Kids from One Alpha

Chapter 18: Running Free

When the kids were well into their dinner, Dana let herself in. The kids waved to her, slopping pasta sau

ce on the floor. Serena shook her head, grabbing

a wet paper towel to clean up the mess. “It‘s late, isn‘t it?” Dana asked. Serena nodded, tossing

the paper towel out.

“My mother brought a lot of gifts over for the kids,” she explained, motioning to the boxes

stacked on the floor. Dana chuckled.

“Very good. I wanted to talk about schedules, making sure we are coordinated,” Dana said. Serena nod

ded, motioning to the couch. While Dana sat, Serena broke down the boxes and folded them up. “Adria

na has

me working regular office hours at the hospital, unless there is an emergency or some kind of special e

vent,” she said. “That is what I expected,” Dana

said. “I will be at the daycare most days and can watch the kids then. I can help with breakfast and dinn

er too since those are

around the times you‘re coming home or leaving.” Serena smiled, surprised by how relieved she was at

the offer. “That sounds great,” she said. Boxes flattened and stacked, she sat on the couch with Dana.

“Any time you want me to put them to bed, I‘m around,” she said. Serena

smiled and nodded again. “I really appreciate it. I thought I

was busy in medical school, but rejoining a pack has been a lot more complicated than I

remember,” she said. “As a single mother, it is nice to have an extra

pair of hands.” “Do you have a boyfriend, or any kind of regular

social life?” Dana asked. Serena creased her brow. “I‘m sorry, I don‘t understand,” she said. Dana

chuckled. “Are there

any standing nights you‘d like me to watch the children when you‘re not here?” she clarified. Serena sig

hed, smiling. “No…My social life has been…almost non–existent for five years,” she explained.

“Because of the kids?” Dana‘asked, raising an eyebrow. “Oh, no! I was

in the human world. It is hard to get close

to people while hiding a big secret from them,” she said. “Alpha Logan told me that you lived in the hum

an world for a while,” Dana said, putting her feet up on the coffee table. Serena curled

her legs under her, resting her

arm on the back of the couch and leaning her head against her arm. “What

is the Alpha‘s story?” she asked. Dana sighed, looking around the room a little.

“Logan had to take over the pack very young,” she said. “It was hard on him. There are times when it st

ill seems like he thinks he isn‘t the right fit, but none of us have any complaints.” Serena hummed in res

ponse, her eyelids drooping. It had been a long day working and visiting with her mother. She watched

her kids from over the back of the couch, feeling sleepier with each passing moment. “You look

exhausted, dear,” Dana said. Serena jolted up, yawning and stretching. “I am,” she said. “Annual physic

als at the medical facility. No

end to the patients for the next several days.” “Oh yes, it is a busy time,” Dana said with a chucklę. “I ca

n put the children to bed, if you‘d like.” “Thank you,”

Serena said, reminding herself that Dana as there to help. She was drowsy, watching trough

blurry eyes as Dana went to the kitchen, cleaning up the kids and

the dishes before ushering them both upstairs.

While she was partially asleep, her ears were working just fine!

She listened as Dana got them washed up and into their pajamas. Oliver decided he wanted to sleep in

Olivia‘s room with her. It didn‘t surprise Serena; they‘d gotten used to sleeping in the same room. She

hadn‘t had the means for a three–bedroom place while she was in school. The house was

big and empty in comparison. They just wanted to be close

together. She remembered climbing into Santino‘s room a lot as a child too. It would take them a while t

o get comfortable enough to sleep on their own. They‘d already crawled into bed with her too.

Serena forced herself awake

when Dana came downstairs. She stood up, stretching, her skin feeling tight. It had been a long time

since she shifted. Too long! In the human world, it was hard to shift into a werewolf regularly. There wer

en‘t a lot of places to run around as a wolf in the city without raising

suspicion. She could have bene caught by animal control. She

could have been seen as a threat and hunted with guns or by an angry mob. With two young kids, getti

ng a babysitter around her class schedule and going out of the city where she

could run free wasn‘t as easy to plan as she would have liked. It had been so long

since she had been able to shift

and run whenever she wanted to, it was something she had to remind herself she could do! “I‘m going t

o go for a run,” Serena said. “Are you okay to stay with the kids?”

“Yes, of course. It is a good night for it,” Dana said. “The stars are out in

full.” Serena peeked out the window. She was right, the stars were so bright! “The moon is full

too,” she said. Dana smiled. “Enjoy yourself. I do not think you had the chance as much as you

should have in the human world,” she said. “No, I did not. I won‘t be gone

long,” she said. Dana nodded. “Thank you.” Once

outside, Serena made her way to a small patch of bushes near the house. She shed her clothing. She lo

with wolf energy. She was sure there were other pack members out running on a night like this! Serena

shifted into her wolf form, the transformation from two legs to four fluid and smooth. She pressed her pa

It was good to feel like part

of a pack! She couldn‘t see them, but through their howls she could feel them. Through the moon, they w

buzzing through her entire body! Serena slowed to a walk near a little stream that cut through the forest

alive. Her fur rippled with a night breeze, and she lifted her head to the sky. The full moon was so bright,

some of the nearby stars. Away from the human city that was

littered with lights, cars, and loud sounds. She had such a clear view of the sky out in the woods, and sh

the constellations. Twigs snapped nearby, and Serena snapped her head in the direction of them. She li

knew there was a

chance that whoever it was, she wouldn‘t recognize. She hadn‘t met very many members of Night Sky y

mate. The scent was faint at first, wind blowing

in the opposite direction of where she was standing. When the wind shifted, she caught it full in the face

around

him, the more she worried she would get too comfortable and slip around him. She couldn‘t speak to him

wolf form, but any scent she gave off would be far more potent. She couldn‘t risk it! Swallowing the instin

Serena gauged where the wind was blowing. She went to the nearest patch of bushes that was upwind

he was too close for her to try and run. Serena held her breath, waiting for the moment when Logan was

She kept herself low in the bushes, hoping the wind wouldn‘t change

direction again. It took several heart stopping minutes before Serena heard the

padding of feet and the rustling of leaves. The sound was receding, and so was

Logan‘s scent. She let out a low whine of relief.