Serving the Alpha at His Whim novel Chapter 5

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?