The Royal Wolff

Chapter 3: Shopping Is Cardio

I’ve been standing in front of the mirror and staring at myself for a good five minutes after getting ready for the day. I couldn’t shake off this feeling that things were finally starting to sink in.

We were going home to the pack for the weekend and after that, going back to the city for the airport and then officially goodbye to the city I was born and raised in.

I swallowed nervously and felt a tug at my heart just as someone knocked on my door.

“Can I come in?” I turned to see my mom peering through the small opening of the door.

“Hey, mom. Sure. What is it?” I asked her with a smile.

There was always that expression on her face every time she looked at me and I could never figure out what it was entirely besides that I always get the same feeling from it - reassurance, peace, and contentment.

There was no doubt she always gave me that feeling whenever she was around. My mother could make me feel calm in the most tense moments. Although it was funny because when I was only about six months old, she said my first word was papá and not mamma. Little did she know dad and I had a secret.

“A little birdie told me that you had quite the realization on your last day. Care to tell me more about it?” She asked before walking in front of me and tidied my light pink open jacket that matched my little black dress.

It wasn’t too cold in the city, but I know when we get to the woods it would get much colder so I often brought a jacket with me to visit the pack. Although it’s been more than a month since we were able to visit, I wonder if things have changed…

“By ‘a little birdie’ do you mean my annoying brother Mathieu?” I rolled my eyes jokingly. “He is so bad at keeping things to himself.”

My mom chuckled lightly. “Your brother just always wants to take care of you, and I am sure you want to get it out of your chest, too.”

She looked at me with that soft smile of hers and in an instant, I felt relief. Every time I looked at her, I couldn’t help but think that she was beyond beautiful. Her and my dad’s story was something out of a fairytale, but then again, our lives are basically something out of a mythical book being werewolves and all.

Although remembering and seeing pictures of how my mom used to look, bright auburn hair and light blue eyes, and looking at her now with silver hair and gray eyes, it was hard not to be amazed by it all.

I bit my lip while in thought, thinking about the things that transpired yesterday that made me have that exact realization my mom was talking about. Why did it feel like it was such a long time ago when it was literally just yesterday? It must be because I was trying to desperately forget it, pushing it back in my thoughts because I no longer wanted to relive that feeling of embarrassment.

“It was just a bit of, you could say, emotional confusion.” I laughed at my own small joke, finding a way to make yesterday seem less humiliating for me.

“Did my little girl have a crush?” My mom said as she looked at me with a teasing smile.

“Mom! First of all, I am not a little girl anymore and second, I- I, it was not a crush!” I denied, but deep down I was unsure myself.

Last night I stayed up a little longer staring at the ceiling just thinking… If we weren’t moving, would I have had those realizations about Jake, still? Would I have ended up being more open-minded about what I truly felt about him and would I have acted on it and would we have even had a chance?

In the end, there was no point to it all. Things are better off this way… I suppose.

“I just-” I paused with my lips pursed before letting out a deep exhale and looking at my mom and told her with a conclusive tone. “I know now where my emotions and feelings lie and I won’t ever make that same mistake again.”

My mom looked at me curiously as if analyzing my words and then gave a smile that was obviously not the usual one she gave. There was something else, something different about the feeling she gave when she smiled at me as if she knew something I didn’t.

She placed her hand on my shoulder. “You really are your father’s daughter”, then chuckled before walking back to the door.

“Ah.” She turned back around. “Make sure to be ready in five. We leave by then.” She gave me a playful wink before disappearing.

I walked back to my bed and found myself slumping on it lazily, the whole weight of my body falling onto the cottony sheets instead of getting ready to leave like my mom said so.

I couldn’t help but think about what she meant when she said I was really dad’s daughter. Was it because he used to deny his feelings for her too? Well whatever it was, I shouldn’t let myself get all worked up over it. The past is the past and maybe going to Spain really will help me start anew.

I managed to push myself off of bed and run downstairs. The first thing I spotted was the brown box by the door labeled FRAGILE and I looked at it curious.

“What is that?” I asked Mathieu who showed up next to me.

“Candles.” He replied before squatting down to pick it up.

“Wait, wait, are those the candles for Aunt Cristina? Did dad buy like a whole year's supply for her?” I asked curiously when dad suddenly appeared from behind me.

“You know how much your aunt loves those things. She’ll have my head on a platter if I even forget it once so why not buy a whole year's supply while you guys are away?”

“That is actually pretty smart. Good play, dad. Good play.” Nodding my head as I complimented him and he of course basked in my words, but chuckling embarrassedly right after.

I couldn’t help but be amused at my dad getting so shy about a compliment. Gone are the days my mom told us that he used to be somewhat full of himself. Everyday he talked about his clothes, shoes, cars and everything he owned that were branded. Sometimes I still can’t believe I met the Queen of England when I was a baby, or more so she met me because I had no idea what was happening anyway, but her and my dad had somewhat of a good relationship together because of business.

My dad passed mom’s purse to her before giving her a quick kiss on the forehead in which she clearly blushed at. I can’t help but smile at how much love the two have for each other and it was obvious how much she has changed him and he her.

“Okay, come on, guys. We don’t want to be late for lunch and your nonne and nonni (grandparents) miss you tremendously.” He signaled for us to hurry inside the car.

“Hey dad, is Magnus still at the Grove? He hasn’t been replying to my messages since last week.” Mathieu gave a quick look at dad who was sitting next to him at the front before turning back to the road.

Ever since Mathieu learned how to drive and got his license, dad couldn’t wait to make him the designated family driver. Although he owned this automatic driving car, the name I can’t remember for the life of me, he wanted Mathieu to drive to teach him not to be lazy when it comes to getting to places. He was really determined not to let us act all spoiled and rich like the other millionaire’s kids we’re family friends with.

“He must have gone to Spain already since school started the same as here. Are you excited to hang out with your cousin? He’s part of the soccer team there, isn’t he? You could join and Anita can even be a cheerleader.” Dad gave me a quick look and I almost choked on my drink just as Mathieu let out a boisterous laughter.

“Anita? Cheerleading? You’ll be lucky to even get her to do any sports.” Mathieu teased and I smacked the back of his head, making him shout in pain.

He tried to use his other free arm to hit me without turning away from the road, but I just kept dodging his arm and slapping him more all while laughing hysterically.

“Smettila, voi due. Nessun combattimento. (Stop it, you two. No fighting.)” Mom ordered and we both immediately stopped.

“Scusa, mamma.” Mathieu and I said apologetically.

“I do agree that Anita would be the last person on earth to join any sports club.” My mom added and I gave her a betrayed look.

“Mom! Rude!” I pouted at her and all of them burst out into laughter in the car.

I shook my head and rolled my eyes at them, but at the same time I took in the moment of my family just having a good time and although they were pretty much laughing at me and my hatred for physical activities, there was still a feeling of warmth of seeing them happy and worry-free like this.

-

After almost four hours in the car, we reached the part of the front of the woods wherein you knew you were nearing the Grove. It was a long road filled with tall trees and as soon as you entered, the noise from cars, and everything else around you immediately disappeared.

The one thing that could accurately describe this place was like entering the closet of Narnia. It was like a whole new world and I missed that feeling.

After Wolff Enterprises got busy early this year, it had been getting harder and harder to make time for a four hour ride out of the city on the weekends so we had to postpone our trips back to the pack.

My eyes lit up in excitement and I was overly thrilled the second I saw our home getting closer and closer. Our home in New York was big, but it was like an ant’s home compared to the modern castle-like place we had in Blood Moon Grove.

“Miei cuccioli (my little puppies)!” Before we could even step out of the car, Mathieu and I saw our grandmother running towards us.

Her eyes filled with delight and immediately pulled us in for a big and long hug, continuously repeating how much she missed us.

“Oh you two have gotten so big! How in the world did this happen? I could have sworn I was taller than you two last time you visited.” She touched mine and Mathieu’s hair, pinched our cheeks, and turned us around and around as if inspecting every inch of our bodies.

Who said human grandmothers were any different from werewolf grandmothers?

“No hug for your original cucciolotto?” My dad exclaimed in disappointment, giving the silliest-looking pout that made Mathieu and I laugh.

“Oh, of course, there is. Come here, mio figlio (my son).” Grandmother stopped haggling Mathieu and I to do the same to dad and it was obvious how much she missed him.

“Have you been taking care of yourself? How is your wolf? Is he still there?” She began to ask him a million questions.

Dad chuckled lightly. “Of course he is. He’s not just going to run away, you know. Wolf says hello and you look stunning as always, mother.”

“Always so good with words, the two of you.” She replied blushing. “Come, come! Your father and everyone is waiting for you at the table.” She motioned for us to get inside.

It was a good idea as I could feel the breeze getting colder and colder the longer we stayed outside. To think we just came from twenty six degrees celsius in the city, now I would say here it was around sixteen degrees. This is a whole different world, I tell you.

“Nonna, did you make Baba Napoli?” Mathieu curiously asked while we walked in the hallway.

Nonna turned to him with a pleased smile. “Ovviamente (of course).”

“Yes!” Mathieu exclaimed in happiness and Nonna giggled in amusement.

Just like dad, Mathieu was fond of that rum dessert, but mom and I never liked it as much. We were more into the sweeter sweets such as cannoli with vanilla custard or a delicious chocolate hazelnut budino “pudding”.

I don’t know what it was, but besides the feeling of excitement seeing my family again, there was also this slight feeling of unsettlement as if I didn’t know how to react or act around them anymore.

I clenched my jaw tightly as the door slowly opened and when it did, instead of being overwhelmed, I felt a sense of calmness as they stood up and greeted us kindly.

“Anita! We missed you!” Some of the girls approached me and we got into a group hug.

It’s been so long and we only ever talked online so being able to hang out with some of my childhood friends felt nice, but all of a sudden it hit me… I was able to be with them after so long, but this also meant it was going to be our last time for a while.

Before I knew it, I was starting to feel bummed out, but was immediately taken out of it.

“Hey, this weekend is all about having fun! No sadness, Anita!” Clara, one of the girls I used to play with as a kid, said enthusiastically and I nodded in agreement.

They dragged me to the side of the table where they were sitting, passing by the boys who Mathieu was with.

“Lunga vita alla Luna Oscura (long live Dark Moon)!” Everyone in the table shouted in respect for our pack, led by our Alpha and also my uncle, Marcus.

He gave both Mathieu and I a quick smile and we both happily smiled back with our glasses up.

After that, everyone dug in and it was like a tornado hit the dining table as food disappeared in minutes. All that was left was evidence of the “calamity”, which were empty bowls and dirty plates and utensils.

“Nothing beats the food here at home.” I commented as I let out a pleased and content exhale while stretching my arms up.

“Save some space for dessert, mia bellezza.” I almost had a fright when Nonno (grandfather) showed up behind me and put a bowl of the delicious hazelnut pudding on the table in front of me.

“Nonno! Grazie molte (thank you so much)!” I squealed in excitement and stood up from my chair to hug him.

He wasn’t really the cuddly type but he of course couldn’t resist when it came to his adorable granddaughter.

“I’ve missed you, little one.” Nonno smiled at me before pulling me in for a big hug, holding me tightly like he didn’t ever want to let go.

Being the former Alpha, he was really very serious. There were stories of his merciless reign when need be, but this all disappears as he becomes very emotional towards his grandkids. I remember nights of him reading a bedtime story for Mathieu and I and falling asleep to his voice whenever we visited. He also used to visit New York when we were still a baby and couldn’t travel a lot.

“Everything well? Are you ready for your move?” He asked while holding onto my hand and I pout a little, once again reminded with the thought of leaving.

“I guess…” I replied quietly,

Nonno instantly gives me a suspicious look. “That doesn’t sound convincing at all. You know why you and Mathieu have to do this, right?”

His question brings me back to the day we got back from school and they told us about the move. The way our dad said it would be to protect us and to fulfill his duty as well.

“Ovviamente, Nonno (of course, grandfather). I just need time to adjust, that is all.” I smiled at him and his eyes looked at me gratefully.

“You two will do great there. Your Nonna and I will miss you, but we’ll support you all the way from here. Anything you need, we’re just a call away.” He assured me before pulling me in for another tight hug and we stayed like that for a few seconds before he pulled away.

“Vai a mangiare (go eat). Goditi il tuo budino (enjoy your pudding).” He told me with a pat on the head and walked back to the other side of the table.

“The former Alpha is such a softie for you. It’s so adorable.” Mia gushed as all the other girls agreed.

“The former Beta is completely different but that’s only because his grandkids are rarely even here and when they are, they just go out to party.” Clara added, shaking her head in disappointment and I got intrigued immediately.

“Are you talking about the kids whose dads are celebrities?” I asked curiously, quite frankly forgetting their names.

All I knew was that Sienna Rossi was the former Beta’s daughter and not just that, but according to my mom, back then she had some kind of obsession with our dad too. From then on, Mathieu and I just somewhat stayed away from them because we didn’t want to cause any pack disagreements.

“Oh, they wish. Their dads are probably someone Sienna met during her trip to Vegas.” Clara gossiped and my eyes widened in surprise.

“No way.” I whispered in disbelief and the other girls nodded their heads as if to say it was absolutely true.

I heard Sienna was a bit on the rebellious side ever since she couldn’t find her mate, but I didn’t know it was that… extreme. A lone wolf going around Las Vegas? That doesn’t sound like something my uncle, Alpha Marcus, would agree on because it seemed risky especially when she had a reputation of being boisterous, but it seems like he just would rather not bother with her choices in life.

We were taken away from our gossip session when we heard the sound of a fork hitting a glass and when we turned, the Alpha was looking directly at Mathieu and I.

“I would like to propose a toast.” He spoke up, the uncle that I remember making silly faces just to cheer us up when we were younger was completely serious now.

He raised his glass up. “To my nephew and niece on their upcoming journey. The Pack deeply appreciates your service and no matter how far, you know we will always be here for you. Famiglia significa che nessuno viene abbandonato o dimenticato (family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten).”

Everyone looked at us before raising their glass up and taking a drink. I felt my cheeks warm up a little and my heart melt at the Alpha’s kind words and everyone’s gratitude towards us. This was family, and I will truly miss them, but it was nice to know they will always be there.

“Now for the fun part.” Clara whispered next to me.

I turned to her with a tilted head. “What fun part? What did you guys plan?”

“You know you can’t leave without a farewell party, Anita.” She smirked at me excitedly.

“And when there’s a party, you need the perfect outfit.” Mia added as she wiggled her eyebrows at me.

I giggled in amusement at where they were going with all this.

“Shopping?” I asked even if I more or less knew it already.

All my girl friends squealed. “Shopping!”

Who says I don’t do any physical activities? Shopping is my cardio.