The woman and her kid We met at the restaurant ,made me think about kids. And thinking about kids made me think about names. I always adored the name Nick. For a boy of course, for a girl maybe Kayla. The dream was to have two kids, or no kids at all. I never wanted to go through the pain of birth. People die from giving birth. Not until recently, the idea of actually parenting a kid, sounded sweet. Genelia told me that birth is only temporary, it ends.
I remember our conversation exactly. "What do you mean you don't want kids?" She looks at me with a glint of astonishment in her eyes. "It's not like that! I mean, sure kids would be great, but, having to birth a kid won't be." I explain to her. Genelia still looks like she's about to shake me until I want to birth a child. "Your parents did." Genelia argues.
"And I love them for it, but I'm still open for adoption." Genelia shakes her head and me and continues to paint her nails . Genelia and I don't talk about it for the rest of the night. "Gen?" I call out in a whisper. "Yeah, Sam?" She answers with an exasperated sigh. "I don't know, I just feel like you hate me." I respond.
Genelia shifts in my bed and looks at me, "I could never hate you. I just don't understand you. I mean your plan is to find your mate and have kids." She is right.
"I guess you're right." I admit in defeat.
"If you don't want-" I interrupt her. "Genelia, I'll be happy either way. Maybe I'll be happier if the kids are mine." I announce. Genelia smiles, "As long as that's want you want. I didn't mean to pressure you into anything." Genelia's smile turns into a guilty frown. "You didn't. Don't think like that. Come on, we should probably go to bed."
With that, we fall asleep. My friendship with Genelia means the world to me. I just don't want her to think I'm crazy.
"Earth to Samantha!" Alpha Hughes snaps his fingers in front of my face. "S-Sorry, I was just thinking." I apologize. Alpha Hughes looks down for a minute and then looks back up into my sky blue eyes. "About what?" He asks. The question catches me off guard. Where had this concern come from? "Uh, well, my friend, Genelia." I manage to get out. Alpha Hughes nods and focuses back on his meal.
All I can think about is Alpha Hughes. Why had he cared? What made him ask me? What's going on? "Shit, Samantha we need to get back to the house. Now!" Alpha Hughes leaves the money on the table and rushes me out of the restaurant. I want to ask why we have to leave, but I don't in fear that he'll get more mad at me. In the car ride Alpha Hughes talks to the driver in low whispers.
My hearing would normally perk up right now, as much as I hate to, I'm a hopeless eavesdropper. The only thing is, it didn't. I can't bring myself to listen in on this conversation. Maybe, if I try harder.
"Turn right."
"Where am I going, Alpha?"
"You're going where I'm telling you to go. Pay attention. Dammit! I think that was a raccoon!"
"Do you want me to check it out?"
"If you get out of the car, you're not getting back in. Go straight for five more miles."
"Yes, Alpha." Where are we? I'm just now noticing we're nowhere near Moon Shadow territory. Quickly we arrive in a forest. I still have no idea why we're here.
"W-Where are we?" I gather all of my confidence to utter this question. "This is a treehouse," he points to the trees and in the middle is a rather impressive treehouse. "Oh, um, wh-" Alpha Hughes cuts me off. "We are here because, I wanted to show you something.
" Why?"This is a treehouse my brother and I built when we were younger. We'd come up here all the time just to be level with the trees. To feel equal with the trees. My eldest brother, Markus, was jealous of Mine and Philip's bond that he tried to demolish our treehouse. The treehouse symbolizing our love for one another. So, we stopped him. And we never saw him again."
They have an older brother? Shouldn't he be the Alpha?
"But? How come you're the Alpha?" I wonder. It doesn't make sense! Their brother, Markus, should be the Alpha. "Markus ran away. He is no longer the rightful Alpha. We heard from a neighboring pack that he's dead, they found a body that could've been his in a river. I figured the bastard would be stupid enough to die in a river, so I knew it was him." Alpha Hughes explains. We stay in the treehouse for a while.
My mind does what it always does, it wonders. Why is Alpha Hughes showing me this place? Why is he telling me everything? Last week when I met him, he made it very clear I am just his 'baby momma'. Nothing else. So, why is he acting weird? Don't worry, Samantha, he'll probably go back to his cruel self soon.
By now, it's dark outside. The vibrant moon hangs over my head like a ceiling lamp. "Oh fucking crap! I forgot! David! Go faster!" Alpha Hughes orders. David obeys quickly. "David, faster! I could kill you faster than this." He adds. What a lovely man! Note my sarcasm.
We get back to the pack house . On our arrival, I see a lot of dead and wounded warriors. Alpha Hughes mutters a curse word and storms into his office. His grip on me is fierce, and I feel like I'm about to break my arm. "What the hell happened?" Alpha Hughes urges. "Michael and his troops invaded us! Twenty-five warriors are dead, and six are wounded." Dean reports.
"How could this happen? He said he would give us three months!" Alpha slams his fists on his desk, he breaks the desk. "He left this for you."
It's a letter. Alpha Hughes opens it and yells in frustration. "What happened, Jack?" Philip asks. "Michael isn't working alone." He said with gritted teeth. "Who's he-" Alpha cuts him off. "Markus."
Now, who is this Markus? Is it his elder brother who was assumed dead? I dare not to ask him ,seeing his fury.