I jolted awake with a start. It sounded like a herd of elephants were rampaging through the house. Auri was gone and I pulled my phone up. It wasn’t even six-thirty. I also had six missed calls. Four from Bryan, two from Vale. Groaning, I rolled out of bed and rubbed my eyes. More thundering and I finally opened the door.
What I wasn’t expecting was the chaos that was ensuing. All the kids, in a various state of dress, running around. Some getting their backpacks together, others were sitting at the table having breakfast. Auri and Morgan were in the kitchen with nine different lunch boxes open, putting together food. I was floored.
“Ah! Hector! Coffee is here.” Morgan reached over and poured a cup of coffee.
Reaching out, I took the mug and took a drink. Sighing, I closed my eyes. Hands tugged my pants and I looked down. Herr was smiling up at me.
“Can you help me up?”
I set my coffee down and picked her up. She smiled at me and I turned her around. “What would you like?”
“There is a juice box on the counter.”
Looking around, there was an open apple juice on the counter and I grabbed it, handing it to her. She smiled and kissed my cheek.
“Thank you.”
I let her down and she raced off. Auri was smiling at me. Shrugging, I grabbed my coffee again and took another sip.
“Cover your ears, Hector.” Auri warned before she took a deep breath. “TEN MINUTE WARNING. BE DRESSED, WITH BACKPACK ON, LINED UP AT THE KITCHEN.”
Even more chaos broke out. The kids at the table either started shoveling in food faster or they were putting their dishes in the sink. Morgan laughed and started to zip up the lunchboxes.
“Hector, that means you too. Dressed and ready.”
Morgan leaned over and kissed Auri’s head. “I’m going into town today, did you need anything?”
“No, I have to go tomorrow. The witches requested some extra herbs. So we will finish out the growth tonight and I’ll head in tomorrow. Thanks though.”
I headed back into the guest room and changed into jeans and a shirt. Wrinkling my nose, the XL shirt stretched tight across my chest. It looked more like a muscle shirt now. Maybe I would go with Auri tomorrow and pick up some new clothes.
As I walked back into the main area, all the kids were lined up in order of the eldest first. Gale glared at me but didn’t say anything. Auri was putting lunches in their backpacks as they walked by and out the door. Felicity was the last one to walk on her own. The twins were waiting behind Herr but Auri picked up Herr, putting her lunch in her bag. The twins pulled at my pants and I picked them both up, putting their lunches in their small little bags.
I followed Auri as we all started to walk west, further from where Morgan and I came in yesterday. A few minutes later, Morgan pulled out in the car and headed in the opposite direction. I walked next to Auri as her pack of kids walked in front of her. It was ten minutes until I felt the shift of walking onto a pack territory. My eyes widened and I looked at Auri. She didn’t seem phased at all.
“Alright, before we get near the school…let’s go…”
All the kids ran to Auri, kissing her on the cheek. Even Gale came over and kissed her. They all continued their heading into the pack and I saw the huge school come into view past some trees. It was probably double, if not triple, the size of the school in Kirk and the one in Golden Moon was even smaller. A bunch of kids were walking in, some flying as fey children made their way from the forest.
“Mommy, when I can I fly to school?” Herr asked innocently.
“Well, it will still be a couple years to see if your wings manifest. If they don’t, you and I can work on some spells and see if we can’t let you fly while we walk. But you need to be patient.” Auri smiled at her and Herr nodded.
Bast leaned over. “What about us, Momma?”
Laughing, she shook her head. “First, we have to see if you have fey powers. If you do, we will have to ask Uncle Uriel if he knows about Aunt Illya’s powers. Cause if you inherit anything of fey, it’s from her.”
The two in my arms nodded excitedly.
“But, like I told Herr, you still have a few years for powers to manifest.”
Both their faces fell.
I chuckled. “Think of it this way. Sharing chores, you would get stuck with cleaning the ceiling and fans every day.”
Both of them scrunched up their nose and I continued to laugh. We reached the school entrance and there was the Alpha with who I assumed his Beta or Gamma, welcoming the kids in.
“Ah! Miss Storm. Lovely to see you this morning.”
Auri smiled. “Alpha Gregory, I’m surprised to see you here this early on a Thursday.”
He smiled and immediately, I didn’t like how he was looking at Auri. My hair stood on end and Rydere growled. Herr leaned over and motioned me in. I leaned now and she cupped her hand to my ear.
“Alpha Gregory likes Mommy. He wants her to be their Luna. He doesn’t know she’s mated.” Herr took a breath. “He’s been trying to woo her and it gets creepy sometimes. Gale gets really mad. He’s standing right there.”
She moved away and pointed. True to her word, Gale had stepped off to the side, glaring at us as the other kids had disappeared into the sea. I stepped closer to Auri. She looked up at me and smiled.
“Hector, meet Alpha Gregory. He’s the one that runs the school.” She turned to the Alpha. “Hector previously was a Gamma and then Beta. Now…” Auri looked up at me, not knowing if I was still Beta.
I smiled and reached out to shake his hand. “Now, I decided to take a much needed vacation.”
His hand clasped mine and I realized the Alpha was putting strength behind the shake. I wanted to roll my eyes and as much as Rydere wanted to show him up, I let go.
“Well, not all are cut out to lead.” He chuckled.
“Oh, Hector is only a few years older than I am.” Auri smiled up at me. “We’ve been around a lot longer than we looks. Around the block a few times.”
I didn’t know if she was oblivious to his words or what. But it made me happy she was defending me.
“Well, the stress of leadership can catch up to anyone.”
She didn’t acknowledge him as she let down Herr. The twins wiggled out of my arms and Herr took both their hands. They walked together through the school and Auri motioned to Gale who nodded. He followed them a couple steps behind.
“Well, we will be on our way. Alpha Gregory, Beta Dean, have a wonderful day.”
“Estel, wait. There is a little Italian place that is to die for in town. Come have dinner with me. I’m sure you could use some time away from the kids.”
I balled up my fist. The Alpha didn’t notice but I realized the Beta did. He was sharp and went to pull his Alpha back who had stepped closer to Auri.
“I’m sorry, Alpha…”
“Greg, please.”
Auri cleared her throat. “I’m sorry, Alpha, but as I said before. I appreciate you allowing my kids to go to school but I’m not…”
“Estel, I know there is more going on than what you say with those kids. And if you continue to…”