The next day, she sat in her father's office, shifting through the finances. A heavy sigh escaped her as she ran her hands down her tired face. Evelyn was stressed – even after her run the night before. She had been sitting in the office for four hours trying to fix the finances of the pack. Four hours. Her economics webinar had helped some... But, she had been pouring through her pack's finances for longer than she wanted.
She had to wipe her hands against her jeans several times because they were getting too sweaty. Her leg continuously bounced as she sat at the desk. Evelyn was a leader – a luna by birth - but she wasn't THE Alpha. But nothing seemed to be helping with the pack's situation – no matter who did them.
Evelyn was always tense – acting above her station was making her face a double-edged sword. If she did nothing, she ached with a need to do something; but if she did anything that was above her station, she ached with the wrongness of it all.
A low growl escaped her lips. This was hard – so hard, but she had faith. Their situation was slowly getting better even though more pack members were residing in the den than ever before. The rate at which the families were coming in had been reducing drastically from the year before. She refused to believe that it was because there were only a couple of families left outside of the den and more because the situation was getting better.
Their situation was finally going up after the recession had hit them hard. That was it. It eased her ache. She ignored the reason why she was having to go through the finances to begin with.
A knock was heard at the door. Evelyn sighed. Hopefully nothing bad had happened.
"Come in," she called, moving the papers around on the desk to clear it up just a little bit. It produced an air that she had everything under control if the desk that wasn't even hers was clean. The older beta Oscar walked in. The smile lines around his brown eyes made his tight-lipped frown seem more forlorn. He smelt of smoky burnt meat – frustration.
Evelyn gave a tired smile in response.
A frustrated growl escaped the older Beta as he caught sight of the finance papers Evelyn seemed to be slaving over. He understood at first why she had begun sneaking peaks at the finance papers. A pressing need to provide a better life for her pack and the drive to tackle anything to provide that was something he could understand; he felt it too. However, Oscar was beginning to think she was stressing herself more than she needed to because dark bags under her eyes were becoming a constant feature for her. He rubbed his salt and pepper stubble harshly as he moved closer to the desk.
The tired woman put all her attention onto her father's Beta after he had entered the room. She began playing with her hands, apprehensive about what she was going to be told. It was going to be bad news. She could tell by the way the old Beta's laugh lines were warped by a frown and how his scent singed her nose. It was the last thing she wanted or needed now, but she had to know. She had to do something about it.
"What's wrong?" Her voice came across strong, but her breathe came out in short breaths. Evelyn's chest felt light, but her shoulders felt heavy. Oscar took a few seconds too long to answer; Evelyn let out a heavy sigh, "Oscar?"
"I was looking for your father - the Clarks are foreclosing on their house," he said as he gripped the back of one of the guest chairs.
A frustrated sigh escaped her as she ran her hands through her hair. Her lips curled up into a silent snarl as her neck tensed from a chill. Another family to fit into their stuffed Frankenstein den. Where was she going to find the room? They haven't built an add on after the last one had filled at the beginning of the summer; Everything had looked like another family wouldn't need to be added before one lucky family got to move out. Her eyes searched around the office as she tried to find a place for the new family within the stuffed den.
"They'll have to be moved into the den too then." Evelyn sighed, running her hand through her hair and gripping the top of her head.
"Where will they stay?" He had to ask the dreaded question. After all, every available room was now filled. And with winter coming soon, they wouldn't be able to start construction even if they did have the funds to build yet another add on.
Evelyn ruffled her blonde hair before gripping the top of her head again. Where was she going to place this family of 3? The only place not filled with pack members were the Alpha family's rooms, the Alpha's office, the kitchen, and the living room. The last three were not optional at all, and Evelyn could not ask her father and brother to give up their rooms either.
That only left one option - She bit her lip in apprehension.
"I guess... I guess they'll stay in my room. It's the – it's the only place available." Evelyn sighed again as her eyes roamed around the desk, searching for something - anything. Oscar moved towards her, worry lines framing his bearded jaw, "Are you sure?"
Tired eyes gazed up at him. She watched him, and he watched her. Evelyn pursed her lips and bit the inside of her cheek.
"Yeah I'm sure." There was a pause as she glanced around the desk once more, "I should – I should get my room ready. Could you call the Clarks and let them know they are welcomed within the den?" She pushed the chair back as she stood. Oscar began to make his way towards the phone on the desk.
"Yes m'am. I'll finish up the finances too. Don't worry about it." Oscar assured her, flashing her a smile as he picked up the phone. Evelyn thanked him before moving out of the office. She could hear him begin talking to the Clarks, reassuring them that the pack would take care of them. Oh god. This pack was in such disarray. Now, she didn't have a room. She gave off a frustrated huff.
Her instincts scratched at her; the pack comes first. She must do whatever for this pack, for her pack. She loved them; they were her family. Her instincts pushed her to exceed her station and responsibilities to fulfill this need, yet her instincts frazzled whenever she did such things.
A double-edged sword.
It took her two hours to clean out her room for the incoming family of three. Most of her clothes were moved to a hall closet close near the living room – her new room. The rest were put in plastic bins in the basement because there wasn't enough room in the closet. Her old full bed was fitted with clean sheets for Jeff and Olivia Clark, and there was a small cot at the foot of the bed for little Merissa. Her closet and dresser were now empty and ready for the room's new tenant's clothes. Everything was as ready as it could be for a family of 3 to live in one room.
Once that was done, Evelyn moved onto the task of setting the living room up to be quickly assembled into her bedroom every night. Fluffy pillows and thick blankets were stuffed into her "new" closet. She would sleep on the living room floor as the couches were too small for her to stretch out. It would truly be a den for her now.
Just as she was walking to the kitchen to see if there was food for a snack, she was interrupted by the arrival of the Clarks.
"Luna!" little Merissa giggled as she tackled Evelyn's leg, brown hair bobbing in its pig tails. Evelyn smiled as she hugged the little girl closer before pulling her into a spin. The tiny little she-wolf giggled loudly, and her missing baby tooth showed in her wide smile.
The Clarkes stood on the edge of the kitchen, a small smile on their faces, as their daughter played with their Luna-elect. Mrs. Clarke held onto her taller mate, the faint scent of salt ghosting across Evelyn's senses. Her chest ached, and she felt like she had to act. Her pack members were in distress; she had to make them feel better.
"Mr. and Mrs. Clarke, you are welcome to stay within the den for as long as you need to," Evelyn assured the obviously worried couple as she placed little Merissa on her hip.
"It'll be like an extended sleep over together," she giggled with Merissa while tickling the little girl's stomach. Merissa happily latched onto her, excitedly talking about all the fun things her and Evelyn were going to do together now that they lived in the same house. Evelyn smiled down at Merissa. She tilted her head for Mr. and Mrs. Clark to follow her through the den to their new home for the time being.
She chatted with them about Marissa's schooling and how good she was doing while also having a conversation with Marissa about her new favorite doll. The Clarks were enjoying talking about their baby girl, and Evelyn was enjoying hearing it. It was a distraction from their terrible situation. Plus, Evelyn liked talking with her pack. They were family after all.
"Here is where you will be staying," She announced as she opened the door to her old room, shifting Marissa on her hip, "I'm sorry it doesn't have everything you need in it yet, but it will be provided for you within the week." Evelyn set Merissa down and stayed near the door as the family inspected their new room.
The Clarks scented the room as they entered, noticing their Luna-elect's strong scent and heavy layer of wolf magic within. The Victorian styled wall décor, the black and white city scape and vintage fashion magazine posters, and bed coverings combined with the scent made it obvious that this had been her old room. Jeff Clark turned to his Luna-elect with wide eyes. She had to give up her room? Where was she to stay?
But the Luna-elect left no room for questions – let alone an argument - as she left with a warm "welcome" and a smile.
