Beloved Runt

ARTEMIS

Today felt like any other day, but with a little extra pep in my step. I was buzzing with energy and I was ready to put it to good use.

After whipping up breakfast for the guys, I dove headfirst into housekeeping. It wasn’t a chore for me. It made me feel needed, especially when there were so many other ways I couldn’t contribute.

Most of the women in our pack lived with their own families. Only the alpha’s family and the single men lived in the pack house.

Since there weren’t any women around regularly, the young men were left to handle the daily chores. Which meant they were often left undone.

I was technically part of the alpha’s family, even if it was through adoption, so I was allowed to live here.

I loved being in the thick of the pack’s hustle and bustle. It felt like I was at the center of everything. All the warriors were always respectful and ready to lend a hand with the heavy lifting when I needed it.

I took pride in maintaining everything. It gave me a sense of purpose—contributing to the pack in my own unique way.

It might not be glamorous, but the warriors were always grateful to return to a clean space after a long day of rigorous training and patrols.

Today kicked off with tackling some neglected laundry. I swear, boys are completely oblivious to their own stink.

As I was gathering the scattered items, I paused in front of one of the guest rooms. Our pack house was filled with many of these rooms, but they were never used since we never had any guests. Still, my wolf nudged me to enter the room.

It was the largest room in the house, second only to the alpha’s quarters, and was coated with a layer of dust from its lack of use.

I had been in here many times. Usually, it was just to stash away some extra linens or to open a window to freshen up the house. This time, standing in the room, I felt a sense of unease, as if something was missing.

I scanned the room, my gaze landing on a dresser on one side. Intrigued, I set down the basket of clothes and rifled through the dresser drawers, discovering some forgotten items of clothing.

Whoever they belonged to must have been a giant. Even Dalton didn’t wear sizes this big. It seemed a waste to let them sit unused.

Without giving it much thought, I gathered all the clothes and tossed them in the basket. It wouldn’t hurt to wash them.

Surveying the guest room, it felt almost melancholy how stale it had become. On impulse, I grabbed some cleaning supplies and started sweeping and dusting everything.

I opened the windows to let the room breathe, then changed all the bedding and fluffed the pillows. I even found a vase to place on the desk. I’d have to ask Edwin to fetch some flowers from the greenhouse to fill it.

After three hours of tidying, shining, and cleaning, the room looked inviting and cozy. I still had to finish the clothes I found in the dresser, but otherwise, it was done.

I felt a sense of accomplishment but also a twinge of sadness knowing no one would enjoy it. No one ever ventured this far north to visit.

Taking one last look around the room, I allowed myself a small smile before switching off the light and stepping out.

***

I spent most of my day in the laundry room, washing load after load. Alpha Langston was kind enough to invest in a large energy-efficient washer and dryer.

Since the modern power grid didn’t reach us, we relied mostly on solar panels and occasionally, generators.

Still, our power was limited. This made the washer and dryer feel like a luxury as it meant everything didn’t have to be washed and dried by hand.

After folding each load, I would sort the clothes into piles and place them on the various laundry tables. It was up to each warrior to come and collect their own.

As I was walking down the hallway from the laundry room, I noticed a clock read 17:30. Dalton would be returning from his patrol soon along with the rest of his crew.

They would be famished and likely only have enough energy to whip up a stack of sandwiches before trudging up to their rooms, leaving the kitchen in chaos. We could do better than that.

Stepping out of the back of the pack house, I headed to the meat locker we kept stocked. Most of it was deer and wild boar, but when cooked right, it made a hearty meal.

I decided on some chunks of deer. Back in the kitchen, I rummaged through the pantry and found potatoes, celery, and all the ingredients for a delicious stew.

I didn’t mind doing housework here and there, but the kitchen was where I truly shined. That, or the garden. I loved experimenting with different combinations of ingredients to create a complete dish.

Being so isolated, my ingredients were limited, but that never dampened my enthusiasm. Winter food was my favorite. The thought of a warm stew or soup heating you up on a chilly day was comforting.

Everything seemed to be going my way. The roux I made didn’t burn and the vegetables caramelized perfectly. I lost myself in my work, not really keeping track of how much of each ingredient I was using.

Soon, the kitchen was filled with the mouthwatering aroma of the hearty stew I was cooking. I went a little overboard this time with the quantity, but I knew it wouldn’t go to waste.

Whatever wasn’t eaten tonight would be devoured tomorrow. Strong warriors were built on hearty appetites.

I was pulling loaves of bread out of the oven when I heard the kitchen door open and turned to see Dalton rushing in.

“Hey!” I greeted him. “I wasn’t expecting you for another hour. You’re back early today.”

Closing the oven, I set the loaves of bread on the rack to cool before dusting the flour off my hands and turning back to Dalton. “I hope you’re hungry. I made a lot.” Dalton looked at the bread and the giant pot of stew.

“It smells incredible in here,” he sighed. “You must have been in here for hours.”

I shrugged at him. “No. Not too long. I wanted to have it ready by the time everyone got back. It’s a step up from cold sandwiches.”

I smiled at Dalton. I’d known him my whole life and he was one of the most important people to me. We were raised together and even though we weren’t related by blood, he was still family.

Dalton returned the smile, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. Something was bothering him. “What’s up? Everything okay?”

“Yeah,” Dalton answered, maybe a bit too fast. “I’m just concerned about you. I hope all this hasn’t exhausted you. You should probably rest.”

Dalton was always fussing over me, urging me to rest or lie down. But I wanted to pull my weight. I didn’t want the pack to think I was a slacker.

“Dalton, I’m okay. Actually, today was a good day. I haven’t felt this good in a long time.” I turned to see Dalton squinting at me, scrutinizing me.

“You sure you’re not tired?” he probed further.

“Not at all.”

“No headaches?”

“None.” Dalton’s eyebrows knitted together, worry lines appearing on his forehead. He wasn’t going to drop it. I let out a sigh, dropped the towel I was holding, and crossed my arms, facing him squarely.

“If I go downstairs to my room, will you stop fretting and chill out?” Dalton’s face instantly transformed into a grin that could melt hearts. That was exactly what he wanted.

“Alright, I surrender,” I conceded. “Let me just get the clean laundry and I’ll vanish.”

“You did laundry, too?” he exclaimed, surprised. “Are you sure you’re not overdoing it?” I walked away from him, annoyed.

“Good night, Dalton,” I called out, ignoring his question.

I made my way down the hallway to the laundry room and collected the basket filled with folded clothes I needed to put away. I noticed that some piles of clothes had already been claimed and were now gone.

Balancing the basket on my good hip, I limped up the stairs to the guest room I had tidied up. Without thinking, I opened the door and walked in, only to find a large, older man in his forties sitting at the desk. The man jumped up as I entered, his face twisted into a scowl, clearly upset by my intrusion.

Caught off guard by his presence, I let out a small yelp, dropping the basket.

“Oh my, I’m so sorry. I had no idea anyone was in here.” I wanted to bolt, but in my panic, I froze. It took a few moments before I could even look at the man I had interrupted.

The man had dark hair and a matching short beard. He was massive! Even bigger than Dalton, I’d say. His posture radiated authority.

However, his clothes were too tight on him. The sweatpants ended five inches too soon, and the T-shirt looked like it was about to burst at the seams.

The clothes were clearly borrowed. I wondered which unfortunate pack member they belonged to.

“Forgive me, sir.” I tried to keep my voice steady and quickly adjusted myself, so my good side was facing him. “Had I known, I would have definitely knocked.”

“What’s your name?” The man’s voice was as deep as his frame was large.

“Artemis, sir. Most people around here call me Artie.” I attempted a smile to mask my awkwardness. I think it only made things worse.

“What are you doing in here, Artemis?” The man sounded irritated and suspicious.

“I was just putting away some clothes I had found and washed.” I quickly picked up and held up the laundry basket as evidence. See?

Totally normal, not weird behavior. The man nodded, seemingly satisfied with my explanation.

Now that my focus had somewhat returned to the clothes, I had an idea.

“Actually, sir, I think I might have something in here that would fit you better.”

I placed the basket on the dresser and turned away, concealing my right side more before digging through the folded clothes. I could hear the man approach to look over my right shoulder. That made me a bit uneasy.

I didn’t like people standing on my right side for obvious reasons. It made me self-conscious. Finding what I thought could work, I pulled out a pair of drawstring cotton pants and a linen shirt.

“Here we go,” I said, offering the clothes. “They’re a bit old-fashioned, but I think they would be a lot more comfortable than what you’re wearing.” The man took the shirt and held it out, examining it thoughtfully.

“Thank you, Artemis. I appreciate it.” I nodded in response.

“I’ll just leave the rest here. You can see if there’s anything else that suits you.” The man looked at me and smiled, nodding softly again.

“I will, thank you.” With that, I dashed out of the room, not wanting to stay a second longer.

Once in the hallway, I took a deep breath, trying to swallow my embarrassment. Dalton would be furious if he saw me now. It’s better if he didn’t know.