Chapter 15)The Prisoners Are Sassy

"So, where do you guys usually start?" Wolfie asked me. Happy is to my right, also waiting for my response. "We usually call everyone to the courtyard and set up stations for the blood types for everyone to get their portion," I tell them. Wolfie turns away from me to look out at the territory. "Yeah, that's not happening." I glare at him, "and why not? Afraid you wouldn't be able to control everybody?" I challenged. "Well, your house clearly isn't very good at following orders," he glares back at me, "so I don't see the need to take the risk. We'll go house to house again, like we did for the introductions." "That'll take all day," I protested. "Their feeding has already been delayed and they won't even be getting a full portion as it is. There's no reason to delay even more just because you're not confident in you and your warriors abilities," I glare again. He looked back at me, "We're either doing it my way or no way. Take your pick," he stood there with a hard look and arms crossed. I sighed and shook my head, not wanting to make the wait any longer, "whatever, let's just get going." He nodded in satisfaction and followed me to the truck. On a different note, I don't look like I just crawled out of bed today. I'm no longer in the sweats and T-shirt I was wearing yesterday, but jeans and yet another T-shirt. Though, this one has "come to the dark side, we have cookies" written on it in white font. I wonder if they look at these before they pull them out of my closet. I have my hair up in a ponytail because, it's in desperate need of a wash. I'll have to annoy Wolfie about that later. He hasn't even thought to let me shower. Anyway, it's a sunnier day today and I can already feel myself getting a bit of a sun burn, so maybe it's not so bad we don't have to get everyone outside. Though, they could just throw on some sunscreen and be fine. I don't have access to my room, so I'm kinda stuck. "We're visiting the jails today, right?" I asked over my shoulder, once I finished my train of thought. Yesterday when I was introducing everyone, we didn't go to the jails, for obvious reasons. "Didn't you say something about a shortage?" He asked me, coming to my side. I nodded in reply. "Then if we don't have enough, they'll be the ones not getting anything," Wolfie explained, looking back forward. I frowned, "c'mon, that's not necessary. I'm sure it'll work out so that won't have to happen." "I don't know, the more I think about it, the more I lean towards not doing it at all," he informed. "Well then stop thinking about it!" I scolded him. I heard happy let out a small breath of laughter. Wolfie just looked at me, unamused. "They need to learn fighting us has consequences," he replied, ignoring my protests. "Oh c'mon, haven't you ever heard of second chances? And it's not like you can blame them. What would you have done in their position?" I looked at him with a brow raised and arms crossed. He stayed quiet. "Whatever, if we run out, we run out. It's too bad for them," he said with finality. I sighed, yet again. Ugh. I go through all this trouble to make sure everyone gets a share, and he comes in and stomps all over it. How rude. Yes, I thought that in Machelle Tanner's voice. How could I not? We got to the truck. "So, how do you plan on making this work? Do we just go around the neighborhood like the freaking ice cream man?" I crossed my arms. He turned his head to me. "That's not a half bad idea," he stated with a thoughtful expression. I rolled my eyes. "After you," he gave me a fake smile and opened the back doors, since the front is going to be occupied by the two dumb dumbs. I climbed in, somewhat begrudgingly, annoyed with everything he does. Especially when he puts his hand on my back to help me up the big step(not that I can't do it myself). I hate myself so much for enjoying the warmth that radiates through me from that spot. Something I could definitely get used to, h3ll, addicted to, given enough time. Once I'm in the van, the doors are slammed shut behind me — something he seems to have gotten very good at — and the warmth slips away. I sigh and prepare to take the lead in this whole thing. Usually, I have people helping me and keeping track of proportions and blood types and countless other things that come with doing this. But now it's just me. ~*~*~*~ Finally! We are FINALLY done distributing blood from house to house. The sun is already setting and we still have to go to the jails. My brain is fried. We have some blood remaining for the people there, not nearly enough, but it's something. The guards standing by the door stood aside when they saw their alpha and beta heading for the entrance of our lockup building. They eyed me suspiciously but turned their attention back the the front when we were fully passed them and inside, not giving us any trouble. Obviously. Because they're their leaders. Stupid. I walked behind Wolfie and ahead of Happy, smelling around for anyone inside. It was kind of hard because, every sent had a hint of dog mixed in. But the familiar smell of my house was particularly strong down one hallway, and a second after I picked it up, they started ushering me down it. We walked down the long corridor, the familiar scents practically engulfing me by the end of it. That's how many people they've been freaking keeping here. Enough to be swallowed by the simple smell. I can't imagine how the dog people feel. Their sense of smell is even better than ours. "Mari!" I hear a very familiar voice yell. I run up to the bars, "Rose! Brandon! Is everything okay down here?" I ask my best friends. "Yeah, relatively. I mean, no one's dying," Rose said, motioning around the room. It's one of the bigger cells and is holding around 20 people by the looks of it, but I can hear there are more down the hall. "But things are getting a little heated," Brandon whispered right after, under his breath. My brows furrowed. "What do you m —?" "I'll tell you what it means!" One of our particularly entitled captains interrupts, practically shoving Brandon out of the way. Earning a glare from him, me and Rose. "It means we know what you've been doing these past few days in this time of chaos, and we are not happy about it!" I raise my brow, already getting defensive. "And what, exactly, would that be?" "Lounging around the master house, going out to parties, falling into his arms and gazing into his eyes like a love struck idiot, taking his side," he spat like the words are the most disgusting thing he's ever tasted, "and all we can do is watch our way of life fall apart through this d@mn window that's not even big enough to fit and arm through!" So these are all the assumptions he's been sitting on for the duration of his stay here? I mean, I understand his frustrations. Mostly. But that didn't stop the anger licking away at my patience and will to be civil with this jerk. This isn't his first time assuming the worst and making a scene out of it. Especially when it comes to me. "Last but not least, helping him in his dealings around the house! I can't believe you would just hand everything over so easily!" He hollered. "I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree," the captain added with spite. Being civil is overrated. I could tell he wasn't finished but I went on anyway. "I am nothing like my aunt and uncle!" I spat, glaring at him for implying I'd be so weak. "The only thing we have in common is blood!" He shot back without even missing a beat. "And your willingness to give up on our house at the first sign of invasion! You act like you belong on a high horse, so much better than them. Like you aren't handing all of us over on a silver platter!" "And you act like I've earned your doubt in me!" I interjected with a roar My voice was level this time. It wasn't a scream, but it certainly wasn't quiet. Authoritative, as some would call it. The captain shut his pie hole for once in his life. In the second of silence, I looked around the cell in front of me at the mix of angry and judgmental stares in contrast with the sympathetic and hopeful ones. They're both there. Both of their fates depend on me at the moment, weather they like it or not, and I'm not letting any of them down. They just aren't confident in that fact apparently. Of course then there's my two best friends standing to my left, shooting angry and judgmental glares at anyone who breathes in a negative way towards me. Sometimes you need people like that. Just to keep the bull crap of life from completely engulfing you in all it's brown-green-ish, smelly glory. Okay, Authoritative mode: back on. I lowered my voice sense I knew no one would talk over me this time — an affect aggravated high rankers tend to have — but still kept my tone strong, "You act like I ever let you all down before," I spoke to everyone this time, scanning, meeting all of their eyes. There was a small lull. "And I'm not going to this time either, d@mn it!" That one was also for me. I mean, I'm definitely doing this, but you can always use more drive. "So. . . You want us to all just wait until you have yourself together. Until you figure all this out," the captain questioned with a sneer. I raised a brow, "do you have any better ideas?" No response. "Anyone else?" I looked around the cell with my chin up and eyebrow raised, making it a point to make eye contact with the judgmental and angry faces. Nothing, again. I sighed, relaxing a bit, because, I'm human too, and I like everyone as aware of that as possible. I'm not trying to keep a sheet over everyone's eyes. "Me neither." "Well thanks so much for that, shows how useful you are." Yep, there it is. I bet anyone could guess who that was. "You need to learn to use the cards you're dealt wisely," I glared at him, "we were dealt a crappy hand, you don't forfeit the game, you bide your time and play the game." "Oh you —" "Hey, why don't you just do everyone a favor and shut up," Brandon rolled his eyes at the captain like the bratty teenager I know and love him as. "Yeah," Rose began, coming to save the day as well, "you can't foul her for gazing lovingly into his eyes like an idiot." Wait what. She surprised me by turning to me with an evil glint in her eyes, and I knew this was really bad. "They are mates after all." Yeah, this is really bad.