We entered the large dining area and long tables had been set up as a surprisingly large number of werewolves stayed in the pack house. Jenny pulled me towards the kitchen.
"The omegas cook and keep the place clean. We come in here and grab dinner." She pointed and I could see a line.
"How many live in the pack house?" Jenny shrugged.
"Most of the single warriors and a few of the single Epsilons and Omegas…" She frowned. "Basically, if all your needing is a bed to crash in there's a place for you here. The last time I checked there was fifty-two, not including the staff." I nodded and looked around as a group of males began to trail us.
"What are they doing?" She glanced back.
"Oh, they're here for you." She grinned. "You're new and everyone wants to find their mate." I frowned and took the plate of food she handed to me. "Come on we have a seat saved." I nodded and grabbed a bottle of water and brought it to the table.
Mathew was already sitting eating his large plate of food now noticeably emptier. He waved as we approached and wiped his mouth.
"Took you long enough… but considering Dean's state I can't blame you." I rolled my eyes and sat at the table.
"He was the one who stopped." Jenny raised her hands.
"Not at the dinner table. I want to get Danica up to speed on pack life." He nodded and shoveled more food into his mouth then looked around as the tables began to fill with male members of the pack.
"Seems like you're already attracting attention." I glanced around and sighed.
"Do I need to get a rolled-up newspaper?" Mathew grinned.
"More like a baseball bat." He grabbed his water glass. "If you took off that scent blocker they would all know in an instant if you were their mate." He took a sip. "Don't get me wrong they would still be hanging around you but not trying to get a…" He glanced to Jenny. "Well, if they can't use sent to figure out who you are they can use touch… they already like the way you look." Jenny rolled her eyes.
"Pack life is straight forward." She changed the subject. "Life for a Delta, Epsilon or Omega is like it is in the city, except now its mandatory to attend training two days a week." She pointed. "Those who work in the pack-house work for eight hours and go home and the next shift takes over." I nodded and tried the mash potatoes and grinned.
"Someone definitely knows how to cook." Jenny nodded.
"There's a chef on call twenty-four seven." She took another mouthful of food. "If you want to get a job in the town I can look for an accounting position for you." I nodded and frowned slightly.
"What about life as a warrior?" Jenny seemed reluctant but Mathew gave a little chuckle.
"If you wanted to try out you certainly can. If you pass you'll be in either the morning, afternoon or night shift. Depending on which you are assigned to, you basically start your day with light training followed by a briefing from the squad head then go out on patrol or get guard duty. Although warriors have a mandatory intensive training four times a week." I nodded.
"What if you just wanted to train?" He shrugged.
"Training takes place three times a day, everyone is welcome… although it's now becoming mandatory that you take part at least twice a week." I nodded and felt the heavy weight of eyes descending upon me. I ate more then looked around and frowned.
"So… does the Alpha eat here?" Jenny shrugged and looked upset as she shook her head.
"Not recently. Maggy has been sick for a while and Lilly is…" Mathew shrugged.
"She's going through the terrible two's at three years old." I nodded.
"They sound like real handfuls." Jenny nodded.
"Not as much as those two." She leant back in her seat. "I thought you were told to go to bed?" I looked around and placed my knife and fork to the table as Kaden and Aden ran through the tables towards us. With staggering force for eight-year-olds they leaped into the air and collided with me. The world suddenly began to topple and we hit the floor as the chair flipped onto its side.
The hall went deathly quiet as all eyes turned to see what had just happened. I looked to the two smiling faces of the boys as they piled on top of me and my laugh rang out into the hall.
"Well, hello to you two." Mathew walked over and grabbed them by the shoulders then bodily lifted them up.
"You two will be the death of me someday." I sat up then got to my feet. "Now apologise to Danica." I smoothed out my dress and placed the chair back into its proper position.
"Oh, come on Mathew. It wasn't that bad." I saw Jenny looking at me and she released her breath she was holding.
"I thought you'd be hurt for sure." I shook my head.
"From that little tumble?" I sat back down. "Takes more than that to hurt me." I looked to the boys as they struggled to get away from Mathew. "You can let them go." He looked to the boys then to me.
"Are you sure? They seem rather fond of you." I shrugged.
"I think they've calmed down a little…" Kaden grinned as Mathew let them go and they darted to my side again but this time kept his feet to the floor.
"Sorry if we hurt you." I patted the two little heads and smiled.
"No harm no foul. But why are you two out of bed?" Kaden looked to his brother.
"We heard aunty Jenny and uncle Mathew making arrangements for you to stay." Aden nodded.
"We wanted to see you." He whispered which caused heads to turn and look at him then to me. I pulled out a seat.
"You didn't want to wait until morning?" They shook their heads and climbed onto the seat.
"Can we stay down here for a bit?" Kaden asked looking to me with big puppy dog eyes.
"Don't ask me." I pointed to Jenny and Mathew. "They're the ones you have to ask." The little eyes locked on their new target.
"Please uncle Mathew?" I grinned,
"Guess I know who the soft touch is." Jenny nodded.
"It's a bad habit of his…" She sighed. "Fine, you two can stay down here for a few minutes but don't get used to this." She pointed and they grinned happily.
"Thank you, Aunty Jenny." They looked down as someone brought them a plate of food each.
"So why are you so desperate to see Danica?" They stuffed their faces and shrugged.
"I don't know… She's here and we wanted to see her. Nana said we should too…" Aden whispered into his brothers ear and he grinned. "Oh yeah, Chad and Jeff also told us about the match between the Banshee and Bulldog." He looked at me with a deadpan face. "We wanted to invite you to come with us… Once we know when the match is." I laughed. I couldn't help it, the sincerity in their eyes was adorable.
"I would love to go but we don't know if this match will even take place." I saw them looking at each other.
"Oh, it will." I nodded.
"Why's that?" They grinned.
"The Banshee isn't afraid of anyone." I covered my mouth and shot a glance at Mathew as he chuckled.