"So…" Jonah asked suddenly, "any new dreams, Sam?"
"Oh yeah," I remembered suddenly.
I guess it made sense to tell them about it… but wait, that would be embarrassing.
I didn't want to tell anyone about last night's dream. Not about wearing my pajamas, and definitely not about my mate's outfit, or that my mate thought I was just a pup, or relate the epic fail of the wolf fight.
"Yeah, what?" Ben asked.
It was then that I realized the rest of the table had stopped eating and was waiting for my answer.
"Yeah, uh…" I floundered. "My mate is a dumbbell, that's all."
The kids burst out laughing. The adults blinked, then went back to their food and conversation.
"Oh, Sam!" Lizzy gasped for breath. "You got us there!"
It wasn't really that funny…
"I thought you were really going to have another dream or something," Jonah muttered.
"Wait, what?" I snapped my head toward Jonah. "Was I supposed to dream again?"
Jonah looked at his Mum, Laura. She shook her head. "Well, I didn't say supposed to, but I was saying just now that with dreams, thrice in a row would make it significant."
"In what way significant?" I asked.
"Well, thrice the charm, you know?" Laura laughed weakly, then added more seriously, "In dream interpretation, three dreams in a row give confirmation."
Confirmation.
Savy looked at me. She was suspecting me now, but I knew she wouldn't say anything if I didn't.
"It was stupid. I don't want to talk about it right now," I admitted.
The table fell silent again. I wished they'd stop doing that. Now I knew what my dad must feel like, with everyone snapping to attention whenever they thought he might be about to say something.
"I said I don't want to talk about it," I repeated.
My dad moved to say something, but I quickly cut him off before he could. "Not right now."
"Sam… why not?" Beta Lucas asked. He always paused like that when he was in serious mode.
"Because…" I said finally. "I just need time to think about it."
I bit my lip, hoping they would let it go.
To my relief, they did—but only temporarily.
"We'll meet again in my office tonight," Dad decided.
"Yes, Alpha," the table answered in unison.
"But I thought we met on Monday night!" I almost whined. But because Alphas didn't whine, I held back, and it came out as a quiet reminder.
"This is important, Sam. We need all the information we can get," Gamma Harry said.
I didn't answer. I didn't want to talk about that dream. It filled me with humiliation just thinking about it now.
I looked down at my plate. For some reason, I suddenly wanted to cry. But I wouldn't. Not in front of everyone like this. I quickly shook my head to forget the dream and joked, "Yeah, but it's kind of embarrassing, okay?"
"What do you mean?" Lizzy asked, looking excited. That girl had antennae for juicy news.
"I forgot," I shrugged.
"Well, as long as you remember by tonight," Beta Lucas growled.
Mrs. Beta touched his arm, giving me a sympathetic smile. "Lucas, give Sam space. Prophetic dreams can be very personal."
"But the fate of our pack depends on it. You can't say it's personal and let her keep it to herself," Gamma Harry raised his voice.
Beta Lucas growled now. I didn't think he liked that Gamma Harry had raised his voice at Mrs. Beta. "I'm sure Sam will share her dream tonight, so you don't have to worry about that."
Gamma Harry didn't let it go. "Sometimes, for the Alpha, even personal things are pack things because they affect the whole pack!"
"Oh, so now she is the Alpha?" Beta Lucas snarled. "Harry, you need to put your money where your mouth is. If you say Sam is our next Luna, then you give due gentleness and patience to ensure the Luna's well-being and privacy. And if you say she is our next Alpha, you need to give due respect and submission. At this time, I don't see either from you!"
Gamma Harry opened his mouth to defend his position, but I wasn't listening anymore. I just shoved more food into my mouth. The mini sausages tasted pretty good wrapped in chocolate chip pancakes.
I was done.
I drank my strawberry milk and pocketed my apple into my denim bag.
"Going to start work in the kitchen first," I said, and left the table.
I knew—I was the Alpha—but like a certain dumbbell had said, I was just a pup. Just a girl. And I hadn't even shifted yet.
I couldn't face off with an irate old Beta and Gamma… or all of them and their mates combined.
If there was one thing I got from last night's dream, it was that my mate was a dumbbell.
Yes, that. And… and that he was probably right. There, I said it. He might have been right. Maybe. Just perhaps.
He was the one who would raise a fancy army. Maybe he would be the one who would come and save us.
I was just a pup, a girl. I didn't even know my own wolf form or how to use it. I should just wait here for him to come get me.
Maybe I should be learning how to be a good Luna and practice throwing tea parties, fluttering my lashes, walking in high heels, and sitting in impractically short dresses—submitting properly to my mate in all appearances. I suddenly thought of the pictures in Jessica's Lorent magazine. Maybe Dumbbell would like me to be more like those girls.
I smirked. If he could pay for it, I'd wear it.
Dumbbell.
I blamed him entirely for my bad mood. I put on an apron. The kitchen staff were still eating, but I didn't care. Waving them to remain seated, I forced a huge grin. "Thanks for the delicious breakfast out there. Don't mind me—I'll just set up for later. Everyone outside is still eating anyway, so you can't clean up yet."
I didn't give them any chance to respond or refuse, walking away with a friendly wave of my hand. I didn't feel like being friendly or kind or considerate, but Mum always said, if you don't feel it, fake it till it comes to you. We needed to be strong for our pack.
I went further back into the kitchen and started dusting off the very large counter. Then I started slicing the rest of the loaves with the bread-cutting machine and pulling out the bags, packaging material, and wrappers.
Even though the bulk of the ingredients would come from our buffet leftovers, there were always extras on the side—packet chips, candy, and jars of mustard and mayonnaise to add on.
Savy popped in. "I'm here! You don't have to be lonely now." She covered her mouth so she wouldn't cackle out loud. It made her look like a very shy girl laughing. It was ironic.
But it made me smile. "Oh good! I was so alone and scared."
I laughed loudly, making sure anyone who overheard knew I was joking.
Jessica came over. "Hi, I saw you two come in early."
"Are you helping today?" I asked.
"Yeah, I'm on duty today." Jessica made a face. She never liked kitchen work.
"You don't have to stay. Savy isn't on the roster today—she can cover for you," I told her. Savy nodded.
Jessica shook her head. "Nah, that wouldn't be right. I'll just do it."
"Okay then. Let's set up so the work gets done faster when the others come," I said.
Jessica laughed. "Oh, Sam, you're the only one who organizes the workstations for sandwich making!"
"Really? Then how is it usually done?" I asked.
"When you're not around, we just walk around and randomly put things in the sandwiches," Jessica said.
"Sounds messy."
"You have to balance the sandwich you're making while looking for the ingredients you need," Savy complained.
"Seriously?" My jaw slackened. No wonder it usually took the whole morning to make these lunches.
The leftovers from the buffet tables were carried in. I instructed that salad and vegetable trays go in one section, meats and fillings in another, and condiments in the last. Now helpers stood at their stations—one spread, one layered meat and greens, one wrapped sandwiches, one cut fruit, one mixed and scooped fruit into cups, and one packed everything into family bags.
We were usually done in a couple of hours.
"And this is why I always try to get rostered on the same days as you," Jessica beamed, dusting her hands off when we were done.
"Oh, and here I thought you wanted my sparkling company."
I heard Jessica and Savy laugh, and I felt good inside.
If there was any sound I loved, it was my pack laughing beside me. I knew there were many Alphas with great visions and grand goals for their packs. I wished I had something like that—but I didn't.
I just wanted to protect my pack's happiness.