Chapter 37 Dinner and emotions

Karim's POV

It was emotional, watching Aiden be embraced by the rest of his pack. I gave him my congratulations and then legged it. I had tears filling my eyes which refused to drop until I was well away from the room. The footsteps which were behind me made the floor vibrate as we turned each corner in the twisty corridor.

We eventually got to the room where we had been staying. It was a simple room with four single beds in it. The walls were brown and there was a rather large window looking over a kind of courtyard. This room was one of the main ones which made the building scream 'hospital' to me. I sat on the bed which I had claimed, the one closest to the window. The bed dipped beside me and an arm wrapped around me.

We sat in silence for a few moments, the few moments turned into about fifteen minutes before I sighed. "It's sad," I said in a humourless tone. "I can't even see myself ever being in that situation." The rubbing on my arm ceased and they squeezed me tighter.

"Then we'll make our own," Emi told me gently. "We can make up our own pack, our own family. We can curse out those rules and adults who say we can't." I chuckled at her words and shook my head.

"Where'd we go?" The question received a shrug from her. I turned my head to face her and she had a small grin plastered on her face. A spark was clear in her eyes, not just the reflection of the sun. "What would we call ourselves?"

Emi swayed slightly and kicked her feet. "Let's see,m nothing silly like everyone else." I shook my head at her, the majority of the packs were named after where they were located or something historical. "Something which says what we're about."

"What are you about?" Harlow's voice came from the doorway, making Emi and I jump. He entered the room with his arms crossed over his chest and an eyebrow raised. "It's a good idea, but ideas can't flow unless you elaborate."

I sighed and rested my head on my hand. "Trust and friendship. Have a relationship that doesn't end in blood. We've got to be there for each other." I could have rambled on all day but the energy that was keeping me optimistic left my body rapidly.

"The pack doesn't need a name." Harlow shook his head and bounced on the bed, coming to sit with us. "We can see what happens at the end of this. We can see what makes this pack, our pack." I nodded slightly as Emi reached over for Harlow's shoulder. "That's not going to work."

"Yes it is," Emi nodded and moved so that she was between us. She stuck her head between ours and squeezed our shoulders together in a hug. Despite my attempts to stop it, a smile creeped on my lips. To make up for it, I groaned slightly. "Get over yourself."

I stood in the dining hall with my arms crossed over my chest and my hood up. I really didn't like this place. It was far too reminiscent of school, or prison. I wouldn't really know what prison was like but I was sure it wouldn't be too far from this. It didn't seem like a house at all. The dining tables were picnic benches. There was a long buffet of food along one wall and then the rest of the room was just filled with nothing.

I was watching the crowd carefully, I was waiting for someone to make an appearance. I wanted to catch Ralph, alone. That was something that I doubt would happen anytime soon. The rest of the pack was here, apart from Aiden.

I rolled my eyes in annoyance and tilted my head back, hitting the wall. Beaumont had gestured me over a few times but I didn't budge. I still felt awkward around them. He hung his head and stood up, I gave a slight glare as he came over to me.

"You're not going to make any friends that way," he playfully scolded me. I scoffed slightly and rolled my eyes.

"I'm not here to make friends." That was one of the things that I lived by in life. "We're here to protect what we have. Something that's not going too well." He nodded and put a hand on my shoulder, leading me away, despite my protests.

"Look who finally joined us," Rhodes grinned before putting a plate of food in front of me. "You haven't eaten today." I looked down to avoid the scolding eyes. I could tell that Beaumont was joking earlier, I couldn't really tell with Rhodes.

"Which is perfectly understandable," Elowen finished. "Some of us are the same way." She looked towards Tempest, who just stuck her tongue out. "Is there anything you'd like to talk about?" I scanned the table before sighing. Harlow and Emi were doing work back in the bedroom, I didn't have either of my clutches.

"Let him tell who he wants," Eben said firmly. I shifted uncomfortably. The eyes moved from me to their own plates as I picked up the fork I was presented with. The pack talked in their small groups. The pups didn't eat at the same time, which was a shame. I would've liked to have some distractions whilst I was waiting.

"Karim?" Hollis caught my attention. I hummed lightly and turned my eyes to him. "Do you want to train with us and a few others? It's a kind of...circuit thing." I raised an eyebrow at him but stayed silent.

"It's to see what group you're supposed to go in for this mission." Moss rolled his eyes. "I think it's one of the most stupidest ideas on the plane, but they don't' seem to be taking suggestions." The salt which leaked from his words could give someone a sodium overdose.

"Sure." I nodded slowly. "I agree with that too." I pointed my fork towards Moss and sat back in my seat.

"I think a lot of people do, they're just not saying it." Rhodes shook her head and stabbed another piece of food.

"Because nobody would listen." Tempest nodded and gestured towards Rhodes. "This is why we should have more of an input." Eben shook his head and sighed.

"I don't think the alpha's have much of an input either." Everyone's heads turned to him, most looking annoyed and some curious. "Ralph agrees with you, he thinks this is a stupid idea and he's told them. Nobody's taken it on board. Whether it'd be because he's a new alpha or they're just lost in their violent ways."

"Which is one of the reasons I have to talk to him." I pushed slightly. "Something came to light and I wanted to discuss it with someone who'd listen." Mumbling started to erupt from the table as I turned back to the food.

"We'll all go," Hollis stated. "We'll all have a pack meeting, just us. We'll be able to work best that way. We've not really been separated much but we haven't discussed anything either."