04. A Night To Spend

ALERIX

Alec had insisted that we stay over for the night since it began raining in the middle of our dinner. I tried to make him understand that I had kids to see but he adamantly told me that I would be going out in the stormy rain so that was why we were in the living room, right now, hoping the rain would stop. Except it was just a dream that would not come through.

“Your room has been prepared,” Elristeya announced and I glanced up at her. She offered me a smile and I nodded.

There was a guy who was sitting opposite me and discussing with my brother. I tuned them out and listened to Micheal’s talk on why he hated rain.

I just hummed in response because I could feel Joe’s burning gaze on me. Why was I feeling like that? I should not.

He kept rejecting me over and over again and yet again, he wanted me to swoon over him. He is mistaken because I would never do that.

The rain didn't stop so I gave up and went to my room. Apparently, Alec made his wife prepare another room for Micheal as well. What did I expect?

He was acting like my non-existent over-protective boyfriend. As I made my way to the room, I kept yawning and rubbing my eyes. Today has been a long day for me. I had Micheal call the caretaker we had put in charge of my kids to see if they were good.

I decided to put a call across to her also. Dialing her number, she picked up not long after.

“Miss Alerix.” Her voice came through a crack. It would be the network acting funny because of the rain.

“Yes. How are they?” I asked almost immediately.

“They are fine ma. I was just telling them a story.” She informed me. I smiled. My kids liked being told stories before they slept. So many times that they would beg me to tell stories about their nonexistent daddy and I would gladly obliged.

“Can I speak to them?”

“Yes.” There was some sound of shuffling as Seth and Sarah’s voice came through.

“Mommy?” I smiled as I crossed to the other hall.

“Mommy, are you not coming today?” Just as I opened my mouth to reply, I bumped into a hard surface- no, scratch that- someone’s chest.

I winced out, rubbing my forehead as I looked up at the figure. I stilled immediately, the smile on my face faltered as I looked into Joe’s eyes. My heart plummeted into my belly and goosebumps ran across my skin at his awkward perusal.

“Mommy?” Sarah called and I could not find it in me to answer.

His eyes seemed to flicker to the phone. Fuck! Could he hear her? I knew Joe had come from a werewolf family but I had never seen him shift into a wolf which meant that he was a human. I clutched the phone tight to my ear, not wanting to take any chance.

He cannot find out about them. It would be way too complicated.

I relaxed a bit, realizing that we had been standing like this for some minutes.

“Oh, sorry!” I stuttered, stepping out of the way as he blinked.

I quickly rushed past him and scurried to my room. The moment I got into the safety of my room, I clicked the lock into place and breathed out heavily.

“Mommy, are you alright?” Seth asked me.

“Y-Yes, I am. I was just—” I swallowed hard, trying to regulate my breaths.

“I'm good.” I finally responded after downing the water in the jug on the drawer.

I sat on the bed, putting the phone on loudspeaker. “So tell me, how did you spend your day?” I folded my legs as I listened to them. They were the bundle of joy in my life and I always wanted to hear their voices.

Their presence brought peace to me and I would do everything within my strength to protect them.

Seth went on about how he played with his Legos and watched some educational videos I had the caretaker put on for them while Sarah told me her doll’s head was broken. I tried to sympathise with her but the cunning girl had me promising to get her a new doll.

“Mommy, you know every promise is a debt, and you said that—” My door creaked open and I twisted my head to the back with a smile on my face, thinking it was Elris but no, it was Joe again. The smile was wiped off as my eyes ran over his body. He had changed into a flimsy tank top that accentuated his upper part.

I could not move at all. Why was he doing this?

Sarah’s voice kept going on and on about why I must fulfill my promise.

None of us uttered anything and my finger reached for the screen to cut the call which I did successfully. His eyes flickered to the phone before he cleared his throat.

“I have been knocking but you did not answer. I thought some thing must have…. Your brother told me to bring this to you. He said you didn't have a dress to wear for the night.” He informed me, looking like he didn't want to go this but had to. That got me confused.

Why would Alec send him to me?

When I noticed that he was not taking a step further, I understood when he glanced at the entrance then back at me. I gulped hard, standing to my feet. I had pulled off my trousers when I was busy talking to my twins. The only thing I had on was the oversized t-shirt and my thighs were exposed. My legs twitched as sensations ran through my body, not liking the way I felt exposed under his gaze.

I avoided his eyes as I walked to him to take the dress from him.

“Thank you,” I mumbled, taking the dress from him and didn't let him say anything as I closed the door on him.

I released a deep sigh, leaning on the door and closing my eyes briefly. I should be out of this place soon!