by Sydney Addae
David listened to the questions and watched a quiet Sarita. Had someone stolen her too? She didn’t say, instead she looked like Rose did right before running to the bathroom. Was she sick too?
“She has no pack,” Milfius said pointing at Sarita. All of his siblings turned and looked at her.
“Whoa, stop. No pointing,” Cameron said from the chair where he sat with Lilly.
“Everybody has a pack,” Jackie said. “Remember what Rone said.”
“Not her,” Milfius said. “Nobody wants her.”
“What?” Cameron said.
“She said that,” Milfius said nodding.
“You’re not being nice, Milfius,” Lilly said. “Stop talking.”
Sarita stiffened and straightened as everyone looked at her, but she didn’t speak.
“Is that true?” Renee asked from the floor. “No pack?”
“Why?” Sarita gritted out.
David noticed the gleam in her eyes and stood. “Respect, remember?”
“Yes, that’s right, respect her right to privacy,” Lilly said.
Adam and Renee frowned, they didn’t get it. Jackie nodded.
“What?” Renee said looking up at him. “I just asked a question.”
“Right, if she wants us to know, she’ll share. Stop pushing,” Cameron said.
David looked at them until they nodded and then returned to his seat.
“You didn’t have to do that,” Sarita said under her breath.
David shrugged. For some reason his mom liked this girl but he couldn’t allow her to fight his sister. And Renee wouldn’t have stopped with the one question.
“I can handle myself,” she hissed.
“Okay.” He turned the page of his book.
She flipped the book from his hand and it landed on the floor.
“Sarita!” Lilly yelled and walked over to them. “Pick that up.” She pointed to the book. Sarita’s body shook with anger as she bent over, picked the book up and slammed it on the table. David glanced at the book, then at her and pushed away from the table. He walked to the other side of the room and sat at another table with another book. Maybe Renee was right and his mom didn’t know how mean Sarita was, somehow he doubted that.
Chapter 9
“Watch out,” Jasmine said moving toward Milfius who landed on his butt after taking a spin on his ice skates. The pup had blossomed in the past two days while waiting for his Sire to arrive.
Ulric ran into roadblocks because his son left their country illegally. Unable to explain the Liege or discuss wolf history, Ulric’s frustration at the delay was understandable. Silas worked with US Immigration to cut through some red tape, so once Ulric arrived he could return home without additional problems.
Laughing, Milfius dusted off and chased after Jackie who did her best to evade him. “They’re having fun, just two more days ‘til Christmas,” Cameron said standing next to Jasmine. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like this.” He looked around the courtyard which had been turned into a winter fairyland for all the staff and their pups to use for the holiday. She watched her children laugh and interact with other children with pride.
“Yes, it turned out well. Everyone’s having fun.”
“Not everyone,” Cameron pointed out. Jasmine’s gaze followed his to Sarita who skated alone around the perimeter of the ice. Since that day in the nursery when David walked away from her, none of the others talked or played with her. As much as Jasmine liked Sarita’s spunk, the child needed to bring it down a notch. Silas made it clear he didn’t want her to interfere and make the kids be her friend, so she hadn’t said anything… well much of anything since the incident. But she wanted them to all get along. Sarita reminded her of Asia, all prickly, with that I don’t care attitude.
“She doesn’t know how to make friends, that’s all.”
Cameron scoffed. “Biting everyone’s head off isn’t the way. The kids tried to be nice, but she snarls or ignores them. Can’t blame them for ignoring her now and having fun.”
Jasmine hadn’t known the kids continued to try and make friends. That pleased her.
“Mama, look at me!” Adam said as he passed by her on his skates with a large grin.
She clapped and whistled. “Go Adam.” Her response to him started a parade of all the children skating in front of her for praise. Jasmine whistled and clapped and howled until her throat hurt.
“See what you started?” Silas said through their link as he stood next to her. Rather than give verbal praise or encouragement, he watched and nodded. The children beamed. Jasmine wanted to punch him.
“Why didn’t you tell me to do that before my throat got sore?”
He chuckled. “Would you have done this? Admit it, you’re having fun watching and cheering them on, probably more than they are.”
“I wouldn’t say that. Everyone’s having a great time.” He threaded her arm through his warming her immediately.
“Ulric will get here on Christmas and leave the next day. Hawke and Asia are asking questions about her sire, but he does not believe they’re getting the truth. Angus will remain through the first of the year to help Radoff settle things and set up a new council. They have a lot of work to do, but no one trusts the other. Angus isn’t sure the council will be of much use.”
Jasmine heard his heart in those words. Silas wanted all wolves to have a similar degree of freedom and prosperity as his pack. “Either they will or they won’t, those are the choices they’ll make. Right now, our children and pack members are celebrating the holiday.” Standing on her toes she kissed his cheek. “It’s Christmas, baby. Take a break and just enjoy this moment with us.”
He looked down at her and smiled. “So what’s on the agenda for Christmas Eve?”
She smiled. Tomorrow was her favorite night. “Well, we’ll start out here in the morning with rides, music, dancing and games for everyone. Cook will prepare a special lunch buffet for everyone, staff and their families, that’s when we’ll give them their gifts.” She laughed at his stunned expression.
“Gifts? For the staff? All of them?”
Jasmine nodded, pleased with all the hard work she, Rose and Jacques had done. Getting a list of employees was easy; knowing enough about them to purchase gifts had been the challenge until Rose came up with the idea of a survey. After that, they’d shopped online and made their purchases.
“You didn’t think all those boxes were decorations, did you?” She squeezed his arm, glad to have surprised him.
“Yes, I did. What made you decide to do that? It’s never been done.” He sounded surprised and curious.
“It’s Christmas. It’s when you say all the thank you’s and you’re welcomes that you’ve missed all year. You gotta admit, it’s been a crazy year, lots of stuff happened and we couldn’t have made the progress we did without everyone who works here.”
Silas nodded as if thinking it through the first time. “That’s what pack does.”
She wanted to smack him for the condescending tone; instead she made an effort to explain. “True, but the approval and appreciation the kids seek skating does not end when they become adults. Everyone likes hearing they did a good job, or that you see them and know they are working hard. I understand they do it without a thank you, or any acknowledgment, but it doesn’t hurt to allow them to know we appreciate them, does it?”
His gaze met hers and for a few seconds he simply stared. “No, it does not. I’ve been blessed with a mate who thinks of the pack in ways I never have.” He kissed her.
Jasmine melted against him and gave herself to his mastery. When they broke apart, his eyes glowed and his canines had dropped. A curl of lust filled her belly and she rubbed against him. Her hand tightened on his arm as tingles of need zipped through her.
“I’m close to the edge, sweet bitch, do not tempt me if you don’t want our children to see how they got here.”
His words had the effect of cold water on her sizzling libido. “Rig
ht. Not here, later. Promise me.”
“Anything for you, my Bitch.” He turned and looked at the crowd. “How much longer will this go on?”
After glancing at her watch and then listening to the laughter of the children, she knew they’d wait an hour or two longer. “Until eight, and then a bath and supper.”
He released a sigh.
She hid a smile and thought to remind him of his request for more pups but thought better of it.
“As you say this happens once a year, thank the Goddess.”
She laughed at the grumpy tone. “Yes, thank the Goddess.”
Chapter 10
David sat up and looked around. The room was still dark but he made out the shapes of his brother and sisters lying in their beds easily. Still, something bothered him and he didn’t know what. Easing out of the bed, he walked to the corner of the room and looked where nurse and the other nurses lay asleep. Didn’t they know something was wrong?
Think. He closed his eyes, exhaled and waited. Grandfather Wolf would come. He always did. David relaxed and searched the darkness for the Black Alpha. The wolf started showing up in his dreams and then showed up whenever David needed him which had been often.
“What troubles you?” The deep voice came from behind, soothing him.
“Something’s wrong, but I don’t know what.” David turned in the direction of the voice knowing he wouldn’t see more than the normal outline of the huge wolf.
“She left.”
Those two words surprised him. “Who left?” Aunt Renee had been gone for weeks.
“Sarita.”
David’s mouth opened and then closed. No one could enter or leave the compound without his daddy knowing. “When? How?” Was it her lack of knowledge of pack matters that caused her to leave the safety of the gates?
“She has no pack and believes no one wants her around.”
David snorted. “She doesn’t like anybody and doesn’t know how to play with us.” He remembered Sarita turning her nose up at them as if they were unworthy to play with her.
“There may be a reason for her actions, have you talked to her?”
“Milfius said –”
“No. Have you talked to her?”
Other than their brief exchange when she knocked the book out of his hand, he hadn’t said a word to her. “No, Sir.”
“Well then, you don’t know all you need to know about her to make those statements, do you?”
David thought he had her pegged. Spoiled, mean-spirited, selfish, but he hadn’t talked to her. “No, Sir.”
“Everyone has a story that makes them who they are. Even you.”
David straightened beneath the reminder of the time he’d been sickly, with limited energy and abilities. He couldn’t keep up with Adam or draw as well as Renee or figure out puzzles as fast as Jackie. His mom kept him close and allowed him to sleep with her because his rest was never easy. One day all of that changed. Even now he couldn’t recall what happened. He woke with energy and moved around the room without help or getting tired. Mama cried and daddy watched with a look David hadn’t ever seen before. Grandfather was right, he had a story.
“That’s true. I’ll tell.” He moved to the door leading out the nursery unsure who was in the hall. Someone was always there.
“Tell my daddy Sarita is gone,” he said to Jarcee, one of his favorite security guards.
The large man bent to one knee and smiled. “David, you should be asleep.”
Instead of agreeing he repeated his words.
Jarcee frowned. “She’s downstairs. I’ll send word to check on her. If she’s missing, we’ll look for her. Don’t worry. Now get some sleep.”
“After you tell daddy.” He crossed his arms and watched Jarcee. The man didn’t want to wake his dad, but David sensed it was important daddy know about this right away.
“Okay.” A few seconds later Jarcee stood and leaned against the wall.
David heard his parents coming and relaxed. Everything would be okay now. He faced them.
“What happened?” his mom asked looking at him.
“Sarita is missing?” His dad asked Jarcee in a hard tone that caused David to look up at him.
“According to young David, she is. I’ve contacted the guards on the floor she’s resting to go and check on her. Still waiting for them to respond, Sir.”
“Good.” His dad looked down at him and picked him up. “Whoa, you’re getting heavy, soon I won’t be able to do this. Let’s sit in here and talk, okay?”
“Yes, Sir,” David said wrapping his arms around his father’s neck while enjoying the warmth of his mom’s hand on his back. Yes, everything would be fine soon.
His dad sat far from where the others were resting. “What happened?”
Secure on his lap, David leaned back against his dad’s chest and looked at his mom. “I woke up, something was wrong.”
“What makes you think Sarita left?” His mom asked.
David had never shared his relationship with Grandfather Wolf and wasn’t sure now was the best time. He shrugged. “I just know.”
His mom looked at his dad, and something flashed in her eyes but he didn’t know what. Should he tell them about Grandfather and how much time they spent together? Or that Grandfather knew things and shared a lot of secrets with him? Grandfather hadn’t said not to tell, but he hadn’t encouraged it either.
Jarcee stepped to the door. A few moments later, his dad nodded. “Sarita is not in her room. Do you have any idea where she went? Or why she left?”
David didn’t really believe she left because of them or how she was treated but Grandfather had never been wrong before. “She didn’t smile anymore.”
“What?” his mom asked moving closer.
“She stopped smiling.” He didn’t know how to explain it the way Grandfather did, but his mom was smart and would understand.
“Ah… no one played with her.”
“She didn’t want to play with us.” The idea that he or his siblings were responsible for her running away didn’t sit well with him.
“Did you try to play with her,” his mom held up her hand stopping him from speaking. “After she knocked the book from your hand?”
“No, Ma’am.”
She released a long sigh. “Did any of you try to play with her?”
“Everybody did, except me.”
“Why didn’t you play with her?”
“She was mean and selfish. I don’t like her. She breaks things, and don’t put the toys away. She’s always fighting and fussing.” His lips settled in a tight, straight line as he met his mom’s gaze.
“Okay. You don’t like her, but you’re the one who woke up when she went missing.”
David thought Grandfather woke him, but he mentioned Sarita after David told him something was wrong. “I suppose. Can I go back to sleep?” He rubbed his face against his daddy’s chest. One day his chest would be big and strong like his dad’s.
“Yes, we’ll look for Sarita.” His dad stood, walked toward his bed and placed him on it. “Get your rest, son. Thank you for what you did. It’s snowing outside and in the morning would be too late.”
Chapter 11
Heavy hearted, Jasmine walked into the nursery six hours later. The kids did various activities but stopped when she entered. Running toward her they talked all at once asking if they could go outside to play, or wear their new coats and boots, or participate in a snowball fight.
Jasmine looked at each of them, so bright, so eager, and so oblivious. She’d failed. While trying to make sure her children were safe, she’d wrapped them so tight in a bubble they missed vital lessons. She hadn’t provided critical ingredients to their upbringing and couldn’t fully blame them for believing the world revolved around them. She’d spent the early part of the morning pulling together what she considered to be a palatable solution.
“Come, sit.” Her voice rose above their requests, silencing them immediately. David glanced at her a
nd then turned away.
Once she sat in the rocking chair, and the kids sat at her feet staring up at her, she exhaled. Four sets of eyes gave her their complete attention and she wasn’t sure how to start. A modified beginning seemed best.
“You know your father is a full-blood wolf and I’m human?” She searched their eyes to make sure they understood. They nodded. Good they had paid attention when Silas and the twins taught wolf biology and the things they should watch out for as they develop.
“There are a lot of people who don’t think it’s right to mate with someone outside your race or… species. Some of those people are angry, hateful and try to destroy… kill people like me, and the twins.” The look of shock on their faces pained her. But she and Silas discussed the matter in depth and decided it was best to share Sarita’s involvement with the Liege.
“Why? Because you’re different than daddy?” Adam asked.
Discrimination had always been a challenge, but she’d never feared her life was in jeopardy until she met Silas. “Yes.”
“People want to kill you? Rone and Rese, too?” Jackie asked frowning.
“Yes. They do not like half-breeds or the women who give birth to them. Now… before you get upset, you should know I’m not afraid. And does Rone or Rese look scared to you?”
David’s face relaxed. “No.”
“They’re not scared of anything or anybody, ‘cept you and daddy,” Renee said with a hint of hero worship in her voice.
Jasmine smiled at the nods from the other children and wondered if her sons knew what these four thought of them. Probably not and she’d leave it that way.
“Mommy’s only telling you this so you understand. Not everyone has it the same as you.”
“That’s right, mama. The boy I played ball with yesterday said he lived in a little house with no fence,” Adam said.
“We are important because daddy’s the boss,” Renee said looking at her siblings.
“Everybody does what we say ‘cause they scared of daddy and you mama,” Adam said.
“They don’t have pretty clothes like we do,” Renee said looking at her pink and green outfit. “Why don’t daddy give everybody pretty clothes?”
