15.

"Goodness, Ammi I am full already," I groaned, rubbing my bloated stomach. "Unless, of course, you want me to throw up every morsel I've managed to swallow," I grumbled, leaning my back against the sofa.

"Ah, we wouldn't want that to happen now, would we?" Ammi said with a soft smile, before she held up the small plate that was set aside on the table. "But I was wondering if you'd like any more of this? It looks like you enjoyed it."

Ugh! If I take one more bite of anything here, I'm definitely going to throw up, I thought as I eyed the plate containing beef jerky.

"Ammi, I'm good. I promise I'm okay," I grumbled again, licking away the remnants of the egusi soup on my fingers. "It's the best meal I've had in a while. You are still the best cook out there," I added, beaming up at her.

Ammi's wide grin and the wrinkling of the edges of her eyes told me I said the right thing. That my comment made her happy. I sighed, looking around the large living room, with two doors by the right. One leads to the kitchen, and the other to Ammi's bedroom which has its own attached bathroom in there. The one bedroom apartment was what Ammi chose when the king, Aiden, gifted us a compound after we arrived at the capital. Just a few weeks after the death of my Abbi. I was only ten years old when he died, but I can still recall the sound of his voice when laughing and the feeling of his warm hugs.

My Abbi was the best!

The compound has three apartments in it, and before Addah Tanaya left, we occupied the one with three bedrooms, a large living room, a kitchen, and a beautiful porch overlooking the yard. After Tanaya got married, Ammi claimed the apartment was too big for her all alone, since I planned to move to the other apartment with two bedrooms. I needed the space and the privacy. And so, we left the old apartment and moved into the other two in the compound.

Despite having my own apartment though, I spend most of my free days with Ammi, even if I don't spend the night there. Sometimes, I work from Ammi's couch, while she braids my hair or cuts the nails on my toes. It was one of the special moments we share together. And one I always cherish.

Unlike Ammi's rich vibrant color combinations of red and cream colored couches and curtains, I kept mine black. Because black is an absolute favorite, alongside maroon. I dislike bright colors, especially when they involve being used as decorations. I don't mind wearing bright clothes, although I mostly avoid them. My curtains are black, with a white one in the middle of the rest. I have a black leathered couch, a white loveseat, and a single black chaise. And that is all.

Except for an old picture of Ammi and Abbi, I don't have any pictures hanging around. Unlike Ammi, who has tons of mine and Tanaya's pictures hung all over the living room and bedroom. She loves the color maroon, so I always try to get her things with a touch of it. Just like I love it.

"You should've let me come with you. I would've taken care of you better," Ammi answered, washing her hand in the bowl before us. "Nothing beats the care of a mother."

Okay, so we are going back to this, again. It's been three hours since I got home and Ammi has been on my tail since then. Don't get me wrong, it's not as though I don't appreciate her care, but it gets to be too overwhelming. Too... obsessive. And I don't like it, not one bit.

Can't she just treat me like an independent person and stop putting my being autistic into perspective every time? It's not as though I'm incapable of taking care of myself. I'm still very independent in my own way. The only difference is that I just think and view things differently than she does. That isn't a bad thing.

Besides, does she have any idea how dangerous what I do is? Or how dangerous the country is presently with female wolves disappearing? Bet if she knew, she'd have constantly nagged me to stop working on the case. Or worse, plead with me to drop my job.

"Oh well, too bad I didn't. And I'm already back now," I faked a smile, which from the long pull of Ammi's brows, probably looked like a grimace.

Oh well, I did try.

Ammi was sitting across from me, dressed in white lace sewn into buba and wrapper. She tied the wrapper over the buba and tied a black headgear on her head. Despite that, I could still see her gray hair peeking underneath her gear. Silky, soft and long, which was one of the traits Ngunlians have. Ammi's green eyes are a reflection of mine. People always say I got her large doe green eyes and I always feel happy when they say that. I really like Ammi's eyes.

"Your sister called yesterday," Ammi said nonchalantly. "She sends her regards."

'Uhh. This is bad,' Robyn murmured, as she stretched her limbs after being asleep for a while.

"Hmmm. So, she finally deems it fit to call her mother? Interesting." I sighed. I don't like where this is going, not at all! "A surprise, because she never initiates a call nor returns it when we call her."

"Marriage is different for people," Ammi murmured quietly.

"Different enough to endure being abused?" I couldn't stop myself from asking.

"Don't say that about your sister, Sherneil. She's just busy with the twins. I'm sure she's okay and she'll visit us soon. She said the same thing, too."

Both Ammi and I knew that something was amiss with Tanaya. It was never like her to ignore her family this way, nor to pretend we don't exist. But that is exactly what is happening now. She found her mate, an omega like her, and has moved away from the country entirely. Now that I remember, Addah Tanaya and her husband are living in Tabitha's country.

But, that still doesn't excuse the fact that she is cutting us off completely. And no matter how many times she says she's okay, something in her voice tells me that she isn't. Because my Addah has always been jovial, friendly, and so sweet.

The woman I speak to from time to time now couldn't be described with those same words. And she won't let us help. Or tell us what is going on. She doesn't even acknowledge that anything is different, just that we're imagining it or that she's just married now. As though that should simply explain everything.

'Some day when I meet that sorry excuse of a man, do not stop me from removing one of his ears, Sher.' Robyn hissed, licking her right paw.

'You bet I won't. I dislike him as much as you do. Notice how I didn't use hate? Because hate is a strong word and regardless of how much I don't like him, he's still Tanaya's mate and husband. But sneaking a bit of the guza leaves into his food wouldn't be too bad, right?'

Robyn howled, falling onto her back and rolling as she laughed. Seeing her that way and knowing I made her laugh that hard made me happy, I found the edge of my mouth tugging up into a small authentic smile.

'Sher, that is wicked!' She finally said, her large eyes misty with unshed tears. 'I love seeing this side of you, which always leaves me surprised. Imagine him at a family dinner and all he does is pollute the air? We both know how guza leaves upset a stomach, which always leaves one in an embarrassing situation while polluting. Oh damn! This is certainly a scene I'd like to see!'

'See. I knew you'd like the idea. One of the best I've had so far.'

Speaking with Ammi, doing this with Robyn, are ways that I try to ignore my thoughts of Mav and the gripping curiosity to check what the contents of his text messages were. I want to spend a moment without thinking about him, or any of the things we did yesterday.

Nothing related to Mav.

I had promised myself that I was done with his shit for the day and that is how it's going to remain.

"I'm going to go to sleep and maybe fix a few things in my room. I'm going back to work tomorrow."

"Tomorrow is Sunday though..."

Ammi's words were cut off by the loud shrill of my phone. I turned my phone on just an hour ago. Three messages came in as soon as the phone was done booting up. And they were ALL from him.

Now, two more have come in and, yet again, one was from he who shall not be named and the other from Natasha.

N- 'Hey girl. You report to work on Monday. Do not come to the facility tomorrow, just rest! That is a command from your queen.'

I groaned. Oh, please! Not another day of staying at home idly. I can't handle it.

Like I did with the other three messages, I ignored the new one he sent.

"Well, it seems I'm going to spend the day at home tomorrow."

"Great!" Ammi clapped her hands excitedly. "I'll braid your hair."

A genuine smile touched my lips and I simply nodded. "See you at dinner, Ammi."

"Want to go for a run before you leave?" Ammi called, grinning.

'Hell yes, I do!' Robyn jumped excitedly. 'A run is the best answer, Sher.' She added.

I smiled and nodded my head. I love the relationship I have with my Ammi and how connected our wolves are to each other, as well. Running is just another one of our bonding moments.