The Pack's Hacker (by Cooper) novel Chapter 165

Kennedy

I wake up alone, in my bedroom. I listen, but don’t hear Quirin anywhere in our room. I notice that it’s dark outside and I must have slept through the afternoon into the evening. When I sit up, I see that I’m in Quirin’s t-shirt. As frustrated as I am with him, I can’t help but smile. He’s taking care of me, even though I’m angry and even though I’ve pushed him away. It’s the side of Quirin that no one else sees, the side that only I ever get to see. The soft side of Quirin.

Damn, I can already feel my heart softening toward him.

I look down and rub my stomach. We need to have a conversation very soon about this pup I’m carrying. I have no idea if that will make things worse between us, but Quirin has a right to know.

I sigh, getting out of bed. I feel weak and nauseous, but I know I need to eat something. It’s been almost two days since I’ve eaten and now I know I’m eating for two. I brush my hair, putting it in a messy bun, brush my teeth, wash my face and get dressed. I don’t feel back to normal, but I do feel better.

When I open the door to the bedroom, I can smell the food. It doesn’t smell as bad as it did earlier which is good. I make my way to the kitchen and see the omegas standing around looking anxious.

“How are you feeling, Luna?” Susie asks me as another omega goes to the fridge and pulls out some small bites of food. I don’t know how they know it’s what I need, but I’m grateful.

“Weak. I need food. Thank you so much,” I say, taking a bite of a cracker. My stomach immediately begins growling and I take another bite, adding a slice of cheese this time.

“Can we please go back to work, Luna?” Arianna asks me.

“It’s been awful watching them try to figure out how to cook,” another omega says.

I look around, frowning. “They didn’t exactly leave the kitchen clean, did they?”

“Well, Luna, if we had gone to warrior training, you wouldn’t have expected us to take down a warrior in our first couple of days, right?” Susie asks me.

“They did the best they knew how to do. It’s not like they’ve ever done this before,” another omega says.

I look at them and they’re all nodding. I smile, ducking my head. “Thank you,” I say.

“For what?” Arianna asks.

“For reminding me that I’m not the mean, awful, uncaring Luna that they thought they wanted. Strength comes in all shapes and sizes, not just in how strong of a punch you can throw. I hope the pack has at least learned that lesson in the last couple of days,” I say.

“Oh, I’m pretty sure they have,” Susie says. “They were really hungry tonight.”

“So can we, Luna? Can we please make food that’s edible. It’s been so painful to watch them.”

“Yes. I’ll go tell them that you’re ready to get back to work,” I say. Rather than walking out, I open my arms and they all come to hug me.

“I love you all. Please, please, if anyone is ever harassing you, if anyone threatens to hurt you, I don’t care what they say they will do to me, you link me right away. I will be there. I will make sure that nothing like what happened to Christy happens again.”

“Thank you, Luna.”

“We love you too, Luna.”

They all murmur something similar and I hold everyone in the hug for a moment before heading to the dining hall.

I’m not sure if they want to see the warriors’ reactions, or if they are showing solidarity, but they all follow me into the dining hall. The room goes quiet and for the first time ever, it feels like the pack is scared of me.

“What’s going on?” I ask the omegas quietly.

“Alpha told them that if you don’t like them, he doesn’t like them,” Susie says.

“And if you want them gone, they’re out of the pack,” Arianna says.

“They’re all afraid that you don’t like them and that they’ll get kicked out of the pack, Luna.”

I take a deep breath, seeing Quirin walk in from the back of the room. He comes to stand beside me, but he doesn’t say anything. I turn my focus to the pack.

“I don’t dislike any of you. I know I said some very harsh things the other day and in some ways, I meant everything I said. You all do not act like a pack should. A pack should be an extension of your family. I know you love your mates and your pups, but you should love your pack almost as much and you don’t. You all act as though you are individuals living in a group setting. But that’s not what this is. A pack should be a family. We should all love each other, take care of each other, protect each other from anyone who would harm someone in this pack, even if that person is part of this pack. That is what a pack should be. That is the kind of pack that I want to be a Luna of. I want you all to recognize that everyone in this pack has strengths. Do not assume that my kindness is weakness. It is not. Others may not have physical strength, but their strengths may be the foundation that allows you, as warriors, to be the strong fighters that you are. You shouldn’t look down on the omegas because they aren’t fighters. You should recognize that without them, you don’t eat. And if you don’t eat, you get weak and you’re no good to anyone.”

I turn and look at my omegas, who all look like they are standing proudly at attention. “Your pack members, the omegas, reminded me that I am not the hardcore Luna that you all thought you wanted. I am, at heart, a kind, loving person. But I will not tolerate the abuse of anyone in my pack. I don’t care how old you are or what your relationship is to the person, you don’t hurt your family and everyone here is family. That is what I want. That is what I expect. And you can thank your omegas for practically begging me to allow them to cook for you again,” I say, getting a lot of sighs of relief and ‘yes’ comments from around the room.

“I require that you rise the level of my expectation. This pack needs to change, and it starts at the top,” I say, looking at Quirin. He nods, looking and acting like we are in complete agreement.

“So that is what I want. I want this pack to start acting like a family. And if your omegas are willing, they can cook you something that is more easily digested than whatever it is that you cooked for tonight.”

“Thank you, Luna!”

“We won’t let you down, Luna.”

“We promise that we’ll make you proud, Luna,” the warriors say. Their tone remains muted, but I can feel their determination to make me proud.

I turn and look at Quirin.

“Did you eat?” he asks before I can say anything.

“A little.”

“Eat some more. Are you going to check on Christy? The omegas made sure that she was never alone,” he says. I turn and smile at them as they make their way back to the kitchen, already talking about what they can make quickly.

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