Page 54 of Two Years Gone

I smiled up at him, enjoying being taken care of. I took the pills and drank the full glass of water, not realizing how thirsty I was.

Zane sat beside me and rubbed my shoulders. I rolled my head down and let him continue, letting out a long breath.

“You need to take care of yourself too, not just everyone else,” he whispered as he continued massaging my shoulders.

I hummed before straightening myself.

“Thank you.” I smiled warmly at him and then squeezed his hand.

“I should really head back down.”

The rest of the day was a blur of chopping and baking and sautéing. The other cooks and I made so much food. But we were ready for the pack, all four hundred of them.

We had an hour before we all needed to be in the meeting hall. Just enough time to shower and change into something other than leggings and a dirty T-shirt.

I showered and changed, deciding to make more effort than usual. I pulled out a yellow floral summer dress.

It was sleeveless and stopped a few inches above my knee. It was light and feminine and made me feel cute.

I threw on a light cardigan to ward off the evening chill and my favorite pair of strappy wedge heels. I fixed the few rebellious waves in my dark hair, letting it flow down my back.

After applying some light makeup, I looked in the mirror and smiled.

Damn girl!my wolf howled.

I laughed and walked out the door, checking the kitchen before making my way to the meeting hall.

I sat at the back as usual, saving a seat for my mom so we could make a quick escape once the meeting was done.

Everyone hushed as the alpha walked into the room, followed by the leaders of the pack, my mom included. This was a serious meeting if every department head was involved.

Declan jumped quietly into the seat next to me.

“Hey, Ells, am I late?”

I smiled at my friend.

“No, they’re just about to start. Where have you been?”

“Eh.” Declan shrugged.

“I’ve been giving you some space. I know Zane isn’t my biggest fan, and I don’t want to cause you more problems.”

“Welcome! Please be seated!” Alpha Daniel smiled, and everyone sat down, curious about what was so different about tonight.

“Alpha Zane and I have spent the last few days working on a new pack dynamic.”

My breath hitched.

“He didn’t…,” I mumbled to myself.

“We have decided that we no longer like the way some of our lower rank members live and we aim to change that tonight.

“Starting with higher-ranked families, we will be holding interviews to see if the families are still eligible for their rank.

Some members of the pack have not been acting in the ways a higher-ranked member should act. The omegas will now be given updated wages and a rotating schedule.”

I gasped, along with most of the other pack members.