4.
The same day of the birth of Damian Sarin was the same day Elena Monroe found herself on her childhood home's doorstep. A frown marred her face as she raised her hand to press the doorbell. Since she left home at eighteen returning there never felt the same. After her mother died it changed but not for the better. The goddamn worse. Taking a deep breath she subtly took in the scents that were in the house. She easily captured her father's scent and smiled then the two overpowering scents made that smile fade.
Helen and Rachel.
Plastering on a smile she pushed the doorbell and waited. The door opened a moment later with the blinding smile of their housekeeper Mrs. Charles. "Took you long enough. Elias is in the study you can go meet him there."
The woman before her was a surrogate mother to her. Years of service to the Monroe family and she has never considered leaving, not even after the addition of the new Mrs. Monroe. Placing a kiss on the older woman's cheek she hurriedly crossed the hardwood floors and turn into the right hallway. Letting out a sigh of relief she easily opened the study door and slipped in.
"Hi daddy,"Elena greeted her father with a wide smile before throwing her backpack on the floor then taking a seat.
"Hi, sweetie. All set?"
"Yup."
"Great. Just one more contract and am all yours." Her father sent her a warm smile before going back to the paper under his hand. In his study pictures and awards adorned the room, every piece had a story behind them. It was her father's domain. Even though his mate and wife has died he still had a lot of her pictures in the room much to Helen's disdain. One picture stood out, one that she always loved and asked for a copy when she left home. The picture held so much emotion in that one moment, two large wolves playing in a clearing, the love and devotion shone in their eyes. The large grey wolf was towering over a reddish brown wolf licking her face while the she-wolf gently pawed his face. Her parents. Anyone who sees brushes it off as a nature photo but Elena knew better.
"Our first run."
Elena smiled that's what she wanted. To find love so inexplicable that you must have it no matter the consequence.
"You will have that one day Ellie. Just be patient." Her father always knew what goes on in her mind when looking at that picture.
"I know but you guys found each other so young like it was planned. A perfect wolf romance. One look at each other and bam, love mating ceremony then a baby." Dramatically Elena fell backward onto the couch with her hand on her forehead. Perfect swooning pose.
"You read too much of those books," Elias commented with a roll of his eyes. "Don't need to read you and mom's love story when it has been a bedtime story since I was two," Elena smirked at her father as he shook his head at her comment.
"Patience Ellie." He mentioned again.
'Patience is something you can wish for,' Elena's wolf Tara teased her with a low chuckle.
'Shhhh.' Her retort made Tara chuckle louder.
The next few minutes were spent with Elias telling her of the current contract and which home was being leased. Finishing up he secured everything and escorted Elena out into the kitchen where two packs were waiting for them. Lunch and snacks courtesy of Mrs. Charles.
"What are you doing here? Aren't you suppose to be at the shop?" The icy voice of her stepmother somewhat soured her mood.
"Ellie isn't an employee at your business, Helen. Why aren't you there seeing as you are short staffed?" Elias asked giving her a quick glance before tending to more important things. Food.
"She knows we are short-staffed. I'm her mother she has to help."
"Step-mother to be more precise. Rachel can help you if it's a daughter's support you are needing." Elena swallowed a laugh hearing her father's words and Helen's angry scowl. The love between the two has fizzled after Helen demanded her father to sell this present house for something more stately. That and other few things. Elias was never one for glitz and glamour and showcasing his power. The large two level beach house with an accompanying beach cottage for Mrs. Charles was a home that said Elias Monroe, father, husband and business owner.
Her father confided in her, he married Helen to give her a second chance of having a mother and a sister. Elena was eleven at the time and mature for her age so when she asked her father about waiting for his second mate, he simply smiled and shook his head. He chose Helen as a wife because of her.
"Rachel is tired, she had a rough night."
"Dry humping in public is certainly a lot of work," Elena commented peeking at her father's lunch pack. Playfully he moved it away from her then turned to his wife.
"If my daughter can run many shifts for you at the shop I am certain yours can also. Now. I think it's time we should get going," Elias said giving Helen a nod and brush past her. The woman looked at the two coldly, she knew about their daddy/daughter day. When her daughter was younger she tried to let the girl be Elias' favorite by pushing her into their 'special day.' She thought pushing Rachel who was older than Elena will let Elias see that she will be better in grooming for his business. He saw Rachel as a nuisance always complaining about the activities and asking for frivolous things. She couldn't blame it all on her daughter, she was groomed to always get the finer things in life. His explanation of his daughter while they were dating led her to believe the girl was mousy and lacked confidence. Boy how wrong she was.
"You're right. I will just go by myself. Why don't you take Rachel with you? She misses spending time with you Elias." Helen laid it on thick but she misjudged the man before her. After years of marriage to him, she didn't know the real him. "I don't want to interrupt her sleep. I will see you tonight." Elias brushed her off quickly and led his daughter out of the house.
'Why do you keep her around? Our pup is no longer need of a mother. Just...' Rage, Elias' dark wolf was never fond of the female human. After the death of their mate, they fought their broken heart for the young wolf beside them. For her.
'I do not know why. Maybe I'm...'
'Scared to truly replace her.' Rage finished for his human, 'So am I.'
Their trip to the beach was filled with laughter and chatter about her last year at college. Elias was happy she wanted to take over his company but he wanted her to follow her own career path as a writer. Unknowing to her, he has read all five e-books she published and was so proud of her. Her shy countenance didn't allow her to tell much people about it but he found out when she used his iPad and left the app open. Her pseudonym was her mother's middle name and his. Veronica Ryan. All he had to do was to gently push her.
Finding a park was a bit of a chore but they got a reasonable one. Stepping out of the SUV a lot of scents reached them. 'Did you know about the new wolves?' Elena asked looking around the parking lot as they made their way to the stairs.
'Most of the newcomers. I was notified by the person who set it all up.' he returned spotting the new faces immediately. He nudged his daughter and used his chin to subtly show her the new wolves. Elena looked and was mildly surprised to see a group around her age or older and a few families. They were one huge tight-knit group minding their own business.
'I know a few. Come. It's time to be around your own kind, Ellie. How will you find your mate?' Her father always pressed this. She wasn't apt in the social surrounding. Place her in a familiar surrounding and she will yap like a puppy.
'Just don't leave me on my own or go far.' Her nervousness was evident in her voice and he felt it over their link. Throwing his arm around her shoulder he placed a kiss on her head, taking in her scent.
'Always there for you, my little Ellie.'
The two meandered down the stairs waving at the calls of some locals as they made it to the newcomers. When they drew nearer, they released their scent gradually letting the new wolves that they weren't a threat.
"Mr. Monroe!" A young boy probably around eight came barreling towards Elias. Elena smiled seeing her father playing with the little boy then propping him on his waist. "Jason. This is my daughter Elena. Remember I told you about her?"
"Is it true you painted my room?"Jason asked with adoring eyes. Elena chuckled,"I did a lot but I think you're the one with the Spiderman theme. Plus don't tell me... you have a little sister around four?"
"Yes!! I love spiderman." He beamed. Elena felt happy knowing she was doing something so great for new families. She learned when she was old enough to understand the business it was her mom who started the personalized touch to the family homes.
Jason pointed out his parents and sister in which Elias and Elena followed. "Mr. Monroe. It's so nice to see you,"A man said eyeing Elias carefully.
Elena stood carefully behind her father, not in fear but had no wish to be noticed.
Elias smiled at the man and placed Jason on the sand who grabbed Elena's hand to drag her to the sand castles. Unsure of the situation she looked over her shoulder at her father. 'It's alright Ellie. Relax.' His words did little to calm her nerves.
They weren't just new people. They were new wolves. Growing up she was always around humans but the occasional wolf thanks to her mother's family visiting and the few who passed through the town. Her first shift took place in the forest of her mother's birth pack. Even though they were family she was still shy but made a few acquaintances during her time there.
"Is your dad the alpha here?"
The bold question from the boy startled her but her wolf calmed and reminded her that he was a wolf. Having a human find out her true nature made her uneasy.
"Not really."
"What do you mean? We can feel his power. Even you." The little boy was too intuned to his base instinct, Elena thought. Before she can answer four guys came up to them, no welcoming faces. They eyed her intensely then switched their gazes to her father.
"Hey, guys. This is Elena, Mr. Monroe's daughter." Jason said before introducing the guys by name. Elena simply smiled their way, blushing a tad bit eyeing their sculpted bodies.
"We weren't notified of an Alpha," Brett commented. His stern face and calculating eyes made her nervous.
"Daddy isn't an alpha. He has alpha blood but not an official offer. He just looks after each kind as thanks to Mother." She explained softly.
"Thanks? I don't understand," Hane, another one of the four-man group stated.
Elena pulled her knees up to her chest, not wanting to repeat her father's pack less state. "Not my story to tell. Daddy just wants y'all to know that he's here if needed. Protection and care for the wolves and other supernaturals is something he takes pride in," She said softly. The men eyed her while talking to each other silently over their link and reporting their findings. "That's cool. So you want to come chill with us. We are planning to go take a swim, want to join?" Hane asked with a charming smile.
Say yes. Okay. Sure. Or something. Her mind was telling her the answers to say but her damn mouth wasn't cooperating. Frantically she looked to her father, 'Go on. I'm right here.' he said calmly after she told him about the situation.
"Love to but after I finish help Jason," she said with a smile directly on them. Elena certainly didn't miss the wide smiles on their faces and the look in their eyes that portrayed interest. Looking over her shoulder her dad was giving her double thumbs up with a silly grin on his face.
That's my dad, she thought, blushing at his silliness.
He was right, she needed this.