Chapter 6: Cracks in the ice

Pale silver lights casted across the room as the moon hung low. Outside the Alpha’s study Laura stood her heart hammering as her instincts screamed at her to leave, but hopes tearful face haunted her.

She summoned courage and knocked on the door.

“Enter” came a deep baritone voice belonging only to Alpha Damian.

She stepped In, the door creaked softly. Damian stood by the window looking at the distant woods.

“I’m here to apologize. I spoke out of turn the other day…I know I crossed my limits, but it wasn’t my intention to insult her memory. I just reacted and I regret that.”

Alpha Damian remained silent.

Damian turned to her slowly his jaw clenched and his orbs burned brightly. Laura continued.

“I’m not in a position to ask for forgiveness but I’m asking you to give me a chance to take care of Hope. Please, she feels safe with me. I care about her please let me be there for her.”

Damian scoffed at her words

“You forget your place again Laura.”

“No. I know my place and Hope’s. I would never overstep my boundaries again. Please Hope needs someone, she needs a friend not just to protect her, but someone who sees her.

Alpha I know you love her, but you’re burying yourself in grief. Your keeping her isolated and it’s not good for her. Please she is only a child.”

“Yes she is a child and she is mine. She is my child so I will do what’s best for her. I know what’s best for her. And it certainly isn’t a runt slave like you. And don’t call me Alpha. I am not your Alpha. I am your Master.”

“Please forgive me Master. I apologize.”

The creaking of the door ended their conversation. They turned to see Hope standing at the door with wide watery eyes. She walked up to them and signed hurriedly:

“Please Dad. Let her stay with me.”

Damian watched his daughter.His heart trembled as the walls surrounding it crumbled.

He bent down to her level and touched her shoulder.

“Hope. Even after all she said… You still want to be with her?”

Hope nodded without hesitation.

Gulping down his emotions. His eyes clocked with Laura’s as if seeing her for the first time, his eyes cooled down. He reluctantly decided to trust her.

“You will be moved to the east wing. You will take care of her when I cannot. But you will never speak out of line again. Understood?”

Laura nodded her head frantically.

“ No one is to know about this arrangement.”

Hope with excitement jumped into her fathers arms and buried her face in the crook of his neck reducing the tension. Laura watched them with a smile of gratitude.

———

A knocked interrupted the moment. The Beta. Ronan entered.

“Alpha we’ve received word from Bloodmoon.”

Damian asked Laura to take Hope away.

———

Laura left with Hope clinging to her. She was so happy that the Alpha agreed to let her stay with Hope. The child really needed a mother.

Laura froze. A mother? How could she be a mother to this child. How would she take care of her. When she never received her mothers love. All the love was given to Melody. Moon Goddess will surely provide a way.

“Laura!!”

Gina and Lina called out to Her. She smiled and walked to them with Hope beside her.

“Hey Gina, Lina”

Hope tugged Laura’s sleeves.

“Oh I almost forgot. Gina and Lina meet Hope. Hope this is Gina and Lina. They’re my friends.

“Hi” The girls said smiling at Hope.

“Hi “Hope signed to them.

“They’re Omegas.”

Laura nodded to Hope wondering how she knew that. Then she remembered werewolves have sharp senses and Hope has Alpha blood as she is an Alpha’s daughter.

“So it’s true. Your the Alphas daughter.” Lina said.

“And you’re mute.” Gina added.

Hope moved back a bit. Laura noticed her dilemma. Hopes eyes watered.

“Please you don’t have to cry. She didn’t mean it that way. I promise.”

“Please I am so sorry I didn’t mean it like that” Gina apologize scared that if she got angry she could report her to The Alpha.

“Yeah Hope. Gina didn’t mean to say that. Your very pretty and cute. You shouldn’t cry. Pretty girls don’t cry.” Lina tried to pacify Hope.

After more pleading Hope finally nodded.

“By the way Laura how do you understand hopes signing?” Lina asked curiously.

“Back in my old pack I used to help a lady who taught the little kids at the school The days I didn’t go to school. There was a boy there who was also mute. His name was Kaden. He was 9. He was very stubborn but cute.”

Hope gave Laura a weird look. “Cute but stubborn?and he won Laura first. No Laura was here for her and she would stay with her forever. She didn’t want Laura to go back to her old pack so she was going to try her best to bring her Dad and Laura close.”

Laura, Gina and Lina watched Hope as she smiled mischievously and wondered what could be running through her small mind. They smiled but didn’t question her as she turned her attention to them.

“So Hope. I never asked you how old are you?”

Laura questioned her.

“ I’m seven years old” Hope signed

“ I have another question who taught you how to sign?”

“Daddy got me a teacher she doesn’t come anymore because she tried to seduce daddy. I also didn’t need her anymore since I had learned quickly how to sign. And if I couldn’t I could always write.”

The way she spoke of the teacher was so funny Laura didn’t expect it. Even Gina and Lina laughed about it.

“ Wait didn’t you guys know about the teacher?”

“ No we only got transferred from Asia a few months ago.”Lina said

“We used to live and work with the other omegas in Asia”. Gina said

“ The Alpha has other properties?” Laura questioned.

Hope, Gina and Lina gave Laura an are you serious kind of look. Laura felt silly. Of course he does he is an Alpha.

“Yes he has so many properties and thousands of persons working under him. He owns Two Oil companies. 1 Airline company. 3 Five star restaurants and hotels.” Gina said

“He owns clubs, pubs and even a port. So many vehicles like A private jet. A chopper. 2 Yachts and so many more.” Lina added

“My daddy is a multi-billionaire” Hope signed

“He isn’t just and Alpha Laura he is awesome. And you did look pretty stupid”

Laura was short off words. Even more shocked that Hope could hear her thoughts. She would ask her later.

“ Cmon guys we have to bake the blueberry pies for dinner” Gina said as she walked hurriedly to the kitchen.

They all followed. Hope tugged Laura saying that she had forgotten her favorite handkerchief in the Alpha’s study.

Laura asked Hope to go along with Gina and Lina that she would bring it for her.

Back to the lions den. She sighed.

———

In The study…

After Hope left with Laura. The Beta told the Alpha about Blue moon pack and their alliance.

“Speak” Alpha Damian urged the Beta.

“ Marisa is preparing for the alliance ceremony. They expect your presence next moon cycle.”

Damian sighed he knew he needed the alliance although he didn’t trust Blue moon pack. But he was doing it all for the one he lost. So he had to get mated to Marisa.

“ Marisa tried to push the date closer. But Alpha Morgan set it then.”

“ Marisa always liked to rush into things. That’s one of the major differences between both of us.”

“ Obviously she’d rush at this opportunity. You know she had a crush on you since High-school.”

“ I know that and you know why I kept away. She is a snake. I don’t intend to keep her for long. Just until I catch the rat. Immediately that is done I will kick her out.”

“ It sounds very easy when you put it like that but you know Alpha,once you let in a snake it isn’t easy to get it out. Especially when the name of the snake is “Marisa”.”

———

In front of the Alpha’s study, Laura heard about the alliance and thought about the woman they referred to as a snake. She thought aloud.

“Who is Marisa?”