Maya and Caden had their hands full preparing for the newcomers and organizing a mass pack-joining ceremony. Damon gave them less than twenty-four hours to handle a boatload of tasks that included housing, clothes, meals, and support groups. Luckily, Zack, Erik, and Petra were there to help and ease the workload.
Trisha was overwhelmed when she realized how big the event will be, and she was ecstatic that Stephanie had come to help. With decades of experience, Stephanie quickly came up with a variety of side dishes, and she asked Caden to organize warriors to go hunting because the main meal would be grilled meat. It was the easiest way to feed a large number of people.
They had more than two hundred people coming from the Red Moon pack, and members of the Dark Howlers pack would attend as well. There will be a lot of mouths to feed; Stephanie estimated more than a thousand.
Why so many? With Maya and Caden figuring out accomodations, the news spread that the Dark Howlers pack was expanding in territory and members.
This caused many to ask Maya and Caden for more information. The Beta duo told curious minds that Alpha Damon would share more information in the evening and that if they wanted to contribute to this monumental event, they could talk to Stephanie.
It was fortunate that everyone was willing to help, and they got organized in record time.
Restaurants and bakeries in Darkbourne offered to provide food, and Stephanie reached out to Chef Page, who was ready to prepare many portions of his pack-famous ramen. Jane was set to be his sous-chef. She still didn't talk, but she would respond with nods or other non-verbal cues.
Jane was Chef Page's company, and he was her safety. Jane took good care of Cinna, and Chef Page taught Jane to cook the most delicious ramen. They shared silence, and she listened to his stories, and they would grieve together.
While Maya, Caden, Stephanie, and Trisha were preparing things at the Dark Howlers pack, Damon and Talia worked in the Red Moon pack.
After the lottery, where they decided the destination of Omegas who couldn't pick on their own, every pack got at least a dozen of newcomers; most of them were close to fifty, while some crossed one hundred. With more territory, they needed more people.
The biggest load fell on the Blue River pack and on the Dark Howlers pack, which got more than two hundred new members each.
The Blue River pack had in place a system of shelters and programs that provided therapy and various courses. Maddox believed that about one-half of newcomers would move to other packs within the next few months, so he was not worried. The territory of the Blue River pack was neighboring the Red Moon pack, so Tatiana and Maddox got a few units of their warriors to escort refugees by foot while their belongings were transported via trucks.
Estelle, Zina, Dawn, and several other Omegas from George's villa got busy preparing lunch packs for people who were set to travel so they don't go hungry.
It was sad to see that many Omegas could carry their possessions in their hands. They had so little.
Luckily, that was something money could fix. Damon and James made several phone calls, and soon trucks came from nearby human towns bringing supplies that included food, blankets, toiletries, clothes, and shoes.
Talia, Sandy, Mindy, Tatiana, Cornelia, and Kalina started preparing care packages and distributing them.
At some point, Keith and Arya joined, and no one mentioned Ana. Talia didn't want to know. If she never heard of Ana again, it would be too soon.
As things were settling down, Talia remembered one person: Nora.
Even with James' help, Damon had his hands full, but he made sure to escort Talia to the dungeon. There was no way he would let her go there on her own.
The dungeon of the Dark Howlers pack was a nasty place, but the Red Moon pack doubled down on nastiness.
The air was heavy and filled with the scent of blood, feces, and rotting flesh. It was gross, and Talia barely held her lunch down.
There were so many people inside, and Damon ordered Keith and Arya to investigate why those people were imprisoned, to let go of the ones who only committed offenses against the Red Moon pack, and to get someone to clean the wretched place.
Damon stopped Talia as they moved down the hallway of the dungeon and asked warriors to bring Nora out for questioning. He didn't want to risk endangering Talia's health by exposing her to whatever was festering in that dungeon.
Nora didn't know where her father could be, and Tyler was unsuccessful in locating him. Beta Raymond walked into the forest during James' birthday party, and no one saw him afterward. His phone was offline, and with Alpha Edward gone, the pack link was gone as well, so they couldn't contact him.
"What will you do?" Talia asked Nora. "Human city? Will you risk turning rogue?" It was common knowledge that when a werewolf is without a pack, they are in danger of their wolf turning feral, making them unable to join a pack and function as a part of a community, hence, turning them rogue.
Nora was not sure where to go next. "My father was my only family. I was thinking of making my exit and contacting him when things cool off." But it seemed that Beta Raymond vanished.
Nora looked at Damon. "Can I come to your pack?"
A low growl ripped from Talia's chest. How dares that bedclimber ask to be close to Damon!? "You have nowhere to go, so you should do the same thing others like you are doing."
Nora didn't get it. "What?"
Talia got her phone and made a call, "Tanya, are you still here? There is one more Omega for your shelter."
Nora's face fell when she realized that Talia was talking about her. Did Talia say, shelter? And there was one more point… "Omega?"
"Would you rather that I call you ex-Beta's daughter?" Talia snapped, her patience running thin.
"I was never…" Nora's voice trailed.
"You were never what, Nora?" Talia asked. "Your father was a Beta. He got his status because of the ceremony. Without it, he would be an Omega, a warrior at best, and you… his daughter. Unless there is Alpha blood in your veins, you are an Omega. You need to live with it."
Nora's chin trembled. "I did so much for you. I helped."
"And that's why I'm letting you live," Talia said dryly. "You should recognize that this is not punishment. This is an opportunity for you to start over. I recommend you take it."
They didn't let Nora take the suitcases she packed to flee with. They were filled with designer clothes and jewelry that were expensive and could feed a family for many years.
Nora protested, "I am Beta's daughter. Those are my things. What you are doing is stealing!"
Damon had enough. "Do you know what happens to the high-ranking members of a pack that was occupied?"
Nora shook her head, and she froze when Damon continued talking.
"They are all killed in front of their pack members as a symbol that their pack is gone. Should I detach your head from the rest of your body in a public spectacle?"
