Caretaker's Destiny: I Found My Mate

✴️ Six Years Prior✴️

"Have you ever heard about the word, blue-balls?" Hunter inquired from Troy while struggling to zip up his trousers.

Troy, pretending as though he didn't see him rubbing his genitals, shook his head, and nodded simultaneously like a dullard.

"Listen, that means, leaving a person, usually a man, s*xually frustrated by denying or abruptly ending s*xual contact," Hunter said, looking into his face for any relatable facial reaction.

"Oh," Troy exclaimed with widened eyes, feigning as though he had just learned about the word. Of course, he had to act normal to avoid his wrath.

"Aren't you a man? Once in a while, don't you release yourself of some substance?"

"I... I... yes, I do."

"The omega enjoys occasionally while the Alpha starves, isn't that interesting? Why don't you get me a beautiful woman?" He got up from his seat, having done his zipper.

Troy continued to listen to the Alpha since he feared to speak up.

"Say something, Troy! I need to release myself of worry," Hunter said to Troy as soon as he began to retreat from the dining table.

"You are the Alpha, you can have whoever you want," Troy said with a broad smile.

Three days after Hunter was issued a call-out, he decided to visit one of the clubs in Vegas to cool off. He had always been believed to be the most powerful and fearless of all his pack members. The very same day after he triumphed over his rival, Alpha Antonio of The Starfall Pack, he assumed the position of the Alpha and, hence, needed a successor.

As the fiery Alpha, Troy didn't know whether he required further suggestions. In other not to piss him off, he proceeded to change the topic of discussion.

"Sir, your cup of coffee is getting cold," Troy said with fear in his eyes.

Hunter turned only his eyes to him, and he regretted saying what he had said. Troy was so lost that all he could do was apologize. "Sorry, my Alpha, I'm sincerely so..."

"Will you shut the fuck up? Is a cup of coffee a cure for blue-balls? Clear this table immediately, I'm passing the night at the clubhouse for the secret soirée."

Hunter hawked and rubbed his neck. "Tell Beta Adolphus to get my Lambo on the driveway immediately."

"At your service," Troy bowed.

"Yeah, over there, I'll have enough of drinks and some good puss..." He paused, "What are you still waiting for?" He shouted out to Troy.

Troy ran off at once.

Having said that, he got up and made toward his bedroom to prepare for the night.

Coincidentally, Rosella also had a plan cooked up for the night. It was going to be her first time in the s×x working business. With her body-fitted lacy gown that revealed her hips and the tops of her breasts, she walked briskly towards The Roses Club to meet the man she had been chatting with on Tinder.

She stopped by a petite kiosk to get a cigarette paper for the marijuana in her bag. 'Tonight, I must make ten thousand bucks', she said, having admired herself before the aluminum glasses that were used in decorating the walls of the clubhouse.

There was a mask station directly opposite the club, she got her mask and put it on. At once, she rolled the paper, lit up the cigarette, and put it between her lips.

She sucked the pipe and gentle streams of smoke escaped between her succulent lips.

"Welcome ma'am, the owner of the club has ordered the waiters to give out to everyone any drink of their choice free of charge." A man, not so handsome, told Rosella immediately after she had walked up to the door.

"Interesting, sir. May I have my identity batch?" She stretched her hand to his face.

"Don't bother, that's not necessary tonight." He waved,

"Oh, really? Great!" Her eyes scanned the place, searching for Vladimir, the man she had come to meet.

"Excuse me," She beckoned to the man who was still by the door. "I'm looking for umm..." She paused as soon as she spotted Hunter, walking in with two of his bodyguards. He was wearing a mask on his face!

"For whom, ma'am?" The curious man inquired.

"Nevermind," She picked up three bottles of alcohol and walked away, leaving him at the door.

She stepped her feet into the house and walked briskly towards a sofa. She bent over and felt the foam, "Perfect!" She exclaimed before sitting on it.

Furthermore, she fetched her cell phone from her bag and dialed some codes.

"Hi, Rosella. I'm on my way, RM 007 has been booked already." Vladimir, a tricky shape-shifter assured her. If she had known about Vladimir's true identity, she would have cautioned her legs and herself against the urge to make more money.

"You'll pay for this and if you keep me waiting for more than ten minutes, I'll get started with some other cool dude. I need money, and it doesn't matter who it comes from, get that?" She dropped the call and, again, took her eyes around the club, but Hunter was nowhere to be found.

Sluts don't fall in love, they f×ck, get their account credited and walk away. Most sluts don't render services to a customer more than once because of reasons best known to them. She cautioned herself.

Her phone rang, it was Lydia, her best friend who was in love with a Fed. "Are you guys started yet? Because you didn't remember to pick the female c*ndom." She queried worriedly.

"Oh, my f*cking." She hit her forehead. "Well, Vladimir isn't here yet," Rosella responded sadly.

"Time's ticking bitch! Aren't there other men at the club?"

"Well, but we had a deal."

"What fucking deal? He isn't serious, if he were, he would be waiting for you and not the other way around."

"So, what do I know?"

"Get on the dance floor, afterward, you will get yourself a wealthy catch."

"Just like that?"

"Trust me,"

"Wow, you talk like a bitch. Alright, I'm up, I'm up."

"Make sure he uses a c*ndom,"

"Of course," Rosella concurred with her.

She pushed the bag strap over her head and dumped it on the sofa. She pulled her gown a little above her thighs before staggering towards the dance floor.

Her dim-colored eyes shone brightly in the dark whenever she faced the direction from where the lights were emanating.

As soon as she climbed on the stage, the music faded away gradually.

Every other dancer vacated the stage as they had become intimidated by her appearance. They saw how stunning she was and expected her to show off some uncommon dance skills.

Cheering and clapping filled the air, which attracted Hunter's attention from where he had gone to take a few bottles of alcohol.

"What's that noise?" Hunter asked, turning to his Beta. Adolphus shook his head cluelessly, with his eyes on Troy.

"I'll find out," Troy said and ran off.

"A breathtaking damsel with uncommon dance steps has gotten on the dance floor, sir," Troy said upon his return to the room.

Without a single response, Hunter took his glass of wine from the table and left quietly.

He became eager to discover who it was that made his club hot again.

"Splendid moves!" Hunter confessed, one hand held the glass while the other began to smooch the frontal region of his trousers.

It was dark, a good time to get naughty. "Would you mind getting me someone who will care for me tonight. Preferably a brunette."

"The dancer?"

Beta Adolphus asked in utter surprise, pointing toward the dance floor. He was referring to Rosella.

Hunter nodded. "Yes, the drunk,"

"Lead her away." Beta Adolphus urged Troy.

✴️Present✴️

Rosella

For humans, the room would have appeared dark since the day was just starting, but for me, the room was as bright as it would be during the day. My glowing eyes illuminated the room while my five fingers ran over a photo frame of my triplets.

Two supernatural creatures desired to share a bed with me and guess what, one was smarter; the werewolf!

In just one night, I made a mistake that turned my life around in a way I'd never imagined. I had a one-night stand with a stranger who happens to be a primordial werewolf. How did I know that? Shh... My title morsel of secret! After that night, I became mighty.

"No one has ever dared to disrespect me in this Pack, but you have the guts to drag my name into the mud. You are a disgrace to me and your mother, Rosella!" I could still remember my half-father's last words to me before he banished me from The Wintermoon Pack.

Why a half-father? I lost my biological father to an invasion by the underworld werewolves when I was only five years old. Mom got captured and was sold to the Alpha: my half-father for a price. I had to reside with Lydia, who was now married to a Fed: a big-time bully!

I hated the man for all I care. One fateful day, he was found on my bed with blood-drenched clothes. Eww! And he was dead cold!

"Mummy, what's going on? Watching the photo frame every morning now appears like a routine for you."

I turned around immediately and found Gundulf behind me. Gundulf was my first son, Acwulf came next, and my beautiful little girl, Accalia. The werewolf gave them to me for a rememberance.

"Gundulf, I will forgive you for interrupting my thought process, but next time, be careful," I warned him.

"Yes, mommy." He began to get closer. "I saw something,"

"Saw what?" I hiked up my left brow at him.

"Your eyes, they were glowing, bright red light," Gundulf said with an indiscernible look on his face.

"A routine?" I puffed, ignoring his observation. "I love this routine, we are all cold, I want to make our coffee now." I smiled and turned my back on him.

Well, we felt lucky to have survived the cold winter night. I got up early enough to make a warm coffee for my kids, even for Paula, an elderly woman who housed us after I escaped an arrest at my best friend's hometown for her death and that of her husband.

Yes! Lydia also died and was cremated, but now, I'm forced to believe that she was a Banshee as I have always sensed her presence around our home a few times whenever I begin to hear a lingering eerie sound.

Gosh! Maybe I'm wrong. I often imagine a lot of things, filling my head with irrelevant thoughts!

After the children were done eating, they exited the table for me and Paula in case we were going to have another adult talk.

Occasionally, I would dump my cutlery in a saucer to look outside, as though my eyes had just caught up with something worthwhile. "You are not eating your food, do you want something else?" Concerned, Paula asked after a close observation.

"Yes, I do."

"Umm, what could that be?"

"That thing in the stranger's pants," I retorted and at once, I recollected myself and looked through the window again, I couldn't stop admiring my stunning triplets because they looked exactly like their father.

The only unanswered question that continued to roam in my mind was, who in particular was their father?

"I'm sorry," I apologized upon realizing the look on Paula's face.

The elderly woman who sat at the table with me exhaled, picked a serviette, and wiped her mouth. "You are at it again, you need to get some rest."

"But the children..."

"I will look after the children for you, go to bed." In a commanding voice, Paula stressed.

I shook my head stubbornly, "The children are my responsibility and besides, it's too early to go to bed. I'll drop them off at school by myself, they got to train."

Paula pressed down the bridge of her glasses to have a direct view of her acclaimed daughter.

"I think their father had so much effect on you that night, but I hope you will get over it and move on with another man."

"I don't want another man," I replied in a weak tone.

"I get it, I know it has to be him."

No, not even him." In a much weaker tone, I responded to Paula while avoiding a look at her face. I would rather not read her thoughts by studying the expression on her face.

"But you don't even know who this man is, I mean you could actually bypass him on the road, shop together in the same mall without knowing he is the one."

"So?" With my elbow on the table and a drink in my hand, I watched Paula through a transparent wine glass.

"A good sleep will send the moon goddess to reveal the identity of the man, remember, you are a she-wolf now."

The door opened, and shoveling feet walked up to a chair where I was seated.

"Mommy, Gundulf's got a bigger piece of cake in his lunchbox."

"Shh... Acwulf, Gundulf is older than you all, he deserves something bigger."

"But Mommy, have you considered the fact that he is a beast? On a certain night, he..."

"Shh... Enough! Enough!" I raised scolding brows at Acwulf and he had no other option than to retreat.

Though I was interested in finding out about what had happened to Gundulf that night, I felt it wasn't the right time to discuss Gundulf.

Innocent little kids are yet to become aware of their identity and destiny, nice one!

"Mommy, when will Daddy come home, remember, you promised?" My oldest child asked, walking in to meet me.

"Don't worry Gundulf, Dad is coming soon. He spoke with Mommy last night. You need to have some more patience, okay?" Paula lied in my defense.

Gundulf smiled and held unto Accalia's wrist. "Smile, Daddy will come for us. He'll get us two dogs each, I love pets, dogs to be precise," Gundulf told his siblings as he led them out to wait by my car.

When I was left alone with Paula, I took out from my bag a towel to mop the lines under my eyes where the tears had settled.

"Rosella, stop it, you have been doing this for a while, but you keep on saying that you are okay without him."

"I am, but not the children. I spend most of my time explaining to my children the reason their father is not in town, at the same time, deceiving them about his imminent return. So sarcastic, Paula. My existence as a mother is characterized by intense sarcasm."

"You are a great woman, Rosella."

"Greatness in the ashes? Soon, the Sheriffs will be coming after me."

Paula lowered her eyes, and they wandered around the dining room.

I got up, dumped my towel in my bag, and moved to the door. "For accommodating us for this long, thank you. We'll be moving soon."

"To?"

"Anywhere, I got some money on me. We'll be fine."

"It's not safe, Rosella. I won't let you leave."

"Alright,"

I closed the door behind me and made it toward the car. As soon as I hopped in, Accalia stretched out and wiped my face with the back of her palm. "Mommy, don't cry." She said with innocence projected on her face.

I forced a smile, "Adults don't cry, babies like you do." I kissed her forehead. "Seatbelts," I announced, and the children pull their seatbelts as they were once directed.

The next thing we saw was a cloud of dust accompanying a Toyota Tacoma. The approaching car was quite dusty, making it impossible to tell the caliber of people that occupied it, but it was obvious that they were heading toward our house.

I took a deep breath and waited for them. Four men in suits walked out of the car and made toward the door of the house. It was as though we were invisible to them.

One of the men took out something, not certain though, a photo? He showed it to Paula at the door.

Without hesitation, Paula shook her head vehemently after a brief explanation, as though she were required to sign her death letter.

"Drive," Gundulf said in a low tone. "Just move the car, mommy." He finished and lowered his head.

"They are coming toward us, drive the god-damned car." Acwulf hurled out.

Rosella

As fast as I could, I pushed the key into the ignition. I started the car, but it gave me a disappointing sound. I moved my eyes from the steering wheel to my side view mirror. F*ck! The men were already so close. I shut my eyes and took a deep breath. I exhaled when one of them knocked on the car window.

Furthermore, I opened my eyes and found someone I had thought I would never see again my worst nightmare! Vladimir, the bloody shape-shifter who I was supposed to umm oops! Never mind. At the time I lost my friend, he was present at the crime scene, he'd put a handcuff around my wrist and pronounced me a murderer.

As I stated earlier, I was powerful, and I still am. I loved the fact that I met that stranger, he made me strong and fearless! I was able to break the chains off my wrist and jump down from the moving van with my swollen belly.

For the sake of my kids, I tried to comport myself. I turned down my car glass, and he grinned in an evil manner.

"It's really nice meeting you again, your old woman was trying to restrain us, but I know how to smell a wolf when I sense one around." Vladimir began.

"Can we not talk right here?" I pleaded as I turned to look at my kids.

"Of course, umm, there's an oak tree over there." A nod accompanied his suggestion.

I walked in their midst toward the tree. Looking behind me, I met the worried faces of my children and felt like I would burst into tears.

"We know about how powerful and formidable you are, of course, what should we have expected after you spent a hot night with a powerful beast?"

"Can you cease the tales and be plain about what brought you guys to my home?" I hiked up a brow at them.

"Don't worry, we are not here for you, your case has been withdrawn from the court since there were no shreds of evidence to push it forward but..."

"But what?" I interrupted him with a deadly frown.

"We have come for a different purpose," He fetched a card from his breast pocket and showed it to me.

"The FBI is concerned about your pups, they are not saved with you. To them, you are a death sentence."

He paused and looked above my shoulder to the car and smiled. "They are all grown already."

I stood with a frown still, "I need to be with them, they are my only life left. I can't harm my children, I can't."

"Well, what you need now is not a deciding factor in what will be implemented soon, this discussion is now on our terms."

"You act as though you care, I would rather not trust you."

"I'm a Sheriff doing the job assigned to me,"

I eyed him.

"Well, as I stated earlier, we are taking your children from you, they will be nursed at the newly erected orphanage that belongs to a certain Hunter, Alpha of The Shadowfang Pack. You have only one day with your kids, and we will be back for them."

"Are you listening to yourself? My kids can't go into the foster system, not when I have the capacity to protect and tend to them. Don't tempt me, Vladimir." I said, pointing a finger at his face.

He ignored me and continued, "Over there, the pups will associate with others. Hunter makes sure that he only admits werewolves, so he can relate with them properly."

"And who's this Hunter, Alpha of the Shadowfang Pack? A demigod? Why should I trust him with my kids?"

"They will have a good experience, we promise you. The Alpha is only deadly when he must face a rival like me, but just saw you know, I have acquired more powers of recent." He smiled, a hurting smile.

"F*ck you!" I spat on his shoes, but he ignored me and continued.

I tried so hard to hold my peace for the sake of my children. "Let's talk properly inside," I requested with awful intentions in mind, intentions to rip off his heart.

"You are risky, I have a family, and my wife asked me to drop off flour for her cake training, I want to go back to my family in peace."

Again, he looked over my shoulder and smiled. Gundulf had stepped out of the car and was now leaning on the boot, that was why he was smiling.

A thought crossed my mind, what if they were deceiving me, what if they had evil intentions?

"Just a full day with your kids, and we'll return with a form containing details of the termination of parental rights, all we will need from you is your signature. We knew it wouldn't be nice to act without prior notice, that's why we came to pass this information today. Good day, Rosella."

They turned around and started for their car.

"Mommy, is there a problem?"

I shook my head, "There's no need to go to school, let's go to Paula."

"But why?"

"Let's go to Paula," I repeated strongly.

I made sure that the children were in their rooms before we began to talk.

"Why didn't you drive the car? I told them that I have never known a lady named Rosella."

"That faulty piece of shit out there? I have to sell it off and prepare to run away with my children as soon as I can. Within 24 hours, we got to be out of here."

"Why?"

"They are coming back for the children,"

"Umm okay, I understand what this means. They don't want you to care for them anymore, right?"

I nodded sadly.

"Did you try to convince them about how dear they are to you, about how difficult it would be to survive without them?"

"They didn't allow me to express my feelings about what they said. They said it in a way that showed that their decision was final, and I had no right to disagree."

"Good! Get the children ready, I'll call my assistant at work to drive you all out to a safe place, do you understand?"

I nodded at Paula as my arms went around her body. I went straightway to the children's room and pushed the door.

"Thanks to you for coming on time," Gundulf said. "What's going on, Mommy?"

"Nothing serious, it's just an old friend from..."

"He wasn't acting friendly enough to convince me of this confession you are making." Gundulf cut me halfway, and I stared with my mouth open. "He called you a wolf, why?"

"Oh, did he?" I feigned a chuckle. "It's an old pet name. You know, most animals in the jungle can't match the strength of a wolf, so..."

"I don't believe you," He interrupted me.

"Alright, alright. I guess it's time I told you all something I should have said a long time ago."

"Oh, okay." He jumped off his bed and pushed the duvet aside, "Can I fetch my siblings?"

I looked around and found a seat, "You can sit on my bed, I want you to be comfortable, I'm eager to listen to your story."

"It's not a story,"

"Let me call Acwulf and Accalia."

He ran out of the room and slammed the door. Now, it appeared as though I was getting ready to face the court for a crime I committed. My heart was beating fast as sweat crawled out of my entire body.

Right before me was a painting of my triplets. I couldn't bring myself to think of the fact that I will no longer be their mother if we don't run away and run as far away as possible.

Gundulf held the door open for Acwulf and Accalia. "Get seated here," He instructed them. He seemed very curious and determined at heart, probably because he had been noticing something unfathomable and unusual.

"We are ready now," He said and sank into his bed with a leg over the other.

I heaved, "I want us to play a game and in this game, there are just two rules. Number one, you don't need to call me Mommy or let anyone know that I'm your mother. Rule two, the first two losers will be out of the game, and the story will be told to just one of you. Who will be the lucky one?"

"I,"

"I,"

"I,"

Accalia jumped to her feet, "So, what do we call you now?"

"Rosella, my name is Rosella."

"Rosella," They echoed.

"That same car again?" Gundulf exclaimed after standing up to cover the curtains.

"What car?" I queried with tension.

"I can spot the Toyota Tacoma which was here some hours ago from a distance."

"What, why? They said twenty-four hours!" I cried.

Accalia pulled her baseball cap, "Twenty-four hours for what?"