The Pack's Nemesis (Quirin's Story) novel Chapter 15

Kennedy

“How long has it been since anyone has ordered supplies?” I ask Deborah. Everything in this hospital is outdated. I’m not even sure I would know how to use the x–ray machine. It looks like it’s older than I am.

“We order the basics that we need for pups; bandages, antiseptic occasionally some sutures, but that’s about it,” Deborah tells me.

“Okay, I know you said the pack basically lets their wolves heal them, but what about labor and delivery? Ultrasound machines, baby heart monitors, that sort of thing?” I ask.

“Well, it’s like I said before. We’re all used to getting by, so when we’re pregnant, we just deliver our babies.”

“And no one has ever gotten an infection? No one has lost a child because it was a breech birth?”

“Well, I didn’t say that. We have lost a couple of mothers and pups over the years due to a difficult birth, but mostly, if we lose a pup during pregnancy or delivery, we assume they weren’t strong enough to survive,” she tells me.

That might be the most archaic thing I’ve ever heard.

“I’m going to talk to Quirin, see about getting some supplies. I mean, what if someone gets really injured in an attack? We have nothing here to treat them with.”

“We have antiseptic and sutures,” she says, shrugging. I look at the barren shelves of the storage room. Well, it’s barren except for the hundreds of cobwebs in here and the one shelf that has the most basic medical supplies on it. There’s nothing for a triage kit, nothing for a crash kit. There’s nothing.

She then walks me around the rooms. Even the beds and gurneys look rusted and old, like they’ll collapse if someone lays on them. I’d be afraid to even put a pup on one of these.

I begin making a mental list of everything we’d need to bring this hospital up to speed. The amount of money it will take will be astronomical. I have no idea how much money Quirin has or is willing to put toward the hospital, but I intend to ask him.

I feel him open the mind link between us and ask if I’m about ready for dinner. I look at my watch and realize I’ve been going through the hospital all afternoon. Rather than have him walk over here just to walk back, I tell him I’ll meet him there.

I tell Deborah that I’ll see her tomorrow and then begin walking back to the packhouse. I’m excited for Quirin to show me around the pack lands. Just from the short walk between the packhouse and the pack hospital, I can tell that that pack lands are gorgeous.

When I step back inside the packhouse, the difference between what’s been done here and what’s been done at the pack hospital is night and day. Everything here is upgraded. While it is decorated simply, the furniture, paint, and hardware around the packhouse are obviously all newer. Even the kitchen has been upgraded.

I can hear the sounds of the pack and the smell of food coming from the dining hall, so I make my way there. When I step into the room, looking for Quirin, the entire room goes silent as everyone turns to stare at me.

“Hello,” I say suddenly feeling very self–conscious. If I didn’t know better, I’d say I forgot to put clothes on today, or that I

was covered in blood.

mu, Jan

Chapter 16

No one answers, so I look around. “I was looking for Quirin.”

“I’m right here, Kennedy. Did you get any food?” he asks, walking up behind me.

“Uh, no. I just got here.”

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Quirin looks at the room frowning. “What’s everyone staring at If you didn’t hear me last night, this Kennedy Hill, and your Luna.”

“Yes, Alpha,” they murmur before going back to their meals.

I sigh and head over to where the food is. “This looks delicious, say to the omegas who are bringing out the food.

“Thank you, Luna.”

my mate

“What do we have tonight?” I ask, as Quirin grabs a plate, handing one to me. He looks surprised that I’m asking, but I know from experience that omegas feel empowered and happy when you recognize and acknowledge them.

Quirin stands by while I listen to the omegas tell me what they put out for dinner and then I ask who made what so I can make sure to tell them later what a great job they did.

When they finally go back into the kitchen, I step up, planning to try a little bit of everything.

“What was that about?” Quirin asks me.

“Hmmm? Oh, just making sure that we keep our omegas happy, I say, starting to take a little of everything. I look up to see him frowning in the direction that the omegas went.

“What’s the matter?” I ask him, following his gaze.

“Nothing,” he says, then turns back to me and looking at my plate. “Are you hungry?”

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“Yes, but I want to try everything so I can tell them what a great job they’re doing,” I say, continuing to take a little of everything.

“What if you don’t like it?” he asks.

“I’ll find something positive to say about it. Like this, I don’t particularly care for pork loin, but they did a lovely job of making it look appetizing,” I tell him, taking a slice of the pork. And you never know, I might like it.”

He gets quiet while I finish putting food on my plate. “Where do you normally sit?” I ask him.

He shrugs. “Wherever there’s a spot.”

I look around, not seeing anywhere that has two places.

“Maybe we can sit outside,” I say. He frowns, looking around. “No, we can sit here,” he says and leads me to a table where he tells the group to scoot down.

The table falls quiet as I sit down and Quirin sits beside me.

“How is everyone today?” I ask them.

They all mumble that they’re fine. I force myself to continue smiling. I knew this pack would be different than mine back home, but eventually they’ll come around to me. I’m sure they will.

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Chapter 116

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“What do all of you do in this pack?” I ask, taking a bite of food and making note that it’s delicious. “Mmm, Quirin, you have to try this,” I say, taking my fork and getting a bite for him.

I hold it out for him, watching him frown as he leans forward to make the bite. Then I watch as his face registers surprise. “Hmm, that is good.”

“Susie made that,” I tell him, turning back to the table.

“We run patrols, Luna. We keep the pack safe,” one of the warrios says as if this is obvious.

“Well, Deborah told me that your wolves are all really strong and can heal themselves, but sometimes, a little help goes a long way to healing you faster.”

“Does Alpha know that?” one of the warriors asks me.

“What haven’t we talked about?” Quirin asks, sitting back down again.

He shrugs. “You can if you want. As long as you take online classes. I don’t want you going away to college. Oh, and I told the kitchen omegas that I’d talk to you about doing the ordering for the kitchens. Do you know how to do that?”

“Of course I do,” I say. I’m the oldest of my mother’s daughters. She’s the Luna of our pack. My mother may run the pack hospital, but she also handles her Luna duties. I’ve helped her with that for years as well.