Page 116 of A Chance at Redemption for the Alpha
“To go to a reading circle,” he adds.
“I skipped training!”
“No, you didn’t, your alarm didn’t go off, and you were late,” Silas says mercilessly, before turning to Julianus. “See?”
To my surprise, Julianus chuckles. “I still don’t feel deserving,” he admits. “But I am willing to try.”
*BENJAMIN*
I have taken it upon myself to look after the new teenage boys who just joined us. Asher is feeling more at home already, thanks to his sister being with him, but the other one, Mickey, is still very shy. I don’t know what kind of trauma he went through, and I certainly won’t ask him. That’s something I have learned since I joined this pack. Everyone has their own pace for healing, and none of us should ever force them to share their trauma.
“Gamma Benjamin,” Asher says while he helps me carry some buckets of paint into the packhouse, where Lori has started her project of renovating the place. “Do you think Miss Lori would allow me to help her?”
“Why don’t you ask her?” I say with a smile, well aware that Lori won’t ever say no if someone is so eager to help.
“Can I help, too?” Mickey asks, his eyes shifting anxiously.
“I can’t speak for her,” I say. “But I am sure she would appreciate some help. Just ask her.”
Asher nods and shuffles off to talk to Lori, pulling Mickey with him. I watch them talking to Lori. She glances at me, smiling.
“They look up to you,” Nova says.
“Nova,” I call out. “I didn’t know you would drop by.”
“Well, I am here on behalf of my brother,” she says. “I am taking over more and more tasks.”
“I am so happy for you, Beta Nova.”
“Same, Gamma Benjamin.”
“It’s still not official,” I say.
“Neither is it for me, but it’s only a technicality,” she says. “To our pack members, we are already in our roles.”
We pause our chat when the boys return to us, excitedly telling me that Lori promised to let them help. After they both have taken off, we wait for Lori to wrap up her work so we can take a lunch break.
“Are you joining us, Nova?” Lori asks.
“I don’t want to interrupt your private time,” Nova says.
“Oh, please,” Lori chuckles. “We are happy to have you join! Right, Benji?”
“Absolutely. How about we grab our lunch and have a picnic?” I offer.
“Great idea,” Nova exclaims.
The three of us make it to the kitchen, where our new staff are busy preparing the food for today’s lunch. They are happy to hand us our portion of lunch, and soon we find ourselves walking across the pack grounds.
Further away, I can see Sheila stepping out of her cottage with Maddie in her arms, and a warrior following her.
“Maddie is still not feeling well?” Nova asks quietly.
“No, she still has a fever,” I say. “Sheila and Lord Silas are worried. Flo told them to see a doctor if her fever won’t go down.”
“So that’s where they are heading to,” Nova muses.
“Let’s hope our sweet Maddie will feel better soon,” Lori pleads, her expression worried.
