Once Mated Twice Shy(30)

“Jordan.” She said when she came into the kitchen. He turned to face her. She’d been crying. Damn. He wrapped her in his arms and held her close. He rested his chin on top of her head. “What are we going to do?” She murmured against his chest. He squeezed her tighter.

“I’m calling a pack meeting at seven and I am going to tell them that they need to get back to work. We need to come together and earn a living. I’m recruiting Terry, Mark and Lucas into the heating thing and everyone else is to go work at Thompsons or where ever they can get work. Loafing around time is over. Meanwhile, I want a cold frame garden constructed and we are going to plant anything tolerant to the temperatures. We have to find a way to cut all expenses and feed ourselves so that we survive this. There’s been no money coming in for too long.” She nodded. “Are you with me?”

“Always.” She looked up at him. His eyes were full of concern.

“I want you in the front row at the meeting and you are to sit there from now on. I also want your mark visible. We need to show them a united front.” She nodded and stepped out of his arms to throw the spaghetti into the water. “Pasta is cheap.” He said. Lettie stirred the sauce, the meatless sauce. This wouldn’t last. Wolves needed meat. She went to the fridge and found the leftover meatloaf from two nights ago. She broke it up into the sauce. “Thank you sweetheart, I wasn’t looking forward to eating that till now.” Lettie smiled brightly.

“We’ll be okay Jordan. Remember that I am a whiz at this. Mom taught me well.” He wrapped his arm around her and kissed her cheek. “I love you.” She sniffled.

“Hey, what’s this? You just said that we’ll be okay and now you’re crying, again I suspect.” Jordan kissed her tears away.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I lost it at work too. I just can’t believe how stupid we’ve been and how much time we wasted. Most of all I can’t believe how I blew our chance to have a family. It’s my fault Jordan. I’m so sorry.” She broke down then and he wrapped her in his arms again and held her until it stopped.

“We’ll be okay, Lettie.” She chuckled.

“Are you throwing my words in my face?” She grinned up at him.

“No. I think we will be. We need to pull it together and keep our heads down but we’ll be okay.” He gave her a squeeze and let her go so he could set the table for dinner. Suddenly, he was starving.

***

Summerville November Emergency Pack Meeting

“Summerville Pack!” Jordan stood tall at the front of the room. “As you all have probably heard by now, the plan to buy Thompson’s grocery store did not work out.” The crowd murmured and Jordan put his hands up to quiet them. “It seems that Mister Thompson was not as ready to retire as he previously said. I did tell him that the offer stands if he ever changes his mind. Meanwhile, we need to get back to work if we want to survive the next few winters. Those of us who are qualified will be going back into the HVAC slash plumbing business. Those of you who are not qualified for that will be finding jobs elsewhere, everyone is expected to find gainful employment if you do not already have a job. The vacation is over.” Jordan’s eyes flashed in challenge, heads bowed. “Our evenings will be spent digging the biggest cold frame garden anyone has ever seen. In the sunny field behind Terry’s place, we are going to dig down, build up the sides, and cover it in plastic. Every penny that we can save is another day that we survive. Got it?” More than a few of them looked frightened. “I see that it is finally dawning on everyone how dire of straights that we are in. We have mortgages to pay, utilities and we have to eat. I want game brought in, plenty of it. We have not hunted for food in years and it’s time we got back to it. Anyone with a fishing pole and a free minute is down at the river. Anyone else is out in the woods bringing in deer, ducks, geese, squirrels, or anything else you can find. We are going to survive the old-fashioned way, the way that our grandparents did. Understand? No more lazy wolves, no more chips, and beer.” Jordan’s pack felt the command in his voice. As submissive wolves, they were compliant to their alpha. The room filled with ‘yes Sirs.’ Lettie bowed her head in submission. “Lettie.” Jordan pulled her to her feet. “Mister Thompson said that he would offer jobs to the pack. What positions are open at the store?” Lettie hated talking to crowds. It wasn’t in her nature to be extroverted. Her body trembled and he pulled her into his side then wrapped his strong arm around her to give her courage. She took a breath and calmed. Jordan looked down at her with adoration. His mate was so beautiful.