Althena

3. Coffee Shop

Rose shows me to my room when we get home. If I can call it home. The place is immaculate. Fancy stuff everywhere. My room is more like a servant room than anything. It's very small with a bed and dresser in it. Empty and white. Even the dresser is white.

"Your bathroom is down the hall. Breakfast is at 7."

"Thank you."

I lay in bed and stare at the ceiling. After being in the car for hours, it's nice to stretch out. It's quiet here. The bed is comfortable too. This is the nicest mattress I've ever laid on. I fall asleep quickly.

Morning comes and I'm at the table with them. It's a one sided conversation with them telling me the chores I'm expected to do. Basically, everything except dust. I'm not to touch their stuff. My aunt is afraid I'll break it. They're still going to use the cleaning crew to dust. Lucky me. Other than that, I guess I'm expected to be invisible.

Alpha Amos comes for dinner that night. He makes sure they know how sorry he feels that they had to take in an orphan. But he doesn't seem so bad when he talks to me. He's Alpha of the Moonlit pack. I'm in the market district now. He puts a temporary mark on my arm. Children can only be marked permenantly after they turn 18. So, it's a lighter mark than normal. But I'll carry the pack sent and if I get lost, people can return me. I still have the pack mark from woodland on my shoulder.

Once he leaves, my life for the next year begins. I am an invisible servant. Well, kind of. The cleaning people still show up every day. I tell them what to do because my aunt and uncle aren't here. So, I have them do everything. My aunt and uncle don't even send me back to school because, 'I can read and that's enough.' Millie and Max come to check on me every few months. But everything is fine. I'm getting enough to eat and I'm clean. I wish I could go back to school. But that's all I would really change. I don't say anything to them about that. It's not their problem. And it's kind of embarrassing.

It also turns out, the Moonlit pack territory is very boring. I figured it would be exciting being in the market district. But I was wrong. The territory itself is full of mansions. But there are no shops here or anything. It's houses with a training area for the Moonlit Pack warriors and guards. They are a joke. They don't take training seriously. But I guess with all the money they have, they could hire someone if a war breaks out. They hire a company for the neighborhood security anyway.

It's exactly the opposite of Woodland Pack. Woodland had the best warriors but no money. I would prefer to be there. I understand why my mom left this place. I knew the people in Woodland. I could work in the garden or help out with things. Even as a child, I could help somewhere. There is nothing here. Not even a garden. They buy everything.

I don't know why my mom said they were horrible people though. My aunt and uncle ignore me for the most part. They like me out of sight. The alpha was decent to me. He's the only other person I've met though. For my aunt's dinner parties, I stay in my room and read. My uncle will bring me home a new book every now and then. Always used books. But I'm happy to have them.

3 days after I turn 15, my uncle decides it's time I get out on my own. I'm not sure what that means. I'm 15. But he takes me to a shop in the market. I'm out of the packland territory and into the actual market. It's like a 20 minute walk back to the house. But it's an empty shop. It's 2 rooms. The front has windows and is set up like a store. There's a counter and some shelves around the walls. The back room is fully empty with a toilet and sink behind a door.

"What am I supposed to do?"

"You can stay here. There aren't any apartments close. But you're 15 now. This will be good for you. You come to the house after breakfast and do your chores. I'll pay the bills here. Deal?"

I can't help but smile. "This is perfect. Can I make this part into a store selling stuff?"

"You can do whatever you want with it. And while you're doing your chores, you can do your laundry and take a shower. Just make sure you're done and out of the house by 3, daily."

"No problem." I can't believe I got a place to myself. I am nearly jumping off the walls.

He chuckles. "I'll have your bed and personal stuff sent over now. Chores get done tomorrow between 8 and 3."

"Of course. Thank you."

He hands me the keys. "Use the back door as much as possible. The more people see you entering the front, the more they will think it's a store." Then he's gone.

I sit in the middle of the floor and stare out the big windows. People are walking around on the sidewalks. It's busy here. It's nice to see life. This means I can walk outside too. I can talk to people.

I sit on the bench outside the shop and smile. This is perfect.

After a couple of weeks, I'm bored as hell. People on the street aren't the nicest. My old clothes get made fun of. At least once a day someone tries to figure out what my shop is selling. They can see it's empty through the windows. I don't know why they try to come in. Then they give me attitude when I tell them it's empty. I don't get it.

The backroom has my bed and dresser in it. I don't have much. My uncle sent my books too. I didn't know if he would. But I'm happy he did. I enjoy reading them.

I wish I had some money. I would like to fit in a little more here. My aunt never bought me any clothes. I only have the ones from a year ago. Momma would put some fabric together herself or buy something handmade from someone in the pack. Everyone here wears name brands. Even the visitors wear nice clothes. I'm technically not on any pack territory, so I see wolves from all packs. With it being the market district, everyone likes to visit.

I find a coffee shop a block away from my shop with a help wanted sign in the window.

"What can I get for you?" A lady looks at me about 3 times.

"I was wondering how old I have to be to apply for a job."

"15. Are you 15? I desperately need someone."

"Yes. I just turned 15."

"What hours can you work?"

"I can't work from 7:30 to 3:30. Except on Sundays. I can work all day Sunday." Sunday my aunt is home all day. So, it's my day off.

She nods. "School. Do you have reliable transportation?"

"Yes. I don't live far. I can walk."

"When can you start?"

"Right now."

"Perfect. Come back here. I'll have you fill out some paperwork. Then I'll show you around."

The paperwork is easy and she's going to pay me in cash. I also get tips. This is perfect. The place is easy to understand too. There are a few different creamers and only two different coffee beans. It's so simple. I pick up an apron and start right away. I hope I make enough for an outfit soon. She tells me I can work everyday from 5 to 10. Except Sunday. Stores not open Sunday. It's perfect though.

I stretch out in the morning. Then I hurry to my aunt's house. It's actually not hard here. The cleaning company still does everything. They're out by noon every day. I start my wash right before they get there. Then I take a shower.

After I get dressed, I make myself a sandwich and drop the sauce. I get it cleaned up and mop the floor again. The cleaning lady smiles at me. They're always so pleasant. After I eat, I pack some food for dinner tonight. Then I pick my laundry up from the laundry room. They got it done. I leave at the same time they do and head back to my shop, ready to start the day.