slap for me.’ All I had was a mental image of Beaux's screwed up face of disgust, eliciting a small giggle from me.

I did not bother waking Poppy up, just so I could get a few more minutes of peace from her crazy arse. She is going to be breathing down my neck all day, mithering me by constantly asking if I can smell anything. I eye-rolled at the mere thought of it whilst I did my best impression of a spy trying to move about without being detected.

Slowly, I untangled myself from both Pops and the duvet, slid to the edge of the bed without sudden movements and stood up. The urge to stretch won, so I tried my best not to let out the usual squeaks and groans as I stretched everything out, including my toes.

I tip-toed my way to the bathroom to complete my morning routine. First order of business; relieving my bladder.

After showering, scrubbing, brushing, shaving, moisturising and all things excessive for stupidly early in the morning, I thought that I would get a head start on the antics between Poppy and myself by diving onto her and waking her up with a nice body slam.

Whilst only wearing a towel, I oh-so-carefully opened the bathroom door. I mentally sent thanks to the Goddess that the hinges were quiet and not like other annoying squeaky bastards, just so that I would be less likely to wake up Pops before I was ready to execute my plan.

All just so that she could have the head-start and scare the living shit out of me by doing a lovely jump-scare and shouting, as always.

“You fuckwit of a prick!” I quickly slapped my hands over my mouth as it was still really early in the morning. A lot of wolves will still be sleeping and most definitely would not appreciate being woken up by some idiot banshee.

‘You arsehole! You knew she was there and didn’t say anything. Fucking fur ball.’ I quickly sent my curses to Beaux for her lack of ability to warn me that Pops was up and waiting for me on the other side of the door. And also, that my plan was about to fail, epically.

Hands still over my mouth, I looked at Pops and the expression on her face said that she was in fight or flight mode, all dependent on my reaction. There was only one thing for it; laugh like a crazy twat, and so I did. We both did.

Only did we stop the remnants of our outburst when Pops locked me in the best embrace we have ever shared, whispering birthday jubilations in my ear.

“Happy birthday, my sweet lady. I hope it’s everything you want, need and more.” She drew back enough to look at my face, running her hands through my hair that was still dripping from my hot and amazingly relaxing shower. My eyes began to dampen at the sincerity of how she spoke. “Smell anything?” Her eyebrows raised, a questioning look taking over from the smile that was on her face before.

“Only the typical smells of the morning; burnt coffee and your fecking body functions.” I responded to Pops in humour. It was the only way I could reply to the question and I knew that it would only get harder as the day went on and the more that people asked me.

Her face dropped a little in disappointment before she chuckled, “nothing new there then. Right sweet cheeks, I’m going to go shower and everything girly.” She looked at her watch before continuing in a more serious tone, “I’ll meet you back here in fifteen, that should give us both enough time to sort our shit and toddle on down to the Dragons lair.” With a pinch to her face and a peck to my cheek, we separated to finish getting ready for all things chaotic.

First things first, get some clothes on because this breeze was getting a bit too much and rather chilly up the bottom of my towel.

At a little more than a slow walk, I went over to my walk-in-wardrobe, dug out some typical faded blue denim shorts, a simple short sleeved pale blue t-shirt and basic black knickers including a sports bra.

I raced over to my bed and dressed as fast as possible. By the time I was fully dressed, my nipples were so hard from being cold that I could see them through my bra.

Back at the wardrobe, I put on some pop socks and trainers then walked over to my dresser to finish drying my hair and putting it into a simple straight ponytail. Nothing fancy for work today, all that is to come later on.

Once finished, I let my arms drop down from my hair to my sides and looked at my reflection in the worn-looking cream oval mirror that was fixed to the wall.

Not having something to do is dangerous, that is when you have the time to start thinking about all the what-ifs and everything negative. It felt like a weight was starting to build in the bottom of my stomach, to the point I probably would not have the strength to move.

Not long left and I leave this room, more than likely not to smell anything divine and realise that there is no-one out there waiting for me.

My eyes started to fill just as Poppy opened the door and waltzed into the room. Using the back of my hand I quickly wiped at my eyes.

“I'm baaaaack motherfucker!” She bellowed out in a sing song voice, throwing her arms out as if she was on stage waiting for a round of applause. “Come on, let's move it. If we head down now, then we'll have time for a coffee and whatever first.”

She carried on speaking, oblivious to my moment of inner torture and being so close to shedding tears when she had walked in.

I rose from the dresser stool, hands pushing on my knees as if it was actually helping me up, hobbled over to Pops and she slung her arm lazily across my shoulders. We left my room and I pulled the door closed gently. I did not bother locking the door, I do not think I ever have, no-one does because the Packhouse is the safest place there is in the pack territory.

“How are you feeling this morning anyway? Anxious about tonight?” Pops had her quiet motherly voice on, a stark opposite to her usual character. If people that did not know her properly heard her speak like that, they would think she was coming down with something or have her committed.

“Okay, ish.” I paused, thinking of how to say the rest without getting Pops too concerned with my inner mental turmoil. I heaved out a heavy sigh, “I’m just hoping that everything going on with the preparations today keep me busy enough. But I am going to need to let Beaux out for a run before the ball, she’s wound up like a fucking spring ready to fire and so am I.”

“That is typical my lovely. Everyone goes through this on their eighteenth. Sometimes it just takes a bit of time to find your mate. It’s like they’re still marinating to make them perfect before you find them” She laughed at her own reference.

I managed a small smile whilst looking at the floor as we waded on. Typical Poppy to use a food reference when it is her first love. Realisation suddenly kicked me hard; her eighteenth was three months ago. She is been going through this torturous wait for three months and I have not even gone three hours yet. But she is the one that is comforting me instead of I her. My heart broke for this amazingly brave she-wolf.

Pops sensing the sudden difference in my mood, stopped us both from walking just as we reached the top of the stairs and spun around to face me clutching my arms.

“What’s wrong Olivia? What’s hurting?” Searching my eyes as if she would find an answer as to why I am struggling with myself. I did not miss her eyes darting down my frame checking for any physical injuries, to which there were obviously none.

I am such a shitty friend for only now noticing her pain. I did not know what to say so I gripped her in a bone crushing hug instead.

It took her a few seconds to get over the shock of my sudden action and return the hug.

“What’s this for?” she asked sweetly.

“I'm sorry I never thought of you before. Please don't hate me for going on about my crap without realising you was already struggling. I probably made you feel so much worse. Forgive me?” I begged my best friend for something I really did not deserve.

“There is nothing to forgive you bloody muppet. I haven't been all that bothered by not finding my mate. Well, I have had the odd moment here and there where I feel upset by it, but mostly I am okay with it. I get more time being just myself instead of my mate and I.”

“Even now, all you want to do is reassure and comfort me. Doe it not hurt?”

I desperately wanted her to let me know if she has been hurting without telling me, instead choosing to help me with my emotional baggage.

“No, really, I am okay. I've not long turned eighteen, so I have got plenty of my life and a shitload of time ahead of me to go to find him. I don't have the need to find him like you do.”

Pops spoke with nonchalance, confidence and also ignorance to the negative side of not having found her mate yet. But I do suppose that she is right; she has plenty of time to find him and that is also the whole purpose of having a mating ball. We both have plenty of time.

With one last glance of her eyes down my body to make sure I was indeed okay physically, she again turned to stand next to me, looped her right arm through my left and guided us down the stairs in a comfortable silence, my mood slightly lightened.

We got to the bottom of the stairs and strolled to the kitchen with ten minutes to spare, but before we opened the double kitchen doors, we heard it, the voice that nightmares were made from.

I looked at Pops, both of us with matching expressions of fear.

“That old bitch is not stopping me from having my morning coffee.” Trying to make humour of the situation was absolutely futile, but being Pops, she had to at least try. “On three, we just go in there and hope to the fucking goddess that she doesn’t just skin us on sight.”

We both looked to the doors and held our breath waiting for Pops to begin the countdown.

“Aaaand.... three!”

“Where the fuck was one and two?!” Fucking cow dragged me through the doors without warning, again feeling like she pulled something.

“Well, I didn’t say that I would say one and two, just three. Now, where is the decrepit ball bag?” Pops questioned as she peered around the large kitchen that was already underway with preparations despite still being ridiculously early.

Stainless steel catering equipment was everywhere you looked. Anything that the omegas needed to cater for the greedy buggers that will soon be traipsing in for breakfast was here at their disposal.

A saying coming to mind as I also looked around; ‘A place for everything and everything in its place.’

“You may wanna keep your voice down, wolf hearing and all that?” I don’t think Pops will ever learn when the best time to open her gob is.

“Eh hem.” A cough sounded from behind us, instantly making me regret ever being born. My heart missed more than just a few beats and I think Poppy’s did too. We spun around to find none other than the delightful....Marthe.

“Oh fuck, shit, bollocks. Goddess fucking help me now.” Pops always seems to burst out when she is in an anxious state and right now, I do not blame her one goddess damn bit.

“You two are early, good. There is plenty to be done today.”

“But we came down early to get a coffee before starting.” Pops tried interjecting. So fucking tactful.

The stupid cow really did not have a clue when to shut the fuck up and accept what was happening. Even if it meant not getting her sweet morning nectar that she heavily relied on.

“I don’t give a shit, Poppy.” Marthe's face started to morph into that of a really pissed off she-wolf; her crows feet and other wrinkles becoming more evident as her scowl deepened, her already thin lips thinning more as she pursed them. Marthe's dull grey blue eyes began to glow and flicker as her wolf pushed forward, asserting her place in this little group of three.

‘Shut the fuck up Pops! Just sneak one in a bit when she isn’t looking or something, for fucks sake!’ I shouted at Pops through the mindlink. It was all I could do to try and save us all from Marthe losing her shit completely.

“You better listen to whatever your friend just told you. Taking advice from others would serve you well in life Poppy.”

I had not said a thing out loud, yet this woman did not miss a thing, it is why she is head omega.

“Have your coffees or whatever you need to get moving. But then Olivia, you need to get out to the ballroom and make sure everything is going as it should. Poppy, you’re in here as you know. You can start with emptying and cleaning the fryers.”

I did not envy Pops in the slightest. The fryers were not like your average tiny ones at home. Nope, these were three sets of double catering fryers, huge fuckers.

“Oh, and Poppy? It is head decrepit ball bag to you.” My jaw nearly hit the floor at the same time as Marthe decided to abruptly turn and walk away from us, shouting at the first poor omega she came upon.

I looked at Pops and her facial expressions probably mirrored mine; complete and utter shock at surviving, especially after what Marthe had said just before leaving.

‘Move, move, move.’ I urged Pops through the mindlink because I was too scared shitless to speak out loud with the Head decrepit ball bag still so nearby.

As soon as we went around the corner to the drinks station in the staff area that was fully stocked with everything a wolf could need, I swung my right arm out and clipped Pops around the head. I managed to get the angle just right on her left side, so it caused maximum pain.

“Ow! For fuck sakes, that bloody hurt.” Pops’ hand flew up and started furtively rubbing where I had successfully made connection a second before and was already going an aching red.

“What is wrong with you? I know you have a death wish and all, but I don’t!” I whisper-yelled at Pops whilst glaring murderous daggers at her.

I briskly walked over to the double French doors next to the abundance of drink choices and threw them open. A sudden crisp and dewy morning breeze hitting me in the face, instantly calming my raw nerves ever so slightly. I swung back around to face the scarce room; only a few tables and just enough chairs to fill them so wolves can take their breaks during shift, the drinks station, a fridge and an idiotic Poppy that was still nursing the point of impact on her head. Looking at her, I had the major urge to give her a matching sore spot on her right side.

Pops realised that I had stopped moving and was staring at her, my hip cocked to the side with my hand resting on it. A common stance of the extremely pissed off.

She froze like a deer caught in headlights; in this case a wolf, her hand still on her head.

“Umm.....hi?”

“Seriously Poppy? It’s barely even the start of the day and you have got Marthe going already.”

“In my defence, I didn’t realise she was right behind us. Plus, she’s always in full-force bitch mode regardless.”

Pops’ response only infuriated me even further. “You barely looked around the kitchen, and I bet you did not even think of listening for even just a second before you spoke? You are a wolf for Goddess sake!”

“Oh yeh,” Pops’ eyes widened to the size of saucers in realisation, “I need coffee more than I thought.”

“Fucking someone save me now, anyone?” I threw the question into the cosmos, obviously getting no response. I closed my eyes and let my head fall backwards in defeat, as if accepting my death just for being her friend.

“It’s not that bad, Marthe will calm down if I avoid her for a bit, hopefully.” Pops really had some wishful thinking with that theory. She moved on over towards me, clutching my hands that were hanging at my sides. She lifted them to her face and gave me her best puppy eyes, pleading with me to forgive her.

I outwardly sighed, mentally slapping myself at my inability to stay mad at this tool.

“On a normal day that would work, but today? Not a chance, she’s gunna be like a shark smelling blood in the water all day. It is going to be complete and utter mayhem and Marthe is going to be worse than ever.”

“Well, I’ll just have to make my main duty for the day keeping Marthe pacified for the sake of everyone within a ten-mile radius.”

“Good luck with that.” I mumbled a reply to Pops, knowing very well that there was fuck all on this earth that could mellow that feisty she-wolf out.

The look on Pops’ face told me that she did not believe that her plan would work either.

“Eh, there’s no harm in trying, right?” Pops shrugged her shoulders, both of us clueless on how we would all survive the day of Marthe's trials.

Enough time had been wasted; we both went to the machines built from Gods and made a liquid breakfast of champions. With a brief hug, we said our farewells and good lucks to each other and went about starting our challenges that would inevitably lead to our doom.