I stand alone

Seven.

I never realized that sleep was catching up fast to me but I awoke with my head on a lap, I jolted up thinking I was still in my parent's house and that someone had broken in when the memories of what happened earlier flooded my mind.

I relaxed and exhaled deeply making Carl stir in the process. He slowly opened his eyes and rubbed, gently getting up. The skies had already darkened and it looked no later than eight.

I also got up and stretched, allowing my sore muscles some form of soothing.

"Let me show you to your room" Carl said giving me a little startle as his voice had dropped down a few octaves after his sleep.

I nodded not sure how to voice out my answer as I was both stressed and trying to get rid of my nerves which shot up after the little startle. Carl jerked his head in the direction he wanted me to follow and took the lead with me hot on his heels.

"The east wing is highly prohibited to anyone who is not in any way related to the Alpha" Carl explained already answering a question I was about to ask.

Because the floor was as quiet as quiet could be, not a single soul was found and it also explained why the heck the floor was so large.

"Hmm" I hummed "That explains"

After a little while, we stopped in front of a large brown door and Carl turned to me

"This used to be the Luna's private chamber, which would be my mom but now it belongs to one of our cousins who recently got orphaned" Carl paused allowing me to sink in the info, and continued after I nodded "I figured you might like to meet her before retiring for the night"

And that was so...wrong, I was perfectly not in the mood to meet the Luna and my possible mother-in-law, especially not when I just woke up from sleeping on a balcony.

"Of course" I replied in a high-pitched voice, my nerves already getting the better of me.

Carl raised his hand to knock and the door opened and a young kid dashed out with his head down and crashed into me, falling on his bottom.

"Doug!" A voice called out sternly from the room and the child visibly flinched, tears glistening in his eyes.

I crouched down with a smile already forgetting that I was about to meet someone and cooed at the young boy.

"Hey" I called out softly and placed my hand under his chin raising his head slightly, I was expecting him to flinch or react negatively but all he did was raise his eyes to, me, and then his mouth started quivering, a cry threatening to break out from his lips.

I gave him a small smile and ran my fingers through his messy brown curls,

"It's alright Doug, you're a big guy and big guys don't cry, okay?"

He stared at me and tilted his head probably contemplating and then nodded and then surprised me with a hug.

"Tridge won't let me sleep without bathing" he complained in his small baby voice, it was cute and beautiful, almost like a melody to my ears which had been filled with contempt earlier.

Tridge, my potential mother-in-law, stood in her doorway with a ghost of smile and relieved look on her face. She sighed and shook her head,

"I'm so sorry, he is having one of his episodes today" She sighed again "Let me have him" she stretched her hand, ready to take Doug from me when the boy threw his hands around my neck and latched onto me like his life depended on it.

"Please, don't give me to her" he pleaded.

I looked up at Tridge and gave her a nervous smile "Can I keep him with me, just for tonight?"