Maria woke up to three pairs of eyes staring intently at her. Her cupcakes had forlorn expressions. She laughed.
Good morning." she greeted as she sat up with a groan and looked at the three balls of fur on her bed. They were in their pajamas and had clearly run over to her room as soon as they woke up. Her head hurt and it was probably from yesterday's work. "Wait ..how did I get home? How about you...oh!" realisation dawned on her. Her boss had probably brought her home and the children too. She sighed feeling better.
As a mother, she was still a little reckless but thankfully, she had someone willing to aid her unconditionally. That was the luck she ran into!
[Seems like mom is fine] Queen sighed and went to climb down the bed. Her elder brother came to assist her down since she had short legs.
[Let's go wash up!] He held her hand to take her back to her room to bathe and dress her hair. They had school today.
"Go and wash up for now. I'll be down in a while." Maria said as she got out of bed and dashed to the bathroom to clean up. Her cupcakes must he hungry!
By the time she was done washing up, her children were already at the table patiently waiting for their mother to cook breakfast.
"Sorry! I made you wait!" she apologized as she rushed over to the kitchen counter, she collected the menu and brought it over to the children.
Each one of them took their menu and pointed out on what they wanted to have for breakfast.
"Okay!" Maria looked at what her babies had chosen and went down to prepare. Of course, not forgetting to hand them some water. "I'll be done in a jiffy..." she said got busy.
"Strawberry waffles for you!" Maria happily placed a plate before Queen. "Banana pancakes with honey and a bowl of porridge for my boys!" she placed each plate before them. She rushed back and brought their milk before joining them with her plate of scrambled eggs with a simple vegetables salad.
Breakfast went down in silence.
*
She dropped them off to school and also rushed to work. Her part was done but she still wanted to check on the progress from the legal team.
When Maria walked into the building, all eyes were on her and soon murmurs broke out.
"I heard she'll be promoted again!"
"Really?! She's so lucky! I've been in this company for years but have o ly received a single promotion!" the woman was green in envy.
"If only you concentrated more on working than hooking up with every single guys you lay your eyes on!" her colleague reprimanded.
Maria didn't know what to think. But she was happy, all the words that were said about her weren't bad, these humans understood basic emotions unlike some hot blooded wolves! She couldn't help rolling her eyes just at the thought.
She walked over to the elevator and headed for her office level.
While this place she had run off to had humans residing there, there was a great deal of wolves too since there was a wolf pack not far from the bustling city. However, ever since she came to this city, the only wolf she was acquainted with was the man who taught her children. The others seemed to avoid her and none dared to approach her. If she had a wolf, she was sure she'd be thrown out of this place as she'd be considered a rogue but luckily, she was more human!
She jumped off the elevator and walked over to the office of her boss. With a knock, she entered and saw the old lady seated behind her table with files almost touching the ceiling.
Good morning Boss!" She greeted and walked over.
Morning! What are you doing here?" She asked not bothering to look up from her work.
"I'm here to work?" Maria was also confused.
Didn't you see the note I left on the fridge? I told you you can stay at home for the rest of the week. The board agreed to this." She said and typed furiously on the keyboard.
"They did?" Maria was surprised. Her eyes begun to glitter just at the thought of staying home and doing nothing! Not entirely but she could go and spend more time with her children!
"Mm. You noticed something that's going to save the company and worked really hard. You can return home and rest for the rest of the week. Consider it a paid leave. Head to the finance department and collect a cheque from them." The old lady said impatiently.
Is there some...." she tried to ask but was cut off harshly. Get lost will you?" The old lady's face turned red and Maria didn't wait for the yama lying asleep in the her to wake up. She dashed out of the office and shit the door once she was outside.
Her black eyes glittered and soon her lips tugged up into a smile. A paid leave! she almost screamed but held herself back. She looked through the corridors and saw that no one was watching! She hopped up and down like a bunny and ran to the elevator to leave the building as her mind ran with what she'd do with her day.
First, she hit the mall and begun to loot the place like she was mad. She didn't have her children to limit her so she ran around like a mother hen, picking this and that for her angels.
However, her joy was short lived when she ran into a group of wolves in their human form.
She halted in her steps and watched them, wanting to take another route but it seemed like they had also noticed her as they came to a halt and looked her way.
They were in the same age group as her.
The group sized her up and down while she kept her eyes straight and focused. She could feel an alpha presence among them but since she had grown up under such pressure, she wasn't shaken.
The other group was amused. One of the men in the group walked over to Marianne's side with interest dancing in his deep brown eyes. He was clearly a Beta.
Stopping a few feet Infront of her, he smiled and offered a greeting. Maria replied by nodding subtly.
From behind the man's brown eyes, she could see his wolf making its presence and also peeking at her.
"You are not from around here right?" He said seeing her eyes were looking deep into his soul.
"I am." Maria replied languidly.
"Oh? First time seeing you. " he pointed out. This woman had a very strong scent of Alpha's dancing around her her body and that held him back from undermining her or even think of making trouble. His Alpha Prince was back with the rest of group and he had only come to check her out after receiving an order.
[ Get her to come and talk to me.] A mindlink message came in and the Beta smiled at Maria. "I'm Holland by the way, what's your name?" he asked stretching out his hand for a handshake.
Maria looked at his hand and took it in a handshake. This was the territory of these wolves and the best was to stay away from trouble was to not make trouble. "Maria."
My Alpha wishes to talk to you. I'm wondering if you have some time?" he asked carefully. Even after holding her hand, he could not gauge her at all.
Maria looked over towards the group then looked back at Holland. "I'm sorry. I won't be able to make time." She politely declined his invitation.
Holland sucked in a breathe feeling his Alpha's mood dampen. "Can't you reconsider?" he asked.
"No." Her answer was straight. While she didn't want to make trouble, she neither wanted to get herself entangled with any wolf or pack because if she did, there was a likelihood of her running into the Moonclaw pack.
She excused herself and dragged her trolley to continue shopping for her children. The faces of the group that had stayed behind were black but that didn't deter her from leaving.
*
Holland walked over to his Alpha prince with a dejected face. "She's not mated and she indeed has three Alpha scents on her." he reported.
"Were you able to detect the pack?" The prince asked.
"I wasn't. But without a doubt, they are from a very strong lineage." Holland replied eyes on the disappearing silhouette. This female was the best choice for his prince. While their pack had been in harmony for long, it was different this time round as the battle for who was to be the next Alpha had alot of competitors. The Prince's uncles and cousins along with his brothers, all of them were after the title of Alpha and needed external allies.
"Send a few trusted men to follow her but let them be discreet. We can't let her fall into the hands of the others, she must belong to our side." The prince said and turned to leave after giving his orders.
*
Maria had no idea she had fallen into a power struggle.
After her shopping, she dropped by a restaurant and had a meat buffet before getting into the car to go pick up her children.
*
*
*
Wallhall building.
At the top most floor.
"Alpha." Neil called out before entering the dark room. It was the usual dull place but this time round, his Alpha was not in his usual spot. He frowned and looked around before his eyes fell on the door that was slightly open. His eye twitched and a bad feeling encased his whole body.
Soon, there was the sound of the door falling open before a completely naked man walked out with his body dripping with water.
This time, Neil's mouth also twitched.
But what could he do? It had been five years since his Alpha's wolf took over and the guy hated wearing clothes!. He preferred staying naked.
"What are you looking at?" Alpha asked begrudgingly as he sauntered over to the sofa to seat
"You clothes." Neil pointed out.
"What about them?" He asked.
Neil could only resign to his fate and go get this wolf some clothes. Although no one except him entered this place, he hoped to retain some dignity for his Alpha and could only pray to the moon goddess to let his human side return soon.