I’m heading up one meeting, and I’m already matchmaking.
“There’s a company in one of the towns at the far edge of the Pass, towards the human world,” Cass says. “They can get us what we need, but it’s a bit pricy. They have to bring the equipment a pretty long way.”
“What’s our budget?” I ask.
Cass reaches for a stack of paper on the table beside her, holding it out to me. “It’s significant,” she says in a low tone.
When my eyes scan the text, I have to read it three times.
“Half a million?” I whisper. “What the fuck? Do we even use that much money on this thing?”
“It has been known to go over,” Mabel says. “Depending on what the elders want to do, and who they want to impress.Sometimes, they bring alphas and top families from other packs to rub their noses in it.”
“Jesus, fuck,” I mutter. “There are people in the West End who don’t have enough to eat!”
“I’m aware,” Cass says ruefully. “A lot of us are. The elders have a lot to answer for. We’re glad to have you here, Lexa.”
When I look over at her, Cass is holding me in her steady gaze and gives me a little nod. Her confidence in me gives me strength, and I feel a true sense of responsibility to the pack for the first time.
Things need to change, and I’m going to see that it happens.
We spend the next half an hour deciding what games and rides to have at the carnival and taking expressions of interest for stalls. I want to get into the topic of charity and improving conditions for the West End, but I decide to put it aside for now.
I’m going to make damn sure every single pack member gets to enjoy this party, though. No one will be turned away from the gates.
As the meeting wraps up, Kit messages me, giving me his financial details so I can do some shopping while he concludes his meeting. Everyone has places to be, so we go our separate ways after I make sure they all have my number so we can catch up.
“You still owe me a big chat,” Kate says, pointing her finger at me.
I nod and smile as if my hidden secrets don’t weigh me down like the chains of hell. “Will do. It’s so great to see you again, Katie.”
“You too, hun. Catch up soon!”
The church isn’t far from the main street of town, and it only takes a few minutes to reach the shops. At first, I head straight towards the budget stores, then I realize what I’m doing.
I wonder how long I’ll have to live with a poor-person brain. I don’t have to “make do” anymore… I can actually buy things I like!
I feel like a complete impostor going into the fancier shops, but the second I walk in, the attendants recognize me and make me feel welcome. I don’t know if they’re just nice or if it’s because I’m the luna, but at the moment, I don’t even care.
The stores offer to deliver my things so I don’t have to carry bags, and I happily agree. I wonder briefly about the charges to Kit’s card, but then I don’t worry about it at all.
He said to get whatever I want. A girl never knows when she’s going to need a full-length red dress in finely spun alpaca wool… with a long shawl to match.
After I’ve had my fill of shopping, I look for a place to get a decent coffee. The one I liked as a teenager has closed, and I find myself in a very quiet side street far off the main drag, not knowing which direction I want to go.
While I’m scrolling maps and “coffee shops near you,” I start to get a creepy, prickly feeling down my back. I look up so quickly, I almost drop my phone, but the street is still empty.
Get out of here, Lexa!
Now!
My instincts have never failed me, and years of abuse only honed them to a keener edge. I turn and jog towards the nearest corner, taking the street even though I’m not sure where it goes. I immediately join a small crowd, and to my relief, there’s a big café just a few blocks away.
As I walk towards it, I wait for the creepy feeling to fade, but it doesn’t. I have to keep scanning the crowd, looking for faces that might be familiar.
Could my father be here? Or Vince?
A shudder runs through me, and my throat closes in terror. Even though it’s only been a couple of days, the memories of abuse are fading swiftly. I want—need—to believe the world can be a safe place.
