This is not the only good thing happening today. The moment I step into the dining hall, my eyes immediately fall onto Faye. She is standing next to an elderly woman, who is holding her hand and helping her choose from the buffet. Faye is smiling. She is looking well-rested, more than she has in months; more proof of how much strain the last year must have put on her. I was not mentally prepared and equipped to take care of Marina and her. I did my best, but sometimes the best is not enough.
It's when Felix, Dario, Gisela, and I sit down with our own plates of food that I can feel eyes on me again. Another pack member or family member who wants to talk to us? Turning around, I scan the room. I briefly spot Aurelia and Arden, but they both seem to be in a hurry. Arden is holding some folders while talking to Aurelia.
Elden and Flora aren’t around. They might come later, or maybe they were already there. Felix told me they like to have one meal a day as a family. It used to be breakfast, but now, with everyone’s busy schedules, they usually meet for dinner, and it seems like his parents are early risers and like to get breakfast before the others do.
No one seems to be paying attention to me, so what’s that weird feeling? I shift my gaze slightly, suddenly spotting the huge orange cat that belongs to Aurelia. I believe his name is Titan. Titan keeps staring at me as if he is looking right into my soul.
Then he turns around and trots away.
Weird.
twenty-seven
Marina
*GWENDOLYN*
After breakfast, Felix goes to his training, while I spend the time until lunch with Faye and her nanny. Faye is over the moon to be able to play outside. She immediately takes off to the playground and mingles with the other children. To my joy, they all include her in their game.
It’s been so long since she acted like a child instead of holding back because she was being shunned or on the run. Her nanny, the kind elderly woman, tells me about their plans for the next day. There are a lot of activities planned for her, so much that I am a tad surprised.
“She has a full schedule,” I say. “I mean, it’s all awesome, but is there a reason for it?”
“Yes,” the nanny says quietly. “The alpha ordered me to ensure that Faye be outside and with other children as much as she wants.”
“And away from Marina,” I say quietly. “So, Faye can be distracted a little.”
“I don’t know how I would cope if something so awful happened to my mother,” she mutters.
“I know, it must be so hard for her.”
“No child should experience this,” she adds. “And we don’t even know what else Faye might have seen.”
“She never talks about what happened in their former pack,” I say.
The woman nods, her thoughtful eyes searching for Faye on the playground. She is currently using the swing with two other girls. She’s been through so much already, and her mom can’t even respond to her. I wonder what broke Marina to that extent, and if anyone can help her. Alpha Elden only looked at her briefly, but his eyes said more than words could.
I have very little experience with social life in a pack, but I know that if the alpha makes sure a child is distracted so as not to think too much about their parents, then it can’t be for any positive reasons.
“Is Marina alone?”
“No, she is never alone,” the nanny reassures me. “We always have a nurse with her or a maid.” She shakes her head. “The poor young woman.”
“I will go and check on her.”
“Yes, maybe it‘ll help to see a familiar face,” she says. “Though she… she doesn’t-“
“She doesn’t react to anyone or anything,” I help her.
Before she can answer anything, her eyes flash over. “The alpha is asking for you,” she says. “He said if you are ready, he would like to talk to you,“ she pauses, “... about Marina.”
“Of course!” As dreadful as talking about Marina feels, I just want to know if he was able to find what’s wrong with her. “Is he waiting in his office?”
“No, he said to meet him directly at Marina and Faye’s apartment.”
I bid her goodbye and wave at Faye, who is too busy to properly register me, before walking straight to the packhouse. Fortunately, Felix, Dario, and Gisela have shown me around during the last couple of days. Charlie has already returned to her own pack, but we have exchanged numbers and chat regularly. Being welcomed so warmly and already having friends helps so much. Charlie is also my first actual girlfriend aside from Marina, and I can’t wait to hang out with her more.
Marina’s apartment is on the second floor in a quiet corridor. As promised, the alpha is already waiting for me. “Alpha Elden,” I greet him politely.
