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?”

before giving her consent, Kota bouncing with excitement while Rio jumps at

the stroller for Rosalie’s pup, some

and explaining their purpose to us to keep

runs ahead of us with Rio reassure her that

up a picnic for the girls, spreading out a blanket with snacks and pillows for them

races with Rio through the open field to the playground, several pups gathering

game of sorts where they run

that I could help comfort in some way, but I know better than to push her

She is already frightened.

do not need to scare

of the park, picking flowers,

her nimble

over her shoulder, praising

to Rosalie, placing it on

this for me?” Rosalie asks with a smile as she puts her now

remembering the ‘thank you’

flower crown

jumps with fright at the gesture, having been so focused on her pup and

Agnes “Sorry,”

signs with a

few moments before taking the flower crown and squeezing Agnes’

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

nervously and apologizes once again

a question I had been asking myself

are you so afraid of werewolves?” She asks bluntly, placing her

attacked?” Talia shifts uncomfortably on

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

“How old is he?”

lips in a tight line, as if

months old…

before her

time talking to us about her story,” she says

you are safe here so you can stop looking at us like we’re going to eat you,”

hurt you already if we wanted

and watches Kota

have more questions 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

a smile, but I can see the hurt in her eyes

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

Maybe hold her hand…

Grayson suggests.

I walk

of courage I have, I touch her hand, Talia flinching

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

suddenly takes my hand, interlocking our fingers

I can still feel her hand

lip as a small whimper escapes

for a little while longer

her hand

f**k!” she groans, wiping a few stray tears

her face and holds her head

just tired,” She whispers,

room,” She

Talia prepares a warm bath for Kota, but he begs her to let me wash him in her place.Talia looks like she might burst into tears after being rejected by

it?” She asks, her voice

returns as she looks at me with glossy

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

stay in there too long,” she

firm and have him help you clean up if he makes a mess.He needs to

me alone with

the bubble filled tub, grabbing a handful of bubbles and throwing them up in the

make quick work to wash him so that he can enjoy the

forewarned, Kota tries to splash me many times, but I grab his two little

m-no-more, Kota,” I say

the hole much to Kota’s dismay

dress the little boy in a pair of blue

I- t-think yo-your mommy is s-sad,” I whisper

sucks on his thumb, his blue and

asks, a patient look in his

s-she miss-misses home,” I

“Oh,” he sighs.

my smile and finish putting on his

like i-it t-t-too,”

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