Joy never would have thought she could enjoy a rural life. Being born and raised in the city and as part of the top one percent, she was used to the fast life. Fast money, fast cars, fast food. Everything was handed to her on a silver platter. In as much as she organised and participated in charity events, she never felt part of a community or a family. Not until she met the Blue Moon pack.
"It's easy Joy," Thelma spoke from the tree she was sitting under. Enjoying the cool shade while the rest of the ladies held buckets of water in a queue by the well.
"What are you talking about?" Joy responded. "You're sitting under the shade, eating fruit. I'm the one who has to carry a bucket of water on my head."
"If I wasn't pregnant I'd show you." Thelma took a bite into her apple. And proceeded to rub her belly. "But oh well, I can't be lifting things."
As a way to remain attached to their roots, the villagers maintained a traditional lifestyle. They would collect water from wells or the stream. They cooked using firewood, kept and slaughtered their own animals.
"Let me help you out," Jemima said as she stood in front of Joy. "Place this on your head." She handed her a folded-up head-wrap. The ladies lifted the bucket together and placed it on Joy's head. Joy felt as though her neck was sinking in and her head wobbled along with her body. A bit of the water splashed out.
"Try to stand still, I'll hold the bucket," Jemima instructed.
"I can't really breath," Joy gasped, trying to stand straight.
"Hold your head up and breath slowly," Jemima told her and she obeyed, slowly breathing and out.
"Okay, now bring your hand to the rim of the bucket." Joy raised her hand and gripped the rim. "That's it," Jemima said. "I'm going to let go now, are you ready?"
Joy wriggled her eyebrows and Jemima let go of the bucket.
Joy took a small step forward, followed by another. And soon enough she was headed for the Enclosure, with Jemima and Thelma squealing behind her.
"Jude needs to see this," Thelma chuckled as she telepathically called for her brother-in-law. All three men appeared in a few moments with mouths agape.
Krii releasing a low whistle. "Don't drop it," he said in a singsong voice.
"Shut up Adonis Krii," she hissed. "Look Jude." Her expression changed almost immediately as she caught sight of him. She was grinning from ear to ear, a contagious grin that made him smile too.
"Good job," he praised her. "You're a natural." He stepped towards her, helping her set the bucket down. Reid moved to his mate, taking her in his arms as they watched the couple.
"I've never done that before," Joy breathed, the smile still plastered on her face. "It feels great. I feel like I can do anything."
"Even cooking with a fire?" Krii questioned.
"Even cooking with a fire," she responded with a fire in her own eyes.
"Even chopping the firewood?" Krii continued with a smirk.
"E-even chopping the firewood." Her smile faltered a bit, but she shook her head and brought it back. "Yes, even chopping."
"Even... slaughtering an animal?" Krii smirk grew into a grin.
"E-even... even..." Her smile turned into a frown and she glared at Krii. "Don't you have someone else to annoy Adonis Krii?"
"Nope. Just you Joy Macheka."
"Krii weren't you training the pups?" Jude asked him.
"I don't remember," he replied without meeting his eyes.
"Uncle Krii!" Khaya and Kayla called out for him and he groaned.
"There's your reminder." Joy had a mocking smirk on her face.
Krii huffed and folded his arms as Joy stuck her tongue out at him, her arms wrapping around Jude's torso.
"Have fun slaughtering a cow." Krii stuck his tongue out in return before skipping off.
"I am mated to a big baby," Jemima mumbled as she and the Alpha couple followed after him.
Joy looked up at Jude with cutest puppy dog eyes she could form, and a pout. "Do I really have to slaughter a cow?" She whined.
"No, babe. You don't have to slaughter a cow." He kissed her forehead.
***
Further into the village, was a plantation with trees specifically used for firewood. There were villagers who planted and took care of the trees, and when the time came, they would cut them down and distribute the logs among the villagers. The firewood trees were preserved well by the magic barrier that enclosed the village.
"Here you go," Krii handed Joy an axe. "Get to chopping."
"Why are you back? Aren't you supposed to be training the pups?" Joy asked, folding her arms.
"Reid's doing it. Now come on. Chop time."
"Hang on a second." She glanced at the axe but did not touch it. "Traditionally speaking, if the women collected water, wasn't it the men's job to chop the wood."
"We're not that traditional any more. This pack is all for equality. Which is why any one can be Alpha regardless of gender."
"Okay, but I have not seen you, Adonis Krii, carrying a water bucket on your head since I got here. And I'm not chopping any wood until I see that."
"Well played Joy Macheka, well played." He placed the axe on the ground. "To be continued." He scurried into the Enclosure and came out with a bucket, waved it at them and headed for the well.
"He is not serious." Joy muttered. "Is he really going to carry a bucket just to watch me chop wood?"
"Krii is his own type of wolf," Jude responded. "Don't take him too seriously or else you'll go nuts."
"Well it's a little too late for that warning. If he carries that bucket, I'm chopping the wood."
"Babe, you don't need to prove anything to him."
"I know, but he won't stop making fun of me. I mean, he still won't shut up about the bunny we released in the forest the other day." She cracked her knuckles and took hold of the axe. "And anyway, I will not be defeated." She sucked in a deep breath and swung the axe back. With all her might, she connected axe and wood, slicing a plank off the log.
"Woah, you're good." Jude whistled.
"It's all about the strength in your- Wait!" She threw the axe to the ground and marched towards Krii who was carrying the bucket with one hand.
Krii huffed to a stop, furrowing his eyebrows at her. "What?"
"Okay, how did you get back so fast? And you're supposed to be carrying it on your head."
"I'm not supposed to do anything."
Jemima appeared and placed a headwrap on Kriis head. "Yes, you are love."
With a smug look on her face, Joy gazed up at Krii and stuck her tongue out at him before sashaying back to her log. She picked up the axe and swung it again, forming another beautiful plank.
Krii lifted the bucket to his head and on his first step forward, the bucket swung, water splashing on him in the process.
"If you need to shower go to the bathroom Adonis Krii." Joy batted her eyelashes at him, a smirk plastered on her face.
"Ha ha, you're so hilarious," he grunted as he wobbled forward. "This is a lot harder than it looks."
"I know, my neck still aches from earlier. I don't even know why I'm doing this." Joy placed the axe on the ground. "What's for lunch?"
"Boiled carrots," Krii drawled as he set the bucket down.
"I'm sorry for making you release the poor creature," she groaned.
"At this rate well be having boiled peas and roasted broccoli for my birthday tomorrow.
Let's go see what Thelma made, shall we?" Jemima gestured for them to move in the direction of the Enclosure. Joy held her hand for Jude who intertwined their fingers.
"Are you okay?" Joy asked him, trying to meet his distant eyes.
"Yes, why wouldn't I be?" He forced a soft smile.
"I don't know." Her shoulders rose then fell. "You don't seem like you're here."
His throat rumbled as his lips curved upward. "I'm right here Joy."
***
The village wolves always preferred hunting their own food, but when they didn't, they kept the tradition of slaughtering an animal on any big occasion. As the Blue Moon approached, everyday was an occasion for them. Even more so since Krii's birthday was less than a day away. Joy avoided the slaughtering process, but decided to go for the cleaning. A few men and women were gathered outside Jemima and Krii's private hut, ready to clean the cattle. Joy was staring at the lifeless animals, wide eyed and dumbstruck.
"Joy?" Jemima nudged her. "Are you okay?"
"I think Iris was right," she mumbled. "I think I'll go vegetarian too."
"Do you want to leave?"
"I-I don't know why... but I thought this was going to be like plucking the feathers off a chicken with hot water, but it's not, this one is huge…" She gagged, shivers creeping up her spine yet she did not look away. "And look at its eyes it's staring at me. I feel like a cow ghost is going to come after me. Look at its eyes, look at its eyes."
"Okay stop looking at its eyes," Jemima turned her and led her away from the slaughtered animals. "It's okay if you want to leave, we can take care of it."
"I'll make my decision after I throw up. Please excuse me." She moved behind a tree and bent forward, retching and coughing out saliva.
"My poor tree," Jemima whimpered.
"I'm sorry, I know you love plants. I'll love them too after this I promise," she coughed. "I'll love them so much I'll want them to be part of my system." She moved from behind the tree with teary eyes.
"Are you okay?" Jemima asked, placing a hand over Joy's shoulder. "Do you want me to call Jude?"
"No, it's okay. I didn't actually throw up. I'll walk it off and go hang out with the pups." She waved her off with a short giggle.
"Okay, see you later."
***
Joy found herself near the waterfall, feeling the mist kiss her cheeks. The air was cool and fresh, the fragrance of earth filling her nostrils.
"There you are." Thelma's soft voice sounded behind her.
"Hey." She turned to her. "What are you doing here?"
"I can't stand the smell of meat right now. I've been throwing up all morning," she giggled. "You?"
"I'm too much of a snob." She chortled, and Thelma joined her.
"I know what you mean, pregnancy is an excuse for me. I wouldn't be able to do any of that. That's why I want to move to the human world after Reid has stepped down as Alpha."
"Really?"
"Yeah, I'm not really a traditional girl. I'm more modern. That's why the Enclosure is so modernised."
"Well, I must say, thank you for the bathtubs."
"You're welcome." The ladies giggled together. "Do you want to taste the traditional beer the grannies have been preparing?"
She scrunched her face. "Is it good?"
"You should taste and tell me. I can't drink because of the baby. Come on, you can taste it with Jem. It will be like wine tasting but, with traditional beer."
"Okay, let's go then."
There was a hut in the middle of the village that belonged to one of the elder wolves. There the grannies brewed the traditional beer. Some of it would be ready overnight, while the other beer took about a week basking in the sun as it fermented. The pungent scent of the ripening beverages filled the hut and the area surrounding it. There were barrels and pots filled with different flavours of beer; barley, mealie-meal, sorghum and millet.
After a few cups, Jemima was tipsy, while Joy, who was not used to it, was drunk.
"What was I thinking?" Joy slurred. "I blame the one that tasted really sweet. But I only had one cup and look at me."
"Joy, sweetheart, you had three cups of it. And I told you not to because it's the strongest one," Thelma told her, though she knew that she was talking to herself.
"Then if you told me then why didn't you listen to me?" Joy folded her arms. Her eyes were bloodshot and drooping. "It was a simple instruction."
Jemima stifled a laugh. "I'm sorry, she's just too much."
"Don't laugh at me, I'm just asking." Joy whined with a pout. "Why are you laughing at me?"
"I'm sorry." Jemima cackled, something out of character for her. "You are ridiculous. She pointed her finger at Joy."
"Jem, you seem like you had too much yourself," Thelma stated, taking a small sip of her water.
"Don't make me laugh. I handle alcohol very well."
"Sure."
"I know I seem strong to you guys. But I was really heartbroken when everyone lied to me. I really felt safe here. You know?"
"Well, if that broke your heart wait until you find out that you have siblings and are actually part of the Blood Moon pack."
Joy let out a gasp, covering her mouth as Thelma spattered and coughed out her water.
"I knew there was another secret," Joy pointed at Jemima whose eyes widened as she realised her mistake.
"That Jude," Joy whimpered, laying herself flat on the floor. "I knew he was going to break my heart again."
Jemima stood up slapping her mouth and spinning around in a frenzy. She muffled a scream with her fists as Thelma lifted herself up and walked to her, biting her own fists. She gestured for them to move outside.
"What do I do? What do I do? What do I do?" Jemima whispered, shaking her hands and pacing.
"I don't know, I don't know," Thelma mumbled, tears forming in her eyes.
"No, no, no." She slapped herself multiple times. "Jude will kill me. He's going to kill me. What do I do Thelma?"
"Okay wait, calm down. Let's figure this out. It's highly likely that she'll have forgotten when she wakes up tomorrow. And when she starts to remember we'll tell her it was a dream."
"Do you think she'll believe that?"
"I don't know, it's worth the try. We'll have to try."
"I hate lying to her."
"Me too but what choice do we have?"