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~Brielle 

The sun rose behind the dock as I approached it. 

Sleeping hadn’t been too easy pressed against the concrete alleyway wall. I decided the moment I could approach the docks, I would. Even when they are just getting ready for the first boat to cruise in from Ren’s island. It will be a supply ship, first thing. To get whatever Ren decides he needs for the day. 

This place is considered a public attraction here. There’s an entire restaurant on the other side, where only the richest go. There is a private area for when Ren arrives via ship, and is ushered out to a car in a secluded area. 

I only know this because of my father’s prior fascination. He would whisper all these facts in my ear when we would visit. 

Back then, I had no idea I would be begging for work here.

The lake looks beautiful this morning. From this angle, I can’t see Ren’s estate, as it’s hidden by a sharp cliff and a multitude of evergreen pine. Buttery yellow and coral pink bleed together over the surface of the water. Nothing but a soft breeze ripples along the calm lake, brushing at the strands of hair I haven’t had a chance to pull back.

Trotting up onto the deck, I look around for a sign of life. No one seems to be about, as I cup my hands and peer into the window. It’s the restaurant portion, chairs still stacked upon the table.

I catch someone sweeping the floor on the far end of the room. 

It’s a girl, long black hair pulled into a messy ponytail. She doesn’t seem to notice me at first, earphones propped in her ears, concentrating on whatever last nights diners left on the floor. 

I knock on the glass, watching her startle. Pulling her earphone out, she looks at me, frowning for a short moment. She’s foreign. No Loyalty Pack member had such sleek hair like that, and stunning dark eyes. I wonder if she is from the Vengeance Pack. That would be my first guess. 

She unlocks the door for me, but doesn’t let me in. Leaning against the doorframe, she casts a glance at me up and down. 

“Sorry, we’re closed,” she proceeds, transferring the gum she was chewing from one side of her mouth to the other. Vengeance Pack, definitely. It only intimidates me a little. That’s what I tell myself, at least. 

“I’m not here for your services,” I tell her. “I’m here for a job.”

She narrows her eyes slightly. Her lashes are thick, doused with some form of makeup. Mother obsessed about me wearing blush on my cheeks, or a touch of gloss on my lips, however, I was always quick to wash it off. I’m wondering if she is considering sending me off. 

“I’m not the manager. I just work here,” the girl tells me. My eyes wander to her name tag. Raven. So typically Vengeance. “If you want to talk to Linda, she’s out back.”

I smile slightly. “That would be great.”

Raven leads me inside, polished wood creaking under our feet. She keeps a few strides ahead of me, beckoning me to stop when come to the other side of the room. Knocking with three taps on a side door, Raven pushes open and leans inside. 

“Some kid is out here wanting a job,” I hear her say. “Look homeless.”

I scowl. Do I really look that bad. Glancing down at myself, I’m wrapped in a thick jacket with dark leggings. I could be cleaner, but I only spent one night on the streets. It only makes me feel much worse about myself. How am I meant to get a job here now?

Not long after Raven’s announcement, a woman walks out of the office. She’s spider thin, with greying hair and narrowed eyes. 

“I’m Brielle,” I tell her quickly, thrusting my hand out. “I would like to apply for a job here. I don’t have much experience, but I can...clean, or something.”

The silence that follows is deafening.

I can’t tell if Linda wants me gone right this instant, or if staring me down is part of the employment criteria. Either way, I want to sink to my knees in front of her, and beg for the forgiveness for something I didn’t do. It’s not that she seems angry. In fact, she simply looks impassive, or maybe even a little tired.

“Where you come from, Brielle?” she questions, folding her arms over her chest. There’s not much to her, arms sickly thin, the fabric of her short sleeve sagging off her.

“I was just kicked out of home,” I explain. No point lying. 

Linda and Raven exchange glances. Let me guess, I’ve said something wrong. It’s Raven who speaks next. “We have a lot of girls who come here thinking they will meet Ren. How can we trust that that isn’t your motive. Unless it is, of course.”

“No,” I say quickly. “I need a job. Raven was right, I am homeless. I need money to get on my feet. And this place was my favourite as a kid, before Alpha Ren even reigned. You have to believe me.”

More silence.

Linda sighs deeply. “It’s early, and I lost a girl a week back to another job. I’ll take you on. As long as you behave, and are never late to work. And you start today. I’ll be paying you weekly. No negotiation.”

I blanch, and Raven seems to also. Was that seriously that easy? I have a job, which means I can start saving up to escape this place. I doubt the money will be much, but it’s a place to start. At least until I figure something else out. Raven might seems to be giving me suspicious side eye, but she will get used to me. I hope.

“Thank you Linda, you won’t regret this,” I say warmly. Clapping my hands seems inappropriate right now, despite my desperate want to. 

“Mmm,” she replies, turning back to her office. “Raven gives you instructions.”

***

Raven turned out to have a wealth of knowledge of this place, that utterly stomps upon my own. 

Turns out, plenty more workers arrived, however, none we assigned as boring jobs as myself. I wasn’t complaining though. I wiped tables, swept floors and polished silverware at every request. Even when my feet ached, and I couldn’t stop casting my eyes out to Ren’s estate upon the hill, shielded from my gaze. 

Boats came in and out, but few and far between. And I never caught sight of anyone who stepped off. Raven whispered in my ear when she caught me staring, that everyone off Ren’s island keeps privacy close. 

Not making my curiosity any less prevalent.

Raven also informed me of other important things. 

• We will never see Ren. Ever
• Linda will never give a raise. Ever
• Our work and others will never change
• She’s been working here for a year and a half, but is planning to get onto one of Ren’s supply boats, to make it onto his island. She just hasn’t figured out how yet.
• And now, I’m just as interested in that idea

Raven wasn’t too open about her plan. She had whispered it in my ear in passing, and scolded me when I tried to ask her any more.

And escape sounds enticing. Rousing. Nothing on Ren’s isle appeals to me, aside for the money, which Raven conspires is a lot. If we figured out a way, I could be out in a year's time, finding sanctuary in another Pack. Maybe the Love Pack. I’ve never seen snow in real life. We simply get bathed in ice every once and awhile.

My plan was molding within my mind, as I was stacking up the chairs for the night, praying the pain in the heels of my feet would let up soon, when Linda popped out of her office, bag and keys in hand.

“I’ll lock up if you like,” I say absentmindedly, balancing a chair on my shoulder as I look back at her. 

Linda handed me the keys. “Where’s home tonight?” 

“I hadn’t thought about that,” I muse truthfully. Another cold night with an early start. “Probably same as last night. Found a relatively safe alleyway. I should be alright.”

Linda leans her hip against a table, watching me, deep in thought. “I have a cot out the back. My last worker was down on her luck like yourself. I docked her pay a little, but it’s much cheaper than any other accommodation around here.”

I nearly drop the chair that I was stacking. Wait...Seriously?”

“Customers were complaining about your smell,” Linda says with a shrug, looking out the window where dusk had settled in a mix of violet and ebony colour. “There’s a shower out there too. I’ll say it’s compulsory to use it.”

“Thank you, Linda,” I gush, hardly unable to believe my luck. A bed to sleep in, and a shower? I should have spotted her generosity today when she offered me three full means. 

We say our goodbyes, and I lock up after her. The entire time, I can’t help but thank whoever might be looking down on me. A guardian angel, perhaps. 

“Thank you,” I whisper, as I pull the last window shut. “All I ask, is this works out. That I can find a way out of this Pack, find a better fate. And maybe, if you can, get me a spot on a supply boat onto Ren’s island.”

There’s no answer of course, but I smile regardless. “I would love that.”