I take a deep breath. “I need to go inside in a few minutes. Is there anything else you need?”
“Yes, make sure you have the Kempsey case on my desk by Monday.” I agree and finally get off the call, tension coursing through my body. I don’t have long to dwell on it, thankfully,because a familiar dark sedan pulls up just in time to distract me.
“Hey, Sam!” Stacia says brightly with a wave as I step out of my car. Her enthusiasm for being here is way more than mine at the moment, but it does put a smile back on my face.
“Hey, Stacia,” I say back before patting Atlas on the back as I get closer. “Thank you for coming with me today.”
“It’s such an honor,” Stacia responds. “You’ve worked here a lot, haven’t you? Atlas says it’s one of your favorite places.”
I nod. The food bank is definitely one of my go-tos, especially now that I’m familiar with the coordinators and have a rapport with them. Most of my morning was spent going to different stores and getting items that the manager said they lack this time of year, which is quite a bit considering it’s almost March.
I take note that the parking lot is pretty empty today. The busiest times, both for volunteers and donors, are normally around the holidays when people are feeling sentimental, but these odd times of the year are tragically vacant.
The idea of finding a way to recruit plays in my mind while we’re on our way in. Stacia steps up to one of the sign-in screens, but I stop her. “You don’t have to do that if you don’t want to. It’s for people who want their time here on paper, like people using this as community service or probation work.”
Her mouth drops slightly. “Oh, I didn’t know that was a thing.” She looks back at the screen and then tilts her head.
“Sometimes, the only way to force people to help others is to give them an incentive,” I state, having heard it a million times from my grandma growing up. She loves charity as much as I do, but it took her until her adult life to fully understand and appreciate it. She wanted me to have different values, stating that she had failed with my father in that way.
Biggest understatement of the year.
“That’s true. My parents only helped out with charity when they were able to throw a gala or event. They had to get something out of it, too, I guess.” She frowns, retreating into her head. I can almost see the unsavory memories being replayed in her eyes. When Atlas gently squeezes her shoulder, she comes back and gives me a soft expression. “Thank you again for inviting us. I’d like to help out more, now that I know how hard things can be. I was too spoiled—sheltered,” she corrects, using a positive alternative. “I was too sheltered to realize what was going on in the world. I want to make up for that.”
“You went through other horrible things, angel,” Atlas reminds her. “It wasn’t all rainbows for you either.”
“It doesn’t mean it was right,” she argues, but then she shakes off her defensiveness. “My pain doesn’t diminish my ignorance. I’m ready to not be ignorant anymore.”
Witnessing this interaction between them is refreshing. I meet her eyes. “I grew up the same way, Stacia. You shouldn’t be too hard on yourself for the way you were raised, but I can say that acknowledging it and setting out to improve others’ lives…” I look around the center, watching as more volunteers arrive. “Ipromiseyou, doing things like this helps.”
The omega gives me a sincere smile. “I’m glad you understand.”
I only nod, because that’s an understatement. I grasp the multitude of her situation way too much. Her parents were just like mine, and I sympathize with her on the horridness of it.
“Samson.” A familiar, gentle voice greets me, and when I turn, I see Honey putting on her apron for the upcoming shift. Her hair is pure white, and she shuffles over, pretending like always that her hip isn’t bothering her. “I didn’t think I’d see you today.”
“You mean you didn’t think you’d have someone to tease today,” I joke.
“Oh, I can always find someone to tease. It’s like you don’t even know me, blondie.” She pulls me into a hug, her familiar cinnamon bun smell reminding me of Christmas. Her tender demeanor would have anyone guessing that she’s an omega or beta, but it’s her stubborn alpha nature that keeps her pushing around here and at the other charity center she manages.
She pulls away and eyes my friends. “And who do we have here? You have the prettiest hair I’ve ever seen,” she says as she admires Stacia’s brunette hair.
“This is Atlas, he’s one of the frat brothers I was telling you about. And this is his mate, Stacia.”
“It’s so nice to have you here. Come on, we can get started a few minutes early if you’d like.” She takes Stacia’s hand and leads her to the boxing station. “Is this your first time here?”
She grimaces. “Is it that obvious?”
Honey snorts out a laugh. “No. I’m just here way too much. I’ll show you how things work. And if you have any questions, please ask me. There aren’t any stupid questions here. There are so many regulations and rules to follow, it’s like they don’t want us to donate. It’s better if you’re a hundred percent sure rather than putting the wrong item in the wrong box and risk getting the whole donation thrown away.”
Stacia gasps and looks back at Atlas. “Stay close to me.”
The day goesby quickly when you’re working with people who make you laugh. Stacia works fast, always with a smile on her face and chuckling at every joke Honey throws out there. Atlas uses his strength to move boxes quickly, which makes filling them up even faster. Normally, our line-up has to stop the conveyor belt multiple times per shift in order to catch up, but this time it’s smooth and ahead of schedule.
“Wow, imagine if we had all the guys working!” Stacia exclaims as we walk out to the main floor. “We could probably get twice as much done in the same amount of time.”
“If Ciro decided to be serious that day,” Atlas jokes.
“Of course he would, because I’d tell him how happy it’d make me,” the omega responds, full teeth on display. “And Uriah could help you move boxes, and Kendall is a little speed demon. It would go so well.”
