How Can I Help

Raymond

All day long, thoughts of Michelle kept circling in my mind, filling my every moment with a mix of curiosity and nostalgia. It had been quite some time since I last saw her, ever since I discovered that she and my son were friends. I found myself pondering over how much she might have changed over the years. I couldn't tell if she looked even more beautiful because I hadn't seen her in a long while or because she had blossomed into a truly stunning young woman, radiating a confidence and grace that was impossible to ignore.

I managed to finish some work, but Michelle kept drifting through my mind. My son, Brian, is oblivious—he's spent over a year pulling Michelle along, only to reject her in the end. I've told him countless times that a fated mate is the greatest gift the Moon Goddess can bestow, and that bond should be treasured above all. I’m determined to show Michelle how she deserves to be treated, and I fully intend to make her my chosen mate. The only problem is, I'm unsure how to approach her about it. It's been years since I’ve truly desired or courted a woman, so I'm feeling a bit rusty. All I can do now is hope I don't scare Michelle away.

I was deeply immersed in my office, meticulously reviewing the financial paperwork prepared by Beta Mark. I trust Mark implicitly to manage the pack and our business finances, but I still carefully examined the losses and gains myself. However, I had appointed Brian to do this, but he has been slacking on his Alpha duties. At this point, he will never be Alpha. It was just past 11 pm when I finally decided to sign off for the night. All I could think about was a hot shower and the restful sleep that awaited me.

To my surprise, when I stepped outside my office, Michelle was there looking straight at me. Of course, I immediately asked her what she was doing here this late, and then, based on the answers she gave, I knew I couldn't allow Michelle to sleep in my kitchen again. She needs a warm bed to rest her head for the night, so I was giving her one of the guest rooms. I guided her to one of the guest rooms, and as we were inside, I needed to know what was happening with her. Still, I wanted to know why she couldn't sleep at home tonight.

"What's going on, Michelle? You can tell me," I said gently, trying to sound reassuring. Michelle hesitated for a moment, her eyes flickering with a mixture of shame and worry. Finally, she spoke softly, "I was locked out of my house. My mother put the chain on the door at a certain time, and I was late coming home from work." I tilted my head slightly, concerned. "Did you try knocking on the door so your mother could let you in?" I asked, hoping to understand the situation better. Michelle looked down at the floor, her shoulders slumping. "She was at the window when I came home," she admitted, her voice trembling slightly. "She wouldn't let me in because I should have been home before she put the chain on." My mind reeled at her words. How can a mother treat her child in such a way, I wondered, feeling a mix of anger and sadness for Michelle's predicament. The night seemed to grow heavier around us as I pondered the distance that had grown between them and what could be done to bridge it.

"Does your mother act this way towards you a lot? Does she also treat your sister just as badly? I asked. Michelle paused, then took a deep breath. "Yes, she always acts differently towards me than my younger sister," Michelle expressed to me. This is disheartening to hear. My heart reaches out to Michelle. I wonder what else her mother does to her. Since it was already late, I didn't want to ask Michelle any further questions for now. "Thank you for being honest with me. You have an ensuite for all your bathroom needs. Have a nice night, Michelle. I will check on you in the morning," I told her. "Thank you, Alpha, for everything, including not judging me. I nodded my head and left her alone to be at peace for the night.

I couldn't imagine getting any sleep tonight, knowing one of my pack members was being mistreated. I had to find out what else Michelle's mother was doing to her so I could help. Eventually, I drifted off, but I woke up early this morning. It struck me that Michelle had no clean clothes. I told one of the house servants to pick some up, and by 7 am, they returned with the clothes.

Already dressed and freshly cleaned, I made my way to the guest room I had assigned to Michelle. Reaching the door, I knocked twice. Michelle was quick to open it, her face looking refreshed and energized. "Good morning, Alpha," she greeted cheerfully. "Good morning, Michelle. Did you sleep peacefully?" I inquired. "Yes, I did. I haven't experienced such restful sleep in a long time. Thank you so much, Alpha." From behind my back, I reached out to hand Michelle the bag of clothes. "I'm glad you had a good rest," I added.

Additionally, I have some clothes for you to wear. I hope they fit you well and are comfortable. "Thank you," she said softly, grateful for the kindness. I wanted Michelle to know she can always talk openly with me whenever she needs someone to listen, and if she ever finds herself in need of a safe place to rest, she is always welcome to come here. "Michelle, if you ever feel the need to talk or find yourself in need of a secure place to sleep, please know that you are always welcome to come here," I reassured her gently. "Thank you once again, Alpha," she replied with a faint smile, feeling reassured by my words and gesture.

I left Michelle alone so she could have her privacy. I headed straight to the kitchen to have my morning tea then I went to the training ground to see the warriors progress. My warriors looked quite well and were ready for any attacks. As I was heading back to the pack house, I spotted Michelle walking down the road. I approached her to make sure she was doing fine. "Michelle, you look beautiful. That dress fits you well," I expressed. "Thank you, Alpha. You have good taste," she replied. "May I ask where you're off to this morning? I asked her. "I'm going to work, sir," she explained.

I wanted to spend more meaningful and quality time with Michelle so that I could truly understand her better as a person. I thought that taking her to work with me might be an excellent way to bond and learn about her life. I looked at her affectionately, a gentle smile playing on my lips, and asked, "Where do you work? I can give you a ride there." She nodded politely and shared the location of her workplace. I then carefully led her to my car as she continued explaining where she worked. Once seated, I started the engine and carefully drove through the traffic, heading toward her destination. To my surprise, her workplace was quite a distance away from the neighborhood where we were. Curious and concerned, I asked, "Michelle, how do you get to work every day?" She responded casually, "I walk, sir." Hearing this, a sense of worry crept over me, as it seemed unsafe for her to walk alone, especially late at night. Without hesitation, I decided then and there that I would pick her up after her shift so she wouldn't have to worry about traveling alone or being locked out of her house. I asked her, "What time do you get off work today?" She explained, "I'm doing a double shift today, so if everything goes smoothly, I should be able to finish around 10:30 tonight." We exchanged warm goodbyes, and I drove away, feeling a deepening affection for this young woman who had already begun to capture my heart without even realizing it.