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Yoselin grabbed my hand and pulled me in the direction of a house by the hill. “Let’s let the men conclude the mission on their own. They will talk for another hour or so, I’m sure of it but after what you’ve been through, sleep is the best medicine.”
I followed Yoselin without delay. A shower and then bed seemed like the best solution to my tiredness.
We arrived at a house with the number eleven cut into wood hanging above the entrance. Yoselin opened the door like she owned the place.
“Wait, shouldn’t we knock?” I stopped, and my hesitation made Yoselin stop moving as well, since she didn’t want to tug on my hand.
“Everyone is in the square. And they already heard you will be living with them. There’s no problem, no need to worry!” Yoselin smiled, trying to reassure me.
“Do you live here?” I hoped this person who seemed to be so bright and kind would be one of my housemates.
“Nope, I’m mated.” Yoselin kept up the smile, but something in my expression must have betrayed my disappointment because she sobered up. “Don’t worry, the four girls that live here are great too! When you wake up tomorrow, go to the dining hall. It’s the biggest building, right next to the village square. I work there as a cook. I will help you adjust.”
I nodded. “Thank you, Yoselin.” I was grateful, even though I knew she was offering her guidance and assistance only because the Alphas had asked her to help me.
“The first days in a new place are difficult, especially when everyone knows each other and you’re the only new kid but don’t worry, I’m here for you.” Yoselin patted my shoulder. “Now come inside. Your room is number five, the last down the corridor. The houses have no kitchens since we all have our meals together, but there’s a living room with a small t.v. and two bathrooms – one next to the entrance and the other next to your room. All the common houses have the same layout. I lived in one too before I mated.”
Yoselin showed me around, making wide gestures and babbling happily. The first room down the corridor was a living room with a large sofa facing the small, old-fashioned t.v. The room was painted a pleasantly warm shade of sunny yellow, and there was a green carpet on the floor.
The walls had shelves filled with books. I recognized a famous contemporary romance author; whoever lived here must have been fond of her. I wouldn’t be bored if I were allowed to borrow from this small library.
The first bathroom was small with just a shower, but the pink-tiled one next to my room had a bath.
“You can use all the cosmetics here. They are supplied by Gabriel, who’s in charge of logistics for the whole sleuth. He arranges to buy what we need from the ships that come by every two weeks,” Yoselin explained.
“That’s convenient. Is the water warm?” Even if it wasn’t, I was going to take a shower.
“Yes, we have our own electricity generator in the village. So we have access to warm water.”
That news was great to hear. I should have guessed when I saw the t.v., but having my suspicion directly confirmed was even better.
“Yoselin!” Someone called out from the entrance to the house.
“Ah, that must be someone with your backpack!” My new friend ran to the front door. A man passed her my bag. She returned to me, and I took the bag from her. A quick check revealed that everything was in place.
“If there’s anything you need, let Gabriel know. He will arrange to buy it with the next shipment,” Yoselin said.
“Just like that? For free?” I was puzzled by how things worked around here.
“Yes, we don’t use money in the sleuth – just for buying from other clans and the ships. We make various things here like furniture and art, and then sell them. With that money Gabriel buys us what we need.”
Huh. That arrangement sounded like a surprisingly simple yet effective lifestyle.
“It works. It really does,” Yoselin laughed.
I nodded. She opened the door to the room with number five, and I glanced inside. It was medium-sized with a one-person bed by the wall. There was a desk, a chair, and a wardrobe. The walls were beige, and there was no carpet.
“The room lacks a personal touch, but I’m sure the longer you stay with us here, the more livable you will make the space,” Yoselin winked at me playfully. “Unless you get mated quickly and move out of here, of course.”
I winced at the mention of being mated to someone. That option didn’t seem possible to me anymore, not after Sander had rejected me. The Goddess of Nature wouldn’t grant me the opportunity to mate with someone else so quickly but I didn’t feel like sharing my pain with Yoselin. She was nice, but we weren’t close enough for such a deep talk. Maybe one day I would be able to speak about my situation, but today wasn’t that day.
“Thank you, Yoselin. I’ll take a bath and then go to sleep. I’ll see you tomorrow.” I mustered a smile.
“See you tomorrow then!” Yoselin was oblivious to my change in humor and hugged me goodbye. Awkwardly, I embraced her and patted her back.
When she left, I took out a change of clothes and went into the bathroom to draw a bath. While the tub filled, I put some of my clothes into the wardrobe. While I soaked in the warm water, I tried my best to let go of my worries.
I was safe and cared for; I repeated the thought like a mantra. Slowly my brain caught up with the realization that no harm would come to me anymore, and my tiredness became overwhelming. I dragged myself out of the bath, put on my pajamas, and collapsed into bed.
