what are you afraid of

The next morning, Morgan sat at the dining table with Benji, her mind still swirling with thoughts of the previous night. She couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that lingered after seeing Alex with Clara. Benji was happily munching on his breakfast, swinging his legs under the table, oblivious to the storm of emotions brewing inside her.

She was poking at her food, lost in thought, when the door to the dining room creaked open. Morgan looked up, and her heart skipped a beat. Alex walked in, looking as composed and regal as ever.

Unable to take her eyes off him, Morgan blinked in surprise. 'What’s he doing here?' she thought, her mind racing.

She hadn’t expected him to have breakfast with her, not after leaving with Clara the night before. She quickly brushed off the thought, reminding herself, 'It’s just for show,' she told herself. 'We’re pretending to be a couple to keep the peace between our packs. That’s all.'

Before she could gather her thoughts, Benji spotted Alex and jumped up from his seat, running toward him with the kind of excitement that only a child could muster.

“Morning, Father!” Benji called out, his voice bright and cheerful as he threw his arms around Alex’s legs.

The maids in the room froze, their eyes wide with shock as they exchanged glances. They weren’t used to seeing such open affection from the Alpha, especially in front of others.

However, Alex didn’t miss a beat. He smiled down at Benji, a genuine warmth in his eyes, and scooped him up into his arms.

“Morning, Benji,” he replied, giving the boy a playful squeeze before carrying him back to the table.

Finally, darting her gaze from him, Morgan tried to mask her surprise with a smile as Alex set Benji back in his seat and then took his place at the table.

He glanced at her, his expression unreadable. “Morning, Luna.”

“Good morning, Alpha Alex,” she replied, forcing her voice to be light and cheerful, adding a cute smile for effect.

'Gotta play the part,' she reminded herself. 'If Benji, Sophie, and I are going to survive in this pack, I need to get Alex to fall deeply in love with me. No half-measures.'

Throughout breakfast, Morgan focused on Benji, who was happily cutting up his food into tiny pieces before eating them with exaggerated care. He was so cute that it was hard not to smile at his antics.

Suddenly, Alex’s voice broke through her thoughts. “You make a good mother, Morgan.”

The words caught her off guard. He didn’t say, “You will make a good mother,” but “You make a good mother.” The present tense.

As her eyes softened, Morgan’s heart raced as she looked up at him, trying to gauge his expression. There was no teasing in his tone, no hint of mockery. He meant it. He genuinely accepted Benji as part of their little family.

“Thank you, Alex,” she said softly, her voice almost a whisper.

For a moment, the pretense fell away, and she felt a warmth spread through her chest, something more real than she had expected.

Silently, Morgan was still reeling from Alex’s unexpected compliment when he leaned back in his chair, casually sipping his coffee.

“So, Luna,” he began, his tone relaxed but curious, “what’s your plan for Benji while you’re at work? You can’t exactly bring him along.”

His question snapped Morgan out of her thoughts. She hadn’t really considered the logistics of balancing her responsibilities with taking care of Benji. Biting her lip, she glanced around the dining room, her eyes landing on the maids who were trying to blend into the background.

“Who’s the oldest maid in the packhouse?” she asked, trying to sound confident even though she was winging it.

The maids exchanged glances before one of them stepped forward, her voice respectful. “That would be Mrs. Hawthorne, Luna. She’s been here the longest.”

“Please fetch her for me,” Morgan said, trying to mask her uncertainty with a firm tone.

The maid nodded quickly and hurried out of the room, leaving a brief silence in her wake. Morgan could feel Alex’s gaze on her, curious but not pressing, which only made her more nervous. he had to come up with something that would work, something that would keep Benji safe and happy while she handled her duties.

After what felt like an eternity, the door creaked open again, and a tall, older woman with kind eyes and silver-streaked hair entered the room, immediately bowing respectfully to Alex and Morgan.

“Luna, Alpha, you sent for me?” Mrs. Hawthorne’s voice was warm but formal, and she exuded a sense of calm that instantly put Morgan at ease.

“Yes, Mrs. Hawthorne,” Morgan began, her voice steadying as she addressed the older woman. “I need someone to help look after Benji during the day while I’m working. Someone with experience, who can give him the care and attention he needs.”

Looking away from Morgan, Mrs. Hawthorne’s eyes softened as she looked at Benji, who was now peeking curiously at her from his seat. “I’d be honored to help, Luna. It’s been a long time since we’ve had a little one in the packhouse. It would be a pleasure.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Hawthorne. I know Benji will be in good hands with you.” Morgan said, feeling a wave of relief washes over her.

Sensing that something was being decided about him, Benji looked up and mumbled, “Am I going to hang out with her today, Mom?”

Morgan smiled at him, her heart melting a little at how easily he had taken to calling her “Mom.”

“Yes, Benji. Mrs. Hawthorne is going to take care of you while I’m working. You’ll have a great time.” Morgan smiled down at him.

But as she turned her attention back to Alex, a sliver of doubt crept in. She needed to know that he was truly on board with her plans for Benji, especially with the weight of everything they were balancing between their packs.

“Is that okay with you, Alpha Alex?” she asked, her voice steady but carrying the underlying concern she felt. “I mean, having Mrs. Hawthorne look after Benji during the day?”

Silently, Alex looked at her for a moment, his expression thoughtful. He set his coffee cup down and leaned forward slightly, his eyes softening as they met hers.

“For now, that sounds like a good plan,” he said, his tone reassuring. “Mrs. Hawthorne is trustworthy and experienced. Benji will be in good hands with her.”

Forcing a smile, Morgan exhaled a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding.

But before she could fully relax, Alex continued, his voice calm but firm. “Once Benji gets more familiar with the pack, we’ll start thinking about enrolling him in school. He’ll need to start his education soon, and it’ll be good for him to interact with other kids his age.”

Morgan nodded, doing her best to mask the flicker of anxiety that surfaced at the thought. The idea of Benji being out of her sight, especially in a new environment like the pack’s school, filled her with unease. But she knew Alex was right. Benji needed stability, and education was a part of that.

“That sounds reasonable,” she agreed, offering Alex a smile that she hoped didn’t betray her worry.

As Morgan agreed to Alex's plan, she noticed a shift in the atmosphere. Her attention drifted to Sophie, who had been quietly standing near the corner of the room.

Normally, Sophie exuded a calm and composed demeanor, but now, she seemed tense, her eyes flickering nervously between Morgan and Alex. Her hands were clasped tightly in front of her, and she appeared to be lost in thought, her brow slightly furrowed.

Morgan's instincts immediately kicked in. Something was bothering Sophie, and it wasn’t the kind of worry that could be brushed off easily. But with Alex present and the maids still bustling around the room, she knew it wasn’t the time or place to address it.

Yet, she couldn't help but mumbled in her head, 'What is it, Sophie... what are you afraid of?'