Chapter 1

"Why are you pushing me away,Alpha?", she asks with a soft voice, caressing my cheek with her palm, holding my gaze like i would disappear if she looked anywhere else. The power in that woman... A power that i know i can only admire from afar. The bleeding on my right rib side has stopped, since my Alpha wolf healed it fast enough to not die. But my body is still sore and the pain on the side hasn't gone away at all. Her hand on my cheek sends warmth not only across my whole body, but my soul too, a feeling so foreign to me since my fated mate died 20 years ago...

A WEEK AGO

Amy

"Oh! I am terribly sorry!" I am thinking of all the things i need to do today, i never noticed that other people are walking by. Consequently, i just bumped into a smoking hot, tall and ripped dad, leaving the school yard with his son, and have both our paperwork scattered everywhere. "Let me get these for you!"

"No, no, no, don't worry about it! Are you ok?", says the smoking hot dad, as he crouches down with me to collect his folder. Awkward smiles from both sides are given, while his son is watching us, rolling his eyes, and my son is watching two pigeons bathing in a fountain.

"I am fine, just absent-minded. We just moved into town and there are so many things i need to do and thinking about them has me...", i blurt out, straightening myself while fixing my folders on my hands. I stop when i notice him, watching me with amusement as a smile is peeking from the corner of his lips.

"I am rumbling, sorry, i tend to do that." I raise my hand apologetically. "I am Amy, and this is...", dragging him slightly to my side, he averts his eyes from the pigeons. "... Percy, my firstborn. Last year of high school." I smile proudly, clutching my folders and holding my hand out for him to shake. 

"Firstborn?", he asks, his eyebrows furrowed. His gaze never left mine as he reaches out for my hand.

"Yes! I have four of them!", i smile widely, still hugging Percy's shoulders with one arm. The other hand, still stretched out to him, is being held by his fingertips, not for a firm handshake.

"I don't believe it!", he teases me, "you look fine, happy and... bubbly", he chuckles. "I'm Thomas, and I'm delighted to meet you.", he adds, as he leans a bit forward while raising my knuckles to his lips, leaving a faint kiss on them.

I know how i look. I know how i am. People always get surprised when i tell them i am a single boy mom of four. I have a lot of energy and i look ten years younger than i am. I have always enjoyed motherhood and i really like these little humans i birthed. But none of it means i am not stressed or tired or overwhelmed. I just bounce back quickly, i guess.

"So our sons are gonna be in the same year?", i brush off his remarks on me, nodding a thank you and taking back my hand. "Maybe we should get together for coffee? Get them to know each other? It would be great to start high school with a friend.", i smile, tilting slightly my head to the side.

My knee-length, floral dress is waving on the light breeze, and i readjust my white shawl on my left shoulder. Thomas's eyes are following my every movement while he replies positively on my invitation. We make the necessary arrangements and, Percy and Liam are introduced, and then we say our goodbyes. But as they walk past us, once again, my intrusive thoughts slip on my tongue.

"Mmm, you smell like dog...", i say softly, but louder than i wanted. I am inhaling the air with nostalgia, my eyes closed but stinging from the tears threatening to escape, when i realise what i just said and i wish with all my heart that the earth would crack open and swallow me whole. That is not something you say to complete strangers! There goes my perfect first impression in the new town.. Out the window!

I open my eyes, mortified, and with extra hand gestures, as always, i try to explain myself. He and Liam turned around so fast upon hearing those words, staring at me wide-eyed, i was sure they would start calling me names and such.

"I am terribly sorry! I never meant to offend you! See, i love dogs, and... and... if you smell like that... it... it means i like your smell!", i try really hard. And then i realise that that is also creepy to say to people. I am on a roll today!

They look briefly at each other, and i swear i saw a quick smile from both of them. But i could be wrong. At this point, i am too embarrassed to assess any social cues correctly. Percy is back watching the pigeons, but he wouldn't save me anyways.

Thomas is quick to stroke my arm with his palm, reassuringly.

"Hey, it's ok. We are surprised you could even smell it. I didn't think it was that much.", he says, raising his eyebrows, while scratching shyly the back of his neck, looking at his son that was nodding back 'me neither '.

"Oh,no no. It's really faint but i wouldn't miss it. I have that scent imprinted on my braincells.", i smile lightly, looking down. I had dogs most of my life. Besides, a house is not a home without a dog, right? But now i don't have any and i really miss that warmth, that connection. The local dog shelter was the second thing i googled after the kids' schools. But, first, i want to settle right.

Wait, what?

Before i say anything else they wave their good-byes and walk away.

Today's achievements: I managed to successfully enroll all my boys in school, picked up groceries with my very new car that came in yesterday and made a complete fool of myself to one of the hottest men i ever met in my life. A job well done.

As i return home, i cook dinner and give everyone their paperwork for their schools, which starts in three days. After that, some cleaning and unpacking is due and then get ready for bed. We are all sleeping in one room, but the next days will be better and more comfortable for everyone.

However, i can't take Thomas' words out of my head. He knows they smell like dogs? Do they have many dogs at their place? I need to find out... I could use some dog hugs to relieve some of the stress i have right now. I will ask him next time we meet...

Oh, Gods! When is it? I forgot what we said earlier! Is it tomorrow morning? I just got a terrible headache.. I need to relax and have some time for myself..