Chapter 8 #3
“They need to adjust to having witches
around. It’s the way of the future.”
“Okay, you’re the bitch around here.”
Marissa decided.
“And don’t you forget it.” Bindi
grinned. “Let’s go see the laundry room.
Someone pointed them in the right
direction. The room was fair sized, but only had one set of
commercial sized washer and dryer. “This isn’t enough.”
“No. How did they do anything here?
Sure, it’s bigger than the average family needs, but we need ten of
each at least.”
“Agreed. Now we know why everyone here
was so dirty.” Marissa admitted.
“This room is big, but will it hold
what we need?”
“You’ll need less if you run a night
shift.”
“What do you think? Maybe six pairs?”
Bindi guessed.
“I know packs that do it.”
“Some people do prefer night
shift.”
“Now you’re thinking.” Marissa
agreed.
“I need a PA.”
“I bet Ariel can help. It’s summer.
Get a college kid off for the summer and train one of your own to
take over when they leave.”
“You’re a genius.” Bindi
complimented.
“We’ve been around to watch a few of
these takeovers. Take Danny’s. He couldn’t be talked out of it, and
he allowed no help, only advice.”
“Ariel was upset. Didn’t he almost
die?”
“Oh. Yeah. But those involved were
punished in their own way.” Marissa admitted.
That served as a warning. Watch who
you trust in a pack taken over by battle to the death. She hoped
Duroc didn’t turn his back on any pack members. It took time to
know who you could trust. Someday this havoc they’d fallen into
would be a memory and everything would be as it ought to be. But
right now, that beautiful future was a dream.
“Let’s find the office if there is one
and make the first call.” Rosey showed them. For a person not
allowed in the house, she knew a lot about it.
It was a nice office, and the desk and
other furniture was heavy and looked antique. She sat at the desk
and Marissa sat across from her. Bindi picked up the phone not
wanting to make the call but doing it anyway.
“Writer inspired, just a
sec.”
It wasn’t long and she came
back.
“What took you so long?” Ariel
asked.
“I didn’t want to bother
you.”
“It’s not a bother when you need me.
I’ll send you a temporary PA and also a cook that can get your
kitchen organized but both of them will come back in three months,
okay?”
“Of course.”
“As far as the alpha list, they are
expecting your call at any time so get on it.”
Ariel was gone, but she’d done more
than expected. “What do you think?”
“That’ll do you the world of good. You
have the alpha helper list, right? Let’s list what you need the
most and start calling them. It’s a good thing that this is the
only pack in emergency status. That should help you get on top of
things.”
“I didn’t expect such a big list.”
Marissa commented.
“Me either. Let’s get to
work.”
When they were done, it was an
enormous relief.
“I got five packs to send trained
workers mostly construction, but some had a few farmers.” Marissa
said.
“Me too. I also got a cosmetologist, a
cook for the workers, and a specialist on sawmill operations and
lumber.”
“Speaking of an accountant, you might
as well call Nat. She’ll probably bring Harvey and they can handle
your money troubles.”
“You’re right. I don’t know her. Maybe
you could call and introduce us first?” Bindi asked.
“Look at you becoming a politician.
Here, take her number you’ll need it anyway and I’ll make the
call.”
“Hello?”
“Sleeping in the middle of the day,
Nat?” Marissa giggled.
“It’s just like you to call and mess
with my sleep.”
“I owed you one anyway. There’s a job
for you. I’ve got Bindi here, so I’ll give her the
phone.”
“Hello, I’m Bindi.”
“I’m Nat. You got a pack now, right.
Alpha Al used to run it before his demise.”
“Exactly and we’re lost about the
money. Now his wife has an account and a small house on the edge of
pack lands we don’t want to mess with. She needs something to live
on.” Bindi explained.
“Alright. That’s nice of you. So,
anything else is up forto grabs. You have an account to transfer
into?”
Bindi gave her a new account number
Duroc had given her last night. “We’re also not sure what
businesses he owned, or the pack owned. We know about a few, not
about all.”
“Okay, I’ll be there. I can stay at
the hotel the pack owns in town.”
“See! We didn’t know about that, and
it will help.”
“Ariel said rent a big tent for most
of your guests. Your hotel won’t hold most of them so put them all
in the tent or tents.” Nat advised.
“That’s good advice.”
“Okay. They will arrive in the next
few days.” Bindi admitted.
“I’ll see you soon.” Nat said and she
was gone.
“That’s good. One more thing seen to.
Let’s go to the backyard.”
“What do you want to do here?” Marissa
asked as they entered the area behind the house.
“See that?”
“I do. That grill is party
size.”
“It’s perfect. If we have someone who
can use it that will help.” Bindi said.
“You know Damon is the grill
king.”
“I also know the grill king is going
home.”
“You’re right. You need another
griller, Maybe several to see to the crowd you’re about to get.
They’ll get the apartment house built in no time. How many
apartment houses will you build?”
“I’m not sure. We can keep building
them if need be. But we need a real pack house too. It needs to go
where the barn was. I need someone who knows what we have to do as
far as permits to build.”
“That will be different here than in
other parts of the country.”
“We need a pro to get things started.
Once the workers arrive, they’ll need to get to work.”
“Maybe Tramp’s dad will have a
suggestion. Tramp is here, isn’t he?” Bindi wondered.
“Yes, maybe he can suggest someone or
something.”
That decidedwas decided, and they
would wait for Duroc to come before they ask him to do this. “What
now?”
“We have this list of things that must
be done. Let’s see if Harry is done and feed her then move on.”
Marissa observed.
When they arrived, Harry had a group
of toads around her. “What happened?” Bindi asked
horrified.
“These aren’t your guys. They thought
I was a white wolf and wanted to kidnap me.” Harry
explained.
“Change one back so we can question
him.” Bindi asked.
In a flash the guy was
human.
“What are you doing here?”
“I was sent to get the white wolf. No
one said anything about witches.”
“They won’t tell you that. Who would
do the job if they knew? Who hired you?” Bindi asked.
“I can’t tell you that.”
“I understand. You’d rather stay a
toad.”
“No, he said his name was Leafer. I
never saw him before, and I’ll never see him again.”
“You know what’s funny?”
“No, what?” He looked
suspicious.
“The new alpha bitch isn’t a white
wolf. She’s just friends with a few.”
“Damn it all to hell.”
“If we let you go, will you leave and
never go after a female again?”
“Yeah. I’ve had enough of this
life.”
“How many wolves came with
you?”
“Eight. Why?”
“I only see six toads. Go ahead and go
before I change my mind.” Bindi said.
The guy took off running while Bindi
found the other toad. “What are we going to do with the rest of
them?”
“Hey, I found another toad!” Marissa
exclaimed.
“Turn this one.”
Harry did and it was one of her
admirers. He took off desperate to get away from her now. “He’ll be
back.” Harry assured.
“Now this one.”
He changed back instantly. “What
happened.”
“Exactly what you think happened. You
were a toad.” Marissa offered.
“Aw goddess. Do all white wolves have
witch powers?”
“She’s not a white wolf nor is the new
alpha bitch. They just know white wolves. Isn’t that
funny?”
“Ha ha. I’m laughing on the
inside.”
“We’re trying to decide whether to
send you to the council prison or make you work off your
sentence."
“I’d rather work than go
there.”
“If you don’t complete your task,
you’ll be put on the council’s wanted list. Marissa find him a job
that can be done in a day then set him loose. Harry, the next
one.”
They went through them all and set
similar tasks for them. At the end of the day, she was just glad
they were gone.