When they touch me (Shelagh Milano)

Chapter 46 Artemisia

Getting through the day without having my mates talking to me, and Daisy wanting to make sure I ate right, was an absolute nightmare.

I still don't know how I managed to get through it as I finally got the plan from Cayden for today's activities and had an excuse to shake off Daisy before going into my quarters all by myself.

I got into bed and drank the herbal tea Daisy had made me while I went through the files. It was already way after midnight when I heard a strange noise coming from the terrace. Rubbing my aching eyes, I thought I must have imagined it but as I heard it again I had to check it out. Getting out of bed carefully, I walked towards the terrace slowly, scanning the space outside with my eyes.

My heart was already hammering in my chest as I made sure that no one was outside, and that, in fact, I could not make out where the noise came from.

It was way too dark to be able to see everything clearly, especially since Cassy was striking even more than before, now even denying me the bit of enhanced senses I usually got through her.

I was just about to lock the door to the terrace as I halted in my movements. Biting my bottom lip, I caressed the goosebumps on my arms that grew triggered by the strange feeling of being watched. After another set of heartbeats, I opened the terrace doors fully and settled back into bed.

I laid away the file and turned off the lights before burying myself under the blankets.

At first, I thought about having lost my mind completely, but I couldn't even end the thought properly as his mouth-watering scent invaded my room.

***

Taking a deep breath, I reopen my eyes. I let them dance over the passing landscape while I lean back against the seat of Cayden's limousine.

He is immersed in his documents but suddenly, he sighs deeply. "Are you alright?"

"A bit nervous, but perfectly alright, thank you."

Lifting his gaze to me, he frowns. "That's not what I meant. Is there something you want to tell me?"

I shake my head, feigning ignorance but I guess my increasing heartbeat blows my cover. "I don't know what you mean."

"Was Fynn in your room last night? Did he threaten you not to say anything?" he asks me, and I gulp.

"No. No. I didn't see him," I answer, practically not lying as I had just smelled him.

"Hmm..." he examines my face suspiciously, narrowing his eyes.

It seems like ages as I try not to crumble under his proofing gaze. "I'm not the type to be threatened into silence easily. I would tell you."

The light bumping of the car that drives up the gateway of the colourful mansion, gets him to divert his attention to the outside and I breathe out relieved. "Very well then. Are you ready?"

"Ready," I confirm, and as soon as we step out of the car, a small crowd of pups is already running towards us.

Their little voices mingle into a confused choir as they welcome us.

"Oh, my goodness, aren't you the cutest. Hello, everyone," I say, trying to overpower their happy giggles. "Hello, Missy," the little pups shout back in unison, making me lay my hands on my chest.

I look at Cayden with big eyes, as I whisper. "They know my name."

"Of course they do," he chuckles. "They were waiting for you."

"Aaaw," I am still staring at the little girls and boys in awe as two teachers finally catch up with the little rascals. "Where are your manners, everyone? We want to greet the Alpha as well," a lady with grey hair and a nice smile says.

The children immediately start addressing Cayden, greeting him in unison, and he laughs, making my heart bloom.

'I could listen to him laughing forever,' Cassy purrs, and I blush as she practically speaks my thoughts out loud.

'Shut up, Cassy,' I scold her, forcing up a smile to take the teacher's hand.

"Hi, I'm Missy. Thank you for having us."

"Oh, the pleasure is all ours, Missy," the elder teacher says in a melodic voice. "I'm Astrid, I'm the director of our little daycare, and this is Celeste. She is the main teacher as she works full-time, but we have other teachers that help out periodically." "That is wonderful," I gloat, shaking hands with Celeste who, with her fair hair and blue eyes, certainly fits her name. "So nice to meet you, Celeste."

"It is all my pleasure, Missy," she shakes my hand nervously and her voice is as celestial as her appearance.

"I'll leave her in your care if that's alright with you," Cayden says with a smile before turning to me. "Will you be alright?"

"Sure! How can I not be after such a warm welcome," I answer happily while Astrid is already assuring him that they will take good care of me.

I do my best to hide my shocked expression as Cayden kisses my cheek and, with a short goodbye to the teachers, gets back into the limousine.

We stand there for a bit with the kids and wave goodbye before Astrid claps her hands. "Okay, everyone. Let's show Missy our beautiful house, shall we?"

A cheering goes through the small crowd and they take off to run back to the daycare house.

We walk back leisurely, and I listen to Astrid attentively as he explains the organisation of the centre to me. She goes through the names of the teachers, and how they are happy to have me on board.

This reminds me to ask Lisa about what Daisy said yesterday. I'm well aware of the fact that a Beta Female would help out with the tasks on pack lands until a Luna is found, but her words triggered my anxiety badly.

I shake myself to concentrate back on Astrid who is already telling me about the routines of the kids.

They usually start coming to the daycare at three or four years old, so they can start learning simple facts about the pack and being part of a pack and they usually stay until they are enrolled into school at five or six years old.

She informs me that depending on the mating season, they have approximately 30 to 50 pups in the classes, and I have to chuckle to myself as it seems like a lot of pups to me.

But it is a big pack.

We are just about to reach the main entrance which is coloured in yellow, as I see a little girl on the swings all by herself. Now that I think of it, I didn't see her welcoming us with the other kids. She seems to be sad, as she is swinging all alone.

"Oh, this is Emma. She lost her mother a few months ago. She stopped talking as it happened, and we need to be a bit more careful with her. Don't be sad about her not welcoming you properly, she is a bit shy." Astrid explains lowly as she follows my gaze. I nod, flashing her a sad smile. "Sure. No offence taken, honestly."

"If you want, you can try to invite her in. Celeste, maybe you can go with her?" Astrid says and we start walking towards the little girl.

"Hey, Emma," I call her as I crouch down to her. She looks at me with her big green eyes as she examines me thoroughly. "I'm Missy. Would you like to come in with us? Maybe we could do a puzzle after you all have shown me the house?"

My heart breaks for her, and I'm sure that she will leave me hanging as she just stares at me without showing any reaction at all.

Suddenly, she leans forward slightly and sniffs at me, before her eyes light up. She nods and jumps off the swings before she takes my hand and starts dragging me into the house with the other children.

"Look at that. She likes you already." Celeste squeals excitedly, and I have a bad feeling about it. Even if I can't explain what it is.

Okay, then. Let's do some Luna work.