The loud buzzing sound of the incoming freight cargo ships echoed in the port. Along with it were the noises coming from the machines that worked in the area. The floor of the inspected boxes was filled with people operating the forklifts to transfer piles and piles of boxes coming from the opened containers.
Among the ones who operate the forklifts was a dark-haired man whose eyes were unusually redder than usual. In his newly laundered white-orange uniform and worn trousers, the man controlled the levers and buttons with ease, showing his experience in this job he had.
If this was three years ago, Darius Walker wouldn't even imagine that he would be reduced to living a life of a normal human. He was born an Alpha to his rogue mother, who soon reigned over the wolf pack in the coastal city of Canini Shore he once lived in. However, ever since that fateful night three years ago, his life had changed forever.
As if remembering what happened three years ago, Darius just spat. "Who cares about those wolves? I have my own life away from them now. I don't need them…"
Darius then stopped for a moment after putting a box down, only to hear his phone ring due to an alarm. When he came to check, it was a reminder for him to buy ice cream for the kids. A smile then embraced his lips. "My puppies' third birthday is today. I need to get home fast, or else Megan might drive Adrian into another stunt again. I wish they can keep their hands off of the cookie jar."
He then quietly went about his day, even if some workers were getting nervous. After all, the company was now being inspected by the new owner. If anything, nothing should go wrong… well as long as the new owner was on the sorting floor, watching.
"Hey, everyone, come here for a second!" The operations head called out, and the workers pursed their lips. They all parked their forklifts properly before coming to gather around the people in suits.
"…what do they want?" Darius murmured under his breath.
"Everyone, this is Mr. Ross, the new owner…" The operations head continued to introduce the owner to the people, but the man with redder eyes only lightly gazed at the new big boss.
Mr. Ross was donned in a store-bought suit, seen from the seams and fabric used. His perfume was also coming from an expensive brand, but not a brand among the high ballers. The shoes and the posture also didn't fit the net worth of the company. However, if it was the way this new owner wanted to relate to his new people, the worker would only ignore him.
Then, Mr. Ross regarded the workers with his eyes. His gaze landed on Darius as if he was embedding the man's face within his mind.
Darius, however, tried to avoid the suspicious look. He didn't like the fact that the new boss was looking at him like the old man knew him from somewhere.
Soon enough, the operations head finished the irrelevant speech. "All right, let's all work hard for the remaining of the day. Mr. Ross likes to meet everyone to see the working conditions. Since you guys are good at what you do, he's rewarding you with a bonus that will come with today's paycheck."
"Thank you, Mr. Ross!" The excited workers all thanked the new owner at the cue of the operations head. No wonder the operations head forced them to spend a few precious moments just to meet this bigshot.
…
At a house…
Two pairs of golden eyes stared at the high shelves of their cupboard. The cookie jar was on the highest shelf, and the two small children were thinking of a way to reach it.
"Adrian, we should wait for Daddy to come home." The little girl turned to her older brother, seeing how he frowned as if taking the situation as a challenge. She had her long hair in twin plaits, the shorter strands edging out from the otherwise proper look.
"We can do it if we worked together." The boy named Adrian looked around and saw their other brother just sitting on his seat at the dining table. The middle child even had blank eyes as if he was not thinking of anything. "Dylan, come here. I'll climb your back!"
"Daddy will be mad if we take some without him." The little girl said so, but she rubbed her tummy. She felt hungry, and she wanted to take a cookie. "…why is Daddy late today?"
A pout came to Adrian's lips before looking at the shelves again. He then stretched out to reach the counter, only to prop himself up with difficulty. The little girl only gasped in fright as she watched her brother stand on the counter. However, when Adrian reached out his short arm, he could still barely reach the cookie jar that they wanted.
Going on tiptoe, Adrian held onto the lower shelf and stretched out longer to touch the cookie jar. His fingers pressed on the jar, causing the mouse hiding behind it to be spooked. The secret menace opted to crawl out of its hiding place in an instant, catching Adrian off-guard.
"Rat!" He called out in a scream, but he jerked back to avoid it as if in reflex. However, his body weight had pulled him away from the shelves, sending him to the ground.
Time slowed as Adrian felt like he was going to feel great pain the moment he hit the ground. Not only that, but he might also fall over his sister. He wasn't easy to scare, but this moment made him tremble uncontrollably.
Catch! The air felt like it had solidified around Adrian. His body was caught by an unseen hand, causing Adrian to levitate in midair. Adrian couldn't help but let out a whine to express his fear.
"Wow! Adrian! You're flying!" Megan gasped in awe as her golden eyes grew wider and rounder at the shock. She started jumping up and down, her hands trying to touch her brother's airborne body. "Me, too! Me, too! I want to fly!"
"C-Cookie!" Adrian reached out his arms toward the cookie jar, hoping that it would come to him. However, his body just moved down to the floor. "No cookie?!"
"Adrian! Why didn't you get a cookie?" Megan stopped jumping and only turned to her brother. "You just want to fly? No way, me, too! I fly!"
Drip. The two suddenly smelled something in the air. When Adrian turned to find Dylan, he saw his brother's nose bleeding, with his green eyes glowing. Then, Dylan's head fell onto the table. The two other kids only jerked in surprise, only waiting for Dylan to budge again.
The doorknob turned, and Darius walked in with a paper bag at hand. He then frowned at the three kids he found in their little house's joint kitchen and dining area. He brought his paper bag down on the table and went to wake the middle child.
"Dylan? What are you doing?"
"Daddy…" Dylan lifted his face and looked at the horrified expression of their daddy. "Adrian and Megan want to steal cookies… where's the ice cream?"
Darius froze for a moment before using his handkerchief to clean the blood and pinch Dylan's nose. "Your nose! Y-Your nose is bleeding! Adrian, get me cold water!"
During the commotion, Megan pushed the paper bag to her part of the table before sitting on her chair. She then fished for the ice cream tub. Her golden eyes twinkled. "Daddy! Can I have some ice cream?!"
Adrian asked from the fridge. "Daddy, do you mean ice?!"