I was sitting down on the floor Andrew's bedroom floor folding his clothes, when Andrew stumbled into the neat pile of clothes I had just stacked. The pup cried out as he tumbled and fell on me. I instinctively reached out and grabbed the pup in my arms to protect him.
"Are you okay?" I asked him.
Andrew quickly nodded his head, "I'm sorry!"
"I'm glad you're already. You need to be more careful. Now you're going to have to help me clean this back up." I pointed to the clothes scattered across the floor.
Andrew pouted and whined, "I don't know how to fold clothes."
"Then it's time you learned little Alpha. You're about be four years old. Come sit." I patted the floor beside me.
The little pup sat beside me and I started to demonstrate how to fold the shirts. Then I handed him one and he attempted to imitate my movements. He struggled a little to reach across the shirt with his short arms. Andrew ended up making a messier version of my folding method.
I chuckled, "Good job, Andy!"
He turned around and looked up at me with his big bright eyes. He happily jumped up and celebrated that he folded his clothes for the first time. The excited pup ran off to go tell his dad.
Once he was gone, I took the shirt he folded and corrected his mistake. I chuckled to myself. He still had a while before he could properly learn to do all his chores, but he would eventually be able to do it all on his own.
.....
The morning of Andrew's birthday finally came and the pack house was buzzing with excitement. The guards brought in bags of groceries with the omegas. The two ranks seemed to be getting along well because of their shared goal. I felt a sense of pride. I hadn't seen this pack work together since I arrived and now they were all teaming together to give Andrew an amazing party.
I fixed Andrew a special breakfast with Nat. We made him chocolate pancakes with fresh slices of fruit decorating the sides of the plate. The final touch was a dallop of whip cream on top. Then, we added some crispy bacon. I grabbed him a glass of orange juice and me and Nat walked up stairs.
We ran into Travis who apparently had just woke up. He stared at me bewildered and his cheeks turned red when he realized how messy his hair was.
I chuckled and teased him, "I think the Alpha needs some grooming."
He tensed up and looked away in embarrassment, "Oh hush.'
"Go get ready, you have to take your little boy out after breakfast." I smiled at him.
Travis nodded and walked back to his room to fix his hair. Nat and I giggled at how airy our Alpha could be.
Then, we made our way to Andrew's room. I slowly opened the door and flipped the light on.
Nat and I both yelled, "Happy birthday!"
Andrew jumped and sat up in his bed. The little pup rubbed his eyes, whinning, "Why are you getting me up so early?"
I handed Nat the tray of food and walked over to his bed, "Because..."
I sat down and tickled him, "It's your birthday!"
Andrew squealed out giggling and rolled over, "Stop! That tickles!"
"Time to get up birthday boy!" I kept tickling him till he got up.
Nat smiled at him, "We made you a special big boy breakfast, little Alpha."
Andrew's eyes lit up and he exclaimed, "Just for me?!"
We nodded to him and sat him up a little table in his room. I got his little chair and moved it up to the table. Nat sat his breakfast down on the table while I helped him out of bed.
Andrew's eyes lit up when he saw the chocolate pancakes and he laughed, "It's a chocolate chip cookie, but a waffle!"
"That's right." I told him, giving him a pat on the head.
Nat watched us and chuckled innocently, "You look like a mother and son duo when you two are together."
I blushed and shot her a glare. Andrew on the other hand cheerfully said, "I wish she was my mama. She's always so nice to me."
The pups innocent words made my heart flutter and I rubbed his back and pinched his cheek, "How could I be mean to someone so precious?"
"Hey!" He giggled and pulled away.
Andrew ate his breakfast happily. I had to help him cut his pancake while Nat straightened up his bed. Andrew seemed to be throughly pleased with his birthday breakfast.
After he finished eating, Nat gathered his dishes and I helped Andrew change into some outing clothes. He was supposed to go do something with his dad this morning while we set up the party.
Once we were ready, I walked down stairs with the two of them. Nat returned to the kitchen to wash the dishes. I took Andrew into the living room where his dad was waiting.
Travis smiled at me and Andrew, "Did you have a good birthday breakfast?"
"Yes! The pancakes tasted like chocolate and the bacon was just right!" He excitedly told his dad.
"Well, if you two are ready to go. I'll go help the omegas prepare the cake." I dipped my head and went to leave.
I felt a little hand grab mine and I turned around to see Andrew's little fingers gripped mine. "Can't you go with us?"
"Andy..." I sat down on my feet and stroked his cheek, "you need to go hang out with your dad. I'm a pack omega, it's not appropriate for me to go."
"Says who?" Travis raised a brow.
"Well I mean... you're the Alpha and he's your pup. Omegas are just servants." I scratched my neck awkwardly.
Travis looked down at Andrew and asked, "Do you want Ann to go with us?"
Andrew didn't even hesitate for a second before he answered, "Yes! I want Ann to come with us."
"Well Ann, there you have it. Your future Alpha commands you to go spend the day with him for his birthday." Travis smiled and said it as if it in a matter of fact tone.
I looked back from Travis to Andrew who gripped my hands and gave me puppy eyes, "Please!"
I sighed and shock my head giggling, "That's not fair, you guys teamed up on me."
Travis shrugged and smiled, "What can I do? Alpha's orders."
I sighed and walked into the kitchen. I called Nat over and told her she was in charge since I had to go out with Travis and Andrew. She got really excited and told me to have fun, but I know she was really thinking it'd be a great for me to spend time with Travis. I shot her a glare before walking back to meet up with two two alphas.
"You ready to go?" Travis asked.
I nodded and we all headed out to the garage. Travis told me and Andrew to wait for him to get the car and disappeared into the building. Suddenly the garage doors started to roll up and revealed a charcoal grey truck. I could see Travis through the window and he smiled at me.
"Hop in!" He called out.
I opened one of the back door and helped Andrew climb in. Then I fastened him up in his car seat and walked around to the passenger side. I opened the front passenger door and climbed up into my seat.
"So, where are we going?" I asked while fastening my own seatbelt.
Travis grinned and turned to look back at Andrew, "That's a secret."
He put his finger over his lip, signaling to his pup. Andrew giggled innocently, "You'll see!"
I sighed and sarcastically said, "Oh so I'm getting kidnapped and I don't even get to know where we are going. That's fair."
"Exactly." Travis laughed as he backed out of the garage parking area.
Travis flipped the radio on a rock and roll station as well left the pack territory. I watched the trees blur as we passed them from my window. I couldn't remember the last time I ever just went out and had fun.
Andrew giggled and wanted to play I spy on the way and before I knew it, we were all playing. Travis had a habit of spying only red objects. Andrew just liked anything colorful which was always interesting when he'd spy a patch of flowers we passed a couple of miles back and we wouldn't realize it. He was so proud of himself.
I spotted a sign for an arcade called "Spark and Play." Then I realized, Travis had flipped his right turn signal on.
"We're going to an arcade?" I asked.
"Special request of the birthday boy." Travis smiled and nodded.
"I wanted to come play that weird space game." Andrew giggled innocently.
Travis and I climbed out of the car first. Then I opened the back door and let Andrew out. He grabbed onto Travis's hand while they walked. I felt his little fingers grip mine and I couldn't help but notice how much we looked like a little family. A man and a woman holding their son's hand while they walked across the parking lot.
I felt my cheeks heat up and quickly shook my head. I knew better than to think of things like that. What would my mate and pup think? Would they feel replaced?
We walked in and Travis walked to the counter to buy the tokens. I sat with little Andrew and waited.
"What game are you going to play first?" I asked him with a smile.
He looked around and suddenly pointed to a blue arcade machine with star patterns and a painted galaxy on the side. I assumed it must've been his galaxy game he was talking about warlike.
Travis walked back over to us and handed Andrew a cup full of coins. Andrew grinned wildly and ran off to go play some video games. I got up to follow him, but Travis pulled me back.
Before I could even ask, he took my hand and smiled, "Here."
My heart raced and I stared down at the cup of coins Travis had out in my hand. I stammered, "O-oh... no... you don't have to. I can't let you-"
"I'm the Alpha and I am telling you to go have some fun." Travis smiled and crossed his arms, "Think of it as a reward for taking good care of my son."
I felt my cheeks warm up and I smiled, "Thank you."
He nodded and went to chase after Andrew, but I grabbed his hand and pulled him back. I chuckled, "Oh no, you gotta play some of these games with me if you're going to have me play."
Travis rolled his eyes and chuckled, "If that's what you want."
"It is." I quickly tell him.
Travis looked up at me with surprise written all over his face. I was caught in his pretty hazel gaze and for a moment I thought time might have stopped. I was surprised I said that. What was wrong with me?
I quickly turned away and rubbed my neck, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean-"
"It's okay." He touched my shoulder, "I'm actually really glad."
I felt my face get hot, "Why's that?"
"I've been wanting to spend some time with you anyways." He smiled at me.
"Travis, I can't-"
"I know, but I'm willing to wait. I don't know everything about your past, but I can wait till your ready to tell me." Travis sighed and looked up at the ceiling.
I felt a pang in my heart. Travis is always being so honest with him and I've practically lief about everything. Part me thinks he knows I'm lying, but he has accepted me even after I lied. I wanted to return his feelings and cure this lonely feeling inside, but I couldn't. Luther was supposed to be my one true love. My fated mate. Wouldn't letting myself fall for Travis be betraying that?
Then I heard Nat's voice in the back of my mind reminding me that Luther was already gone. I knew that, but even still I couldn't shake the guilty feeling I had.
I hesitantly took Travis's hand and pulled him towards the skeball machines and handed him a few of the tokens, "I'd like to see how well my Alpha can score with this one."
Travis furrowed his brows and smirked, "Don't be upset when I win."
I accepted his challenge. He put his tokens in the machine right beside me and the little trap system let the balls roll down in front of us. Travis grabbed one first and got the 10 point marker. I went after him, scoring one of the 50 point hoppers.
I turned around and stuck my tongue out at him, "I think I got a better score."
"Don't jinx yourself." He teased back.
By time we had both finished tossing all our balls, we had both proven to be bad shots with random luck. I had managed to score mostly 10s with a random 20 and a 50. Travis had got a little better luck than me by landing two 50s point shots and the rest were all 10s. Giving us a grand total of 150 points for me and 180 for Travis.
He shrugged and smirked, "Alphas are just gifted I guess."
"Oh, laugh all you want. You were a craopy shot as well. We both got mostly tens." I teased him a nudge of my elbow.
We walked around the arcade to find Andrew who was still focused on his space game. We both sat and watched him for a moment before we all went and tried to play some air hockey. Travis held Andrew up where he could reach the table and compete against me. I let him win and acted like he was really just an amazing player.
Then next, we all climbed in the photo booth to get some novelty pictures. I sat beside Travis and Andrew sat in his lap.
"Let's make a funny face!" Travis suggested with a smile.
"Yeah!" Andrew called out.
The two boys started working on their silly faces. Travis stuck his tongue out and pulled up one of his eyelids. Andrew used his hands to stretch his cheeks out where he could have a massive grin. I crossed my eyes and I realized after waiting for the picture to take about 10 seconds that it was a poor choice. The camera flashed and I let my eyes rest.
I felt something in my lap and turned to see Andrew who had one leg on my lap and the other on Travis's. He wrapped an arm around both of necks and pulled us to him.
"Thank you for bring me today! You're the best parents ever!" He cried out with a happy squeal.
Travis shifted and I could tell he was uncomfortable and embarrassed, but he didn't say anything. He just pat the pups back. I felt my heart crack a little. Did he just call me a parent?
"Andy. Why don't you go play some more games?" Travis suggested.
Andrew nodded and took to his next game with a grin on his face. Travis and I climbed out of the photo booth.
He turned around to face me awkwardly, "I'm sorry. Andrew lost his mom when he was almost three. I hope that didn't make you too uncomfortable."
"Travis." I said calmly.
"I know pups just say things sometimes that they don't understand. You don't have to explain what he said. I'm just glad he's having a good day. It is his birthday after all." I smiled at him.
Travis's shoulders relaxed and he smiled back, "I really appreciate how much you care about Andrew. It's a relief that he has someone else who wants to see him happy. It's been hard. The pack being so disapproving of him just because of their jealousy towards his mother."
"I bet. I wanna tell you something." I sighed.
"What is it?" He looked at me with curiosity in his eyes.
"I don't know if I can ever be what you want." I said, honestly.
"What?" He scoffed and acted confused. "What else could I need? Your great with my pup, you're smart, you're-"
"I'm an omega. No one could accept you being a she wolf of the lowest rank." I interrupted him.
"Well... you may have a point there, but I've also seen you put others in their place and motivate others. I think you have the qualities needed to help my pack."
"I don't know." I lowered my gaze to the floor.
"I do. You're amazing," he said with a smile, "you helped me find the strength to start spending time with Andrew again. Before you came, I avoided him. I was afraid of him after what happened to his mother."
"What did happen to the former Luna?" I asked.
Travis's eyes darkened and he frowned, "Lily and I were having a picnic with Andrew out in the back yard when he had just turned two. I had to go grab something out the house and when I got back. This wild male wolf had snuck past our guards. He actually lunged at Andrew, but Lily used her body to shield our pup. The males claws tore through her shoulder and knocked Andrew's face. That's where he got his scar."
I touched Travis's arm, "That's horrible. I'm so sorry you had to see that."
"It was. What about you? What happened to your family? You told me you used to have three pups, but you lost them. How?" Travis asked.
"Its... well. My pack got raided by a rival pack. They were ordered to slaughter my entire pack. Even my pups. I don't even know why we were raided. It was my eldest son's 10th birthday." I sighed and felt my body grow cold.