Three Years Later…
Selene POV
"Hey, wait up, you guys?" I shouted over the din to my children, who ran off as soon as we stepped out of the private jet.
Vina was chasing her sister Maeve over some toy, and I knew she wouldn't rest until she got it. Their Nanny, Linda, chased after the girls, flailing her hand like a hen running away from being killed.
A small smile settled on my lips as I watched the scene with amusement. Linda finally caught them and seized the toy, complaining about how short her lifespan had become from the chase. The girls love Linda to bits, the same way she loves them too. So far, she has been our longest-staying nanny.
A tall man in a gray badly cut Italian suit and dark glasses approached us. I noticed he had an earpiece in his ears.
"Ms. Olivia?" he asked, coming straight to me.
Immediately, two of my security details blocked him off.
"It's fine guys," I waved them aside, rolling my eyes dramatically, then brushed past them to the man. "Who's asking?"
"I'm from Alpha Xavier, he asked that I drive you to the pack house immediately,".
My heart leaped as I heard Xavier's name. Unconsciously, my hand strayed to his mark on my neck. It was beginning to heat up again. After all these years, I was still bonded to him and it irked me.
Still, I could feel Bea - my wolf perk up in excitement. The first few months after I had survived the crash, she had constantly howled for Xavier. It was worse every full moon. She would trash around, seeking an escape… more than anyone. She missed Xavier. And I did too… sometimes, though.
"I'm afraid we would have to reject the kind gesture," I said coldly. "We already made arrangements for a place to stay in the city. Don't worry, I'll have my PA reach out to your pack when I'm ready to meet them,".
"But ma'am…" the man stuttered.
"It was a long flight," I interrupted him. "Tell your Alpha I said hi,".
Together, I and my team moved past the man while I ignored all his attempts to talk to me. There was no way I was going to stay at the Pack House. It was just a business trip, after all. When I left Greyhound City, I cut ties with everything that held me bound, and one trip wasn't going to change my mind.
"What will happen to him?" I asked one of my security details.
"Killed or maimed," he responded. "Alpha Xavier's ruthlessness precedes him,".
For a moment, my heart went out to the young man, but I quickly brushed the feeling aside… In this new phase of my life, my priorities were only to the people I love and that was it. Once you were not family, I would turn a blind eye even if the person was being killed.
As soon as I entered the car, waiting outside of the airport, Vina came close to me. Her eyes were filled with excitement.
"Mum, I just read that Greyhound has the most exciting training schools. Can you enroll me, please? Pretty please," she clasped her tiny hands together.
"And me too, mummy," Maeve came closer to us, copying her sister's gestures, "Only I want to join their summer Alpha Summit program. They said it's free," she waved a track at me.
I bit back the smile that tried to slip out. I had to remind myself constantly that I had three-year-olds and not adults.
"First, Vina, you're only three… and the training school only admits children from ages 10 and above. Also, Maeve, we've talked about this and I promise, once you girls are five, I'll enroll you in these training programs immediately. Something even more immaculate and sophisticated than Greyhound City,".
"No," the girls said in unison. "We want Greyhound. Besides mummy, this was once your pack, we would…".
"Girls," I said sternly, "What did I say about that?"
They shared an amused look before they sighed and said, "You said we should not mention to anyone that you were once from this Greyhound pack,".
"And?" I arched my brows at them.
"And that we have our wolves already," they sighed.
"Good," I nodded. "Remember, if both of you as much as go against the pact we signed, you'll be on the next available flight to Foxtrot. So, let's all be on our best behaviors,".
"Or you could try to have fun," Vina rolled her eyes.
She was more frivolous and reckless than Maeve, who was the exact opposite of her. Both girls were born with their wolves and possessed psychic powers that would fully manifest once they turned four. At least that was what the Moon Priestess who delivered the children told me.
Even though it was a great thing, it wasn't normal, and I was trying my best to let it remain a secret. The only person who knew again was Noah. He was the Lycan that rescued me after the crash.
"When you're my age, you'll appreciate your childhood," I said finally.
"This isn't about me appreciating my childhood, mom. Everyone says you're too serious… even Noah wishes you'd be more outgoing,".
"Call him by his title, Vina," I warned. "You never listen to me,".
"Yes, Mom," she sighed and returned to her seat.
Motherhood was fun for the most part but with my kids… I spend the better part of each day talking. Rifling through my bag, I fished out a shot of mugwort and drank the liquid in one go.
When we arrived at the hotel where we would be staying, I asked Linda to take the children to our rooms while I decided to go for a walk. To clear my head and the giddy effect of the mugwort shot.
Nostalgia filled me as I walked through the cobbled path that led to the park, relishing old memories. Back then, when I was still the weak, Selene… I had always desired to go for a walk, but it was almost impossible because I got tired easily.
One day, I had worked up the courage and asked Xavier to stroll with me. He obliged… and held me until we got to a bench that overlooked a small river. Now, staring at the bench, I felt a tear roll down my cheeks… Our marriage had been good, at least for the first few months.
It was easier back then because all I had to do was mate with him on each new moon or whenever he was weak, but he changed a few months later. I couldn't tell why … everyone had said it was the curse, but I knew deep down there was more.
Shaking off the stifling emotions, I turned to head back to the hotel when my senses heightened immediately and I picked off the faint scent of tobacco in the air. From the corner of my eyes, a figure emerged from the shadows, making me turn sharply.
When I turned, it was a silhouette of a man framed by the dying sunlight. Bea, stirred within me as I froze, staring at the wind tousled red hair and azure blue eyes that stared coldly at me. They seemed familiar...
The atmosphere thickened as our gaze met…
"Why are you here?" he asked, stepping into the fading light.
My phone slipped from my hand and clattered to the ground.
It was Xavier.