Burnt

Chapter 30: Blessings

Alison's POV

Thanksgiving sneaks up on us. We spend the days leading up to it dissecting every moment of the nightmare I had been in. On the bright side, the actual dreams seem to have subsided, at least for the time being.

With my luck they'll be back. Maybe whoever puts it in my dreams knows that I'm already obsessing over it during the day, even when we're not actively working on it.

I think about my mother on runs through the forest. When I doze off at pack meals. Sometimes I stare at the ceiling trying to remember what her face had looked like. It was hard to tell through the flames. Her voice, though. I can remember that so well it hurts. Her screaming for me to go. All she wanted was for me to be safe, and now my life is in danger again.

"Stop thinking so hard."

I look over my shoulder, the hand I have playing with Cameron's hair halting as I do. He passed out on the sofa with his head in my lap a half hour after Chris was called to settle a dispute taking place in the kitchen. Tensions run high on holidays.

At least he's back now. "I can't help it." I reply, head turning as my gaze follows him around one side of the L-shaped couch until he sits at my feet.

"You need to work on that." He sighs, dropping his head against the back of the couch to gaze at me intently. "We're supposed to be taking today off. Even the vampires are out hunting or whatever it is exactly they do in the woods."

My nose twitches as I look back at him, matching his stare. "I was doing well until you were summoned away." I resist the urge to roll my eyes. "The only reason I came around to the pack feast was because enough people hate me, but now it's taking you away from me which further cements my resentment."

"I know." He murmurs calmly, lifting my feet into his lap. "Next year, when they've gotten used to the changes we've already made, we'll do the holidays your way. Right now, they need the familiar structure."

I nod stiffly, mostly watching him as he starts to rub my feet. "I know that it pays well and it's a free meal but, lots of those omegas have families they could be with if only they had more overall stability." I can't help but go off an a tiny tangent he's heard the longer version of before.

"You're right." His demeanor remains calm as he listens and replies. He's placating me so I'll relax. I know that and yet, I let it work.

Six braids. That's how many I manage to weave into Cam's hair before he wakes up and pulls his head out of my lap. It's also long enough for a few others to join us in the living room. Well, if 'a few' really means 'two more werewolves and all six of my vampirelings.'

I pine for the days when I went anywhere I wanted without an entourage. At the same time, it's nice to know that whether I live or die, I'll never be alone again. If there's one thing I'm grateful for, little annoyances and all, it's having people. This time last year I was an omega; working from 7AM to 11PM consistently throughout the holidays.

I had no magic. No wolf. No family. Even if I had left like I originally planned, I didn't think I'd ever have people again. So I bask in their company. Usually until my head hurts and I need a break. Even then my mates are never far away. There are times but they are few and far between these days. The bathroom, mostly.

We have the parade on in the background while talking amongst ourselves when a warrior appears in the doorway. It's time to head to the hall for the feast. Two black SUVs wait for us in front of the practically empty pack house. The omegas will have loaded up anything made here and taken it over already.

They drive us to the same hall from ceremony day, it is the biggest one. A crowd is filing into the building by the time we pull up. They part when they see us, making room for us to walk in.