Nine

The morning cockrows reached into her dreams and awakened her.

Her eyelids fluttered open, adjusting her sights to the richly paneled ceiling above. Looking at the clock in her bedside drawer, she could see it was almost time for breakfast. She snorted at the clock, impulsively deciding not to go for breakfast. After all, what would life in this mansion feel like if she did not get on Titan's nerves once in a while?

She sat up listening to the sounds from the exterior parts of the house. Then, without warning, she heard clear laughter reverberate through the atmosphere. She stood up and moved to the window.

Outside, she watched a group of four men jog past her window. Yesterday, Maya had told her a few of the Pack's warriors came in a couple of days every week. Her only guess was that they had business with Titan. What kind of business, her sister-in-law did not say. She probably did not know herself.

Unexpectedly, one of the men waved. Smiling back, she waved back cheerily, happy t