“This won’t take any time at all.” Harper mused. “We need to start lunch too.” Cindy nodded. “You know I think that we could use some help.” Cindy lifted a brow while loading the other washer. Harper measured the detergent for it and filled the receptacle. “What is Nicole good at around the house?”
“Being lazy and getting waited on.” Cindy said without missing a beat. She smirked.
“That stops now.” Harper said quietly and turned on one heel to go upstairs.
She heard them inside, soft voices murmuring. A TV was on and someone was snoring. Harper stood outside of the door and drew a deep breath. She steeled herself, straightened her posture, and knocked. Jasper opened it a few minutes later. “I’d like to speak to your mom.” He stepped aside and let her in the huge room. Nicole was sitting on a big bed with her legs crossed. She was reading a book. She raised a brow waiting for Harper to speak. “Nicole. I would appreciate you and your pups helping out with daily chores.”
“No.” Nicole said and went back to her book. Harper folded her arms across her chest.
“Nicole. As Alpha female it is at my discretion as to who does what inside this house.”
“You’re no Alpha, certainly not mine and you will not direct me to do anything.” Nicole closed her book and set it on the nightstand. She slowly got off the bed and stalked to Harper. Their wolves had not met but Harper trembled inside. If Nicole’s wolf was as good at intimidating her wolf as Nicole was as intimidating her, there were going to be problems.
“I am Alpha female of this pack.” Harper said evenly without moving from her place. “If you don’t help, you don’t eat or get fresh laundry. These two should be helping in the basement and she should be helping with laundry. You should be helping with everything and if not, I will forbid that you share in any of our efforts.”
“You will not do anything to me Missy. Will is Ryder’s best friend and he will not let you.”
“Who do you think sent me?” Harper pursed her lips. “Make a choice. Participate or tend to your family’s needs, and I mean all of them. You will do your own hunting, shopping, preparing, cooking, cleaning, and laundering. What will it be Nicole?”
“Fine, but I’m speaking to Ryder about your mistreatment of me.”
“Please do, then he will know that I have addressed your laziness as he requested. I expect you and Kelly to prepare lunch for the pack. You should get started because they’ll be coming in soon.” Harper held her ground as Nicole brushed past her. The boys had fled already and Kelly trailed behind Nicole heading downstairs to the kitchen. Harper’s breath whooshed out of her and her body deflated. “Wow.” She mumbled and turned the TV off as she left the room. She closed the door behind her. Cindy popped out of what Harper assumed was her room. She wrapped her arms around Harper and squeezed then darted back inside her room. Harper turned to go down the stairs.
“Here.” Cindy bumped her arm with something cold as she caught up to her on the stairs. It was a soda. “Let’s relax while lunch is prepared. We can laze on the porch.” She giggled. Harper grinned back at her then pushed through the screen door. Cindy let it clack closed behind her. Harper sat down on the porch step and leaned back while the sun warmed her face. “I don’t know when the last time was that I had a free minute during the day.” Cindy plopped down beside her.
“Me either.” Harper opened her soda and took a long pull.
“Hey, what’s up?” Ryder came outside a few minutes later and stood over them. They both gave him a questioning look. “Lunch? The boys are hungry and I kind of am too.” He rubbed his belly and grinned.
“Nicole’s making it.” He shook his head.
“Nicole and Kelly took the SUV to town a little while ago.” Harper closed her eyes and seethed.
“I went to her room and spoke to her. I told her that she and her pups needed to help around the house. She and Kelly were to make lunch and the boys were to help you guys in the basement.” Cindy nodded beside her.
“Well they’re out so do you need help?”
“No.” Cindy said, “Give us twenty minutes. Why did I think I could sit down for second?” She mumbled and slammed through the screen door.
“You told Nicole all of that?” She nodded. “And she disregarded her Alpha female’s instructions?”
“It appears so. I also told her that if they didn’t help that she would have to do her own laundry, cooking, cleaning, and hunting plus some other things. She said that you wouldn’t allow that because you and Will are friends.” Ryder grimaced then nodded. “She also said that I am not Alpha female.” His face changed then and grew angry.