CONFIRMATION

"So..." Jonah asked suddenly, "any new dreams, Sam?"

"Oh yeah," I remembered suddenly, I guess I should tell them about it... But wait, that would be embarrassing.

I don't want to tell anyone about last night's dream. Not about wearing my pajamas, and definitely not about my mate's outfit, or that my mate thought I was just a pup, or relate the epic fail of the wolf fight.

"Yeah, what?" Ben asked.

It was then that I realized the rest of the table had stopped eating and was waiting for my answer.

"Yeah, ah..." I floundered, "My mate is a dumbbell, that's all."

The kids just burst out laughing. The adults blinked and went back to their food and conversation.

"Oh Sam!" Lizzy was gasping for breath, "you got us there!" It wasn't really that funny...

"I thought you were really going to have another dream or something." Jonah muttered.

"Wait, what?" I snapped my head to Jonah, "Was I supposed to dream again?"

Jonah looked at his mum, Laura. She shook her head, "Well, I didn't say supposed to, but I was saying just now that with dreams, thrice in a row would make it significant."

"In what way significant?" I asked.

"Well, thrice the charm, you know?" Laura laughed weakly, and then more seriously, "in dream interpretation, three dreams in a row gives confirmation."

Confirmation.

Savy looked at me. She was suspecting me now, but I know she wouldn't say anything if I don't.

"It was stupid, I don't want to talk about it right now." I admitted.

The table stopped again. I wish they'd stop doing that. Now I know what my dad must feel like, with everyone whipping into attention whenever they think he might be about to say something.

"I said I don't want to talk about it." I repeated.

My dad moved to say something, but I quickly cut him off before he could, "Not right now."

"Sam... why not?" Asked Beta Lucas. Beta Lucas always liked to pause before asking a question like that when he was in his serious mode.

"Because... I just need time to think about it." I said finally. I bit my lip, hoping they would let it go.

To my relief, they did, but only temporarily.

"We'll meet again in my office tonight." Dad decided.

"Yes, Alpha." The table answered in unison.

"But I thought we meet on Monday night!" I almost whined. But because Alphas didn't whine, I held back, and it came out as a quiet reminder.

"This is important Sam. We need all the information we can get." Gamma Harry said.

I don't answer. I don't want to talk about that dream. It filled me with humiliation when I thought about it now.

I looked down at my plate, for some reason, I suddenly want to cry. But I won't. Not in front of everyone like this. I quickly shook my head to forget the dream and joked, "Yeah, but it's kind of embarrassing okay?"

"What do you mean?" Lizzy asked me. She looked excited. That girl had antenna for the juicy news.

"I forgot." I shrugged.

"Well, as long as you remember by tonight." Beta Lucas growled.

Mrs Beta touched his arm, giving me a sympathetic smile, "Lucas, give Sam space. Prophetic dreams can be very personal."

"But the fate of our pack depends on it. You can't say it's personal and let her keep it to herself." Gamma Harry raised his voice.

Beta Lucas was growling now, I don't think he liked it that Gamma Harry had raised his voice at Mrs Beta, "I'm sure Sam would share her dream tonight, so you don't have to worry about that."

Gamma Harry didn't let it go, "Sometimes, for the alpha, even personal things are pack things because it affects the whole pack!"

"Oh, so now she is the Alpha?" Beta Lucas snarled, "Harry, you need to put your money where your mouth is. If you say Sam is our next Luna, then you give due gentleness and patience to ensure the Luna's well being and privacy. And if you say she is our next Alpha, you need to give due respect and submission. At this time, I don't see either of it from you!"

Gamma Harry opened his mouth to defend his position, but I don't listen anymore. I just shoved more food in my mouth. The mini sausages tasted pretty good wrapped in choc chip pancakes.

I'm done here.

I drank my strawberry milk and pocketed my apple into my denim bag.

"Going to start work in the kitchen first." I said, and left the table.

I know, I'm the alpha, but like a certain dumbbell said, I'm just a pup, just a girl, and I haven't even shifted yet.

I can't face off with an irate old beta and gamma... Or all of them and their mates combined.

If there was one thing I got from last night's dream, it was that... my mate was a dumbbell.

Yes, that. And...and that he was probably right. There I said it. He might have been right. Maybe. Just perhaps.

He was the one who would raise a fancy army. Maybe he would be the one who would come and save us.

I'm just a pup, a girl, I don't even know my own wolf form or how to use it. I should just wait here for him to come get me.

Maybe I should be learning how to be a good Luna and practice throwing tea parties, flutter my lashes, walk in high heels, and sit in impractically short dresses, and in all appearance submit properly to my mate. I suddenly think of the pictures in Jessica's Lorent magazine. Maybe Dumbbell would like me to be more like those girls. I smirked, if he can pay for it, I'll wear it.

Dumbbell.

I blamed him entirely for my bad mood right now. I put on an apron, the kitchen staff were still eating but I don't care. Waving them to remain seated and eating, I forced a huge grin, "Thanks for the delicious breakfast out there. Don't mind me, I'll just set up for later. Everyone outside is still eating anyway, so you can't clean up yet."

I don't give them any chance to respond or refuse, walking away with a friendly wave of my hand. I don't feel like being friendly or kind or considerate, but mum always said, if you don't feel it, fake it till it comes to you. We need to be strong for our pack.

I go further back into the kitchen and start dusting off the very large counter. Then I start slicing the rest of the loaves with the bread cutting machine, and pulling out the bags and packaging material and wrappers.

Even though the bulk of the ingredients will come from our buffet leftovers, there are always some things on the side like packet chips and candy, and the jars of mustard and mayonnaise to add on.

Savy popped out, "I'm here! You don't have to be lonely now." She covered her mouth so she won't cackle out loud. This made her look like a very shy girl laughing. It's ironic.

But it made me smile, "Oh good! I was so alone and scared." I laughed it off loudly, to make sure anyone who overheard would know I was joking.

Jessica came over, "Hi, I saw you two come in early."

"Are you helping today?" I asked.

"Yeah, I'm on duty today." Jessica made a face. She never liked kitchen work.

"You don't have to stay, Savy isn't on the roster today, she can cover for you." I told Jessica. Might as well, since Savy would be helping anyway. Savy nodded.

Jessica shook her head, "Nah, that won't be right. I'll just do it."

"Okay then, let's set up so the work gets done faster when the others come." I said.

Jessica laughed, "Oh Sam, you are the only one who organizes the work stations for sandwich making!"

"Really? Then how is it usually done?" I asked.

"When you're not around, we just walk around and randomly put things in the sandwiches." Jessica told me.

"Sounds messy."

"You have to balance the sandwich you are making around while looking for the right ingredients you need." Savy complained.

"Seriously?" I felt my jaw slacken. No wonder I was told it usually takes the whole morning to make these lunches.

The leftovers from the buffet tables are carried in now. I instruct for salad and vegetable type trays to be in one section, meats and fillings in another, condiments in the last. So now the helpers just stand at their station, someone spreads, someone layers on the meat and greens, someone wraps the sandwiches, someone cuts the fruit, someone mixes the cut fruit and scoops them in cups, someone packs all the food in family bags to be given out.

We were usually done in a couple of hours.

"And this is why I always try to get rostered the same days as you." Jessica beamed as she dusted her hands off when we were done.

"Oh, and here I thought you wanted my sparkling company." I hear Jessica and Savy laugh and feel good inside.

If there was any sound I loved to hear, it was the sound of my pack laughing beside me. I know there were lots of Alphas with great visions and goals for their packs. I wished I had something like that, but I don't.

I just want to protect my pack's happiness.