Chapter 5 Mac $ Cheese

" Leave us starving? We've been feeding him good money for a long time, he can't starve us. You don't kill no golden goose while it lay eggs." Ester sighed. " We'll find a way..I guess. He'll take more profit perhaps, something higher than the 95 percent he's been taking but we'll survive anyhow. "

" Dad's not gonna like this. He'll make a fuss."

" He's gonna get a piece of my mind. And it's not going to be funny." Ester's voice was grim. " Your daughter can't be hurt, assaulted and you are worried about business? Pfft"

" Why they do not want to consider going back to Florida... starting a business for humans like us...I just don't get it."

To that, Ester had no reply.

She could hope for answers, for better days, wish them upon the dying sun which now sank into the lower bridge of clouds, radiating a bright orange and a subtle unwillingness in It's beautiful rays.

What she knew for sure, was that they would be 10 times poorer, if they went back to Florida.

Even if it was just 5 percent profit share they had for themselves.

Suddenly she remembered, and she dipped her hands into her pocket, bringing out the card.

She made to throw it away when she paused and half-stared at it, the gold-rims glittering in wavy patterns and encasing the bold letterings of Alpha Ulmea's contact details.

"What is that?" Debbie asked.

"Someone who helped me; he saved me from Ramon. I didn't even get to thank him for what he did." She sighed. " So rude of me."

" If he saved you, there's no need to discard it then."

" I should thank him." She said and dropped the card in the cupholder. " I should do that before I take it out."

Debbie was eyeing her.

She turned. " What"

A mischievous smirk spread across the little girl's face. "Who is he?"

Ester laughed. "Oh don't get any stupid ideas in your head. I don't know him. We met for the first time at the Coffee house "

Debbie snatched the card from where it lay and stared at it.

Her eyes widened and her mouth dropped. "Alpha Ulmea?"

Ester frowned. "Why so shocked; don't tell me you know him."

" Are you crazy? That's the Alpha of the pack in San Francisco. Crescent City Pack , The biggest, most powerful pack in all of North California. This guy is a myth, a legend fearfully whispered throughout the four walls of Nobles."

" Maybe I have been too busy CEOing to check some very interesting facts. I have heard of Crescent City, but just passing talk."

" They say he's brutal, merciless. If you're his enemy and he gets you he will make sure you're dead."

Ester's face dropped immediately a memory triggered to life.

This nigga was punching Ramon to death.

If at all she hadn't nearly sacrificed herself; they'd have been dealing with murder.

Something she was more than likely to not get out of.

Her ash suit, she had discarded it into the booth of the car; she would figure out what to do with it later.

Considering throwing it somewhere along the road, she had opted to take it along with her.

Out of sheer fear. When last had she seen blood?

She was grateful, no doubt. The man's image, his sleek, black willowy hair that fell gracefully around his face, highlighting his handsome features, sky blue eyes and that damn inflaming black outfit, haunted her mind like the headless horse man.

Like a rat on a laboratory wheel seeking a route of escape, she had tried in futility to place the gentleman---as gentle after the day's events.

The smell of danger stuck to him.

She couldn't help thinking if he was the grim reaper.

"He was the Alpha, Artems went to see."

" Damn. So we are going to be doing business with him?" Debbie said a bit excitedly.

" Unfortunately no. I'll see if I can still talk to him about it. I diplomatically tried to salvage the messed up situation back there but i didn't succeed. I'll talk to him again maybe tell him that we actually own the company, not Artems. Another reason not to discard his card."

" Yes, maybe he can help us... Save us. I mean if he saved you---"

Ester mused, her eyes constricting as sad memories floated into her thoughts. "Same way they saved dad, then exploited him. Hummmph. Have you not learnt anything from these werewolves, Debbie?"

" Are all of them the same? There are so many packs you know; Our business is expanding...but we haven't met all the Alphas here in the North, not even half."

"And the ones you met how were they? " Ester asked to which Debbie didn't respond.

"Is it even our business? Yes we own it but We don't have TRUE ownership, no independence" Ester said, more to herself than to her sister.

Debbie knew it, she knew it, Mom and Dad knew it.

Ester's car splashed it's headlights on the 'Black' House and on mom when they arrived.

Lucy was on the patio, reading a Nora Roberts, when she looked up and closed the book, mild concern and a small smile on her face as she walked out to the front yard.

Debbie was the first to pull the car door open as she jogged to mommy, and a warm hug followed.

"How are you baby? How was school?" Lucy asked her, ruffling her little girl's black hair with the fingers of her hands that were free from holding up the book.

"Stressful and 'famishful' "

"Like I knew." Lucy chuckled. "I made Macaroni with some cheese cakes."

" Yessssss. My day is made."

Ester who had gotten out of the car, locked it up and the car beeped before she turned." Don't forget you have a sister, Debbie "

" No. I have no sisters when it comes to my fav.." Debbie placed a hand on her hip, and dipped her head and body sideways in a feel-me-kinda pose. "Go and make your favorite."

Lucy and Ester laughed as Debbie began running towards the house.

"Go and freshen up first Debb!"

"Yes mommy!!"

Ester came closer towards Mom when Lucy's face fell. She knew her daughter very well. " You don't look... alive."

"At least I am not dead." Ester cast her gaze down.

Lucy closed her eyes. " I had been having that foreboding feeling that something bad was going to happen. I prayed it wouldn't."

" It did mom. And I don't know how we're going to get out of this." Sadness coated Ester's face.