This Life Looks a Lot Like the Old

                Jessie stepped off the stairs, back onto the lawn. He said she wouldn’t get anything unless she worked for it. Might as well start now. She dragged herself to a vehicle and picked up a few bags she recognized. After a brief word with their elderly owner. She took them to where they went. Inside the house, Hazel stopped her for a moment.

                “Darling, you mind yourself. If you keep up like this, you’ll collapse again.”

                “There are jobs to do and I’m the one told to do them. You know how it is. There’s no rest for the wicked.” Jessie didn’t want to stop for long because if she did, she might break down. No one said she’d like her life or happy with it. She only needed to live with it. “I’m sorry I need to go. There’s someone here to lend a hand unpacking. I must go make sure others get settled too.”

                Feeling a little light-headed, Jessie took time to stand still outside the house for a moment. Then she realized she hadn’t eaten since lunch yesterday, and it was lunch now. She would have to find out what was an acceptable way to eat. Back home she would hunt rabbits and such when she needed food. It wasn’t much, but it was better than starving or begging for food from her brother.

                Jessie walked back to the vehicles and stopped when Craig stepped in front of her. “Where have you been? Alrick has been looking for you. He sent me to hunt you down. Don’t you stay where you’re told to?”

                “I was told to drop my bags in the entrance lobby of the packhouse. I received no instructions to stay in one place. People can always use an extra hand.” Jessie felt how tired she was, and her emotions were fraying. She needed to be careful not to snap at him. Craig was an unknown. She didn’t know how he would react to her snapping at him. She stepped around him. Changed direction and headed back to the packhouse.

                “Hey!” Craig followed. “Look at me. You haven’t once looked me in the face.”

                “I’m sorry, I learnt early that was a bad thing to do. I should find out what the Alpha wants.” Jessie didn’t turn around but kept walking.

                Her words influenced Craig. He stopped and watched her go. He had to talk to Alrick. She wasn’t acting like a cold, callous creature. His stomach sank as he realized there was something off with her. He pondered the possibility that they still didn’t have all the information. He needed to ask questions from other members of the Iron Hill Pack. That would not be easy. The pack didn’t talk about themselves. He needed to have them trust him. So, they would open to him about the truth.

*                             *                             *

                Alrick was glad to be back in his territory. The Iron Hill members were settling in and many could get rest this afternoon. He wanted Jessica close to him. Alrick feared she would cause trouble if he let her wander without purpose. She needed to take responsibility for her inaction, and it would start soon. He’d decided she would work within the packhouse for him, near him. Whatever he wanted her to do. That was what she would do.

                Housecleaning, cooking, and anything else he could think of as time goes by. She’d be always at his side. Where he could see her. Alrick didn’t understand why he was feeling so about this, and he didn’t have time to investigate his emotions. Where was she? He entered his study and sighed in relief as he looked around the spacious room. No random papers appeared scattered. Not a cobweb or speck of dust visible. To Alrick, this was a room he could breathe in. He moved to a window and looked out over the action that was winding down out there. His eyes were now getting sensitive to light because he was so tired. Surprised that his eyes sought Jessica-Lyn in the crowd beyond the window.

                When he found her, Alrick noticed his body relax? What was it with this waif of a girl? Craig was ever efficient and stopped her for a moment. Jessica-Lyn changed direction after saying something to Craig before stepping around him and walking towards the packhouse again. It made Alrick uncomfortable when he realized it irritated him that Craig frowned at Jessica-Lyn. What was going on with him?

                Alrick turned from the window and ran his hands over his face. He needed food and sleep. Just like everyone else. He needed to check on the wounded too. They’d lost no one to the attack. Thank the gods. He threw himself into his desk chair and waited for Jessica-Lyn to enter his domain. Then he’d decide what her punishment would be. All he knew is she wasn’t going anywhere, and it wouldn’t be over soon.

                Jessica-Lyn stepped into the entranceway and sat beside her bags. She couldn’t think of what else to do. So, there she sat with her back against the wall and her arms wrapped around her knees. Her chin rested against her knees as her eyes fell shut on their own accord. Only minutes later he was yelling again, and a booted foot kicked her own foot.

                “He’s yelling for you. You better go see what he wants. It’s better to get it over with. You can sleep later.” Jessie didn’t recognize the shifter before her, but she nodded and struggled to her feet.

                Entering the room, his loud voice made Jessie shrink into her already slight form. “You wanted to see me?”

                “I didn’t permit you to leave. Where did you go?”

                “Miss. Hazel needed help to find her way. It’s been a lot on her. It dealt her a blow by the pack, failing as it did. She’s been in denial of anything wrong for decades now. Holding up a mirror to it as you did has made the struggle real for her.”

                “Miss Hazel will be fine. She’s in a better place now. However, that’s no longer your problem. You gave up that right when you didn’t alert anyone outside of your pack to the rot inside it.”

                “Rot? Do you believe I didn’t try? They informed me; I was dishonouring my pack by speaking out years ago. They told me it was an ‘in-house’ issue and to deal with it ‘in-house.’ No one would help. All I could do was try to survive and help others stuck in the same situation as me. You say I did nothing. Yet you never asked me if I tried or what I was doing to survive. You never asked me what I have been doing to help ease the suffering of other pack mates. Where are you getting this information from?”

                “That is none of your business. Right now, you are going to listen and listen well. Your punishment starts now. You will serve in the packhouse in any manner I see fit. When and where I want you, you will be there. Is that clear?” Alrick would not let her excuse her behaviour. She would take the punishment or leave. He didn’t contemplate that her leaving was an option and he would not give it to her.

“What do you mean? I don’t understand what you want of me.” Jessie stood there stunned but not surprised by his words. She didn’t understand his need for revenge. She didn’t see what punishing her would get him. But by the sound of this, it would be no worse than living with her brother. “If you hate me so much, why don’t you let me walk away?”

Alrick stopped himself from saying something at first. But said instead. “Because you need to learn, and I am the one that will teach you. You live and work here and at my whim. You try to leave; I will hunt you down.” His words didn’t surprise Jessie. No, it was his actions that shocked her into silence.

Alrick stood from his chair and was in her space. He caged her against the door, uncaring of the crashing sound reverberating through it to the other side. Now, with his hands on the wood on either side of her head, he leaned in. She couldn’t catch her breath as he breathed by Jessie’s ear. Her heart pounded in her chest and she needed to fight the urge to flee. Breathing, Alrick stated again. “You are here at my whim and your punishment is to appease it. Whenever and however, I want you to. Whatever I say, I mean it. When I want you. You will be there, and you will respond to me. Am I understood?”

With a trembling voice that matched her body, Jessie prayed he sensed her body betray her to him. Gods help her. She wanted him. Jessie could say in a breath whisper. “Yes, Alpha Alrick.”