As Mimi Salvatore, Alpha Female of this pack of shifters, vampires, and various other beings, I surveyed the living room. The space was undeniably freaking dull and boring, but that wasn't the immediate problem. The real fucking issue was the new life that would begin in approximately six weeks.
During this time, we needed to gather resources and prepare for the next thirteen years. We would essentially be living in a pocket dimension, immersed in the human world, bound by human rules, and integrated into human society—a situation I had little to no experience with. Taking a deep breath, I steeled myself and prepared to kick off this damn shebang.
I ran my hand through my blood-red, slightly curly mane, which was open, loose, and a little tangled, reaching down to my ass. I didn't have time to dwell on it, however, because Reddington had just vanished. He had promised to return with the remaining directions once the vampire heat ended, and we'd see what happened then.
But for now, it was time for preparation, and good heavens, did we have a lot to do! Preparing for the next 13 years sounded anything but easy, and as Reddington had told us, our pack would consist of at least 25 people.
That meant food was the first and most expensive thing we needed to hoard. He also warned us that most of our careers wouldn't be as top surgeons or master assassins; our pay would be adequate, but then there were expenses, insurances, taxes... The sheer enormity of it all felt overwhelming.
Yet, despite the quiet but excited murmuring around me, Wulfe's grip on my hand hadn't lessened. Everyone was waiting for me to give directions.
"Okay, first, the issue of food. Since it will be the most expensive thing, we need to hoard it. Charles, could you conjure some kind of whiteboard or something so we can get this thing going, list tasks, and see what we're going to need?" My voice rang calm in the air as I stood up, looking around at everyone.
"Colin, what would you say is our calorie expenditure per day? I would put it around 18,000 calories, but then again, if we're going to have babies down the road, it might hike up."
Colin looked at me and said, "I would say put it at 24,000 calories per day since you're working. Of course, depending on how demanding your work will be, it might be higher, but that would be a good starting point."
I turned to the now large whiteboard that Charles had conjured, picked up a marker, and wrote the first title: "Food," and under it, "24,000 calories per day / person."
I talked out loud as I wrote things into whiteboard. "Now, given that we are primarily carnivores and therefore require meat, let's consider our weekly consumption. Wagyu beef, for instance, contains approximately 243-412 calories per 100 grams. If we base our calculations on this, it would mean we need..." I paused, furrowing my brow and reaching for my phone to perform the calculations.
At that moment, Adam interjected, "About ten kilos of meat per day, which translates to 70 kilos per week. Multiplied across the group, I'd estimate we're using one whole carcass weekly. While there are organs and other meats to consider, this is a good starting point."
I sighed, responding, "So, with 52 weeks in a year, and multiplying that by 13, it means we need a lot of meat. We can certainly buy some, but I think we need to start hoarding as much as we can while we still have the funds. Wagyu isn't cheap, and unless we start making millions, it might be impossible to afford the quantity of clean meat we require."
Adam agreed, "We'll hoard, but I'll also buy a farm. We'll build it nearby. It'll be a few years before we see the first yield, but I'll get it started. Even with the running costs, it'll be less expensive than buying carcasses constantly. Besides, as we expand, we can sell some of the other products."
I nodded. "Okay, you take the lead on that. Now, Tim, Taylor, Alaric, Lepard, and Demon, you're responsible for acquiring meat from every house you can find."
I paused to take a breath before continuing to delegate. "Murdock, Dexter, Charles, your task is to secure cold storage. I'll work on something more permanent, but for now, we need mobile coolers in the yard where we can butcher and stockpile the carcasses."
Elena, Katherine, and the wolves looked at me expectantly. "What do you need us to do?" they asked.
"You're in charge of acquiring everything else we need: coffee, Coke, spices. Raid the houses again. We'll find extra space for all of it. We're hoarding now. It might be boring since we'll have most items and won't need to shop as often, but I think it's a problem we can handle."
They nodded in agreement.
I then turned my attention to Wulfe, Dresden, and Constantine. "You three, go to the magic house and find an architect who can expand this house. Get them to draw up plans. We need a hell of a lot more room: cold storage, more bedrooms, storage rooms, etc. Once the architect has finished, use magic to make it a reality. Remember, it needs to be fully functional, including heating, insulation, and chimneys, as this place is mainly wood-heated. That's why we need an architect. Once you've gotten the drawings, secure us some cars and maintenance contracts. Get us vehicles that will last more than a year. This will be a 13-year endeavor, so it would be ideal to avoid having to change cars in the middle of it all."
Wulfe nodded, stating, "I'll get those blueprints so they know where to start, and we'll secure cars—about 25 of them."
I thanked him and added, "I'll go get us the next thing we need: money. While I can't use hordes, shares, or ingots, I will acquire cash and debit cards as much as possible. I want to minimize stress, and children's tuition isn't cheap. Since we're supernaturals, I have no idea how much it will cost, so I'll get us money."
Charles nodded, suggesting, "I could sell some shares."
I shook my head, reminding him, "Remember, Damon mustn't know. I can't do it that way; I have blocks in my mind limiting my actions, frustratingly enough. Damon is still our guardian, so he'd get a notification if anything grand happened. Instead, I can empty my deposit boxes and retrieve my cash stashes from certain places. I'll also deploy the fleas to get us supplies."
Colin and Magnum looked at me, and I instructed, "You two, along with Adam, head to the medbay and make it functional. We don't have medical licenses, so we'll have to go to the hospital if needed, but I'd like the medbay ready for most things. I'm not sure if we have to give birth in a hospital—insurance might demand it—but that's your task for now."
They nodded and began to discuss it. I knew there was much more work to be done. Nevertheless, I took out my phone and began directing the fleas to acquire specific items. I also informed the Magic House, and they promised to amplify the box count in the Hamster storage.
We would need everything, and as Reddington had said, there would be no links, but the rooms would contain something. We could now move things into unlinked rooms, into storages, and then, when he returned, the links would be removed, giving us more time to hoard supplies—and the next problem was children.
According to Reddington, they would grow at the same pace as human children, not too fast, and our pregnancy would be a grueling nine months. The prospect of being stranded whales for months and then giving birth, tending to them longer than ever, yet witnessing their growth, filled me with a sense of dread but also awe, as this was something we would have never gone through. I wasn't focusing on what kind of war this would be at the start; instead; I was trying to focus on the good points and the upcoming challenge that this surely would be.
I began to consider alternative ways to earn more money, as I had a feeling that times would soon become difficult. Online shops seemed like a good option, but I needed to decide what to sell. Then I remembered my collection of stones. I had previously directed a large group of fleas, who had gathered every mineral and stone scrap for me, along with all the equipment and manuals.
Since there were also regular flea problems, I made sure they were taken care of. Despite only being 13 months into the job, and with the world in need of saving, many of my workers were unavailable. Consequently, it was up to me to ensure everything ran smoothly and prevent any major crises.
My people were elated for me, and I received a great deal of advice on being a wife and what to consider; it was a long list. So, I grabbed a notepad and began to list all the potential expenses, hoping to develop a plan to cover them and determine what needed to be done.
Insurance was one consideration, but if we all had jobs, perhaps obtaining insurance through those would be an option. Then, children came to mind. I shook my head, picked up my pen, and started a list: a list of personal expenses. Each of us had them, and I wasn't even sure how we were going to divide costs or who would pay for what.
This list of personal expenses was also quite long, and it included items that others might not consider personal. However, as the leader, I felt it was my responsibility to consider them, at least for the time being.
My list, though not yet complete, contained only numbers and problems. I was trying to formulate more questions that needed answers. Although my handwriting was messy, I could still decipher it. I had jotted down "insurance"—what options were available and how much would they cost?
Should we compare plans or simply accept the first offer? What insurance options existed for supernaturals, and more importantly, what did we actually need? Surely, dental and vision coverage were unnecessary, but what about health, hospitals, and medications, particularly for the children, and vaccinations? What did the law require? Could we handle most medical needs in-house, or would we have to use public or private healthcare?
Next on the list were cars, gasoline, energy, and maintenance. Since teleportation was not an option, we would have to drive to work. Would we have personal cars that we paid for ourselves, or would we commute, with those working nearby driving together? What about car insurance and accident coverage? What kind of driving records would we have? Was there an existing record, and could we use compulsion if we were caught speeding?
Taxes were another concern. We would have to pay taxes, file tax returns, and ensure everything was accurate. This included car insurance, health insurance for the children, property taxes, and taxes on assets.
I also needed to explore other possible avenues for generating income. What types of taxes were there, and what was required to file a return? How would our married status be viewed, considering that both Mariella and I had several husbands, and then there was Damon, our guardian?
Was managing taxes his responsibility, or should we handle it ourselves? Charles would surely help, but had he ever filed a tax return? And what about the others who would live with us, most likely our children—how would they be counted? I needed to study all of this.
My list soon became a compilation of problems swirling in my mind, simply jotting down issues and things to investigate as they occurred to me. As everyone else had moved on with their tasks, I was left alone to organize.
It still felt like a dream. Some of this was enjoyable to organize, but the responsibility felt overwhelmingly enormous, like a mountain pressing down on me. Nevertheless, I carried on, focusing my mind with hawk-like intensity.
The green and golden atmosphere of the dull living room began to fade as I refocused. Surely, the time to decorate would come, and we would transform this dull house into a family oasis, creating a good life here. However, I wasn't sure if I ever wanted this to happen again.
Without a magic bubble to provide security, Adam's company would need to handle it, though certainly not without cost. Furthermore, other security measures would be necessary, such as possible fencing and signs informing the community of our feline shifter nature, warning them of potential sightings.
This raised the question of how the community would receive us and how prejudiced they might be towards supernaturals. This, in turn, prompted me to consider our next biggest need: blood. We would require a steady supply, meaning we would have to relocate our entire blood room.
Calculating the necessary amount of blood was the next step in my planning. While I wasn't the best at math, I could manage the calculations, albeit slowly. A limited blood supply would necessitate rationing, which, given my blood lust, was far from ideal.
Therefore, I grabbed my phone and sent a message to some of the fleas, instructing them to start bringing in blood from our blood farms, both the strongest variety for myself and milder ones for the children, who would also be vampires. While we could feed on each other, it would dilute our power rather than strengthen it; thus, a constant supply of blood was essential.
I also had to consider what our shifter status would entail in terms of insurance and taxes, and how challenging it would be to find work. Then there were our personal expenses, such as magazines, hygiene products, pampering, and trips. Surely we could take trips, perhaps not to the Azores, but at least for holidays for the kids.
Who would pay for them, and would there be a spending limit? What kind of trips could we realistically afford, and who would be able to participate? Given that most of us would be working, it was unlikely that everyone would be free at the same time.
Another pressing question was how long we could afford to stay home to care for the babies. Of course, this would depend on our type of work, but Minnesota offered a few months of maternity leave, which was a start. If we wanted to extend our leave, we would need to use our personal savings.
Regarding the children, Damon would undoubtedly be the father, but would he contribute financially? It would be best for me to ensure that I had enough money to provide a decent education for my children, but the problem was that I had no idea how many children I would have. Moreover, would Damon take offense if I tried to pay for the kids myself?
Considering that Mariella and I would be the only ones having children, he might focus his attention and resources on Mariella and her offspring. I wasn't even sure if he would allow others to have children with Mariella this time.
Reddington informed us that each of us would receive a dossier, essentially our CVs and work histories, including our nationalities. He explained that because we would all be dual citizens, this would introduce a new set of challenges. I had no idea what he specifically planned for me, but I considered that it might provide extra support for childcare or generate additional income.
However, I also wondered if we would be obligated to pay taxes in another country as well. Then there was the issue of banking; we would each require personal accounts for our paychecks. Would Damon still be responsible for us all, or would his guardianship be nullified? I suspected the latter. Given our marital status, perhaps a joint account, or even a "pack" account, would be beneficial.
We might even consider separate accounts specifically for food and other shared expenses, where everyone could contribute proportionally. Reddington said he would distribute the dossiers and provide further instructions after the vampire heat subsided. Furthermore, if the Salvatores proceeded to the Azores, I would be responsible for assigning jobs to everyone.
"Fuck," I thought, realizing that not everyone might agree with my decisions.
Moreover, I was still struggling with my feelings for both Mariella and Damon. That brief encounter in my office was a step in the right direction, but a small one. If Damon ultimately chose Mariella, that quickie would mean nothing; it would simply have been a lustful reaction to my stress as a leader.
I picked up my pen, glanced at the list in my hands, and sighed. Despite the support I had, things had been so perfect with Damon, but it was not meant to be. I wasn't destined to be the one sitting in his lap while we discussed our plans for the next thirteen years, and I had to remain composed and not let my feelings take control.
Yet, I felt like I was becoming the villain in this story, and it would take time for everyone to regain their senses. So my life was as complicated as ever. Leaning back in my chair, I idly thought that I could actually eat something. I rarely had an appetite in the mornings, only coffee, and my days had been incredibly busy, so it was no wonder.
I pondered whether I should get blood tests to see how high my cortisol levels were, but I knew that Damon would become concerned, and I didn't want any inquiries right now.
The next few weeks were going to be incredibly hectic, and after that, we would see what his choice would be: a "pussyslvave" for Mariella or a husband for me. Frankly, I already knew what was going to happen, so I didn't hold out much hope.
As the days passed, I found myself incredibly busy. Wulfe and the wizards had obtained the blueprints for the magic house, which were being prepared by the house's staff and engineers. Soon after, they began acquiring vehicles.
I directed anyone available to gather energy stones, as these would also be essential. Meanwhile, I walked through the house, a stack of papers and a marker in hand, designating each room's purpose so everyone would know where to place incoming supplies.
I quickly established a schedule for myself. From 8 AM to 12 noon, as the first cold storage units and whole carcasses arrived, I focused on organizing the resistance, also known as the Fleas, ensuring missions proceeded smoothly. During this time, Adam, Charles, and the others were busy breaking down the carcasses into primal cuts and preparing them for finer processing.
At 12 PM, it was mealtime. Everyone present ate as much as possible, knowing that gaining weight would help us maintain our strength in the days ahead. Colin, Wulfe, Mimosa, and Shadow had also prepared plenty of snacks. A constant stream of supplies arrived, including coffee, and as soon as I labeled a room, it would quickly fill with the designated items. There simply wasn't time to pause or relax.
After the midday meal, I would head to the cold storage and begin breaking down the primal cuts. While I usually had assistance, I had become quite proficient at this task through practice. Equipped with saws and sharp knives, I spent from 1 PM to 5 PM cutting meat.
After another meal, from 6 PM to 11 PM, it was off to Moldova or wherever else to gather more supplies. Upon returning, I ate again, and it was usually nighttime when I had time to name the remaining rooms, a task that typically took only a few hours.
The rest of the night I might spend in the hamster storage, trying to organize it as much as possible, while others worked tirelessly to empty storage rooms.
We were working as fast as we could. It wasn't yet time to consider insurance; we would only address that issue once we received our dossiers and could determine who needed insurance and whether their jobs provided adequate coverage.
I was also spending a few hours each day emptying my deposit boxes and acquiring more cash. Adam's people had arrived and transformed one room into a highly secure vault. However, for the time being, cash and debit cards were all that was stored there, along with some of the artwork that had been on the walls. Since we didn't have time to transport it to our museum or anywhere else, and there was room in our vault, it seemed like the best option.
It would take ten days for the magic house to finalize our expansion plans and add the necessary magic. Once Wulfe and the wizards completed the casting, I would have many more rooms to name. After all, this was a five-story house that was going to be almost the size of a castle, but we needed the extra room.
I was sitting outside on a swing that was missing its mattress due to the autumn weather, sipping coffee, when Wulfe came out and sat next to me. "Funny, this is actually fun. I know you're a nervous wreck, but let me tell you, my unicorn, it will be just fine. With you by my side, nothing can break us apart. I might not be one of your husbands by law, but our bond doesn't need that kind of affirmation."
I looked at him. "I know we're going to be fine, but I just know the kind of trouble I'm going to get from this, from the Salvatores, and especially from Mariella. She will undoubtedly come up with so many stories about how I forbade Heaven from telling them or manipulated them. I know I shouldn't, but it depresses me to know that eleven pack members are going to give me a hard time for this, and it wasn't even entirely my idea."
Wulfe hugged me. "Listen to me, my unicorn, I'll be right by your side, yelling at those idiots. Adam and Charles' boys are here too; we've got your back. Let them yell, let Mariella spin out her conspiracy theories. You have us; she doesn't. Let's see how long they can hold grudges, or if they've learned anything at all."
I sighed. With Wulfe by my side, the world seemed a little less depressing, and I felt less alone. I truly had him, my other half. I leaned into him physically, spiritually, and emotionally. We were connected, and that was one damn thing that Mariella or the Salvatores could never take from me.