"Hey, look what I got some eighteen year old man..." Arya said, slowly bringing a bottle of wine from behind her back.
They were back in their room after dinner, and she didn't need her keen sense of smell to know they'd be together, just to know which room.
"Wow, you actually kept your promise," Marcus said, smiling ear to ear.
Arya fully entered the room, then noticed Natalie sulking in a corner.
"Nats, what's wrong?" Arya asked.
"Well, apparently someone is still underage, so... " Marcus laughed, only to get a pillow on his face.
"Is that it? Well, fashion bloggers need to maintain their figures... and alcohol can make you get big," Arya tried to console her.
"Well, one glass of red wine won't make me go big!" Natalie snapped.
"Nats, you know it's the rule..." "Arya, I know you won't break my father's rule, but can't you consider the fact he's not here?"
"That would be unfair to me, and besides, I would hate it if someone snitched..."
If looks could kill, Marcus would be ashes by now, with the look both girls gave him.
"What, I didn't say I would snitch. At least dad wouldn't believe me without proof."
"Oh, is that so? And you know, without proof, dad wouldn't know I murdered you, right?" Natalie said, launching herself at him.
He screamed playfully and ran around the room, with Natalie behind him, screaming murder.
"Calm down, both of you! If I drop the wine, don't blame me!" Arya said, laughing.
Arya was having so much fun with her siblings that for a moment, she forgot who she was. It wasn't until a mindlink came through that got her out of her playfulness.
'Aria, where are you.'
The only person in this pack who called her by her name was Alfa.
'I'm in my cousins room. What's wrong.'
'Lock the pack house. Rogues have been spotted near the borders. They never come this close to a pack territory, and so just be prepared, in case. I'm on my way to the border right now.'
Panic ran down her spine as the reality of the situation dawned on Arya.
Rogue attack could mean only one thing, exposure.
Her cousins would be exposed to the world of werewolves, and if that happens, they'd be in a lot of trouble.
Alfa would keep them prisoner for the rest of their lives.
"Arya, what's wrong?" Natalie was standing in front of her, waving her hand in front of her eyes.
"You guys stay here, I'll get the wine glasses. Don't leave the room," Arya said, walking away before they could ask anything.
Arya ran towards the sitting room, mindlink open, telling everyone to meet her there.
"Everyone, stay calm and listen to me," she began, while the women and children stood there, murmuring umongst themselves.
Alfa had led a team of warriors near the border so that in case of any attacks, they would be prepared.
Some warriors stayed behind guarding the pack house, in case the border guards couldn't hold them.
"Our alfa has ordered us to remain inside, as rogues have been spotted near the pack territory," Arya explained.
A frighten mumur spread through the pack house. Everyone was scared, and they all knew Arya was totally new to all this.
Arya spotted Genevieve in the crowd. "Mother, I need help," she said.
"Alright, people, you heard what the luna said. Everything is going into lockdown, and we know what we are all supposed to do. Luna, your job is making sure every pack member, who is not at the border or can not fight, is in the pack house while I arrange for meals," Genevieve said.
Everyone began moving, while Arya went towards the door to see if everyone was in. She saw Gretchen and a few nurses walking in with a few beds and medications.
"Oh, thank Goddess, luna. We will need a room to set up a temporary medical room," Gretchen said.
"Yes. Get in and I'll arrange it."
Arya immediately mindlinked some servants to prepare a spare room for the medical station.
"Luna, we need more food. Some of us have to go to the market," a servant girl, barely a teen, rushed to inform her.
"Are there people still at the market?" Arya asked.
"The market close to the Eastern border is still open, as the people from all over keep their produce to sell. That area doesn't belong to one pack; it's a neutral ground."
"Get the head of kitchen to make a list of items we need. I'll arrange for some of us to go," Arya said, and saw the girl run off.
"Luna, we need baby supplies. Diapers, wipes, and everything," another young girl said, running up to her.
"Luna, we also need snacks and games for children. These pups need something to focus on." A mother walked up to her, a baby on her hip, and a child holding her hand.
"Is there any old nanny or midwife here who can handle this task?" Arya asked the woman.
"Yes, Mrs Smith. She's been a nanny for almost thirty years."
"Perfect." Saying this, Arya opened her mindlink, saying, 'Mrs Smith, I need your help. Can you please come to the front door?'
'Yes, luna.'
Within a few minutes, an older looking woman came to her. "Luna, you called me?"
"Mrs Smith? I need you to be in charge of providing everything for the children and babies of the pack. Whatever you need, ask me directly, and I'll make sure to provide it," Arya explained.
"It would be my honor, luna."
Arya went about doing whatever work she could. She even wanted to go to the market, which Genevieve strongly opposed to. "You are the luna. Killing you would mean certain death to the alfa and all the pack members." She had said sternly.
Arya distributed all the members between their house and the other house, where her team once stayed.
Everyone was settled in, and Arya had the guards to guard both houses. She kept the pups in the middle hall, and the medical station was close enough so everyone could access it.
Dr Gretchen was in charge of all the medical supplies, and she had brought as much of it as she could from the hospital.
"What the hell is going on?" came a voice that made Arya freeze.