As I was crafting yet another arrangement, this time a violet, golden, and white creation made mostly with button roses, lilies, and greens in a large, low vase, I sighed. It was Friday, and thank goodness, I would soon get to go home and enjoy the weekend, as I kept the shop closed during that time. I had worked long days and made all the arrangements I could, filling my large cooler with them.
I had recently received another delivery of plants and cut flowers, which I had prepped, but people just kept pouring in. My reputation, as well as my prices, had spread; some folks had driven two hours to get to me, and they certainly bought a lot. I almost constantly had to have ready-made bouquets or be crafting one.
Number Five. Hmm. Thinking of him made me smile. He had brought me dessert a few nights ago, and it seemed he might keep doing so. His… bump… gave me energy during my mornings, even though his fangs hadn't accomplished anything, and he suspected it was my babies who blocked them.
My fingers worked almost independently as I placed the stems I had counted on the counter next to me, ensuring the work was accurately priced. Afterward, I might have time to make a few quick arrangements in case someone wanted to buy them.
Given that Warroad and Roseau had many cabins and holiday inns, or people's holiday cottages, some folks would spend the whole Thanksgiving week around here, meaning business might be busy. Adam would come home on Monday morning, or perhaps early Monday morning, but he would need to rest and recover. I wasn't sure what Number Two, the shithead, was doing. He had gone to work, of course, after loudly voicing his unpleasant opinion, blaming me for hating him.
As if. I had told him that, yes, he was an idiot, a shithead, and a fool, but my real issue was with Mariella, and a reckoning would come, one he would have no idea about or be able to prevent, as I was still the pack leader—yet another fact that pissed him off immensely.
Funnily enough, Number Five had taken a different approach. He was using his brain, not just his dick. Well, actually, he was using his enormous cock to get to me, seducing the pack leader, perhaps hoping to gain some influence over her. He was being the wise one.
I glanced at the clock and saw that there were three and a half hours until closing. I would likely be here for another hour after that, as I still had a few things to prepare. For instance, I needed to create a tall arrangement for the Pettington family, who were hosting a large Thanksgiving party. They requested a tall, flashy arrangement featuring mostly scented orchids, as well as a few smaller arrangements with scented roses.
Of course, there were also customers who preferred flowers with little to no scent, and I catered to them as well. It wasn't as simple as just picking and choosing at random to make a nice bunch. I had to ensure certain preferences were met, like scent or lack thereof. Recently, I had also made a few monochromatic bouquets, meaning single-color arrangements, and they seemed to be quite popular. I actually wasn't sure what was *less* popular in my shop. Surely, this novelty would wear off at some point, and reality would set in, of that I was certain.
But for now, I had to go with the flow and try to make as many arrangements as I could. I wasn't thinking about anything in particular, just focusing on the present moment and maybe indulging in a little fantasy of being a porn film director when I thought about Number Five and our time together in bed. We had certainly dedicated my bedroom pretty well, but the shower was still not done, and neither were the closets, and it was a big house, after all. I smiled to myself as I planned a few ideas.
Of course, Lepard might want to join in on the fun, too, as he had been recovering and loading up for the next few days. His week would only be half-time, but he seemed happy. As I finally closed up my shop, I was still working on my arrangements. Leopard was waiting for me and making sure everything was ready for the next week. This meant he carried sacks inside, stocked the shelves, and filled the bottles of flower food.
He also made a few bunches himself, knowing they would be needed: orange, white, and green, as well as red, white, and blue - very patriotic. He understood that patriotism is important to some people, especially during the holidays, so those arrangements might be popular. My or Charles's reservation book was quite full. There were jobs for me, and even a few for Number Five, though I wasn't sure if he would have time to do them here or if he would work from home.
Little did I know what awaited me at home, and neither did Lepard. He had been with me for several hours, ever since he had gotten the girls home early and then came in to help me. Since my fainting episode earlier in the week, he had been pretty much glued to my side. I had a pretty good idea that Adam, as well as Demon, and even Charles, knew about it, too, and I might have company next week as well.
But it was all good; my stones were a hit. Whatever I had priced, they were pretty much bought by the end of the day, and if I were lucky, there might be one or two cookies left in the tray at my coffee station. So, like I said, every penny was welcome, and I kept my realities on, knowing that this would surely calm down eventually.
I had actually planned to go to church on Sunday, my first time, just for myself. I hadn't talked about it to the others because I wasn't sure how they might take it. Maybe I should, but I just wasn't so sure. We were finally driving back home, and it was snowing, surely, but slowly.
I was thankful that we didn't have to go to the shop now or over the weekend, and we could spend time inside. Those who wanted to could surely do snowplowing and such, but not me. I wasn't in the mood for frolicking in the snow, not yet anyway.
I was beginning to understand that I was pregnant. Now, in the afternoon, I had no symptoms, and there was no outward indication, but surely things would grow soon enough, making it more visible. And maybe then, when I was forced to carry them for months, I might be pretty damn fed up with being pregnant by the time it was time to deliver.
Now, delivery was another thing entirely. Number Five wanted a home birth, but again, I wasn't sure what my insurance or benefits would demand, and I also didn't know what this family would be like when the time came to deliver. It was too early to plan anything concrete yet.
As we finally pulled into the driveway, it was already dark. Outside lights flicked on, triggered by our approach. Tiredly, I got out of the car. Lepard locked the door, came to stand beside me, and wrapped his arm around my shoulders as we walked toward the house. I opened the door, and we stepped inside, taking off our coats and shoes.
God, my body ached from all the standing, and my fingers felt stiff from so much work. A hot bath, or maybe a sauna, might be in order. However, to my surprise, as we walked down the hallway leading to the kitchen, two people were standing there.
As we got closer, I had to roll my eyes: Number Two and Mariella, who was glaring at me with as much hate and contempt as she could muster.
I said to Lepard, "Put shields on. This is nasty, and I just don't have the patience for diplomacy."
He smirked and said, "Do your worst."
I unleashed my rage, channeling it through the pack leader's power, and struck Mariella with it, forcing her to her knees before me, as well as Number Two.
As they both fell, I walked closer and said in a hiss, "Now, learn how to greet a tired pack leader who has busted her ass all damn week long to keep this pack going!"
Number Five walked in from somewhere and wrapped his arm around my shoulders. "Well done,Mimi, my love, very well done," he said, smirking condescendingly at Mariella. "Oh, pussy, good position. Sorry, but you are not worthy of my cock in your mouth. I save my bump for my love."
Mariella glared at me but remained silent, held captive by my power.
I said to Mariella, "I know you have issues, big ones, but not right now. Right now, this pack leader is going to change clothes and eat something. By the way, if Number Two didn't tell you, you're pregnant—nine months, part of this wonderful shindig. And before you start blaming me for everything, just remember it was you who suggested we wouldn't be rich or well-paid, but that we would have to work. So, as Upstairs listened, your fault, not mine. As you see, Number Five wants me. He has wanted me for a long time, and he is tired of being a pussy slave. Well, okay, you may speak and move."
I walked away toward the elevator with Number Five, who nipped at my neck, keeping his grip on me almost desperately, as if fearing Mariella was going to do something. Wulfe walked in too, and he hopped on the elevator as well, looking pretty smug, though I wasn't sure why. I was certain he would tell me at some point.
As we went up to my bedroom, I sighed. "I am fucking tired, and this is drama I do not need. But fine, I must warn you guys: my patience is pretty much nonexistent, so if she starts giving me lip, I *will* haul her fat ass into the gym and beat the shit out of her."
Number Five said, "Do it, my love, I will be watching. And you are right, she is pretty soft again."
I rolled my eyes. "Well, ten of you fed her for weeks during vampire heat, and her metabolism is snail-paced compared to mine. So your bump is learned to fuel me, for her she gets fat."
Wulfe smirked. "That kneeling was quite nice; you should do it more often."
I absentmindedly rubbed my brow and shrugged as I sat down. Number Five was busily clearing my clothes to put them down the laundry chute, simply because he loved my new washing machines. He wanted lots of washing, and he would get it in time, but not yet—not quite, at least.
Wulfe selected new attire for me, and I went behind the partition to dress myself, my clothes, of course, being put in laundry right away. I put on a dark pink heavy satin skirt that reached only to my knees. The material was sticking to my skin, showing my ass and thighs as I walked, as well as a nearly white, faintly pink, loose silk blouse that still allowed my lithe body to show.
I reached to open my bun as I sat on my bed, but Number Five came and stopped me. His deft fingers opened my curls, and he brushed them, sprayed them with some conditioner, and mussed them up, so they were curlier, before putting a simple hairband on me to keep them out of my eyes.
Then, he bit my neck, changing my makeup and tasting my blood, so he knew just how much to feed me. I was tired, and a warm bath or sauna seemed like heaven, but now I was not so sure, not when Mariella was awake.
Wulfe said, "Just think, my unicorn, we would go to the sauna—you, me, Number Five, Lepard, the girls, and Mariella. And of course, Number Two would butt in, and everyone, I mean *everyone*, would see just how soft she is, how jiggly she is, perfect."
I rolled my eyes. It seemed Wulfe still had very big issues with Mariella, and I could not blame him, not at all.
We finally started to make our way to the kitchen. I was hoping that Mariella and Number Two wouldn't be anywhere near me, as I desperately needed to properly whack Mariella. I wanted a decent cat fight, but right now, my biggest and best weapon was actually Number Five. Mariella had already lost one round, and I wondered how many more she would lose to me.
Sure, she had gotten Number Two, but I smiled as we walked to the kitchen, picturing centuries ahead, me and Mariella fighting over Salvatores. We would always find some version of them, with her taking them away and me snatching the next ones. Oh, a never-ending war! It was an exhausting, yet fun idea, especially considering my current mood.
I shared my little joke with Wulfe and Number Five, and they both laughed for real, sending me even more ideas and scenarios, like me keeping books on how many times I had gotten each Salvatore and who my next target was going to be. Or Mariella priming her pussy, trying to keep those who were with her to herself. I must admit, we were truly nasty with our little ideas.
As we reached the kitchen, wouldn't you know it, those two were already eating there. Mariella was actually in Wulfe's place, and he just snapped his fingers. Instantly, Mariella was relocated further away, back in her place, as she was not supposed to be near me. Number Two was also relocated, preventing him from having access to me either.
Number Five placed me at the table and went to check on my plates. He threw out five of them. Oh my god, how damn childish! Someone was tampering with my food. He brought me fresh food and smoothies.
I asked Charles, "My love, I know you are busy, but we have a crisis. Mariella has woken up, and she and Number Two have issues with me, like tampering with five of my plates. Number Five noticed them, and he is not happy. What's your take?"
Charles' voice echoed in my mind via our link, laced with danger. "Oh, really? Fine, I would say she needs discipline. You are the pack leader; you have my blessing. Number Two needs to be brought down a few pegs as well. Can you do that?"
I replied, "Yeah, I can use Wulfe and Number Five with Number Two and take care of Mariella myself, but first, I will egg her on. I will make this into a real show."
Charles's voice, filled with satisfaction, echoed, "Do it. I will let everyone know soon; you truly are pack leader, those who are awakened."
I continued to eat, his voice and presence quickly fading from my mind.
Suddenly, Mariella cursed, her nose bleeding. "God damn it, Cornick, no need to fry my brain out!" she exclaimed, but then fell silent.
Number Two's jaw clenched, and he glared at me. Maintaining a completely neutral expression, I continued my meal. Wulfe sat right next to me, and Number Five was also nearby. I had already informed them of my plan and could sense Lepard wanting to be involved, so I included him.
"After dinner," I announced, "we will all go to the gym to blow off some steam. Mariella, you are against me. Number Two, you will take Lepard, Wulfe, and Number Five to have fun. I am the pack leader, and this is my decision. But this is not all; this is just the beginning. Mariella, I can guarantee that after this weekend, you might want to take a few days off work, as I have done some attitude adjustment. And as you can see, you can't tell Damon anything, not a damn thing. So, it's up to him to crawl out from under your wing."
Mariella glared at me. "Fine," she spat, "you can beat me to a pulp just to show your might, sure, if it makes you feel less like a freak. But I am not a weakling myself."
Wulfe then added, "Oh, by the way, the spell and potion room has been downsized, meaning there are mostly just things for babies, power-binding, as we have no enemies here, so no magic or spells. And try not to use your white power; it's been mostly taken away from you, only a little bit is left as you abused it, but you will get a chance to talk about that with God later on. Energy usage is also limited, as there is no need. Mimi has been unloaded, so she is pretty stable; sure, you can try to egg her on, but she will have some fun."
Mariella's expression was thunderous; the little pussy had planned to cheat.
I just smiled.
"Good for you that you are so well cushioned," Lepard quipped, "it hurts less when you fall," making Number Five smile for real.
Mariella squinted her eyes and pursed her lips. Oh, I was going to make a number out of her, but not in the way she expected, not at all.