Chasing My Luna

8

REBECCA

4 years later

"VIOLET! JAMES!" I yelled, checking the time on my phone for the umpteenth time and cursing under my breath. "Guys, it's time to go! We're late!"

"I'm coming, mommy!" James shouted, zooming out of his room at lightning speed, his school backpack in one hand and his shoes in the other. He plopped down by the door to put them on while I shoved a snack and his water bottle into his bag.

"Violet!"

"Mommy, I don't know what to wear!" My little girl screamed.

My jaw fell on the ground, then I silently prayed to the Goddess for the strength not to scream.

She's still in her PJs, and we're late. That's just f*****g great.

"Jim, you stay put here." I told him. "And don't leave the house."

"Okay, Mommy." The little one said.

I gave him a look. "I'm serious, young man, okay?" I insisted. I knew my kid. It wasn't the first time he thought it was a great idea to wander off by himself.

James nodded, but just to be sure, I checked that the front door was locked before abandoning my purse on the floor and heading to Violet's room.

"Violet, sweetheart, we picked out your clothes for today last night." I sighed. "Where did you put them?!"

"But I didn't like them anymore!" Vi said. "What can I do?"

Patience, Becky. Patience.

"Fine," I said, taking a deep breath. We were already terribly late. I absolutely didn't have time to argue with her, not at that moment. "What do you want to wear, honey?"

Violet pursed her lips, undecided. "I..."

Calm and inner strength.

"How about your Masha and the Bear tracksuit? It's your favorite, sweetheart." I smiled. And most importantly, quick to put on.

Vi seemed to like the idea, nodding eagerly. Once the clothes were found, I helped her put them on, and finally, she was ready to leave the house, too.

I grabbed my bag from the floor, took their hands, thankful that Jim hadn't wandered off, and we left the house.

"Mommy, can we get a donut before school?" Jim asked.

"No, honey, there's no time." I replied. "But we'll get one after school, okay?"

"Okay..."

Violet and James' kindergarten was quite close to home, on the same block. It was a fantastic school, with wonderful teachers my kids adored, friendly classmates, interesting and educational activities, and perks like mid-morning snacks and a warm, healthy lunch included in the tuition. Despite my newfound position, I'd been really lucky to get both kids enrolled there. It was one of the most sought-after kindergartens in Manhattan, with a terribly long waiting list. Only the fact that Eleanor Delly, a wealthy heiress and socialite of the city, had decided to move to Europe, and thus had withdrawn her two daughters from the kindergarten had given me the opportunity to send my kids there. The tuition was a bit of a drain, but fortunately, I could afford it.

The only problem with that school? Not even the slightest delay was tolerated. The kids entered at 9, not a second later, and if they weren't in by that time, they stayed out for the rest of the day. The kids had been attending for a few months now, and unfortunately, we had experienced the inflexibility of that rule more than a few times, especially at the beginning. Fortunately, we had managed to create a morning routine that minimized the risks of not getting to school on time, but that morning we were seriously at risk.

Still, I was thankful for that rule. It was one of the many safety measure the school enforced to ensure the children's absolute safety, and I was more than okay with having to run with the kids every morning to get there on time if it meant they were safe.

"We have to go, we have to go!" Jim yelled, looking at the elevator doors and ready to bolt out.

"Don't even think about it, kiddo." I admonished. The little guy was fast, and I had no intention of risking losing sight of him in the crowded city streets. "We'll get there on time without running like mad people."

James huffed a little, but thankfully stayed by my side, though it was obvious he was bursting with energy to expend.

I couldn't blame him. After all, he was the son of a powerful Alpha. His blood didn't lie. Thankfully Vi, being a female, was calmer. At least now. I knew that, sooner than later, her lineage would show up.

"Why don't we go to the mountains this weekend?" I suggested to him. "So we can blow off some steam."

Instantly, big smiles lit up the kids' faces. Our cabin was, without a doubt, their favorite place on earth, so much so that since I had decided to buy it six months ago, we had been going there almost every weekend. I'd been quite busy with work the last month, though, and we hadn't been able to go. We all needed a break.

"See you later, pups." I smiled, swallowing the lump that had formed in my throat. I couldn't help it. I got a little emotional every time I said goodbye to them, even though it had become a daily routine by now.

As I walked out, I glanced at the lunch menu, mushroom spaghetti and lemon chicken steak.

Thank goodness, all stuff the kids liked.

Jim wasn't particularly picky, but Vi was really terrible, I couldn't get her to eat a vegetable other than tomatoes and lettuce, even if I pureed them and forced them down her throat with a funnel.

Alright. The pups are at school. What do I need to do today?

As I headed back home – which was also my office – I quickly glanced at what awaited me. Besides, of course, house chores, I had a couple of calls with suppliers, a lunch with clients (a lovely engaged couple whose wedding I was planning), and finally, some accounting work.

Mmh...

Not too bad, compared to some days: probably – no, definitely – I'd be able the afternoon off, which was great, because it meant I could spend it with Vi. I was taking Jim to see the Lakers, who were playing against our Knicks, that night. Ever since he was born, Wayne had poured his heart and soul into making him, just like him, a basketball fan, and damn if he had succeeded. Since the game fell just a couple of weeks after his birthday, I'd decided to take him to see his first live match: when he found out... oh, the surprised and ecstatic look on his face was absolutely Reiner's.

As soon as that name popped into my mind, I closed my eyes for half a second and rooted myself to keep every memory and feeling behind a sturdy wall. No. Reiner and everything related to my old pack belonged in the past, and that was where they had to stay. Even though the mere thought of them was enough to open a painful and bleeding wound in my heart.

I didn't have the time or energy to dwell on pain. I had a house, a family, and a business to run, and I couldn't let my brooding over things I had no control over affect my duties.

So, I continued to take deep breaths on the long elevator ride from the ground floor to my apartment, and with each breath, those memories and that pain drifted a little further away, slowly fading into a remote corner of my mind.

Ready to be brought out at night, when no one could see or hear my tears.

When the elevator doors opened, I saw Sienna, my colleague and co-founder of our event planning company, already waiting for me outside the door, with a brilliant smile lighting up her green eyes and a nice pair of steaming takeaway cups in her hands.

"I brought breakfast!" she exclaimed, waving the cups slightly.

I felt a big smile spread across my face.

"Believe me, that's just what I needed today."