Kids from One Alpha

Chapter 17: Too Human

Serena helped her mom bring all the boxes of toys and clothes into the house. The kids were wildly running around in excitement, chattering about what they thought was in each box. “Alright,” Serena said, getting their attention. She set the last box down. “If you two want these new things, you‘re going to have to bring them all up to your rooms and put them away, okay?” “Yes!” Olivia said jumping up and down. “Can we start, mommy?” Oliver asked. Serena nodded. “Go ahead,” she said, waving her arms over the boxes. The kids giggled and cheered, diving into the boxes. They started divvying things up and then running them up and down the stairs. Serena sighed, going to the kitchen to get herself a glass of water. “Do you want anything?” she asked Charlotte when her mother followed her into the kitchen. “No, I’m fine,” Charlotte said, taking a seat at the kitchen table. “You don‘t seem that grateful for my contribution.” Serena sat across from her mother, looking at the glossy surface of the wooden table. When she‘d been in medical school, her parents had paid her tuition and sent her monthly installments of money to support her. She had used most of it on the twins, even though they didn‘t know that‘s what it was

used for. While she‘d been grateful for the support, she‘d felt guilty accepting so much from them.

“Mom, it isn‘t that I don‘t appreciate it, I just…” she trailed off, meeting her mother‘s eyes. Charlotte waited expectantly. “You and dad supported me all through medical school. I took the job here in Night Sky to become more independent.” Charlotte laughed, tossing her hair over her shoulder and waving her daughter‘s concern away. Serena crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes at her mother.

could hear Oliver and Olivia running around with their new things. They were playing some elaborate game to sort the toys and decide what belonged to who. Every now and then, they‘d run back downstairs and collect a new armload of things to bring back to their rooms, Everything was an adventure to them. To be a kid again, with no worries and no responsibilities. Serena shook her head. No, she loved being a mother and a doctor! “Serena, you became a little too human while in school,” Charlotte teased her. Serena rolled her eyes. “What is that supposed to mean?” she asked. “Honey, this is what a pack does,” Charlotte said. “We support each other, we help each other.” “This is different,” Serena argued. “You can‘t just drop by and give my kids all these toys. They need to learn that they can‘t have everything they want.” Again, Charlotte shook her head. “These notions of ‘independence‘ and learning they can‘t have everything, these are human concepts. They have not place in the head of a pack doctor,” she said. Serena sighed. Maybe her mother was right. She had missed being in a pack when she‘d lived in the human world. Being back, she suddenly felt like the pack

Olivia asked, looking to Serena for permission. “Yes, that is fine, go on and play,” Serena said, waving the

asked. “I was in medical school,” she said. “I didn‘t have the time to track down an unnamed wolf whose face I could barely remember while raising twins and focusing on my studies.” “That‘s a fair point,” Charlotte agreed. “Well, I think you should make an effort now.” Serena shrugged. She couldn‘t tell her mother that she thought she had met him already. Based on the timing, similarities in appearance, and how good Logan was with them, it was

thrilled beyond all belief. “I won‘t ask about it anymore,” Charlotte offered. Serena nodded. “Thank you,” she said. As much as it bothered her to have her mother ask about it, Serena knew that it was an issue that would continue to come up. Her own twin was

the same as having their blood family help them. “As long as it is okay with them,” Serena said. “I think they would love spending time with you, dad and Santino.” “Great!” Charlotte said, jumping up. Serena stood too ad walked with her mother to the front door. They went out onto the porch together, “You could at least stay and help clean up,”