Number 20

"Thank you so much for everything," Roman said with a smile.
"You are welcome, dear," The nanny replied.
"I want to ask you for something very important."
"Go ahead," The nanny said taking a seat.
"I want you to keep taking care of Xander till I am back from the training. I won't feel good if something were to happen to him." Roman pleaded in an appealing voice while casting a look at Xander who remained sitting fiddling with the nanny's pair of cats.
"You should know that you can trust me on that, but be careful, I mean extra careful in the training, you know what I mean right." The nanny said in a sweet voice that soothed Roman's cliffhanger nerves.
This was someone he had suspected to be a spy, someone he had come to interrogate now being the one person he looks up to take care of his mate's son. Besides, how couldn't he recognize her during the first visit to their new address, well he might have failed then but he does know her now and she was his only hope now. Both for some critical information and advice when possible.
"One more thing, nanny," Roman begun. "I want you to keep everything we discussed here a secret, most especially my ability to speak a secret."
"Why would I betray your trust, dear? Trust me on that, your secret is safe with me." The nanny assured him with a pat on the shoulder.
"But Ivy, did you think I should get into the training with other male wolves," Roman asked skeptically.
"You have to go, to be able to prove yourself capable of taking over your responsibilities and you know that besides it's your sure ticket to getting more info you need for your mission."
"I know I am capable of taking over my responsibilities, and I will surely prove to you and to others that I am ready to be myself again," Roman assured her.
"That's a great motivation for yourself, remember be careful, trust no man and make sure you believe in yourself okay," Ivy assured him as she walked towards the window taking a look at the gay colors around her house.
"Thank you for everything, Ivy."
"You shouldn't thank me, you should be happy you have found a great mate for yourself, one whom you love so greatly. That should be a source of joy to you and a great motivator also." She replied. " I think you gotta get going now if you wanna make it before dark."
He nodded and walked towards the door, grabbing the knob he turned and pulled the door open, putting Xander out first before walking out he gently closed the door as Ivy flopped herself into the sofa. The door opened again with Roman poking his head into the room, Ivy turned to glance at the door.
"Hmmm, I forgot to say goodbye and thank you once again." He said as Ivy let a mirthless laugh.
"You're welcome, son, and take care of yourself, okay?" Ivy replied as Roman nodded and closed the door back.
A thousand and one thoughts filled Ivy's mind as she thought with happiness. The fact Roman had found his mate was more than enough reason to keep her happy for the rest of her life, she had prayed for him to have a blissful life even when he was still a child, it seemed now that her prayers were being answered now that she had come of age. She couldn't afford to let him down now that he had grown to trust her as a child would trust his mother.
The walk home was torn between joy and sadness, to him it's gonna be one of the most frustrating times of his life, having to put up with thoughtless remarks, abuse, bullying, and a whole lot more than he could think of. Not that he couldn't take care of them but counter-overreacting might blow his cover and he couldn't risk that now he is getting ready to make ahead of his mission. A part of him slowly and persistently pushed the joyful part towards him, he smiled as the picture of Lei hovered in front of him, he couldn't seem to ignore that she was one of the reasons why he struggled to keep his shoulders squared even in front of hard tribulations. His sinking into despondency would attract nothing but a sense of failure toward Lei…..
'Wait, did you say failure?' The gravelly voice of his wolf came ringing in his head again.
'I Never said failure, I said if I let the situations weigh me down, Lei might think I'm a failure.' He answered it as the words came out like he was muttering.
His wolf let out a laugh.
"Did you talk to me?" Xander asked, raising his face the glance at him.
"No, Papa bear," Roman replied with a smile and Xander poked a finger into his ribs.
"That's for calling me Papa Bear in public," Xander said and ran ahead, making funny faces at him.
A frown came over his face, 'Wait were you listening to my thoughts, wolfie.'
'Well I couldn't help myself, you create scenes when what you think of doesn't even matter to her, what makes you think she would think of you as a failure.' Wolfie asked.
'I don't know just thinking of it that way.' Roman replied again as Wolfie broke into a burst of uncontrollable laughter, though it wasn't heard by anyone he could hear it ringing furiously in his head.
He knew it was useless trying to get him to stop laughing cos Wolfie on his own was a special and stubborn kind of wolf, so he decides to play along and see what his plans may be.
'So what do you suggest I do?'
'Ummm, I have to think about it and then I will give you feedback.' Wolfie answered. 'And I am also going back to sleep.' He added and Roman felt him curl back into his shell.
Roman smiled to himself, Wolfie is one of a kind, his ability to know when you talk, when to end a talk, when to rest, and when to pick some funny troubles with him had made it his most trusted and greatest advisor and friend.
'He would go to the training and he will emerge victorious, and also prove himself to everyone.' He thought. 'I am going to make it, if not for anything but for Lei and Xander.'
The smile remained on his face even as he reached home that day, it was as if happiness and joy visited him.
Later in the evening, Lorelei came home from work with smiles all over her face.
'Happiness seems to come visiting today.' Wolfie thrust into his head before retreating into its fortress.
'I will get you soon.' He retorts as Wolfie lets a sly laugh make the smile on Roman's face brighten up, making Lei cast an inquisitive look on him.
"How was work today, LeiLei." As he called her whenever he is happy and joyous.
"Work was great and a bit stressful, but guess what?" She asked them.
"You bought me some cookies?" Xander chipped in dropping his playthings and jumping on the sofa beside Roman who smiled and pulled him to himself.
"Uhm, not really."
"More candies?" He guessed again.
"You guessed well, but no..." Lei answered before turning to Roman and gesturing to him. "So what about you, what's your guess?"
"You got paid today." He gestured to her but Lei busted into laughter making Roman laugh alongside her.
"Well, you both tried but... you didn't get it," She said at the same gesturing so Roman could understand as well. "I got tomorrow as my day off and guess what, I want us to spend it together at the amusement park, Who's in?"
Xander leaped to his feet jumping up and down on the sofa, the Cupid arrow seemed to affect everyone. Roman had to grab Xander off the sofa as Lei tickled him making him wriggle in laughter like a worm.
'It's been a long time. They all had a good time like this with laughter echoing all around.' Lei thought as she tickled Xander more.
"Would you jump on the sofa again?" She asked as Xander muttered a "No," in between fits of laughter.
"Better."
Later that night after everyone had dinner, Lei took Xander to bed as Roman went to take his routine after dinner before bed. Walking into Xander's room, he found Lei already there reading him his favorite bedtime story. Roman walked over sitting on his left side as Lei was already on the right side.
"But Mom, why did the Moon goddess have to curse the Red sea Alpha?" Xander asked as his mom smiled and looked at Roman who smiled and held Xander by the hand, looking into his eyes.
"You know he did something bad, so he needed to be punished else everyone would also be doing the same thing," Roman explained.
"But he should just be punished, not being cursed, the curse was too much for him." Xander maintained.
"Never mind the curse, think about the pain he caused to the pack as a whole, would you be happy if someone tries hurting your Mom?" Roman asked with a quizzical look on his face.
Xander took a look at his mother before answering.
"I would throw blows with the someone till he begs for forgiveness," He said flexing his muscles as Roman and Lei burst into laughter.
"But mommy, I can protect you, right?" Xander asked with an inquiring look.
"Sure, baby. You can protect me." Lei assured him as he hugged her dearly.
"Baby, it's time for bed, okay? Goodnight." She tucked him in, giving him kisses.
As Lei turned back, motioning to Roman that it was time for them to go to bed, but Roman uncovered Xander hugging him dearly as tears formed in his eyes. The atmosphere was love-filled and Lei tried hard to hold back the tears that were threatening to fall from her eyes.
To her, her dream of a happy home was what Roman was bringing to her. She had always wished that he would grow to love Xander as his child so he would grow up to feel the embracing nature of a father's love. She had had misgivings that it might not be so but the tears she saw in his eyes tonight were clearly tears of love. Her mind tingled with happiness and gladness, who would love a child that wasn't his own, but here he was cuddling another's child and showing him the same love he would show his blood.
He had made her feel whole again, who knows she might finally get to have a nice home once, a place she could call her own, and a mate she could boldly stand up and defend when the time comes. Her sister could have Chris as much as she wanted, to hell with them both, she had found happiness and joy and no one would take that away from her. Not now, not ever, she would fight to protect everything she loved or rather die trying.
'Well am not dying now,' She thought.
As Roman tucked Xander back into bed she hurriedly wiped her tears and sighed as Roman put her at ease with a smile. Holding her hand, he bid Xander goodnight for the fortnight time as he flipped the light switch off, leaving only the glow from the unicorn bedside lamp.
Hand in hand they both walked towards their room with Lei secretly imagining the scene of a happy home continuously in her mind, it brought a series of smiles and the tears came rushing again this time in a greater force than she could control. All she could do was smile as the tears came running down carefully down her cheek lest they bump into her two dimples on her cheek.