Chapter 20: First steps

***Jane***

Agnes and I spend the morning with Kota, Rosalie, Rosalie’s baby Emile, and Evan, fighting our own anxiety from our lack of activity.

In all my life, I had never had a moment to rest, to just sit and watch a movie or play games without a care in the world.

Even if there was chance that I completed my chores, my mind and self-hatred would torture me relentlessly.

As a pup, my father put me through rigorous schooling and speech therapies to make me the best Alpha I could be.

Of course, I could never live up to his expectations.

He would make me stand before him once a week to recite the history of our pack or the laws that governed it and the kingdom.

If I faltered in my pronunciation, I would be struck with a whip.

There was never a day that I made it out of a recital without shedding blood.

My mother would weep sorrowfully, begging my father helplessly to have mercy.

She would sometimes be beaten herself for attempting to shield me.

It hurt my soul to fail her so miserably but no matter how hard I concentrated, my tongue would only grow stiffer, and my words would slur like a drunk.

After I was demoted to Omega status, I became a field hand, carrying weapons for the warriors in training or helping maintain the equipment in the hot sun or cold winters.

As I grew older, I learned many things to make myself useful such as plumbing, mechanics, painting and other basic maintenance jobs.

Agnes is no different.

With her hearing gone, she had to make herself useful to earn her meals.

No one wants an extra mouth to feed.

She was beaten relentlessly by other Omegas if she slipped up.

She learned to be quick in the kitchen, never resting for fear she would be cast out or killed by the Omegas.

So, as we sit comfortably on the couch watching Aladdin with Kota, Agnes and I find it hard to rest, wondering if at any moment, this pack’s kindness would run out.

Even Grayson could not find the words to soothe my racing thoughts.

Feeling myself about to break, I get up quietly and search for a pen and paper before approaching Rosalie with a note.

“Are you sure there is nothing we can do to be of service 2” Rosalie reads aloud before raising an eyebrow at me.

“Are you bored?” She asks nervously.

“W-we can go to the park if you like.Kota could stretch his legs and play with some other pups.Let me just get the stroller for Emile,” she says as Evan gets up from his spot to find said stroller.I shake my head at her, writing out my response.

“We just don’t want to be a burden.”She stares at the note before smiling up at me.

“You are our guests, not a burden,” She chuckles.

“Gwen asked for this favor and need,” She smiles.

“Just relax and enjoy yourselves. Take this a small vacation while Gwen finishes up her work.”

Just then we hear the door open, and Natalia appears on her own, a thoughtful look in her eyes.

“You’re back!” Rosalie chirps.

“How was the walk? Did you see all of River Moon?” She asks with a cheerful smile.

Talia smiles sheepishly, her eyes staring at her hands.

“It was …eye opening…” she replies quietly.

“Aurora just had an emergency to deal with.”

There’s a serious tone in her voice and Rosalie appears to understand the true meaning behind her words.

“Well, you’ve come just in time.I think Kota might enjoy some time at the park,”

She gestures to Kota watching the movie on the floor with Rio lying lazily next to him.

“Yeah, mommy!” Kota cries, scrambling to his feet.

“Can we go to the park?”

Rosalie and I before giving her consent, Kota bouncing with excitement

for Rosalie’s pup,

away, pointing out different buildings and explaining their purpose to us to keep the walk

runs ahead of us with Rio reassure

up a picnic for the girls, spreading out a blanket

to the playground, several pups gathering around

sorts

vigilant, and I wish with all my heart that I could help comfort in some

She is already frightened.

do not need to scare her

park, picking flowers, thin sticks, and

of foliage and begins weaving them into crowns, her nimble fingers delicately folding the

watches with awe over her shoulder, praising her

crown to Rosalie, placing it on top of her

as she puts

the ‘thank you’ sign from

yet another flower crown and

at the gesture, having been so focused on her pup and not noticing

Agnes “Sorry,”

with a

her for a few moments before taking the flower crown and

scared me, is all,” Talia apologizes, turning to

and apologizes once again for

intrigue before asking a question I had been asking myself

werewolves?” She asks bluntly, placing her chin in her

Talia shifts uncomfortably on her pillow and

a lovely pup…” she says with a forced smile, adjusting

“How old is he?”

a tight line, as if holding

four months old… almost

proudly before her face

hard time talking to us about her story,” she

if you don’t want to tell us.But just FYI, you are safe here so you can stop looking at us like we’re going to eat you,” she

would have hurt you already if we wanted

watches Kota play

but decides to keep them to herself for the time being.We remain at the park for lunch and a few hours thereafter until Kota and Rio tire themselves out and lifting his arms up for me

smile, but I can see the hurt in her eyes

Kota to go to his mother, Talia shakes her head at me to stop and walks on ahead of us to the guest house can feel a small pain in my heart as we make the small trek in silence and try to think of something I

Maybe hold her hand…

Grayson suggests.

up my pace until I walk alongside her, Kota mumbling with

I touch her hand, Talia flinching

I mentally prepare for her to snap at me but instead, she just stares at

takes my

arm, but I can

her lower lip as a small whimper escapes her throat and she squeezes my hand with all

onto me for a little

holding her hand as if it

wiping a few

and holds

tired,” She whispers, avoiding my

She instructs as she

her to let me wash him in her place.Talia looks like she might burst into tears after

you do it?” She asks, her

as she looks

breaking his mother’s heart, but I know he is truly unaware of how

stay in there too long,” she

you so be firm and have him help you clean

leaving me alone with the cheeky pup grinning at me

grabbing a handful

he can enjoy

but I grab his two little hands

Kota,”

draining down the hole much to Kota’s dismay glance at

we are alone, I dress the little boy in a pair of blue

s-sad,” I whisper

blue and brown eyes blinking

sad?” He asks, a patient look

thi-thi-think s-she miss-misses home,”

“Oh,” he sighs.

it here.” I hide my smile

i-it t-t-too,” I

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255