Shattered Ascension

Chapter Nine

The whispering in the pack grew to an uncomfortable level. It seemed as though everyone was questioning Quinn’s ability to lead, even Ma and Autumn started talking about it. The only person that never talked about it was Ruby and that was because she had no knowledge of it.

“Why is this even in question?” Sawyer asked as she looked out the apartment window. The building overlooked the parking lot, which was utterly unexciting, but Sawyer felt it was too early to watch TV. The sun had risen high in the sky, but it was still early. Sawyer glanced over at Ma in the kitchen.

Ma frowned and furrowed her brow. “I’m not sure. The pack started talking before you joined,” she said as she leaned against the counter. “I don’t know where they came from though.” Autumn walked into the living room and sat on the couch beside Sawyer.

“If you ask me, Quinn is way more equipped to lead than Reece.” She leaned her head back on the couch and closed her eyes. “Reece is all brawn and no brain.”

“Autumn,” Ma’s voice was hard.

“Fine. He has a little brain.” She turned her head to look at Ma.

Ma shook her head. “I’m growing concerned.”

“Nothing will happen.” Autumn closed her eyes again. “These rumours always come and go.”

Sawyer wasn’t sure Autumn was right. Sawyer had experienced the packs cruelty first-hand and she wasn’t likely to forget it anytime soon. But Autumn was still young, even at twenty, she was a young twenty. Autumn’s brown hair rested on her shoulders as she stared at the ceiling, maybe she had realized that her confidence was ill advised.

Autumn turned to look at Sawyer, her curls bouncing around her face. “Has Reece said anything?”

Sawyer shook her head. “He spends most of his time flirting.” Every time she saw him, he tried out a new pick-up line on her. She hoped he’d eventually realize that she’d never go for him and she couldn’t even applaud his effort. Reece was irritating her in every way. Even his breathing began to bother her, he sounded like a wheezy old man.

“Rough,” Autumn said before standing. “I gotta go patrol.” She moved toward the door. “Don’t have too much fun without me,” she spoke as the door closed behind her.

Sawyer eyes rested on the door. “Do any other packs have this problem?” She wasn’t experienced with internal pack drama and she hated what she was subjected to in this pack.

Ma grabbed a large knife from the chopping block and started cutting kale, she was making soup this evening and Autumn said she made the best soup. “Sometimes. There’s never been so much unrest in this pack though.” The strain in her voice worried Sawyer. She hadn’t been a part of the pack long, but the unrest wasn’t subtle anymore.

Ma let out a deep breath, causing Sawyer’s eyes to flick in her direction. It seemed as though there was more, she wanted to say, but instead she was refraining from speaking. Sawyer had never heard her say an ill word about anyone. Ma’s cocoa eyes met Sawyer’s steady gaze.

“When Reece was a boy, there was always something different about him.” She rested her hands on the counter. The knife clinked as it dropped onto the top of the island. “It wasn’t until he was in his teens that I took notice.”

“How old are you?” Sawyer asked. Ma didn’t have many wrinkles, but the silver in her hair told a different story.

“Forty-five.” Ma gave her a small smile. “I take pride in my grey.” She stroked her hair. “Aging is the beauty of the living.” She would have known Reece almost his entire life.

Sawyer stood and moved over to the counter. “What was it that you noticed?” She’d not payed much attention to Reece, aside from avoiding his advances. Well, the darkness in his eyes did send a chill down her, but they only ever looked like that when his brother was mentioned.

“Reece is a smart boy. His mind is constantly analyzing each situation.” She picked the knife up and started cutting again. “Reece manipulates people to work for him, he’s always been like that. The only person he struggled competing with was Quinn.” She finished with the kale and began chopping carrots. “Everything came easy to Quinn, everyone liked him, and he was born to lead.” She looked up at Sawyer. “I’m sure you noticed his transparency. Reece doesn’t have that. It always seems like he’s hiding something.”

Sawyer rested her hands on the counter. “Yes,” she said. Quinn had an undeniable attractive quality, something that drew her to him. He was softer than his mother and more honest than his brother. “Reece seems dark.”

Ma’s small smile faded. “His jealously has tainted his heart.” Sawyer was grateful that she was living with Ma and Autumn. The two women were the kindest wolves she’d met, and the wisdom Ma had was something she hadn’t realized she missed.

Sawyer nodded and asked, “Do you think he’s causing this?” Ma paused, clutching the handle. Her eyes slowly met Sawyer’s green-eyed gaze. She pressed her lips together and the sadness that washed over her dark eyes unsettled Sawyer.

“I fear that he has.” They stared at each other, tension and fear grabbing hold of them. Reece had a powerful sway over the pack, but that wasn’t what shook Sawyer. She feared Reece was capable of something more heinous. Ma looked down and the familiar slicing sound filled the air, pushing out the tension. “He was a good boy.” Her words were quiet, but Sawyer heard the sadness in her tone.

The phone in Sawyer’s pocket played it’s bird-like tune. She pulled it out and answered. “Hey, Ruby,” Sawyer said, turning away from Ma and heading down the hall.

“Sawyer, I know it’s your late day-”

“I can come in now,” she said, cutting her off.

“You’re the best,” Ruby said. “See you soon.”

Sawyer chuckled before ending the call. She grabbed her hair tie from dresser and headed toward the door. “I’m going in early,” she said looking at Ma.

Ma nodded. “Have a good day,” she said as she slid sliced carrots into a large pot. Ma resumed chopping as Sawyer headed out of the apartment and down the hall.

The noise on the street filled her ears. It was around lunch time and humans had a habit of going for walks during their break. Several middle-aged women would take a stroll around the street every lunch break. They’d become iconic and Sawyer never needed to look at a clock whenever she saw them. The three ladies came out at exactly 11:30 every day.

Sawyer waved as she walked by them. They grinned and one waved in return. The women often headed into the bakery for a sweet treat as a reward for their dedication. The small shop came into view and Sawyer smiled. Something about it gave her peace. When she walked inside Ruby was sitting at her table with a small stack of tiny clothes.

“Jeanette dropped off her old baby clothes,” Ruby said glancing at Sawyer. “I’m not sure we’ll use any of them.” She held one up and Sawyer stifled a laugh. The onesie said, ‘Dad’s drinking buddy,’ and Curt wasn’t a drinker. Ruby shook her head. “And that’s not even the worst one.”

Sawyer moved toward the table and read a few more. “These are horrible,” she said chuckling. Ruby frowned. “Ice, Ice?” Sawyer laughed. “I forget how weird Jeanette is.”

“Borderline psycho,” Ruby said as she placed the onesies into a bag. “This is the only one I like.” Ruby pointed to a white one with a black bow-tie design.

“I’m kind of a fan of the chicken butt one.” Sawyer held up the grey onesie that said ‘what’s up’ on the front and had a chicken on the rear.

Ruby scoffed. “Of course you would.” She snatched the onesie from her and stuffed it into the bag. “Shouldn’t you be working?” She asked with a small smile creeping on her face.

Sawyer rolled her eyes. “A little humor never hurt anyone,” Sawyer said as she clocked in.

“I won’t even say half of these out loud. They’re just distasteful.” Ruby placed the bag on the ground. “Maybe I’ll just say I dropped coffee on them.” Most of them were light colours.

Jeanette and forgiving don’t belong together. “She’ll never give you anything again.” Sawyer stepped behind the counter as the three ladies from earlier walked inside.

“Sold,” Ruby shouted with a grin.

Sawyer shook her head before facing the ladies as they eyed the goods behind the counter. The trio always searched for ten minutes before ordering their usual lineup. It didn’t make much sense to her because Sawyer loved to try new sweet treats. “Just let me know when you’re ready,” Sawyer said and the women nodded, their eyes never flicking in her direction.

Now if only she could avoid pack drama, but it wouldn’t be as simple as she wished.