'I haven't slept,' Chris thought to herself as the morning rays illuminated her office. She picked up three of the contracts that were in a large pile on her desk, waiting to be destroyed. Reading the names Chessy Pot, Laura Pot and Samantha Pot... 'Ah yes those were the triplets who are currently serving in the special ops team' Chris thought smiling, her wolf purring in her chest. She sighed, then balled up the three contracts and without looking tossed them behind her to the awaiting fire. She felt the slight surge of energy and looked back down at the numerous documents that she needed to review and sign.
After returning from lunch at Alpha Terrant's pack, it had been a non-stop flurry of activity as her pack prepared to accept thousands of warriors and their Alphas the next day. At one point Chris thought she had finished everything that required her immediate attention and was in the process of preparing for bed at 2AM when she was informed that a large group of warriors from Alpha Hunt's pack had shown up at the southern border.
Chris signed her name on a few documents pulling them to the done pile as she remembered how incredibly annoyed she felt only a few hours ago. Hearing a haughty voice arguing with Garret on the phone; before she angrily pulled it to speak to the Captain of Alpha Hunt's warriors.
In a dangerously deep and calm voice Chris said. "You were scheduled to arrive at 7AM. Explain yourself Captain?"
The Captain already had a perfectly planned excuse. "There were too many of us travelling to your territory in a short amount of time. We figured if we came early and during the night we would limit any suspicion from our enemies and the humans." There was a slight pause where Chris could practically hear him smirk. "Why?.... Are you not prepared for us?"
The last question confirmed her suspicion.With great irritation her wolf growled, 'A test.... It was a test.'
"Of course we are prepared for your group." Chris growled back. "And since you were SO.... thoughtful.... to come early I will ensure that those pack members, who I now must wake up; will in turn train your troops and yourself to process the rest of your pack as they arrive this morning."
"What?!" The Captain seethed over the phone. "We are warriors! We don't do office work!"
Chris tsked. "You should have thought of that before coming to my pack early without a warning." She hung up the phone and sent a silent message to her border patrol to let the group through with a guide.
Garrett smirked as Chris handed back his phone and with gritted teeth said, "Wake them up.... Pay them overtime for the trouble. I'm going to go meet this... Captain."
Chris's meeting with the captain was brief. In the end, the Captain decided, after Garrett snarled at him, it was in their best interest to follow orders.
'We should sleep,' Chris's wolf said yawning loudly in her head.
'Stop you're making me more tired.' Chris said trying to focus on the supply request form. 'What time is it?' Chris said to her wolf as she pulled her phone out to check. 8:20AM. 'Their going to be here around 11AM.... Maybe I should sleep?... for an hour?'
A loud message rang through her head making her jump in her chair and whacking her knee on the underside of the desk. She unconsciously sent back a snarled response, as she rubbed her knee vigorously. Claire's response back was much quieter and more timid as she opened the door to peer inside.
"Sorry Claire." Chris said sorting the papers in front of her, trying to make it look orderly.
Claire smiled timidly as she stepped aside to reveal the High Priestess hooded in her simple blue and white robes. She stepped through the doorway a small nod to Claire before she shut the door behind her.
As soon as the door clicked shut, the hood was thrown back to reveal a beautiful round face, dark brown hair and light brown eyes. Immediately the woman smiled with mischievous excitement as Chris got up and met the Priestess on the other side of the desk clasping her hands in welcome. "Well met Helma High Priestess of the Goddess." Chris said warmly.
Helma bowed her head respectfully then pressed her thumb briefly to the brow of Chris's forehead. "And to you Alpha Chris Winters."
They smiled at each other. "Well now that the formalities are over. How the hell are you?" Helma said letting go of Chris's hands to plop herself down on the couch in front of Chris's desk.
Chris immediately sank into the couch opposite, putting her head in her hands as she mumbled something incoherent.
"That much fun? Huh?" Helma asked tilting her head as she examined Chris's face.
Chris shook her head trying to wake herself up. "Hey do you remember the last time we went to Koko's? You ordered the left side of the menu?"
A wide grin spread across Helma's face making the dimples in her cheeks appear. "I remember that Koko wouldn't let me leave until we ate everything I ordered." She laughed loudly as she pointed at Chris. "I also remember that you drank so much Saki that you offered a steamed bun to Koko's armored mannequin."
Chris's mouth fell open. "You never told me that!" Helma started laughing uncontrollably "I....don't remember that."
"Even for how quickly wolves burn off alcohol you still can't hold your liquor!" Helma jeered, covering her mouth to attempt to stifle her laughter.
Chris rolled her eyes and leaned back on the couch, looking wistfully out the window.
"That was only.... What? A month ago?... Why do you bring it up?" Helma asked, watching Chris curiously.
Chris shrugged. "I really want a steamed bun." Helma and Chris busted up laughing again. Chris looked at Helma with a sad smile on her face. "We are both a little too busy these days."
Helma's smile turned sad as well. "We have been friends since before you became an Alpha... I'm sure our friendship can handle another war."
Chris smirked and nodded solemnly. "I remember when you refused to be my Beta."
Helma rolled her eyes. "Here we go again. Not going to let that one go are we?"
Chris smirked with a nonchalant face, tapping her chest. "The hurt runs deep."
A sarcastically shocked expression crossed Helma's face. "Oh really!? Do you remember what you said to me when you offered the position of High Priestess?"
Chris looked up at the ceiling the picture of innocence. "I'm sure I said something like. 'You will do a good job. You're the best for the job' and.... 'I will kill you if you deny my offer.'"
Helma chuckled, "basically that was the gist of it."
"Have you had a meeting with Dr. Drew?" Chris asked a more serious expression crossing her face.
Helma took a breath, crossing one leg over another. "Yes, all of the preparations are in place for the Healers and Doctors. I have also met with all my counselors and therapists to assist when needed, and to prepare the mental health evaluations. We thought that warriors can take the test during processing. It's just a simple survey."
Chris nodded, which prompted Helma to continue. "And on the other hand my acolytes, priests, and priestesses are ready and willing to help in any area that needs our service. We currently are dispatched to help with processing warriors, set up new barracks, and in the kitchen."
Chris smiled. "I told you that taking on both roles could be too much."
Helma shook her head, "It really isn't that much difference since the mental and spiritual well-being tend to coincide frequently in our lives."
"Spoken just like the Priestess and Therapist you are." Chris said with another nod.
"Which is one of the reasons why I wanted to see you." Helma took on a concerned look before continuing. "Your therapist has said you missed the last few sessions. I wanted to make sure everything is okay."
"Everything is fine. Just extremely busy. I mean-" Chris paused trying to put together the words in her mind. "It is just a lot to take on."
Helma tilted her head. "You have added a lot to your plate. Do you not feel prepared?"
"No!.... And yes." Chris rubbed her temples trying to help hold the feelings in, keep the damn from bursting.
Helma nodded, looking at Chris with love and understanding. "Chris it is okay.... It is okay to feel. It is okay to have feelings. It is okay to not be okay with what is going on."
Chris stared at Helma for a full minute before swallowing and taking a deep breath. "It feels... I feel exposed.... revealing my secret to a group of-" Chris paused again, thinking. "A group of people who could take advantage of me and my pack."
"Do you feel vulnerable? To the other Alpha's?"
"I feel like I am reliving a mistake that I made when I trusted too many people... you know that mistake almost cost me my pack. It almost cost me everything... including you." Chris stared at Helma who nodded. "Now I don't feel like I can prepare enough. For this war. For the other packs. Potentially for others to invade my pack."
"Why did you feel prepared before?"
Chris shrugged in frustration. "I don't know. Maybe because I was a mystery before. I could hide behind the mystery of my name and rumors. People knew about me but they didn't know me... maybe that was the difference." Chris paused again. "Are we having a make up session right now?"
Helma smiled and shrugged. "As far as I am concerned we are just talking. There have been many big changes to the pack in a short amount of time. I might be one of the few people who see's how hard this is for you."
"So you agree it feels like last time? With... Kerick." The name stuck in Chris's throat as she spoke it.
Helma kept a straight face, but her jaw tightened at the name. "The past and your dead mate are not the problem. There is another reason you feel uneasy."
*Thanks for reading! Please vote and comment! I love constructive criticism, however, if it becomes mean I will take you down.*
-LostArrow-