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Then I reached the kitchen. The stench nearly knocked me over. Enormous quantities of purchased food sat rotting in various corners. Potato sacks sprouted green shoots, fruit crates crawled with decay and mold. “Why is all this food being wasted?” I demanded furiously. Martha, the head cook, twisted her hands nervously. “Roxanne ordered bulk purchases, Luna. But our storage capacity is inadequate, and most of it spoils before we can prepare it.” The situation was absolutely insane.
While drafting new schedules for the women’s groups, tiny fingers tugged at my skirt. I glanced down to find Theo beaming, holding Elena’s hand.
Elena offered a timid smile before partially hiding behind Theo. I felt an unexpected connection, warmth blooming in my chest. This wasn’t ordinary affection; it ran deeper, like recognizing something familiar in her spirit. Her energy, even her bashfulness, touched something profound within me. Perhaps because she’s my mate’s daughter.
Seraphina’s POV
“Good morning, sweetheart,” I replied, pressing a kiss to his forehead. “Your breakfast is waiting.”
Elena’s artistic imagination was remarkable. She sketched a meadow of dancing wildflowers and a cheerful sun wearing stylish sunglasses. Theo drew a massive monster truck alongside a superhero wolf. Watching them filled me with profound tranquility, a bittersweet mixture of joy and melancholy.
Humming a cheerful melody, I prepared breakfast while battling the storm clouds in my mind. Theo appeared shortly after, drawn by the aroma, still wiping sleep from his
eyes.
Our Warriors faced their own problems. The Fang Patrol worked tirelessly protecting us around the clock. But their nutrition was completely inadequate. I observed their midday meal. Heavy, greasy stews and dense bread, lacking the lean proteins, fresh produce, and high-energy foods their demanding roles required. This diet would eventually weaken them, compromise their reflexes and strength.
Other priorities? I filed that information away. This travesty would end immediately. These children deserved so much better.
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“Well, look who decided to show up,” a voice sang out with artificial cheerfulness. Roxanne stood near the central table, organizing documents. Her smile seemed painted on, never touching her eyes. “Seraphina, what a lovely surprise.”
I sat beside them, offering suggestions and laughing at their creative stories. Elena possessed sharp intelligence and surprising determination for someone so young. She would occasionally guide Theo’s efforts, but always with gentleness and genuine warmth. I noticed her love of conversation, sharing animated stories about her stuffed
animals and favorite colors.
My precious time with Theo and Elena had provided much-needed respite from the chaos. But of course, peace never lasted long in my world, especially not my moments of genuine happiness.
“This represents the royal dining hall!” Theo announced, positioning a smooth stone
inside their structure.
The pale gray light filtering through the curtains at daybreak felt like salvation. I dragged myself upright, my muscles still rigid from the night’s anxiety. There was no luxury of wallowing in fear. Theo needed his mother. My son. His innocent, radiant smile was my lifeline in this chaos. I slipped from the bed silently, making sure not to disturb him, and headed straight for the kitchen.
Í simply nodded, my gaze already sweeping across the expansive hall. “It’s time I returned. I need to assess the current situation. I’m resuming my duties.”
“Let’s construct a fortress!” Elena declared, her shyness evaporating completely. “An
enormous one!”
“Outside!” both children exclaimed simultaneously, their eyes sparkling with
anticipation.
After completing their magnificent fortress, Theo suddenly remembered something important. “Mommy, Elena wants to draw! We both love creating art!”
“Mama, will you play with us?” Theo asked, practically vibrating with excitement.
Such criminal waste while children starved,
We collected fallen twigs and vibrant maple leaves. I helped them arrange the branches into a framework, then draped the leaves over them like miniature rooftops. They collaborated beautifully, Theo locating the sturdiest branches while Elena selected the most colorful leaves. They chatted constantly, inventing elaborate tales
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about the brave knights and graceful princesses who would inhabit their creation.
Every second after Julian walked out that door felt like an eternity. Dorian. Our daughter. The questions hammered against my skull relentlessly. Did he suspect something? Had Julian given us away somehow? My stomach churned with dread at the thought of Dorian discovering our deception.
The phone remained stubbornly silent on the nightstand, mocking me with its lack of communication. No word from Dorian. The silence was deafening and made my pulse race even faster. I spent hours staring at the ceiling, dissecting every conversation Julian and I had shared, analyzing every aspect of our strategy. When exhaustion finally dragged me under, sleep offered no sanctuary. Only fragmented nightmares that left me more restless than before.
That perfectly demonstrated Theo’s fleeting attention span. One moment he’d be absorbed in drawing, the next he’d be racing around playing elaborate games with imaginary companions.
My next destination was the elderly quarters. The silence there was unsettling. Uncle Jasper, usually full of stories and laughter, sat isolated by a window, gazing vacantly into the distance. His covering was threadbare, his expression vacant with exhaustion. The staff was clearly insufficient. The few caregivers I encountered looked frazzled and overwhelmed. “Is there no additional support available?” I asked a young woman rushing past. She simply shook her head apologetically. “We’re desperately understaffed, Luna Seraphina. There simply aren’t enough hands to manage everything.” My heart ached. These were our respected elders, our living history. They were being abandoned.
“Absolutely,” I smiled, setting aside my concerns temporarily. I realized I’d been so consumed with personal chaos that I’d neglected my son. Theo was my priority, and we’d always played together frequently. I needed to give him my undivided attention so he’d never experience the childhood loneliness I’d endured.
The Fang House buzzed with energy and movement.
The pack orphanage was my first stop. What I found there made my chest tighten with rage. The children appeared malnourished, dressed in tattered clothing that hung loosely on their small frames. One little girl, barely Theo’s age, trembled in a dress so worn it was practically transparent. My blood turned molten. “Where are the new garments?” I snapped at a nearby caregiver. “What happened to the additional provisions?”
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She had this habit of tilting her head while concentrating deeply, exactly like I did. She noticed everything, pointing out tiny insects exploring the leaves with wide-eyed fascination.
Her expression flickered momentarily before the fake smile returned. “Naturally. Everything has been running perfectly.”
“Mommy!” he announced proudly.
“Hello, sweetheart,” I said gently.
“And here’s where the princess rests!” Elena added, carefully arranging soft moss for bedding.
We ventured to the spacious lawn behind the Fang House. The afternoon sun felt warmer, the grass invitingly soft beneath our feet.
Theo’s face lit up with enthusiasm. “Using branches and leaves!”
My instincts screamed otherwise. It didn’t take long to discover just how catastrophically wrong things had become. As I toured the main areas and spoke with various pack members, my heart dropped further with each revelation.
The woman avoided my gaze, shifting uncomfortably. “Roxanne claimed finances were strained. The food supplies are typically reserved for other priorities.”
Fury and determination surged through me simultaneously. This disaster ended now. I began scheduling meetings, creating task lists, and issuing directives. “Everyone report to the orphanage with clothing donations! I need a team at the elderly quarters immediately! We’re completely reorganizing kitchen operations! I want detailed reports on Warrior nutrition and healthy alternatives implemented by tomorrow!” My voice rang through the Fang House with unwavering authority.
“Morning, Mommy,” he yawned, his voice heavy with drowsiness.
Soon we were ready to face the day. With Theo’s tiny fingers wrapped securely in mine, we made our way toward the Fang House.
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