Crunch, crunch, crunch!
Zhiliary stepped into view of the cabin on the snowy coast of Faelock. She looked around and saw the quadruplets playing in the snow, bundled up, and laughing. As she stood looking at the children, she wondered which one was Pamoen. Maybe this was what the pack needed, an offspring from Sous. Even if Zhiliary hated to admit it.
All of Canas was theirs except for that damn pixie area. They wouldn't be able to conquer into Nadia if they still had that scrape of land they still needed to conquer.
Pamoen ears twitched. She stopped playing with her siblings and looked over to where Zhiliary was standing. She could smell her scent, an Alpha, and not one from this land.
An eyebrow raised on Zhiliary's face, the little red head was the first to look her way. She also seemed weary. The others hadn't noticed the Alpha was present, watching.
Zhiliary and Pamoen kept eye contact until Pamoen went inside. She hung on the door knob until she broke free and ran to the kitchen where both Sous and Kara were.
"There's an Alpha outside," the seven year old Omega said.
Sous and Kara exchanged looks and proceeded to go outside. They saw Zhiliary standing just yonder, with her hands in her black overcoat.
"Zhiliary," Kara said. She stepped outside, not bothering to get a coat. The Omega appoarched the Alpha.
"You have lovely kids," Zhiliary said to Kara. "Which one is Pamoen?"
Before Kara could speak, Sous did. "The red head by the door."
Zhiliary nodded her head. "She's the one wanting to join the youth program?"
"Yes," Sous said, once again preventing Kara from talking.
Zhiliary turned to her ex-mate. "Why does she want to join?"
Again, Sous spoke up, making Zhiliary glared at the younger Alpha. She turned back to Kara.
"Does Sous beat you?"
"No," Kara said.
"Why the fuck would you ask that?" Sous shouted at the woman.
Zhiliary shrugged and smirked. "Anytime an Alpha speaks for an Omega, they're usually beating them. Kara has a voice. She doesn't need you speaking for her."
Sous turned to Kara. "I didn't mean it like that," she said. "I'm sorry."
"You've been saying that a lot lately," Kara retorted back, making Sous gulp.
"I came here personally when I saw the application. May I speak to her?"
The parents moved aside and allowed Zhiliary to walk toward the cabin.
Inside, the kitchen smelled of pine resin and burnt toast. Pamoen stood behind a half-eaten cookie, crumbs dusting her chin like powdered sugar.
Her eyes tracked Zhiliary's approach, not fear, but calculation. The Alpha noted how the child's fingers curled around the edge of the countertop, knuckles pale as birch bark.
Outside, Sous shifted her weight in the snow, boots crunching rhythmically. Zhiliary's shadow stretched long across the floorboards, swallowing the weak winter light filtering through lace curtains.
"Kids, continue to play," Sous told the other three. Her and Kara entered into the house. All four of them went into the living room. Kara gestured for Zhiliary to take a seat.
The Alpha took off her jacket and placed it to the side. She sat down on the couch, adjacent to Pamoen.
"Do you want to join the youth program?"
"YES!" Pamoen yelled loudly but again, coward when her eyes met Sous'.
Zhiliary laughed at the young girl. "You have a lot of energy." She noticed the chip ear and the bucked fang. She also could smell the girl's pheromones. She was anxious around Sous but was pleasant with Zhiliary and Kara.
"Hmm," Zhiliary acknowledged.
"Was-was I ac-acc-epted?" The little Omega asked.
"You got yourself a little stutter," Zhiliary pointed out. "No worries, we can fix that. Confidence will do wonders for you." She glanced back at Sous and Kara; whereas, Kara was worried, Sous seemed eager. She understood. Sous was ashamed of this Omega. See, Zhiliary and Kara had eight kids together, it was important to recognize the signs of autism and ADHD. "If you join our youth, we will train you to be a warrior."
"OH WOW!! I CAN GET STRONG! YOU HEAR THAT, SIRE! YOU'LL LIKE ME WHEN I'M STRONG, RIGHT!" Pamoen said to Sous who felt ill her daughter really did think she didn't fancy her. It was just...just...
Zhiliary stepped to Kara and Sous while Pamoen just waited patiently.
"When did you learn about her autism?" Zhiliary asked. Sous was confused, never heard such a thing before.
"She started showing signs at five and I got her tested. She was found to have it," Kara answered.
Zhiliary nodded her head. "Listen, the kids...some of them have kids...Ill send you letters so you can meet your grandkids, okay?"
Kara nodded her head, tears about to form. Zhiliary walked back to Pamoen.
"I'll be back in a week to come get you! Congratulations!"
Sous, Kara, and Pamoen followed Zhiliary outside. She placed her fingers to her lips and whistled. A large dragon came from around the coast and landed in front of the cabin. The kids were absolutely astonished but the adults knew it was because of territory taken from clans that tamed Dragons back in Canas.
The dragon was a nonmammal creature, scaled and leathery, with wings that folded like crumpled parchment. Its breath steamed in the cold air, carrying the tang of sulfur and brine, a labor-intensive beast to train, Zhiliary had once confessed to Kara during their shared years.
Pamoen scrambled backward, tripping over her own feet, but Zhiliary caught her elbow with a grip like iron roots. "Meet Louvois," she said, her voice devoid of warmth. "He won't bite unless I tell him to."
"Can I have a dragon?" Pamoen asked Zhiliary.
Zhiliary nodded her head. "If you become an elite, you can." It was like Pamoen had stars in her eyes. She destined for a great journey.
SWOOSH!
And they were off. It was a peculiar situation that Zhiliary hadn't expected. To have a daughter that one didn't get along with, who one was ashamed of. It could take a toll on a family and that appeared to be the case with Sous and Kara.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk! How the tables have turned!"