~Alyce/Faelyn~

I groaned, my entire body was so sore it felt like it was on fire. My eyes fluttered open, squinting against the sudden assault of light coming through the kitchen window. Slowly I lifted my head, looking around to get my bearings. I remembered leaving the Alpha’s office. I remembered making it to Matheau’s and then it was just blank. I blinked a couple times as everything came into focus, I was laying on their kitchen table, various medical supplies both new and used were laying about. Matheau was slumped over the table, head on his arm and drool on his cheek. I grinned a bit at the sight wishing I had a way to take a picture of it for later. I shifted my head so I could look towards the living room, Faith and Jake were on the couch, sleeping propped up on each other. They must have all been with me throughout the night. They truly were amazing people.

“Mattie.” I whispered, my throat incredibly dry, “Mattie wake up.” I reached out to shake his arm and instantly regretted it as pain coursed through my stiff muscles. Even the thought of moving, much less the actual action of it, seemed to make my body throb at me in warning.

Matheau grunted when I shook him, sitting straight up with a start, “Huh, wha..” He looked over at me, sleep still evident in his eyes. After a moment his brain seemed to catch up and he grinned at me, suddenly wide awake, “Alyce! You’re awake! Thank the Goddess!” he squealed.

“Ugh, not so loud Mattie. My head is killing me. My whole body is killing me actually.” I groaned softly. Then I looked down at myself, seeing that I was in one of Mattie’s oversized t-shirts and a pair of his boxers, “These better be clean Mattie!” I hissed at him.

I heard some movement in the living room, “Of course they are, I got them for you, not him.” I heard Faith chuckle groggily, “To be fair he is pretty clean for a guy though. Glad to see you awake. Let me start some coffee and I’ll take a look at your wounds and get you some pain killers while it brews.”

“Faith, you are an angel from the Goddess herself, though I didn’t mean to wake you. Sorry,” I smiled at her, trying not to move too much.

“Oh hush sweetheart, you’re one of my kids. I’m just doing for you what I would do for Mat. That’s a mother’s job.” She patted my hand as she walked past the table heading further into the kitchen, “And you didn’t wake me. Mat’s squealing did.”

Jake stretched out on the couch, still snoring lightly, “I swear that man can sleep through anything. I bet he’d sleep through a rogue attack if he didn’t enjoy tearing them apart so much.” Faith giggled. Her husband was a fierce fighter, why he didn’t work as a full time warrior I’ll never understand.

It wasn’t long before Faith was back at the table, helping me to sit up so I could drink my coffee and take my pain killers while she examined my injuries. I felt her poking and prodding as gently as she could while still being efficient, “The physical injuries are already starting to heal, you should be up and moving again in a couple days. Some of these are really deep, the scars will be bad. We…” She paused, coming around to look at me, “We know what happened this time, we know what they did. How are you? Can you tell me what happened? I can kick the boys out if you want me to.”

I froze, lifting my head to look between her and Matheau. I didn’t really want to talk about it, but Faith had taught me from the very beginning that I couldn’t bottle up the emotions, that I needed to let them out. I couldn’t heal and push forward if the past was dragging me back. I couldn’t change what had happened, but I could use it. I could take it and turn it into strength, use it to get through the hard times because I had survived more than any one person should ever have to. I sighed, taking a deep breath to calm my nerves.

Looking at them again, “You don’t have to send anyone out, just.. Let me finish my coffee and help me get off this table. My ass is numb.”

Faith nodded with a smile and Matheau laughed so hard he snorted. I handed Faith my coffee and let Matheau pick me up bridal style. He carried me to the oversized recliner and settled into it with me. Faith came over as well, handing me back my coffee as I curled into Matheau. He had become my safe space.

I think Faith could see my nerves, she reached over and patted my arm gently, “It’s ok sweetheart, take your time.” She smiled softly at me and sat on the end of the couch closest to the chair I was in with Matheau. I smiled back at her and steeled my nerves, taking a deep breath before filling them in on everything that had happened in detail. There was growling, anger, tears, hurt, disbelief, we had to calm Matheau and Xavier down a couple times, and I’m pretty sure Xavier will kill Vincent if he ever gets the chance. In the end I felt better, stronger. I wasn’t alone, and with my family’s support I truly could get through anything life threw at me.

I sat up in bed with a start. This was the 3rd night in a row. Involuntary tears were running down my face, I quickly wiped them away and hopped out of bed. I wouldn’t be able to go back to sleep after the nightmares. Might as well get a jump start on the desserts I was making and freezing for the event.

I stayed with Matheau for 2 days, healing up. Faith had tried to get me a 3rd day from her medical standpoint, but Alpha Andrew wouldn’t hear of it. He had been insistent that I get to work on the event immediately. Faith did manage to persuade him to at least make sure the others would leave me alone if he wanted me to be available up until and throughout the event. She was exaggerating, but I was thankful for it. I knew I would be fair game after the banquet, and that I would no doubt be in for it, but for the time being, I was thankful.

I looked at my alarm clock, as I pulled on a long sleeve purple top and a pair of black yoga pants, the large blue numbers glaring at me. 0300; I had officially been 18 for three hours and the banquet was only a week away now.

*Good morning and happy birthday Faelyn.* I heard Aramyth purr sleepily in my head. I know, a canine purring seems weird. It was more of a chest rumble for wolves versus the gentle throat vibration of felines.

*Thank you Aramyth, does this mean I will see you soon* I asked.

*Soon, the night before the banquet actually. That’s the night of the full moon. Soon everyone will realize what a grave mistake they’ve made towards us. You will see how special you truly are.*

*No, no I don’t want everyone to see. We will meet with Mattie and his parents. They can help us and help keep everything quiet.*

*Are you sure Faelyn? We could just wipe out this pack before we leave and be done with it.*

*I’m sure. A few bad apples does not justify wiping out the entire pack. We will take out the bad apples when the time is right, Aramyth, but we are better than them. We will be the bigger wolf and not drag everyone else down with them simply because it is easier.*

Aramyth huffed, *I know, I know. You’re right. I’m just restless, ready to be out.*

*I understand, just a little longer my friend.* Aramyth receded to the back of mind, as if curling up to go back to bed and I headed up the stairs. I made an easy heat breakfast for the pack members in the manor and then headed out to the pack house where I had spent the last week and would spend the next week.

The kitchen in the pack house was at least twice the size of the one in the pack manor since the pack house was where the single wolves who were adults lived. Many of them were pack warriors and ate even more than the other wolves. There were also some younger wolves who lived in the packhouse for various reasons. Most mated wolves and our elderly wolves lived in their own houses around the pack community, but some still preferred the pack house. It was also an open kitchen at meal times. Anyone was welcome to come get food and eat with the other wolves.

I stepped into the darkened kitchen, flipping the switch on the wall as the lights in the room came to life, flooding the area with soft white light. I had put dough in the fridge the evening before when I had wrapped up for the day so I pulled it out and set it on the counter to come to room temperature. While I was waiting I pulled out the supplies to make fillings for the various desserts. I set about making some compotes, blueberry, strawberry and peach, each in their own bowl to cool. Then I moved on to making some chocolate spreads and fillings as well as some icing. Before I knew it I heard other Omegas starting to come in to make breakfast for the pack house members. I made sure I was out of the way and continued my work.