Flight 118: A Woman’s Future

One hour later I wandered into the library.

It was not really a library. At least, that was not what it looked like it had been. But, people now used it as a library and as a gathering room just to hang out.

Since I had time while Jonah was in his meeting, I decided to explore some more. There really was not much else to do here.

The alphas still refused to let any of us ’Luna’s go outside of the packhouse without an escort and I did not enjoy needing a babysitter.

I’m independent enough that I plan to revisit that subject with Jonah when the time is right. But I knew there was no point in even trying to do that while there were still so many new packs arriving.

If there was one thing I was realizing the importance of, it was getting better at knowing when to pick my battles.

So, here I was, slowly looking at as many book titles as I could.

There was a surprising amount of genres spread out throughout the shelves. They were all older books- some of which I recognized by title and some I knew were old simply by looking at them. However, as old and used these books obviously were, they were still well taken care of.

It still was surprising to me just how much these people relied on things from basically a century ago to entertain themselves. I would think people would still be making new books.

I know it wasn’t exactly a priority and I knew there wouldn’t really be any mass distribution of books. But, like a few sets of books people can write in and keep info and records would be smart. So, I was surprised there were none.

The author in me perked up a little as a thought occurred to me.

Eric, Jonah, and the other alphas were all collecting loads of data from each alpha. Like ways to communicate, their pack locations, and potential mates.

Maybe I could help write some books. Record keeping books for that information, but also maybe books with information about this world. Not just for those of us who are new to it but also those who are used to it. It seemed like a good idea and I was beginning to get excited about a project.

Then the smile which had begun to spread across my face stopped and I shook away the thought. I shouldn’t get carried away. I could maybe ask to help Eric with keeping track of everything. Then I could also learn more about all of this world and the packs while I was doing it. But there were many more important things for me to focus on before I suddenly decided to settle down and start whiling away hours writing books.

I did not want any type of leadership position. I was just a person who happened to have had a hand in finding help for the rest of the plan survivors. Just a person who happened to somehow give a bunch of shifters a small glimmer of hope simply by being kidnapped and auctioned off to the man who was apparently made for me. But somehow I did become someone who was needed.

So, I would not simply get hung up on trying to settle down when there were so many things that needed to be done.

This was my world now. I mean, I got here somehow by crashing a plane. There were no planes for me to get on to try and crash back in time. Though I didn’t particularly want to try and live through a second plane crash.

Also, I meant what I said to Jonah earlier. But, it didn’t mean I had to exactly sit back and get used to all of the bad things in this new world of mine.

Like the stupid ‘Gathering’ thing. I was not dumb enough to assume I would be able to do anything about it. Especially since it was not just something that happened here, but everywhere.

But I had to find a way to help those girls. Not just the girls that had been auctioned off with me, like the girl from the plane, but also the ones who would be captured in the future. Maybe even those who have already been captured.

I also had my most pressing concern, the survivors here.

Yes, we were all at a standstill with the promise to see if any survivors were the mates to any shifters. But that does not mean we have to all just stay here and twiddle our thumbs. Not now and definitely not in the future.

There had to be something I could do to fix this.

Just like how I was feeling bored and almost useless, I was sure the other survivors were feeling the same way. Just thinking about all this was beginning to stress me out. But I knew I had to do something.

I turned and with narrowed eyes, I decided I would first do the thing I could actually do. Which was to visit Eric.

He was probably still in his meeting with Jonah, Silver, and the others. Which would make it an opportune time to find them and bring up my ideas.

Normally I didn’t mind the fact they were all constantly having private meetings, simply because I would seriously be bored sitting in meetings listening to things I didn’t even understand. But now I realized I wanted to learn. If I was to stay here I needed to learn.

But I also needed to find something for everyone to do. So we didn’t grow stir crazy while we were here waiting for who knows how much longer.

I found my way out of the library and wandered through the house until I got to the door I knew was Eric’s office door. I took a deep breath and knocked on it.

I had barely finished knocking when the door flew open so suddenly a squeak came out of me and I jumped a little.

Jonah was on the other side and immediately was pulling me to him as his eyes wandered my body and demanded, “What is it? What’s wrong?”

I relaxed and chuckled, shaking my head. I should have known he would hear or smell me, or however he always seemed to know where I was. But I also did not realize he would be so panicked, thinking something had to be wrong since I was here. In hindsight, I should have realized he would be concerned about my unusual appearance.

I reached over and gently placed a hand on his cheek, “Nothing is wrong. I actually came to join you guys.”

I vaguely noticed the men in the room behind Jonah wearing matching expressions of shock. Silver looked amused though, as well as Jonah.

“Join us? That’s...okay. I won’t say that’s unusual because, well, I wouldn’t know. But it is surprising. You never seemed interested in joining before.”

Jonah slightly turned and looked at Eric with an eyebrow raised, “If that’s okay?”

Eric was watching Jonah and me with a blank expression.

I shifted on my feet a little, unsure of this reception. I had not thought me coming to talk would be an issue and I would respect his opinion if he wanted me to leave. I wouldn’t like it, but I would respect it.

I released a small breath of air I had not realized I had been holding when Eric finally nodded and said, “Come in, Luna Emilia.” He waited until I came in and Jonah shut the door once more to ask, “May I ask why you would like to join us? I know Ana doesn’t really like to partake in alpha affairs herself. I had just assumed it would be the same for someone who did not really know what we would be discussing.”

I smiled sheepishly as I held Jonah’s hand. Not that I had a choice because I could tell he did not like the idea of letting me go now that I was in a room full of other men. “I actually didn’t really want to join your meetings before for that very reason. But I realized I have a lot of questions and if this is to be my new world then I need to learn. But that’s only really an added benefit to why I wanted to come. I actually had a proposition.”

I saw some of the men settle against their seats or the wall where they were standing and swallowed a little.

I was kind of nervous and did not feel excited about the prospect of them laughing at what I had to say, but as I looked around I realized they all were staring in encouragement. Or at least not in discouraging ways.

“So, in the time I came from I was an author. I wrote books. Not really anything important but there are some benefits to the job. I had to be good at writing, obviously, but there’s so much more to that. Researching and collecting data, analyzing facts, recognizing patterns, planning... there’s so much more to it. But when I was in your library earlier an idea came to mind. Multiple ideas really but... still. I know you guys are trying to build a record system of sorts with all the alphas.”

I paused, staring at them and biting my lip, “Anyway, I figured I could help you. Write a book of sorts. I noticed you guys don’t really have any record-keeping going on. At least, not in the library. It will help keep all of the information organized and in one place. And once you get new or more information you can just add to it. But I can help get you started. I can even help ask some other plane people if they want to. Or even help set up something like a working system for them.”

Eric shifted and glanced at Jonah, “Well, that would be very helpful of you. To sit in and write for us. We have been trying to keep up with a lot of our information tracking, but I am kinda ashamed to mention that a book never came to mind. But, I don’t know about inviting others to help. If you really need help we can try, maybe Ana. But I don’t know how I feel about humans knowing our secrets.”

“Well, we are humans too. And they really need something to be doing soon, I’m sure. I’m going stir crazy here and I’m actually in a house where I can learn to cook or watch movies or read books. Most of the others are stuck outside in tents. I mean, some of them have found jobs for themselves with washing clothes and helping heal. But I’m sure they have to be getting bored soon if they aren’t already.”

I felt Jonah shift next to me and I heard him say, “I think she has a point. Though I agree with you on who can help keep books and be in on our meetings,” he glanced at me, “Yes you are humans, but you are also our mates and Luna’s. Our secrets are now your secrets. As much as I would love to hope most of the others end up being mates and even accepting their mates if they are, it probably won’t be that many of them. There’s only so much we can share with humans. That’s how we stay safe. Stay alive.”

My eyes widened in understanding and I slowly nodded. Okay. That made sense and I should have realized that before.

Jonah looked back over at Eric, “But I do see what she’s trying to say. It’ll probably also help them settle and be a bit more okay with staying in one place for as long as we need them to if they have something to keep them busy.”

I nodded and as an idea came to me I joined in, “It doesn’t have to be anything too busy or important. I mean, I know many of them are still healing. But they could help cook, or learn to cook or repair clothes if they can. We can help actually designate people to help clean around here or wash clothes. Heck, even training people how to survive. I know you guys may not be that crazy about trying to train us weak human beings to fight or find ingredients but we will all need to know that. Whether we are Shifter mates or not.”

I shook my head, “Anyway, there are things we can do. Both to be helpful around here and things to learn. It just needs to be planned and organized. But also to help all of us not feel so cooped up. It shouldn’t be hard to figure that out. We can ask around about what people would be interested in learning and what they already can do.”

Jonah squeezed my hand and I looked up at him to find him smiling at me.

I blushed and dipped my head a little but couldn’t stop myself from smiling at the look of pride in his eyes. I could practically hear him saying something about me being and acting like a Luna. But I was just doing what was right; what should be done.

Silver’s voice caught my attention and I looked up in enough time to catch his wink my way, “I can help teach a cooking class or two while I’m here. I know a certain beautiful lady who would sign up already!”

Jonah’s growl broke the room’s relative silence, as well as the chuckles from the others which followed.

I winked back and grinned cheekily, “Sign me up!”

Jonah practically yanked me to his side and growled out, “Not without me.”

I laughed and glanced up at him, “I would also enjoy learning how to fight. If we can work something out like that.”

I could tell Jonah did not appreciate the idea and was probably about to say so, but I squeezed his hand and said softly, “Please, Jonah. I need to know. And as much as you would love to always protect me from everything, there will be times you may not. Besides, we can have some pack members train everyone else while you train me yourself!”

Jonah’s eyes narrowed as he looked at me but I knew he wasn’t going to finish talking about this in front of the others. I was just happy to take the slight win I got simply by him not saying no.

He looked at the others and then asked Eric, “So, what do you think about all this?”

Eric leaned back in the chair behind his desk. It was a big desk and all the furniture looked like many offices I was used to seeing.

A big desk sat in the middle of the room, a chair behind it and a few chairs in front of it, a long couch against the wall, and a bookshelf that was around nine feet tall on the wall behind the desk. But in two corners there were things like sconces on the walls, with fire lighting the room with the help of a lantern on the corner of his desk.

There was also something I thought was cool. The whole wall behind the desk, that the bookshelf was in the middle of, was painted with chalk paint I had seen before- along with the wall opposite of the one the couch was on and the wall the door was on. There was some chalk writing scrambled all over it and I realized it was how Eric had been keeping track of things, specifically his pack schedules and now all of the information he was getting from other pack alphas.

It was a cool way to keep track of things that were always changing. But probably not the safest way to keep track of things of importance and things he wanted to keep secret. Seeing as things could be erased and this was the office he was using to have meetings in.

I was pulled from my thoughts to see Eric watching me. His lips twitched in what looked like almost a smile, and he said, “I can see the benefit of training you guys on what we can, and finding some things to keep you busy while you are still here. I won’t step in your way with whatever else you are wanting to do. But I would appreciate your help in at least starting us a book to help keep up with all this info we are gathering if you can. As long as you run things by me that are of high importance and only receive help from those who can know about it. None of the information can be passed along to an outsider.”

I nodded with a small smile, “Okay. Well, I’ll need some writing material and things. I’ll actually need some time to think about what I’ll need to get started. Maybe the rest of the day. But while I’m at it, I’ll also try to figure out how to get something started with everyone outside.”

Eric nodded and the room fell silent again.

I rocked back on my heels a little and bit my lip. “Well, okay then, I guess I’ll leave you guys to finish the rest of your meeting while I get started.”

Eric gave me a soft smile and nod, and Silver gave me a quick thumbs up. I looked up at Jonah to say goodbye but stopped when he opened the door and pulled me out with him.

I looked at him in shock when he threw over his shoulder, “I’m going to help her. I’ll see you later when the Oaxaca pack arrives.”

Without waiting for a response, he pulled me away and smiled down at me with a shake of his head. He had a look in his eyes that looked like awe and amusement, and he just whispered, “My Luna.”

I blushed and shook my head, and then set off on my new mission. Finding writing material in the year 2144. Sounded like a piece of cake.

Not.