Chapter 5 – Contraband
Maryam
I sigh, looking down and shaking my head, a little ashamed that I put my personal complaints over the mission. Dad is right, as usual – I need to concentrate on the big picture.
I feel dad’s hand warm on my shoulder and look back into his face. “I didn’t know until this morning,” he says softly. “Don’t let his presence throw you off, okay? You’re here for a job, so is he. It doesn’t need to be anything beyond that. Your focus should be on the people you’re helping.”
I nod deeply, willing myself to the job even as I know that it’s going to be…difficult. I have trouble, sometimes, letting my temper and my passions distract me from my work.
Dad gives me a small smile, patting my shoulder and handing me one of the booklets in his arms. I take it, nodding seriously to him and determining to do as he says – focusing on the people who need my help.
I scoot into the tent with Emma and Shan after they say their hellos to dad, all of us moving in to take a seat on the rough log benches that have been set up for us.
It doesn’t take long for everyone to take a seat while dad crosses to the front of the room. My eyebrows go up when I see Rafe walking with him, taking a soldier’s stance just behind and to my father’s left that clearly suggests that he’s a close second to my father’s command.
I narrow my eyes. Who the hell does this guy think he is? We’re the same age after all – why does he get to be in charge?
“Thank you all for volunteering your service,” dad says, his voice carrying easily through the tent. “My name is Hank Nasser. You can all call me Dr. Hank.” A bunch of smiles appear around the room from the many students who have worked with my dad and called him nothing but that for years. “We’ll be working together for the next few months to bring aid to those affected by the Community and the upcoming planned assault. We will expect your hard work, discipline, and dedication to secrecy in this. If you cannot commit to that, I would invite you to leave on the transport that is departing in just a few minutes’ time.”
Dad pauses, looking around the room, making space for anyone to object or leave. When we all stay still his face breaks into a tiny smile. “All right then. Let’s get started.”
A thrill of excitement runs through me and I straighten my shoulders, listening eagerly to my dad’s information and instruction. But even as I will myself to pay attention…
My eyes keep drifting back to stupid Rafe.
God, he’s just standing there. Being all good. Listening to dad, nodding quietly along with the information. What a little teacher’s pet, all focused and attentive and polite – god, is he actually like this? Or is this some kind of goody-goody performance that he –
“Miss Nasser!”
My head snaps forward, my eyes going wide as my dad barks out my name.
Shit. Shit shit shit.
“Can you please,” dad says, leaning forward with one hand flat on the table before him, glaring hard, “repeat back to me the vital information I just provided to the group?”
My cheeks flush first and then the red spreads all over my face as my shoulders hunch up around my ears.
“Well!?”
“No, sir,” I say, my voice clear even as I close my eyes, wishing I could collapse in on myself and vanish away into nothing.
“Then I would suggest you pay attention,” dad finishes, voice low and angry with me. “You’re here on probation, after all. I would suggest that you of all people attempt to toe the line of compliance with the requirements of the job.”
My blush deepens, if possible, because if people didn’t know about my probationary status beforethen they certainly do now. I nod briskly, though, accepting it – because he’s right. Dad is strict and demanding, but he’s always fair.
“Now,” dad says, straightening up and beginning again. “Regarding daily schedules, these will be posted…”
Dad continues on and Emma presses a warm hand to my lower back. Shannon also leans close to me, bumping her shoulder to mine as she flicks through her booklet, reading fast even while she listens to dad. I smile a little, relaxing as my blush fades, silently grateful for their support. I pointedly do not look at Rafe Sinclair again the whole time my dad talks.
“The military is actively moving on the Community,” dad continues, looking around at all of us quite seriously as he speaks. “They’re doing recon now, but as soon as they get the lay of the land they’re going to start making their moves. And when they do we can expecting to be at work twenty-four hours a day.”
All of our eyes go wide at that because…well, I think a lot of us didn’t realize it was going to be so busy.
“A lot of people are going to be coming out of that place,” dad says, his voice dropping, more emotion coming into it now. “Humans, wolves, soldiers, civilians. Women, kids. All kinds. Some will be wounded, some will be fleeing the only home they’ve ever known. It is our job not only to receive these people but to give them whatever it is they need – medical care especially, but also pointing them toward therapists and social workers to ensure that they’re taken care of emotionally and setting up for their future. Those much smaller teams will arrive later tonight and tomorrow. But it’s important to know that you will be on the front line of care.”
The responsibility settles on my shoulders and I straighten them a little, instantly accepting it. Because honestly this is why I decided to take a nursing degree in the first place. There are so many people who are hurt and damaged by the communities who are supposed to care for them.
I should know, after all. My mother and aunt were raised in one of them – enslaved in Atalaxia by wolves, hurt and abused by them for years.
And the Community is different than that entire nation of oppressors, but…there are still innocent people being hurt here. And those are the people I want to help in whatever way I can. My hands twitch in my lap, eager to begin.
Dad hesitates for a moment and then sets his jaw, apparently deciding to reveal something else. “I’d also like you to remember that while you are all humans, you’ll be working to care for many people from a wolf community who may have…very false ideas about what humans are and what we’re capable of. I would ask for your patience with these people. Wolves raised in the Community come from a system that deliberately neglects their education. The situation may in some circumstances be challenging for you. If it is, I’d encourage you to come and speak with me and take advantage of the mental health resources yourself.”
He takes a moment to look seriously around the room and then nods once. Almost as one we all nod back, agreeing too it, though some nods are more hesitant than others. After all, each of us comes from different backgrounds and experiences with wolf culture. Emma, for instance, grew up in a community that was nearly all human.
I glance over at her, wondering how she feels about it. My friend gulps a little, anxious, and I bump my shoulder into hers this time. Emma looks over at me, giving me a tiny smile, thankful for my support in turn. I smile back.
“All right,” dad says, clapping his hands together and nodding. “If that’s all, let’s break up for the evening and meet again in the morning to get started –“
“Sir?” Shannon calls, sitting up in her seat and raising her hand.
Dad pauses, turning to her, and then nods.
Shannon cocks her head to the side. “Sir, if we’re going to start tomorrow…what are we supposed to do tonight?”
“You have debriefing materials,” dad says, nodding to the packet in each of our hands. “I’d encourage you to study them. I expect you all to get an early night’s sleep so that you’re fresh tomorrow. The Cadets from the Academy will ensure your safety so there’s no reason not to sleep well.”
Dad turns to Rafe, who nods, confirming this.
“All right!” dad says, turning sharply away, his action a dismissal in itself. “07:00 hours! I’ll see you then!”
Everyone starts to stand up, Shan, Emma and I with them. Our Alpha guards surround us, moving forward, again herding us like farm animals out of the tent and across the clearing to another tent even larger the first, though dark green this time. I scowl, glaring around at the wolves, not liking this whole method of moving us without telling us where we’re going.
But my eyebrows raise with pleasure when we step into the tent and see that it’s a little barracks all set up for us – and that, honestly, it looks quite cozy. Sixteen beds all lined up in four neat rows of four, with four more behind another curtain for the boys amongst us. Then in the far corner, an exit that I assume leads to some kind of bathroom and showers.
I grin, looking around, thinking that it all looks very cozy and cute.
“God, what a dump,” Shannon murmurs at my side, shaking her head.
I burst out laughing, giving her a playful shove. “It’s nice!”
“It’s horrible,” she says, rolling her eyes at me even as she strides forward, spotting our three backpacks resting on beds in the far corner. I grin, pleased to see that our assigned bunks are far from the door and the bathroom, certainly the best available. “We’re going to be packed in here with everyone!? What if someone snores!”
“Oh, we’ll be too tired to care,” I say, laughing and plopping down on the furthest bed, admiring the springy cot and the cute little locker at the foot of the bed for my personal items. There’s even a little bathing kit on the bed waiting for me! I grin, picking it up, starting to inspect.
“I think it’s nice too,” Emma says, looking around and settling on the third bed, leaving the middle one for Shan.
“Yeah, but that’s because you two are…sporty and outdoorsy,” Shannon murmurs, narrowing her eyes as she looks around, watching all our fellow students claim their bunks. “You think discomfort is fun.”
I laugh at Shan, who famously likes comfort and luxury, shaking my head and putting my bathing kit aside in favor of my debriefing packet. I start to page through it, intrigued, when suddenly it’s smacked out of my hands.
I gasp, whipping my head up to Shannon. “What are you doing!?”
“Oh, put that down,” she says, unzipping her backpack and starting to root through it. “We’ve got more important things to do.”
“Like what?” I ask, glaring at her and reaching for my packet again.
“Like this,” she says, grinning at me wickedly as she pulls a bottle of tequila from her bag.
“Oh, Shannon,” Emma whispers, pressing her fingertips to her lips, eyes wide. “That’s…that’s bad.”
“It’s not bad,” Shan says, frowning down at the bottle. “It’s very high quality.”
“It’s contraband!” Emma snaps.
“Who cares,” Shannon says, tilting her head back in a moan. “There are boys! Tall ones! Hot ones! Wolf ones! And I am going to go hang out with them and you’re coming with me! For friendship and solidarity!”
I just stare at my friend, shocked, completely frozen with fear at the suggestion.
Out – out there!? With the boys – the Alphas!? What on earth is she thinking!?