Adopted Family

Raven's POV

'You are still here?' My best and only friend, April asked as she walked into one of the soldiers' quarters where I was assigned to clean.

'I woke up tired this morning and I don't know why I am quite so sluggish,' I replied sighing tiredly 'Are you through with your work?'

'Yes, I am through. Let me help you so you can finish on time,' she took hold of the duster and started helping me dust.

'Thank you April,' I said hugging her.

'You don't have to thank me. You have helped me too on several occasions,' she said returning my hug.

We worked in perfect silence. April hummed softly to herself. She did that each time she was working.

April and her mum were the only two people in the pack who saw me as normal. Their hut was directly opposite mine when I was assigned a hut after my last guardian died. Her mother did not verbally adopt me. She had found me outside my assigned hut crying at night and took me into theirs and fed me.

April and I had become friends almost immediately. The fact that she was around my age helped. She was a year older than I was. Which meant she could find her mate anytime soon.

I would be eighteen in three days. I wish I too could celebrate like every other adult wolf. For April's birthday, her mother and I had sung for her and her mother had brought home roasted chicken that she was able to get from the kitchen after pleading endlessly with the head of the Omega. We had eaten the leftover chicken and laughed about everything. But for my birthday I guess I had to settle for being wished a happy birthday by April and her mother.

April and her mother were Omegas like me so there was little or nothing they could do for me. We helped each other when it was necessary.

One day I had asked about April's father in my childish way. Her mother had simply explained that he was not her mate but they had fallen in love and had April, then one day he had met his mate from another pack and left. So she had to raise April alone.

I envy April most times because she was so lucky to have a mother who was so dedicated to her. April too was a child any mother would be proud of. She was very popular among the Omegas but she still didn't allow it to get into her head. Many times they had told her to stay away from me but she kept telling them to let me be.

'Are you looking forward to your eighteenth birthday? 'April asked suddenly as if she read my mind.

' There is nothing special about my birthday, April.'

'What do you mean by that Raven?' April folded her arms under her bosom looking at me intensely with a raised brow.

Her look at that moment made her look like a queen. She had this beautiful aura that lured people in no matter how indifferent the person tried to seem.

' I don't even know who I am. If I meet my mate how do I introduce myself? Who will I say I am?' I said dejectedly.

' Who am I to you, Raven?' April asked still with the same regal tone.

'You are my friend,' I answered unsure of what she wanted to hear.

'Wrong answer. You are my sister and mum is your mother and that is who you are. Our father fell in love with our mother who was not her mate and they had us and he met his mate eventually and left,' she said vehemently.

' Would that not be lying?' I asked innocently.

She looked thoughtful for some time then she said 'Your mate would not mind or care about who you are. All he would want is you and only you.'

'And you know this because ...'

'Because we hear it all the time from those who have found their mates.'

We both laughed. Suddenly the door to the room opened and we both stood rooted at the spot we were, with our eyes bulging in surprise. We couldn't look at the door; we were too scared.

'Since you girls were just going to stay here all day, you should have just informed me,' April's mum said from the door.

'Mum?' We both said at the same time sighing with relief.

' Yes. Who else were you expecting?'

' We thought it was one of the soldiers using these quarters. How did you know where we were?' April asked.

'I must know where you both are at all times. Just so I will make sure you don't get into trouble. Now you girls should round up and meet me in the Omegas meeting room. The head of the Omega will be there in ten minutes,' she explained, closed the door, and left.

Yes, I called April's mum, mum. She asked me to. It was our little secret. No one else was to know. I called her mum each time we were alone but when there were others around I called her by her name, Bella.

April and I quickly finished up what was left of the room and quickly headed to the Omegas' meeting room. The head of the Omegas, Maggot hated late coming to any of her summons. The consequences of coming late most times depend on Maggot's mood.

We got to the hall just in time before Maggot entered. I saw April's mum sigh in relief that we were there on time.

'Good morning all,' she greeted with a voice that sounded more masculine than feminine. Maggot was a woman with a very large body. Nothing on her was small. Pups and a few adult wolves joke behind her that she had finished all the food in the kitchen hence her big stature but nobody dared say it in her presence.

'Good morning, Maggot,' we all chorused.

She looked around as if trying to see if anyone was missing. She seemed satisfied and continued.

'As we all know the annual ball will be coming up in two weeks, we have to be up and doing. The duty roster for the days leading up to the ball and the day of the ball have been pasted. I want everyone to check it to be sure of where and in what capacity you will be working. That would be all for today.'

We chorused a thank you to her as we all scampered to check the list. Five minutes into checking the list, my tiredness changed into unhappiness and anger.

My name was in three groups. I was to help clean the pack's house and surrounding quarters in preparation for the ball. I was to serve food and drinks at the ball and I was to help do the cleaning after the ball.

Everyone else belonged to just one group. The previous year I was in two groups. Maggot had said it was Luna's instruction.

I had always been in the group that served food ever since I could hold a plate. So also was April's mum but all that changed three years ago when Luna complained that I didn't do enough.

April and her mum noticed my mood and came to ask me. I explained to them and Bella sighed unhappily.

'It is ok Raven. Whatever work is given to you will be taken care of by all of us, I promise.'

I could only nod. I left the place in the comfort of my adopted family's embrace. I knew that whatever happened, they would always be there for me.