Chapter 18: Running Free
When the kids were well into their dinner, Dana let herself in. The kids waved to her, slopping pasta sauce 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.
has me working regular office hours at the hospital, unless there is an emergency or some kind of special event,” 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 dinner 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
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 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 human 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
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 physicals at the medical facility. No end to the patients for the next several days.” “Oh yes, it is a busy
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 to get comfortable enough to sleep on their own. They‘d already
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!