#Chapter 45 – Camping trip 2

Alvin and Ian are thrilled with the spot, running around and checking out every detail. I smile, watching them, taking joy in their joy. As I watch them, a friendly Beta comes over and presses a cup of warm cider into my hand, giving me a small smile as he does so.

“Thank you,” I say, pressing a hand to my chest. “Thank you so much.” All of the Betas have been so kind to me – I feel suddenly guilty that I haven’t learned as many of their names as I should. I make a note to remedy this as I take a sip from my tin cup. I’m surprised – and, I admit, a bit thrilled – to note that there’s a strong hint of whiskey mixed in with the apple.

The Betas rush around the camp, unloading a massive number of supplies from the trucks. Victor strides around, directing the Betas seamlessly, clearly happy and in his element.

I look around for Amelia and laugh, a little, when I see that she’s already sitting in a camping chair by the unlit fire, wrapped in a blanket and rubbing bug spray on herself while she listens to her headphones. She has her feet tucked up beneath her, clearly working hard to touch as little of the nature as possible. Well, to each her own.

I walk over to Edgar and lean against his arm. He smiles down at me. “Have you tried this cider yet? It’s fantastic.”

“No drinking on the job,” he says, winking at me and pointing at the pistol strapped to his belt.

“Are you seriously working?” I say, frowning at his utility belt and looking up into his face. “You’ve technically been on duty for 48 hours now. Haven’t you earned a break?”

Edgar runs a finger along my jawline, all the way up to my chin. “No breaks until you’re all set up, which means perfectly safe and at home. Plus,” he says, looking out into the forest and pretending to put on a serious stare, “Victor pays seriously good overtime.”

I laugh and take another sip of my drink. “Fine,” I say, “more whiskey for me.”

Alvin runs over to me, wrapping his arms around my leg and beaming up at me. “Mama, I love it here. How long are we staying? Can we stay for a month?”

“I have no idea, baby. But I doubt it. Ask your dad.”

“DADDDD,” Alvin shouts, his voice full of excitement and joy. Victor turns towards us happily and starts to walk over.

“Don’t shout, baby,” I say to Alvin, putting a hand on his head.

“Let him shout,” Victor says, shrugging. “We’re completely alone out here.”

looking all around for any signs of civilization. There’s nothing

as children, the boys of the pack and I. The

telling me…do you own this land too?” I

not like I bought it. Inherited land, a wilderness preserve.

all your buddies and howl at the moon,”

more right than you

together, the Betas begin to fade away. At first there were what, fifty?

the Betas going?” I ask

close, but others will go miles out into the

some anxiety. “That’s…a

their honor to serve. Plus, free camping

stuff!” Ian shouts. I look around, frowning, trying to see where he’s gone. I can’t see him, and a little of the old panic starts to rise in my

a tree and, sneaky as a squirrel, has edged out on a branch until he’s directly above me. “Well, look at you, little monkey,” I say, smiling. “You’d

smiling devilishly.

surprises me, then, by hunching his shoulders and swinging his arms, making wild ape noises and moving towards the trunk of the tree, playing along. Ian screams in delight and scurries further

say, hating to still their fun

frowning up at them. I raise my eyebrow at him, surprised.

the branches. Victor moves beneath Ian just as he hangs from the lowest branch,

SMORES!?” Ian shouts,

as he carries him to the fire pit. “Wait till you

in the fire, and – yum – more whiskey

food in as he talks. We’re all

is drawn in. She hasn’t left her chair, but she’s taken her headphones off. She even

low and spooky, “where man first felt himself

and Ian gasp dramatically and we all laugh, unable to tell if

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255