The welcome party

Through the frame of the window, the vibrant glow of a new day wakes me up. I remove the blanket from my body and sit on the bed. My thoughts drift to the nightmare, or you could say an eerie dream I had last night. It was nonsensical. I had no answers to the questions rooted in my mind, and it angered and irritated me.

I quit thinking about the dream and go to the washroom to freshen up. Thinking Francesca was still sleeping, I go to her room to see her bed unoccupied and her blanket folded and kept on the side neatly. This view shocked me and go down to see her cooking in the kitchen wearing an apron.

"Are you fine?" I ask Francesca with my voice laced with concern. Hearing my voice, she turns with a smile and says,

"I am making pancakes for both of us." I look at the pan to see a black circular thing placed in it. I could already imagine how it tastes. I look at Francesca and give her an unsure smile.

"Are you sure this is edible?"

"I don't know.." She says her face finally transforming into a disappointed one while looking at the burnt meal in the pan.

"I just wanted to help, even when I am the elder one here, you had been so hardworking and now I can't even repay you and finish it."

I chuckle at her reply. Hugging her, I reply,

"God, you dint have to do these all things. I already know how our situation back then was and I have no resentment towards you leaving me and going." I say, looking into her eyes. Her eyes swell up with tears and hug me back.

"This is a great sister-bonding moment, Isn't it?" She chuckles while hugging me and nods.

Thankfully, before we could get more emotional about each other, a knock on the door dissolves our moment.

"I will see," I say and walk towards the door and open it wide carelessly. My eyes go wide as saucers as I see who is.

"Ah!! Beta Geordan!" I shout as loud as possible to signal Francesca.

"You don't have to shout my name." He says, his face cringing. I nervously laugh and nod my head.

"How is your house?" He asks and was about to peek. I block his view at that instant and reply,

"Excellent, and we loved it," I say, covering the entrance by my body.

"Can I meet your sister?" I freeze hearing his questions. My smile falters and I look behind me and signal Francesca for permission. She shakes her head from left to right furiously, 

"Um... She is bathing. We have to meet the Alpha and townspeople today, remember. So for that, she is getting ready." I say, not meeting his eyes and tell a lie to his face.

"Oh, yeah. That's why I came, to inform you we are having a pack meeting for you guys to be introduced and you know to provide you information about the pack and people. It will begin after one and a half hours. Do come on time." He says, his voice being strict and commanding. I nod my head and he leaves giving me one last suspicious look. I lock the door .

"God! Francesca if you want to repay me then please solve this problem so that I can stop lying!" I say, exasperated.

"I will repay the way I want to," She shouts back. I narrow my eyes at her. She simply ignores and goes to her room.

"Anyway, let me go shower for the pack meeting."

"You heard?"

"I am not deaf to not hear." I scoff and go to the kitchen to make some edible breakfast, unlike the one she made.

After fifteen minutes she comes out, fresh and showered with her wet hair wrapped in a towel. She takes a seat at the table and I place the plate filled with pancakes in front of her.

"You will not eat?" She asks.

"No, I can't have breakfasts. They are not my favorite meal of the day. So, I am going to shower."

"I can't believe you still don't like breakfasts. All right but come quickly." I nod.

I come out all fresh and see that dishes were all washed. I smile and I dry my hair.

"Dry quickly, we have to go now soon." I nod and fasten my pace. Though not completely dried so I leave it like that. Francesca had tied her hair into a bun and was perfectly ready. I check myself in the mirror and comb my hair once.

"Let's go!" She shouts. We lock the door and walk towards the packhouse. Beta had already given the directions to us in advance so we didn't have any hassle.

After thirty minutes, we reach a massive white-colored mansion. It was adorned with a vast garden in the front, with a pathway in the center. It had a royal aura, and it was like the palaces mentioned in the fables. I could imagine my entire life exploring the corridors and the rooms in this mansion. I was awe-struck, along with Francesca, seeing it.

"Hey, wait!" I stop her.

"What about your face and Beta?" I ask her, confused.

"Well, I have a shawl in case of emergency, don't worry," she says, showing me her shawl by opening her handbag. I nod and we go in.

We knock on the door, and a butler opened it. He smiles, which we both politely return and welcomes us in. He takes us to the vast hall filled with many people dressed neatly. Women wore gowns that were simple and suited the occasion greatly. Men were wearing suits while some had hats, others dint.

Everyone was enjoying and delightfully chatting with each other, some with a glass of wine.

But the question I had in my mind was,

Can I ever blend in with them? Will they accept me or will they discriminate against me like in the previous pack?