It was supposed to be a playground built for the pups to enjoy, but they had divided themselves into groups. The children that were born Gamma and Beta were taking over the high-impact playground equipment, while the Omegas were just riding the seesaw or drawing things on the sandbox.
Even if it was unsightly, none of these children could deny what was ingrained in them. They were just children, but they already had role expectations that run deep in their veins. It didn't help that the older pups had more or less awakened their blood, giving them supremacy over the younger ones… and the Omegas who didn't even dare to fight the others over the equipment.
However, that didn't mean that the Alpha was willing to see these on children, who all had the right to play on the outdoor playground. In this playground, there was no greater one. Else, they should be moved to the training grounds.
"C-Children, please be good. Fall in line now!" The Omega maid, who was getting everyone to gather, tried to get the Gamma and Beta pups to join them. After all, the Omega had gone at first notice.
"Hmph! My dad said Gammas don't listen to Omegas!" The one born Beta huffed. Since there could only be one pair of Alphas and one pair of Betas in a pack, those who were born Beta—or even Alpha—would be demoted to join the soldiers. Only the Alpha pups of the Alpha pair would be kept and trained as successors if they were fit to rule.
"…isn't that only applicable to the teens?" The eleven-year-old Omega whimpered as he would be taken to be trained for housework as soon as he hit twelve. That was only when those rules apply.
The ten-year-old Beta caught his whisper. "What did you say? Do you want me to beat you up? Come here and fight me!"
In his insistence, the Omega pup only rubbed his neck. "Why can't you just come here? The Master is already standing by the door…"
When he said so, everyone darted their eyes to the double doors leading back inside the mansion. They were still closed, but both panels swung immediately as Nicholai pushed the heavy doors. He even pushed them as if they weighed nothing to him.
"You should listen to your elders, especially when they are Omega." Nicholai huffed as he pulled on his clothes to get rid of the creases. "No one knows the rules better than the Omega."
"Well, problem children sure do exist everywhere." Darius only huffed, having his own share of problematic children who knew no respect for their caretakers. He then glanced at the two children who were holding his hand each.
The Beta and Gamma children all wore long faces as they got down from the playground equipment they were on. Even the ones on the swings were reluctant to leave their seats. Before them stood Nicholai, but their eyes were on the two children.
Nicholai started, gesturing at which was which: "These are Megan and Adrian. They are my niblings and are considered my own pups in the pack. Please don't be afraid to be friends with them, but don't dare to disrespect them. Everything you do will be relayed to me. So, be good."
"Yes, Master!" The children chorused, but the others were surely not fond of the two kids already. After all, their Alpha had no mate. How come someone had to be treated as successors?
"Guys, do you want to stay here and play?" Darius kneeled down next to Megan before asking her. "Your Uncle and I still have to arrange a few things here. Are you going to be all right? Just think of this as the play area in the mall."
Megan gave a sweep among the kids and nodded. Adrian also mirrored her.
Darius took a look at the children and didn't trust them at all. However, he needed Megan and Adrian to have friends in this pack. They couldn't be too sheltered toward other werewolf pups. He got up from the ground and begrudgingly left with Nicholai.
At this, Megan only watched them. When the children ran back to their previous stations, she cast her eyes on the swings. A Gamma girl caught her gaze, but that girl refused to do so longer. She was not willing to give her seat up for the supposed princess that came out of nowhere.
"Adrian, let's climb!" Megan chose the tall climbing tower instead. There were only three children there, so she figured it wouldn't be hard to find a space for them.
"…Megan, can you be good and just play alone for now?" Adrian didn't look at his sister; he even moved his hand to gently shoo her. When Megan followed his gaze, she saw how he was meeting the eyes of that same ten-year-old Beta kid who stood on the top of the climbing tower.
Then… Megan smiled.
…
"What are you doing? You do realize that those children are not going to be too kind to them, especially those Betas." Darius gritted his teeth as they ventured along the hallways with no new destination. "Are you trying to get them hurt?"
"I need to assess how much they can handle being with others. They won't grow if they are only limiting themselves within your space. I'm pretty sure you think the same." Nicholai only hummed as he coolly walked next to Darius. "Moreover, I am very curious about Adrian. Dylan had already proven his power to me. I have to test Adrian now."
"Is it necessary? He's just growing rapidly, but he's three."
"Do you think that my sister's blood would be very subpar from mine?" Nicholai only chuckled, but Darius only had his face twitch. The uncle then turned to him. "So, what should we do today?"
For a moment, Darius just wanted to be honest. Then again, that would mean that he would be bothered by this guy while doing so. What could he even do to keep this guy busy?
Still, Darius was starting to feel disgusted with himself after everything was settled. He could smell the dirt and sweat on himself, making his skin crawl. Megan and Adrian already bathed; how come he was still smelly?
He just sighed. "Leave me alone. I want to take a bath and change into fresher clothes. I've been wearing these since yesterday; I even worked in these."
A smile found its way to Nicholai's lips, and he reached out an arm to snake around Darius's shoulders. "That's quite a shame. I would have shown you my Roman bathroom. Hm, anyway, off you go to the common shower area for the males. Have fun standing inside a cubicle."
"Miss Nikita in heaven, grant me the strength not to punch your little brother…"