Darkbourne…
Lisa accompanied Jules and Ron to the butcher shop that was on the main street. She didn't want to do this chore, but it was better than cleaning the damned dungeon.
Per Lisa's insistence, they went first to Lisa's apartment. Lisa needed many things from there, but she mostly hoped to see her mother and figure out a way to get her out of that dungeon-cleaning task.
Lisa wanted to talk to Stephanie in person because her mother closed off the mind-link, and she wouldn't pick up the phone either.
Lisa couldn't believe the timing. Was Stephanie aware that her only daughter ended up doing that shitty job?
How Lisa saw this, Stephanie worked in the packhouse since Alpha Damon took over as the Alpha of the Dark Howlers pack; and even before that, Stephanie was friends with Damon's mother, and Lisa knew that Stephanie was one of the few people who were close to Damon, close enough that she can mind-link him directly.
Surely, Stephanie can ask for a simple favor like getting some other Omegas to clean that horrid place so that Lisa can get out of there.
Lisa only needed to clarify this big misunderstanding and she could go back to her life that didn't include scraping dried blood from between bricks.
Lisa eagerly looked at the apartment building as they approached it. She didn't like it when they moved in there, but after more than a day in that dark and stinky place, the building in front of her looked like a glitzy palace.
"You don't need to wait for me.", Lisa told Jules and Ron when they exited the car with her. "You can get drinks and meat and come pick me up when done. By then, I will pack my necessities."
Lisa wouldn't dare to give them a slip, but she wanted privacy with her mother, and she also planned to shower and get that dungeon-stench out of her hair.
"We are not pressured for time.", Jules responded with a friendly smile. "Lieutenant Klark told us to stick around and help you if needed."
Lisa was surprised that so far silent Jules was the one talking. His eyes were icy, despite his smile, and she understood that she won't get any privacy. What the hell!?
She cursed Klark silently. It was all his doing!
Ron and Jules went with Lisa to her apartment and waited in the living room.
Unfortunately, Stephanie was not there, so Lisa had no excuses to delay. She grabbed a carry-on suitcase and put inside a few changes of clothes and some cosmetic products.
Since Lisa and Stephanie moved into that apartment recently, she had all those things handy. Actually, Lisa didn't even unpack fully. She hoped that current living arrangements were temporary and they will return to the packhouse.
Lisa was done in less than fifteen minutes, and Ron said, "You were quick. If we went to do get drinks and food, you would end up sitting and waiting for us."
Lisa gave him a stiff smile in response. She wouldn't wait for them! She would do other things! But she didn't dare to complain.
She managed to leave a quick note for her mother, hoping that Stephanie will come to find her in the dungeon. They needed to talk!
Lisa was confident that her current predicament was the result of some mix-up. Surely, her mother won't allow her to suffer like that. Stephanie always doted on her and came whenever Lisa called.
The store where they got liquor was in a side street with nothing eventful around it. However, the butcher shop was opposite the town square, so Lisa got a good view of what was going on there.
It was a bright sunny day, with the sun climbing up as noon was approaching, but it was still not too hot to enjoy outside.
Pop music was drifting from somewhere, carried by the breeze. It was not loud, but the beats mixed with melodious voices were clearly heard.
People lingered in front of the boutiques and looked at display windows. Some teens were sitting on the benches in the shade of a few trees that were arranged around the tall clock tower, eating ice cream and telling stories that would make them burst into laughter. And then there were people at tables in front of local cafes that served beverages and snacks.
The atmosphere was lively and harmonious.
People were chatting, laughing, enjoying their lives… and Lisa was stuck with cleaning!
"Are you coming?"
Ron's question got Lisa's attention and she saw him gesturing toward the door of the butcher shop.
"Can you go without me?", Lisa asked. "I will be here and soak in the sun. I didn't get to enjoy the warmth since I arrived…" Lisa swallowed her next words when she saw Jules frowning at her.
Lisa got a warning not to reveal how they are on duty at the dungeon because someone might overhear and follow them. The location of the dungeon was not really top-secret, but they wanted to avoid outsiders finding out about it.
If humans heard something like 'dungeon', they might come to investigate because their lifestyles differ from the ones werewolves have, and the most important rule for werewolves was to conceal their existence in front of humans.
"Stay here so we can see you.", Ron said, and he and Jules went into the butcher store.
Lisa nodded obediently and turned back to observe the town square longingly.
Talia found her girlfriends at the sweet shop; that was where Zina, Ivy, and Lily were going. They planned to relax and enjoy delicacies, and Talia joined Mindy, Maya, and Kalina in the task related to the upcoming party.
The middle-aged baker recognized Talia, and Talia remembered that he was Hamil, the owner of the sweet shop.
Talia nearly jumped in joy at the sight of samples of cakes and small cookies, and Hamil gave her an extra slice of scrumptious chocolate cake.
Hamil knew that Alpha Damon asked him to make sure Talia gets this serving in the restaurant, and when he saw Talia's bright smile as she eyed the chocolate cake, Hamil knew he made the right choice by giving her the same treat again.
Somehow, her smile reached her eyes and lit up the whole store and Hamil's heart warmed at the thought that products of his labor can make someone genuinely happy.
After confirming that things were as requested and on time, Mindy, Kalina, Maya, and Talia took their packets with samples and went to the local café on the town square to chat.
This was their last stop, because Maya, Mindy, and Kalina already checked with the butcher and the party store, and they had time to linger, enjoy leftover sweets, and hear what news Talia wanted to share.
