Page 29 of The Omega's Alpha
Garrick took the news of the fire surprisingly well, his distress hardly noticeable except for a tense quaver in his voice. Quin left the legalities in his hands with relief, and called down to Supplies. From the outer office, Holland’s voice echoed hollowly against the walls as he called the pack to the aid of their brothers and sisters.
* * *
We startedout all crammed into Quin’s office, until I decided that there was no point in us all being uncomfortable, and chased everyone into his apartment. Once there, I set about making coffee and breakfast and listened to the alphas make their plans. They had Duke on speakerphone and in the background, I could hear the sounds of Bram moving around, packing for Duke.
“Bram’s school used a bus for some of their activities at the beginning of the year.” Duke sounded tense, but then, we all were, strung tight like the powerlines spanning the enclave.
“It was Tennessee Tours,” Bram said in the background.
“I’ll call them,” Duke said. “Let me know when we have the paperwork.”
“Garrick’s on it,” Quin said.
I brought in mugs of fresh coffee, setting them down beside each of the alphas. “They’ll need clothes and food,” I murmured in Quin’s ear. He nodded and reached up to touch my arm as if for reassurance.
“How many can we spare for the clean-up?” Quin asked.
Abel frowned. “Maybe a hundred. But it’s not just the labor, it’s the materials.”
“We can source them on site.” Quin made a note on a piece of paper. “I’m assuming we’ll end up housing some of them, depending on the damage. We’ll need a team to turn those two empty floors in this building into temporary housing. I don’t know where to put the stuff that’s stored in them right now.”
“The brewery hasn’t moved into their warehouse yet. We can put it all there.”
Quin nodded and made another note.
I brought over omelets, the most filling and quickest thing I could think of to make. “Eat,” I told them, because like any alpha, once they had an idea in their teeth they wouldn’t let it go until it was shredded. I handed out forks and waited for them to start using them. Myself, I was too upset to eat, and I leaned against the side of the couch and sipped at my coffee, never before glad that I had no pups. Glad it wasn’t my old pack, that I wasn’t going to be seeing people I knew devastated, burned, dead.
“Holland,” Quin said, breaking into my reverie. “Can I get you to call all the packs and set up a video call at eight?”
“Of course,” I said, happy to have something to do. I started for the office, but he reached out and touched my arm. “And eat something. I’m going to be leaning on you pretty heavy today.”
My stomach lurched at the thought of food, but I smiled and leaned in for a quick kiss. “I’ll set up the call first, and then I’ll eat.”
“Jason said he’d be over in a few minutes, as soon as he’s dropped Macy off,” Mac chimed in. “I’ll text him to stop at Supplies and see what we have that can be turned into makeshift beds.”
“And food,” Abel put in. “We’ll have to order in food as well, unless their stores weren’t burned.”
“I’ll ask on the call.” Quin leaned back. “That, and they’ll need medical care, but I don’t want to take Adelaide away.”
Bram’s voice floated from the phone. “I can talk to my doctor in Kentucky. He might know some other doctors who would be willing to come help. And there must be clinics around some of the other packs, maybe even around Green Moon.”
“Please,” Quin said. “I’m sorry to take Duke from you during this.”
“Oh, you’re not. I’m coming home. Mom and Dad will look after the twins and I can help out around there. I’ll talk to the school in the morning.”
Duke’s voice rumbled in the background, but I was heading out the door to the office again and missed what he said. But then Bram’s voice came to my ears, loud and clear. “I’m barely a week pregnant. I think I’m fine to do a little work. Sheesh.”
I paused, considered Bram pregnant for a second time, then shook my head and kept going. I wanted to shake him for being irresponsible, but some part of me understood completely why, even after all he’d gone through with the twins, he’d decided to get pregnant again on his next heat. I silently wished him well as I opened the phone directory and began dialing.
Chapter Twenty-Five
It tooktwenty-four hours to get everything ready and then we loaded up the truck, the van, and two rented buses for the nearly six hour trip to Green Moon. I napped with my head pillowed on Quin’s shoulder as the bus swayed over cracked asphalt and around turns. Not that I was tired, but there was nothing else to do and I had a feeling that sleep would be in short supply for the foreseeable future.
If I dreamed, I didn’t remember it.
Just after noon, the bus came to a stop with a groan and the hissing bang of brakes being applied.
“Holland. Wake up.” Quin shook me gently.
