6-Sadly, He Failed Again And Again

Madeline:

Everything was rushed, but in two days my people did their best to prepare. I hired good guards to protect me in the werewolf community and laid out the terms and conditions under which I would help the werewolves. My first stop was Alpha Graham's pack, The Dark Silver Pack.

Discussing the visit stirred something in me, but I swallowed all the hatred I felt toward Graham. I promised myself I would look him in the eye and feel nothing. I was certain he would spew hate and refuse my help the moment he saw me, that's how badly our friendship had been ruined.

I packed my children's bags and told them we were returning to a werewolf land where their mother had lived for at least eighteen years. They didn't ask many questions. They weren't completely unaware of werewolves. I had taught them as much as I could.

Even when I lied in the human land about their father's identity, I never forgot the truth. Once they came of age, they'd transition, and then everyone would question whether it was safe to keep them in the human land. It was called human land for a reason. Mixing creatures wasn't allowed. But there was time for that later. For now I had to return.

When I stepped off the ship, I saw him. I held my breath, then lifted my chin. His jaw was stronger and wider now, his black hair even thicker, and his green eyes held a new maturity. He was broader and more like a man than the teen I remembered. Even with all that, he failed to pull at my heartstrings.

Then my children came out, and I hesitated. As I attended to them and held their hands, I noticed Graham's look changed. He was shocked to see me, then devastated when he saw my children. As I took my first step onto the land, my whole body shivered, but I covered it with a confident smile.

"Welcome to Werewolf Land," The royal beta announced, “more specifically, welcome to the Dark Silver Pack." The added with a smile on his lips. I remembered him. He was his father's beta too. I wondered why he hadn't retired. Usually royal betas hand their titles to their children, and if they don't, another beta steps forward as a royal beta.

"Thank you so much," I said to Mr. Robinson, then turned to Alpha Graham.

"I hope your journey was comfortable." Alpha Graham spoke, his voice sent a chill down my spine, but I kept my confident smile, bright enough that I noticed him frown, probably wondering if I recognized him or if I was just a good actor.

"Thank you so much," I replied, carrying neither animosity nor familiarity in my voice.

"Huh, Madeline West," Graham then uttered my name, almost like chewing upon the words while his jaw tightened slightly.

"No, it's Madeline Sawyer," I corrected, and I noticed his frown deepen as he narrowed his eyes, as if questioning why my surname was different.

"Anyway, I would like to visit my home first, the one I requested, and settle in before I join the council and talk about the disease," I requested, looking at Mr. Robinson and avoiding Alpha Graham entirely. I was anxious to move because he was staring at my children.

"Yeah, sure, we've planned it. We prepared cars for your journey to the mansion," Mr. Robinson said. My baby girl held my finger, Bodhi held her hand, and then Ellora held Bodhi's hand. We walked like that, each of us holding the next.

The silence from Alpha Graham was heavy. It had been years since we came face to face. I had almost never thought about him or the others. I had blocked them out of my mind. So when I saw him again, I didn't know how to react.

We sat in the car together to drive to the mansion. Mr. Robinson handled most of the arrangements, and it confused me. What was Graham thinking? I gently pressed a nail between my teeth, confused. I just did not want to deal with anything anymore, and I definitely did not want him to talk about the past.

We arrived at the mansion and I was impressed. They had prepared a beautiful place for us, full of luxury. It was all grey and white marble with a black entertainment center. There were four bedrooms, two on the second floor and two on the ground floor. My babies, as always, decided to go to the second floor, so I took a second-floor room too.

The kitchen was on the first floor. There was an indoor pool and a backyard with swings and slides for my kids. I had already told Mr. Robinson my demands, and it seemed he did a great job.

"Please rest and eat well," Mr. Robinson said. "We will have a meeting tomorrow." I nodded and walked him to the door. As he was leaving, another car came speeding up and stopped in front of the mansion. Alpha Graham stepped out.

Even Mr. Robinson slowed to check on his Alpha. Graham, shoulders were broad as he walked past Robinson and gestured for him to go. Mr. Robinson left reluctantly. Graham entered the mansion and stopped, turning to face me. Nobody else came in.

"Alpha Graham," I uttered, “I thought I will get to rest today,” I tried to make it seem like I wasn’t feeling awkward in his presence but he was heading straight to questions.

"Who are those children?" he asked first. I frowned and folded my arms across my chest to look confident.

"I'm sorry, your concern is who my children's father is?" I asked, giving him a look of disbelief.

"Madeline, you can act like it is not strange that you appear out of nowhere after so many years with children," he hissed, "I demand you tell me the truth. What is going on? Did you come here to convince me of something? After all these years, did you come back to get my attention and be accepted by me?" He pointed a finger at his chest and I started to laugh.

"Wait, you seriously think I came back for you and the children are yours?" I asked, keeping my voice low because my babies were upstairs. I noticed his fists clench. He still carried hatred after all these years.

"Let me clear it up for you. They are not your children. They are my husband's children with me. Is that enough to satisfy you?" As soon as I said that, I watched his body relax and an awkward look form on his face. He went quiet.

"Did you forget I had periods that night?" I asked, hands behind my back and my face tilted with confidence.

"Alpha Graham, it is very disrespectful that you walked in here yelling and throwing accusations. Don't think too highly of yourself. I did not come here for you. I came for the sole purpose of helping the werewolf babies. As a mother, I feel deeply for children. I hope that answers your questions and you'll leave me alone. If my husband heard from the guards that a man was accusing me of lying about our children, it would not be good for my work here. He would want me to come back," I muttered it all in one breath.

His face went pale. The embarrassment of thinking I had come for him was worth watching. He lowered his head and rushed past me, leaving the mansion.