Riley
I shook my head. "No, mummy is fine." I pause, not knowing how to go about this. All the words I memorized completely vanished. My mind felt blank and heat coursed through me even though the air conditioner was on. I heard Clinton shift and I didn't protest when he placed a hand on my shoulder. I relaxed, sending how grateful I was through the mind link.
'Breathe in. Hey, it's going to be alright. You'll be good and so will the kids.' Clinton comforted me through the mind link.
'You sure? I'm scared, what if this breaks them?'
'Nah, it won't. Just let it out already.'
I nodded, shutting my eyes and taking a deep breath. When I opened them, the kids had their attention on me, waiting patiently to hear what I'd say.
"Listen kids, mummy loves you okay? I, mummy will be transferring for now tomorrow and I need you to be on your best. Don't trouble your alpha a lot, and always talk to you if you need anything. Or you can call me."
My speech was met with silence. Shane's eyes widened but kept quiet and searched my face. Sean on the other hand wasn't too accepting, he was on his feet in an instant, walking towards me and standing in front of me. Sierra on the other hand, her mouth hung up in shock.
"Mummy, where are you leaving us?" My little soldier demanded, his face tipped in a frown.
I sighed, "Uncle Alex wants mummy on a little mission. Someone called for a transfer, no listen kids, it's only temporary, I'm not going to be there for more than a month. In fact, I don't think I'll even stay up to that."
"But can't we come with you?" His eyes held so much pain that it tugged my heartstrings.
I shook my head. "I'm afraid you can't. You need to be here for your school so I'm sorry kids."
"But you can easily transfer us as well. Mummy please take us with you." Said Sierra who was on the verge of tears.
I gathered her in my arms and kissed her forehead. "I can't hun, mummy will only be gone for a month and you can't keep changing schools. It will affect your studies if you do."
"I will miss you, mummy." She cried.
I hugged her tighter. "Mummy will miss you too, I'll miss you all."
We were silent for a while before I broke it.
"I will do face time every night, okay?"
"You promise mummy?" Shane asked, and I bobbed my head up and down.
"Yes, I promise. And I'll tell you how my day has been and vice versa."
Soon, the kids were laughing again and I couldn't help but since. It went much easier than I had expected. I thought they were going to fight me to stay back, who could have thought that they had matured?
Turning to face Clinton, he smiled and mouthed 'I told you so' to me.
We stayed up for another hour before the kids decided to go in for the night. Clinton bade them good night and I went in with them. I read their favorite bedtime story, and soon they were fast asleep.
****
After Clinton had sent the kids to their school, I knew there was a lot to do. I still needed to cut my hair and dye it, then pack my things because I had been avoiding doing that for a long time now.
I had already finished cutting my hair when I heard a knock on my door.
"Come in," I answered, standing up to check my work in front of my oval-shaped mirror.
Clinton came in wearing a button down shirt that hugged his sculpted torso, paired with sleek slacks that accentuated his confident strides. Overall, he looked good.
"When are you leaving?"
"Immediately I'm done. Something tells me if I stay a little longer after that, the sender of the text will meet me here, and that's something I'm trying to avoid."
"The kids and I will miss you so much." There was so much pain in his voice, and it made me feel a little bad. He was hurting, Clinton was hurting and I couldn't even help him. What kind of friend was I?
Placing my hands on his shoulders, I held his gaze. "I'm sorry that I'm doing this, but it's not going to be for long. At least, it will give the other ladies time to be around you."
"What are you talking about?" Clinton asked.
I shrugged. "Maybe you'd find your fated mate." I really hoped it was true, then I wouldn't have to be feeling this much guilt in my chest.
Clinton shoved me away from him. "I don't have a mate. I already have my heart somewhere else, and the moon goddess might as well keep her mate to herself."
I shook my head and tried reaching for him, but Clinton was quick to evade me. "You don't have to say that. Everyone has a mate."
"Well, do you?" He tilted his chin up, holding my gaze.
My tummy flipped and I felt moisture building in my eyes. Walking past him so that he wouldn't see my tears, opened my closet and brought out my traveling bag.
I heard him walk towards me but I paid him no attention. He was right. I didn't have the right to talk about fated mates when I didn't even have a mate myself.
"I'm sorry, Riley. I didn't mean to—"
"There's nothing to be sorry about. You are right, I have no right talking about things like this when it's clearly obvious how single I am." I snapped, unzipping my box.
I faced him and gave him a smile that clearly didn't reach my eyes. "Just forget about it already. I need to leave before they decide to come looking for me.
Clinton heaved a sigh, his hands up in surrender. "Alright, can I at least dye your hair for you?"
I wanted to tell him that I could take care of myself but what spurted out of my mouth was, "Fine. The dye is there." I moved to sit on the chair before my mirror, catching his gaze. I shrugged and urged him on.
Soon, we were done and I nodded at my new look. My once brown hair was now black, but I didn't notice any much difference. What if they recognized me immediately? What will happen then?
"Do you think they will be able to recognize me?" I asked, catching his eyes in the mirror.
"They could and that's why I got you this," he handed me a face cap that he had on. "I knew cutting your hair couldn't have changed your looks, that was why I had to buy you this."
My eyes watered and I blinked them away, hugging Clinton who stiffened in my arms. "Thank you very much. I really appreciate all your help."
After I had managed to push Clinton out of my room so I could pack my things, I began to stuff items into my box, carefully picking all my necessary things. I had earlier purchased men's wear except for two nighties that I would make sure no one saw me in when I got there. My hands trembled as I packed my pad and other feminine things I'd need, panic rising in my chest. Do I want to do this? Was I thinking when I thought doing this was for the best? A whole month in the Crimson Shadow Pack?
"Cheer up girl, we're going back to our ex-husbands and it couldn't be that bad. This is the time to teach them a lesson after everything they did to us." Jenna snorted.
"Yeah, no going back. Let's do this."