The place was three stories high but stretched out over five interconnected buildings. This was no ordinary 'nursing home', the way the employees tried to make themselves appear. It was practically a luxury resort, though without the fancy trappings of expensive restaurants and such.
There were exercise facilities and an indoor pool designed specifically for those with mobility impairments, a lovely cafeteria I wished we had time to explore, lounges, a library, and probably far more than that. Those were simply the areas we saw on the way out of the main building and toward the residential quarters.
"I'd really like to know who the anonymous donor is who's been paying for Alena's care," I said as we walked behind Delilah. "I understand they want to keep their identity concealed, but the situation is different now. Have you informed the donor of what's happened?"
I was aching to pry into her mind and find the answer myself, but that wouldn't be right. Maybe if it
"Hello, Mr. Jonah. I hope I caught you at a good time. Do you have a moment to speak, or should I come back later?"My voice was level and my face calm, but inside, I was trembling like a newborn fawn. On the steps of this quaint house in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by beautiful acreage filled with fountains, flowers, and birds, I had come face to face with the mysterious man who was Alena's good Samaritan.He was lanky, worn. Perfectly groomed black hair, a sophisticated face, and although he wore an unassuming tweed suit, it somehow made him look even more formal and elegant. He reminded me of some of the professors at Scarlet University, and I had to resist calling him sir like a schoolgirl.His voice, too, was quiet and controlled. "Yes, you are Claudia Scarlet. Come in. I've been preparing for your arrival."I entered the house, and he closed the door after me. Ken was outside in the car per this man's request -- he was willing to meet
It would take a long, long time to find the rest of my mother's family. Alena's memories of her youth were coming back slowly, but she couldn't describe to sketch artists what her lost siblings and cousins looked like. We could only hire investigators to carry on the work and try to find our family through other means, like how we had discovered Alena through a medical system.I understood. I was frustrated, but what could I do? We could only be patient.Strong arms slid around me from behind, holding me tight. "I'm glad you're back now," Evan whispered as I unpacked the last of my luggage on the bed. "It felt like you were gone for ages. Don't leave me again.""It was only a week.""Still felt like centuries. Besides, you missed me too, didn't you? And the boys couldn't be peeled off you the moment you came in the door."I smiled and leaned back into his chest. Evan was so warm. Even with the room being ice-cold, he was like a warm furnace, heatin
"Evan! Ken! You're late!""Sorry, sorry. We got held up with the business party. But they folded and we're here, we got 'em." Ken winked and threw an arm around Evan's shoulders as they stood in the foyer. "Once the old Alpha man started getting annoyed, they realized they needed to stop trying to schmooze up to him and parted like the Red Sea. And we picked up the presents!"I sighed as their Delta subordinates came marching in behind them through the open front doors. So cold! Not only were we getting a white Christmas, we were getting blizzarded down. The snowstorm would be on us in full in the next twelve hours according to the forecast. Evan and Ken should have been here two hours ago so they could avoid the icy roads. Who was out there at this time! The warnings had been blaring all day!"Claudia." Evan kissed me on the forehead and held me close. Really! Damn it. He always did this when I was about to get worked up. "I missed you. Where are the boys?"
“Claudia!” I hear my sweet Evan call my name and I can hear his hurried footsteps as he rushes towards our room.I look at the suitcase in front of me, as I still have an unsettled feeling in my gut. Evan walked towards me and wrapped his arms around me from behind as he rubbed his hand over my stomach. He teases me, “You know, we could be putting another little one in you on this trip.”I roll my eyes from his antics. He’s right though, Peele and Osborn are 4 years old now and if I did get pregnant on this trip that would put the next baby at being almost five years apart from the boys.It's the exact time frame that I have wanted. From all of the parentings and pregnancy books I’ve read it shows that a 4-5 year age difference helps the older kids process the change better and helps me out because they will be able to understand and help out a little more.Evan peers over my shoulder and looks at my unzipped suitcase and looks back at me as he asks, “What’s wrong? You seem hesitant a
ClaudiaEvan and I rush down to the dinner party, and he’s immediately greeted by the Alpha and Luna. The Alpha smiles at him, “Alpha Evan, it’s an honor to meet you. I’m Alpha Holden and this is my mate, Luna Delores.”She holds her hand out and says, “It’s an honor to meet you, Alpha Evan. We’ve heard great things about you. In fact, we thought it would only be right to introduce you to our daughter, Christine.”A young girl about my age steps forward. Her outfit is slutty and desperate. It’s obvious she’s trying to catch his attention and all of them have been so quick to speak that they didn’t even give Evan an opportunity to introduce me.I can hear her thoughts as they’re too loud for me to ignore, “Well, well, well, he’s much more handsome than what I imagined! If he wants the Silver Howlers pack on his side, then he’ll drop that sorry half-breed excuse of a mate for a real woman.”So, she did know about me. My wolf, Cassiel, is angry from her thoughts and forces a growl to sli
AbigailI’m grateful that I was the one with the boys when the rogues attacked. Laila and Lauren had just gone inside with the nannies for their nap time, but the boys and I were having fun together searching for bugs in the forest. Plus, their Uncle Ken should have been joining us soon and neither of the boys could rest knowing that Ken would be coming soon.So, we continued our hunt for worms, rollie pollies, caterpillars, and whatever else we could find. We were getting pretty deep in the forest when I noticed some of the pack members that should have been on patrol duty weren’t there.My stomach churned and I said, “Hey Ozzy and P, let’s head back to the pack house.”Peelle whines, “Oh, Aunt Abby, can’t we stay out just a little bit longer?”“No, Peelle, let’s go, now.” I say a little harsher as I feel like we’re being followed.Neither of the boys argue, but they sure took their sweet time as we headed back to the pack house. I stayed alert; I knew danger could be around any cor
EvanAfter hours of looking through footage, Claudia finally passed out. I wanted to take her to our room so that she would have a more peaceful sleep, but I knew that if I touched her, she would wake up and try to overexert herself again.I don’t blame her. I’m worried sick about our sons. I should’ve trusted in her when she didn’t want to come to the Silver Howlers Pack. I thought she was so caught up in being a mom that she didn’t want to leave the kids. I never would’ve imagined that something like this could’ve happened. I breathe out and rub my temples as I feel a powerful headache coming on. I push away from my desk and head out the door and mind link my Beta to meet me downstairs.Matthew Collins walks through the door and bows his head, “Alpha.”I nod back at him and ask, “Have you figured anything out?”He nods, “I went to interview some of the people we had at the pack hospital. Two of them were also injected with something that has made them unable to shift. They were als
ClaudiaIt’s been a week since the attack. We still have no real clues.Although I’m grateful to have Peelle, I’m worried sick about Osborn.I don’t understand why they want him. I thought for sure by now they would reach out requesting us to pay a large sum to get him back, but there’s been nothing.My stomach is riddled with anxiety, and I don’t know how to make it stop. I don’t know how to move forward.Peelle spends lots of time with Laila and Lauren, but I can tell how much he misses his brother even though he tries to hide it. There are times he tries to play with Laila, but she enjoys all the girly thinks like playing dress up and tea parties! And he wants to play with dinosaurs and cars and it’s not the same without his brother by his side.I sit in the playroom watching the three of them together and I could picture Osborn sitting right beside them. It breaks my heart to know that he’s not here.He’s somewhere all by himself alone. Have they hurt him? Has he been fed?I feel