The rest of the drive up to the pack house was quiet and I could tell when I hit the edge of "town". Suddenly there were a lot more people out and about and children playing. There were small little shops that lined either side of the road, and everything seemed to be bustling.
The pack house itself was a large white two story building with forest green trim. The wrap around porch had at least three porch swings covered in cheerful pillows. The flowers in the planters before it looked a tad wild, but the bees certainly appreciated it.
I parked my car off to the side, beside a dusty van and cut the engine. Despite how busy the main road seemed, the grounds around the pack house were almost... sleepy. Too quiet.
I should only take small things for now, like my small valise. Goddess only knows if I'm gonna have to turn right back around and leave, and if that's the case I'd rather not have to re-tetris everything in my trunk.
I took a deep breath and looked around me. The air smelled like wet soil and greenery and the air buzzed with the sound of chatter and the buzzing of the bees.
"Let's do this," I muttered, opening the back seat and rooting around for my messenger bag and the small suitcase I tossed in with my overnight items.
"You came! You actually came!" called a familiar voice from behind me, before someone tackled my legs in a hug, nearly knocking me into my back seat.
"See, I told you," replied a second voice smugly as I glanced under my arm and back.
Attached to my legs, grinning ear to ear was Eva, and standing behind her with crossed arms but an equally large grin was Giselle.
"Girls?" I laughed, half-surprised, half-thrown off. "This is your pack?"
Eva nodded and let go with a giggle. "Mae is taking a nap," she explained.
"Come on, I'll show you in," said Giselle, turning and bounding up the porch stairs.
"Shouldn't we wait for a grown up?" I asked, slinging a bag on each shoulder and shutting the car door.
"No, it's fine," replied Giselle authoritatively. "Dad won't mind."
Which, historically, is what people say right before dads absolutely mind, I thought, stepping forward and onto the porch. Eva reached out to hold my hand and I gave her fingers a soft squeeze.
"This is the living room," said Giselle, holding the door and ushering me in. A few of the Omegas paused their tasks to look at us curiously.
"Hi," I said with an unsure smile. "I'm Allison." A few unsure smiles greeted me in return, while others glanced between the girls and I.
"Come on, we can show you your office," said Eva, pulling me to the stairs on my right.
"Umm girls," I said, following reluctantly. "Are you sure this is ok? Sam said that not even the Beta knew I was coming."
"Yea it's fine," replied Giselle dismissively, "there's nothing to worry about."
Somehow I couldn't help BUT worry in spite of her reassurances.
The girls led me down the hallway, pointing out various doors and what lay behind them until we paused at a cream colored door trimmed in leaf scrollwork. "This was mom's office," said Eva as Giselle turned the knob.
Inside, the room looked untouched. Lived in, not abandoned. Like she might walk back in at any moment. The cherry wood desk still had family photos, a scattering of notes and a coffee mug with a stained ring around the inside. The office was large enough to also have a comfy looking couch and a small side table.
"This will be where you will be working from," said Giselle with a nod. "Please feel free to leave your items here."
I looked at the desk once more and didn't feel comfortable taking over such a personal space. "Here's fine," I said, setting down my messenger bag on the side table. "Besides, this way I can sit with my feet up on the couch."
Both girls chuckled and led me out of the room once more.
"And here is your room," said Giselle, hand on a door knob at the far end of the hallway.
"But isn't that..." started Eva, earning her a hard glare from her older sister. The little girl frowned but didn't continue the question.