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That was what the packhouse now felt to me. Like a gilded cage holding me inside for the benefit of others.
I knew deep down that it wasn’t the case. I knew I was being protected, not just for myself, but for my child. However, I was a wolf. I wasn’t meant to be confined indoors all the time like I had. I needed the release of a run, more so now than ever because of the pregnancy hormones coursing through me and sending me into head spins of emotions.
“Hey,” Ricardo suddenly spoke up. “What if I get Brady to let you come to the school with me? It would get you out of the house and I could put you to work there by building both the beta and gamma programs. You have experience in both now and I think it would be great to have your opinion on the lessons I’ve gotten planned so far.”
The idea immediately sparked interest. The school boasted an indoor track where older students could shift, run, and train—a semblance of the freedom I craved. It wasn’t the wide-open spaces I longed for, but it was a start.
I looked over at Diana, who seemed to like the idea as well. “We will have to run it by Brady, but I don’t see why that wouldn’t be okay. I think it would be healthy even for Madie to get out of the house and not just for the visits to the crones.”
“Where’s Brady now?” I asked, the prospect igniting a flicker of excitement within me. I wanted to ask him as soon as possible. There was hope that I could go with Ricardo today.
“He’s with the witch council. I’ll speak to him at our afternoon meeting; his mindlink will be blocked until then,” Diana explained.
As my own smile fell, the once vibrant excitement within me dwindled. Ricardo would be leaving after breakfast for school, and I would have to sit here and wait for Brady to decide to let me go with him tomorrow. So, yet another day locked away in the house.
“Don’t worry, I’m sure he won’t have any issue with it and you will be able to go with Ricardo tomorrow.”
I nodded, though my spirits had dampened. I began to poke at my food with the fork. I could feel everyone’s pity for me even as they changed the subject of conversation and did their best to avoid looking over at me.
I felt like a child who had been punished. A little girl grounded to her room while all her friends were out having fun without her.
It was a pitiful feeling, and I hated feeling so helpless to it. I hated how weak I was feeling in all of this.
I had been the second strongest wolf in all of San Diego. Possibly all of California even! My alpha was not just an alpha, but an Alpha King, and I was his chosen second in command. I fought vampires with dark magic on their side and won. I wasn’t weak. I wasn’t even helpless! So why was I allowing myself to be treated like I was?
It stops now.
As the morning chatter filled the room with plans for the day, I meticulously crafted a scheme of my own.
Alma typically stayed close to me throughout the day, except when she took her daily cigarette break. Since the nanny was on duty, I wouldn’t have to take care of the pups even if Alma left me alone.
At the same time that Alma takes that smoke break, the kitchen staff are on their lunch break and the cleaning crew is just coming in to clean up after the pack’s meal. They often start in the dining hall to collect any left behind dishes before making their way to the kitchen.
Given my speed, I could exit through the kitchen doors and find myself immediately facing the forest, where the patrol wouldn’t arrive until later in the afternoon. It would be the perfect spot and moment to take myself for the run I had been craving.
The one that Brady promised to take me on, though coven and pack business has since kept him too busy to do.
I wasn’t worried about the rogue or the vampire. The patrols had not seen them since the vampire’s last attack on me, which occurred before I knew I was pregnant.
It was the perfect plan, and I knew I could get back in before anyone even knew I was gone from the packhouse. Especially if I were to lock my bedroom door like I do when I’m napping. That alone would buy me at least an hour of running time. No one ever bothered me when they thought I was sleeping in my room.
“Growing pups is exhausting work,” Alma often remarked, unknowingly fortifying my alibi.
As Edwardo and Ricardo got up to leave for work, I finished the last bite of food on my plate.
“I’ll see you this evening for dinner,” Edwardo said to Alma. “I have an extra patrol during noontime, so I won’t be home to eat lunch with you today.”
He walked around the table and pressed a kiss to his mother’s cheek before bowing his head to Diana.
“Luna,” he said.
“Have a nice day, Edwardo,” Diana chuckled and waved him off.
“I have to go too, Alma. Lots of work still left to do with the school. I think the fall is going to be a very productive semester once we get everything hammered out.” He looked over at me. “I look forward to having you there to help me with the beta and gamma department, Madie.”
He also bowed his head and addressed Diana before leaving the room with his brother.
“Two down, two to go,” I mused silently, turning my attention to Diana.
