When they touch me (Shelagh Milano)

Chapter 47 ARTEMISIA

The pups are all awfully cute.

But also awfully exhausting.

I get to experience their energy firsthand as after dragging me through the house to see all the rooms and after getting shown all the appliances, I get invited to play different games. Fun, fun.

But so exhausting.

At least now I know that whenever someone bumped their head and woke up without any recollection of daily life, they could come here and learn everything about kitchens and bathrooms. And games.

Astrid and Celeste must be saints as they go through everything perfectly patiently. But even with all the children scurrying around, hyped up about their high visit, they find the time to fuss about Emma's affection towards me.

She turned into a velcro pup, and I had to take her up as she wouldn't let me go, also, she would seem totally lost as the other children kept casting her aside to come close to me, and she couldn't defend herself. Poor thing.

As soon as I had her in my arms, she kept herself busy by playing with my hair, and as the children gathered in the playroom, I was glad to get her into the games as well, even if it meant dragging her with me.

We are sitting on a bench by the playground behind the house, clasping hot cups with deliciously smelling coffee as the children climb and run around.

Their happy screams make me smile and I sigh deeply.

"You are a natural. Did you work with pups in your old pack?" Astrid asks me as I take a sip.

"Oh, thank you, but no. I don't think I would ever have the right nerves for it. I mean, I love being here, but I'm a disaster. I'm sorry you have to put up with me because of my rank. I'll do my best to improve," I laugh, making them giggle as well.

"They are a lot even for us, but it gets better, I promise. They already love you, and the fact that Emma was already so clingy towards you shows how you are indeed made for this. And we saw how much you did your best. This has nothing to do with ranks. If you weren't for us, I would tell Alpha Blackwood immediately."

I chuckle, my gaze finding little Emma sitting all alone on a swing again. "I appreciate that. Thank you, Astrid."

"And seeing that you have triplets in the family, it will be good for you to train handling a lot of pups," Celeste says smugly.

I gasp as they laugh, making me shake my head. "Oh, my Goddess. You didn't actually say that."

They are already back making jokes as I look over to Emma again, my heart breaks at seeing her so alone.

Shifting in my seat, I bite the inside of my cheek. "Would you excuse me for a moment?"

"Sure," they say in unison, looking at me questioningly for a second.

Setting my cup down, I walk over towards Emma and hold the chains of her swing as I lean over her. "Do you want me to push you on the swing, Emma?"

Emma looks like I startled her as she looks up at me with big eyes. She seems to think about it for a second before she nods repeatedly and shifts in her seat to sit on the swing properly.

"Okay then, hold on tight," I announce to her as I start pushing her on the swing.

Soon enough, other kids want to be pushed as well, and I find myself giggling while organising turns.

Just as I'm about to get a little breakdown as coordination gets more and more difficult, Astrid is once again my saving bell as she announces that it is time for a walk.

Oh, my Goddess.

I already see myself running after escaping pups, and I realise that with my heeled boots, I am definitely not equipped for such an adventure.

But my panic attack is for nothing as, after dressing the children for the little excursion, I can witness them forming a line and holding hands. Oh, they are so cute. I'm going to die.

Emma is fast to run to my side and takes my hand confidently. I giggle, caressing her hair as we start walking around the pack lands leisurely.

The children are chatting happily, and Astrid as well as Celeste can show me where some places are situated and explain to me some more about the pack lands. They seem to be so vast that I learn more every day.

I'm just about listening to Astrid telling me about a beautiful venue on a small hill, where they usually arrange the annual ball and other festivities, as the children stop and start shouting excitedly.

It takes me a few shouts before I get what they are screaming, also because I move my head instinctively to where they are pointing their little fingers.

"Horses."

A few horses are standing on a field near the river, looking like they are taking a break with their riders.

My heart can't skip a beat fast enough as I feel Emma breaking free, and it gets to flip for all another reason.

"Emma, wait. Be careful!" I shout as I run after her, her little legs not making it particularly difficult to keep up with her.

I

guess that she will just see the

horses from up close and maybe

caress them, but I halt in my tracks as I get the confirmation of my feeling, and the answer to the

belie

question of why she was feeling so comfortable so quickly around me, asl see her running past the horses.

And right into Fynn's arms.

"Careful, little one," he scolds her lovingly as he picks her up into his arms.

I scratch my neck as I turn around to see that Astrid and Celeste are coming towards us too with the other children but they are still too far away.

"Are you angering Missy?" He jokes with the child as she giggles in his arms.

Stepping forward, I shake my head. "She isn't angering me. She just wanted to play, right Emma?"

My eyes widen as the little girl plays with her hair and starts whispering something unintelligible to me. Fynn chuckles as she beams up at him, apparently not shocked about the fact that she just talked to him. "Is that so?"

"Oh, my Goddess. Did she just talk?" I ask, stunned by the fact but he narrows his eyes at me, checking on the teachers approaching. "Don't tell them. They would just make her feel uncomfortable," he answers just in time for Astrid to reach us.

"Hello, Fynn. Sorry for the trouble." She says apologetically, but he just makes Emma jump up on his arm getting her to giggle as he flashes his most gorgeous smile. "No worries, Astrid. We were taking a break anyway."

"Well, time to go." She holds her hands out and Emma, after distorting her face cutely, gets into her teacher's arms.

They have already walked a few steps away, the children still looking at the horses mesmerised, as I gather all my courage to face Fynn again.

He is already looking at me, making my heart flip, even if it's not the nicest look I could expect from a mate.

"What did she say?" I ask, taking a step towards him but he shakes his head.

"It's a secret," he answers with a mocking grin, making me groan.

"Argh, come on. I had a tough day... Did I do something wrong?" I try again, but he just chuckles.

"Okay. Well then, see you... whenever." I sigh, as I turn around, waving at Celeste who is already calling for me.

I have barely made two steps as I sense him moving. Before I can realise what he is doing, I feel him wrap his arm around me to pull me close and press his lips against my ear.

My breath hitches in my throat as his mouth-watering scent envelops me fully, not helping me to blend out his toned body pressing against mine as he whispers huskily, "She has nice hair. I like her."