*Danika*
“Good morning, sir,” I greeted Dr. Salem the next morning when he came to the nursery possibly for supervision.
I was sitting down with Theo, the difficult pup. He was as usual nestled in my arm on the mat, listening attentively to the story of why the frog jumps -which I distorted part of the story to make it seem like it was because the frog was stubborn, when Dr. Salem walked in.
“Good morning, Ms. Danika. It’s nice to see you. Can I see you in my office, please?” he requested, his eyes skimming around the nursery which recently we have managed to rearrange to create more space for the new pups that keep coming in every day.
It appears the pack is presently experiencing expansion, with the birth of new pups. I stood, extracting a promise from Theo to be at his best behaviour or I won’t read to him, before following the seemingly awed Dr. Salem out.
We walked back to his office, me probing my head in turmoil, wondering if I had done something wrong that would warrant any query from him. Perhaps, it’s because I was absent from work yesterday and hadn’t called in to inform him, or, maybe the Alpha said something about me…
No, it can’t be. Not after the wonderful night, we spent together. Today, I had literally floated to work in balloons of excitement. I haven’t felt this content for as long as I can remember.
When I woke up this morning, surprisingly, I was on my bed and Nadia was all over the place arranging my stuff. I was terrified, but at the same time couldn’t ask her anything. When she saw me looking at her, she had asked if I was okay and I simply nodded a yes and went to bath and prepared for work, all the while, my tentacles up worried she might know something.
Going down for breakfast, he wasn’t present and so were the others. I think it was because I was early so I rapidly had the toasted bread and scrambled eggs served and left for work, my day highlighted with one of the chauffeurs driving me up to the hospital.
Today, I must say I started on a good foot and I wouldn’t want anything to taint it.
Reaching his office, Dr. Salem opened the door and ushered me in, and followed behind. I sat down, and he did, the first thing he did was to smile, which I returned skeptically, my fingers starting to fiddle on my lap.
The King and I might be making a little progress in our relationship, I would like to hope. And right now, I tried to avoid as much as possible anything that would bring any problem between us or cause any rift. I hope Dr. Salem won’t say anything that would make the King look at me as incapable.
“I want to personally commend you for all you have been doing for us here at the hospital, Ms. Danika. The Omegas and other matrons had nothing short of praises on how good you have been helping out…”
Am I hearing clearly or this is me imagining things?
“So… I really thought about this and knew it was going to be for the best. You deserve this…”
Is he going to fire me? But…
“We will be honored if you will accept to become the new birth supervisor, Ms. Danika. You will be in charge of supervising the activities of every pup brought into the facility, as well as their actions around the premises. You will act as the matron to guide the other Omegas and caretakers and to make sure they are properly doing their duties…”
“Oh, my… Dr. Salem! That’s a huge responsibility!” I didn’t even know when the words were out of my mouth. I just had to say it. How can? I haven’t even been here for a long time and… What? Why?
I looked at him for answers. There must have been a mistake somewhere. This can’t be happening.
But from the look on his face, he doesn’t look like he was kidding, “I know it’s a huge responsibility on your side and one you might find overwhelming, which is why we have assigned Mrs. Bernard as your assistant. You don’t need to be around often. She can report to you anytime you are not available for at any point in time. Please give it due consideration.”
I opened my mouth and shut it, words stuck in my throat that I couldn’t make out.
I was overjoyed-overwhelmed being the keyword. I wanted to cry so bad. Cry for this big shot I have been given that I don’t and can’t tell how I deserved it. What happened to my crooked life overnight?
I stood, still aghast, nodded at the Doctor, as I left his office. I will truly need to think this properly through. I wouldn’t want to disappoint them with the first responsibility I have been given.
I know I’m supposed to be delighted with it, yet, it scares the shit out of me. I might fail. I fail a lot. If I fail in this like in other things, it would ruin me. I don’t know what I am going to do.
This is the time I need a friend. Alfred. Lance. Gad! How can all the people that would have been very helpful during this time have gone missing, due to their inability to control themselves?!
Muse! I have to make Muse talk. I really need her help on this. Our mate was now paying us attention, so she should be sated.
I walked to the lady’s room in a haste and locked myself inside, taking a large gulp of air. I paced, refusing to look at the mirror, loathing what I will see. When will I ever be bold enough to stare at the mirror? Maybe not in this life.
Clearing my throat, my hand mid-air, I brushed off a recalcitrant hair before speaking. I think she is peeved and needed me to apologize. I would do anything to have her back.
Okay, “Muse?”
Nothing.
“Muse, listen I know you are angry at what happened. Our mate was mean to us and hurt us badly, making you hide away. I get it, I understand how you feel. But I love you and I will like to believe you love me too. You can’t leave me now. You promised never to leave me, Muse. What kind of wolf are you?” Okay, that came out wrong.
“Look, he is going through a lot. I am not justifying his actions or anything, but I want you to stick with me, together we can do this. We were together last night and you were jumping about me. I know you were content, why are you still mad at me?”
Nothing.
I continued, “I was promoted today-if I will call it that. Ain’t you happy for me? We are making progress even though that scares the shit out of me, I need your help to make the final decision, please!”
Nothing.
Okay, that’s it. She’s still mad at me. What could I have possibly done to warrant her getting mad at me? I waited so long for her to be here and now she isn’t speaking to me? Our wolves are supposed to be our best friends but now mine wants to treat me just the way every other friend I get treats me. Can my life get any messier?
“Shut the hell up, bitch! Who the hell is treating the other dirty, huh? You think I’m gonna fold my hands and watch him go nuts on us?”
“Muse!” I screamed, feeling hysterical as she surfaced. I laughed so hard I bent over, holding my tummy. I missed that raucous hood behavior of hers. She is everything I am not. Imagine if she were my physical self, by now, shit would have gone wrong right from the onset. “I missed you so much, Muse. Don’t ever go AWOL on me, next time, baby.”
“I know you missed me, dawg. I watch how miserable you are all day without me. I missed you too. I just don’t like being present during bullshit. You keep trying to control stuff instead of letting me whip their asses for crossing us. We are no pet wolves. We are a fucken Hybrid in case you forgotten.”
“I know, Muse. Just that sometimes you don’t go violent on everything. You have to give it time and a rational approach for peace to reign…” I was sitting on the toilet seat, folding my fingers, and looking at the door while enjoying this missed moment with my crazy partner. I could never be depressed with her around. It’s never possible.
“So about the promotion, you are made matron over some shitty howling pups?”
I shrugged, sitting up in enthusiasm. “Something like that, what do you think?”
“I think you should shove it down their throat! We are supposed to be the future Luna Queen and not some stupid Queen of howlers!”
I laughed out then. “Muse! It’s not like that. I like it here, what if-”
“Don’t say that… DON’T YOU DARE FUCKEN SAY WHAT IF THE KING DOESN’T MAKE US THE LUNA! I AM A LUNA QUEEN NOT SOME PUP NANNY!”
Wow. I didn’t see that coming.
“I am going to rest now, we will talk later. I think I am exhausted from yelling. I hate yelling, makes me feel shitty. Bye.” She left once more, leaving me more perplexed.
“Bye, Muse,” I mumbled, totally gobsmacked with how that went? What am I going to do now? It’s apparent Muse doesn’t want the position.
What the hell am I going to do?
…