I got cozy on the rocking chair, slouched down with my legs draped over the side. There was a nice warm breeze and the sun felt nice and warm on my face. I opened my phone and started to go through the different stores, finding what I needed. It would have been so much more satisfying to spend all this money in person but hitting the ‘buy cart’ a couple of times was refreshing. They said shipping would be the next day, so I should have it by the weekend. Tomorrow is Wyatt’s birthday party. I told the Alpha I would stay for the party. I need to decide what I want to do after that.
I put my phone down on the floor and used my leg to rock me from the balcony railing. I could really get used to this. Such a beautiful view of the trees and mountains around me. Do I want to leave? I guess if the prophesy is true, then I will need to find my mate in hopes they don’t reject me. Maybe I could go to the beach. Of course, if I leave here, I won’t have any protection against whoever is trying to kill me or capture me. Whatever they want with me anyway. I really haven’t been around the pack yet. Maybe a nice walk would be good.
I grabbed my shoes and made my way outside. I decided to walk around the other side of the pack house. The path was brick with flowers all around the landscape. I faintly heard some laughing and I found myself walking towards it. There was a playground off to the side. It was a simple playground with a slide, monkey bars and multiple ropes for kids to swing on. There seemed to be about 10 3-4 year-old kids playing and next to that was an infant/baby play around with the 1–2-year-olds playing on a smaller version playground. There were about six kids there. I was drawn to the infant/baby playground. I sat down on the side of the enclosure. It was like a rubber barrier that connected like a hinge. A small boy came over and smiled at me. I waved my hand at him and he started to laugh. Finally, he came up to me and grabbed my finger, pulling me towards the swing set. He pointed to the swing and said “peese?”
“Please? You want me to push you?”
He nodded his head, yes so, I pick him up and placed him on the swing. I gently pushed him and his little laughs were everything. They warmed my heart up. After about five minutes, he started to whine and kick, so I stopped the swing and got him out. He grabbed my hand and led me to a group of kids playing with building blocks. He pulled my finger down motioning for me to sit and play. When a toddler says sit, you sit. So, I did. I have a pretty impressive tower going.
“It is nice to see someone playing with the kids. I haven’t seen you before. What is your name?” an elderly lady asked.
“Hi, I am Nina! I have been a guest here for a while and I went for a walk and I saw the little ones here.”
“I am Elaine. I run the orphan/daycare facility here. I have a bunch of volunteers and the Alpha sends people who technically need to be punished but not really to help out as well. It is really only me here.”
“For all those kids?”
“Yes, I love kids. They keep me busy but it is so nice when I get people to come help out!”
“I am not sure how long I will be around but I will come help out as much as possible!” I need to have a serious talk with Wyatt about this! Does he know how much work this poor woman does in a day?”
“Bless you! We do have families take each kid home for supper and bed, like a foster family, but during the day, we are an orphan/daycare center.”
“How many orphans?” my eyes went down to the cute little boy. He has dark hair but pretty thin with bright blue eyes.
“Six, the little boy you are looking at is Ethan. His parents died in a rogue attack right after he was born.”
“Poor little guy”, he ran to me and I held out my arms for him to jump in. I grabbed him and hugged him tight.
“Am I interrupting?” that velvety voice ran out that made my back stiffen instantly.
“No Alpha Wyatt. Miss Nina was helping me out today!” Elaine said cheerfully. She gave me a smile and walked away.
I turned to face him. Ethan had laid his head down on my shoulder and his eyes were dropping.
“Well actually, I am playing with my new friend” I said quietly.
Wyatt looked at the little boy with amusement on his face, “He is asleep, you guys played hard.”
I looked at Ethan’s face and he was indeed sleeping soundly. I walked over to a bench and sat down, making him comfortable on me.
“I didn’t know you were so good with kids!” Wyatt said as he sat down next to me.
“There are a lot of things you don’t know about me.”
“Fair enough, I would like to know those things though.”
I glanced over at him, “Why?” If I was going to leave in a couple of days, there was no reason to get more attached to this place. Wyatt was looking at Ethan with the softest expression on his face. Nope, I cannot get attached to this place.
“Can’t a guy just want to know more about someone?”
“I am not just a shiny new toy you get to play with” I said, slightly annoyed.
Wyatt actually started laughing. Fuck, it a sexy ass laugh too. “Is that what you think of me?”
“I don’t know you well enough to have an opinion.”
“So there really isn’t a reason why we can’t go on a date and learn more about each other.”
“Well, first off, you turn 18 tomorrow and if you find your mate, she will be very disappointed to know you already have a date with another girl. Second, if I leave after your party to continue on my journey, I don’t want to get too attached”
Wyatt was quiet for a while, he leaned back and put his elbows on the back of the bench and scooted his butt closer to the edge. “You are making a lot of assumptions. What if I don’t let you leave regardless?”
“Excuse me? Let me? You do not get to ‘let me’ do anything! I am not a member of this pack and I have not broken any laws for you to keep me here. Plus, if I wanted to get locked away and be someone’s sex toy, I would have stayed in my old pack!” I said the last thing before I realized what I said. It was a moment too late and I saw Wyatt’s eyes turn pitch black and a deep threatening growl escaped his mouth.
“What the fuck did you just say?”
“Nothing important. Do not wake up Ethan!” I said, whispering. I tried to control my trembling voice. I am a master at hiding my emotions and controlling my heart beat.
“Not important? Who wants to keep you for a sex toy? That sounds important to me!”
“My ex just spouted off stuff when he figured out I left the pack. I doubt he meant it.” Not sure if I was trying to convince Wyatt or myself.
“You are not leaving this pack until I have decided it is safe for you to leave and you won’t get killed by a rogue!” Wyatt said, standing up and starting to walk off.
“They could try….” I said, apparently too loud because Wyatt stopped mid stride and turned to look at me.
“One hour, get to the gym for training” he said very firmly and stormed off.
Well shit, good job big mouth. Now I got to go kick some Alpha ass. I got up and handed Ethan back to Elaine.
“I will be back to see the kids tomorrow!” I said.
“Okay dear, try not to make the Alpha mad, he has a temper that one!”
I smiled and waved as I walked off.