When Alphas Collide

Chapter 5

Elise

I woke up to the sound of feet running down the hallway. Little feet. Bonnie must've brought the kids to work again. Bonnie, our maid, has four kids all under the age of ten. Her mate skipped out on her after the fourth kid. He was an alcoholic I guess and tried to beat her and the kids all the time. One night they got into a huge fight and he just left. Bonnie was left with all of the bills and mouths to feed. My mother was very good friends with Bonnie and offered to pay all of her bills and give her a little extra money for food if she would come in three times a week to clean the pack house and cook some meals if we had special suppers.

"Ms. Davenport? Are you awake?" A little voice called through the door.

"Yes, give me just a minute and I'll be out, Teagan," I yelled back. I jumped out of bed and went to the bathroom. I didn't want to put make up on today so I just brushed my hair up into a messy bun. I wanted today to be a lazy day. Last night was enough excitement for a life time. My conversation with Bryce went around and around in my head. I still couldn't believe I said such mean things to him. I went to the closet and grabbed a pair of sweats and a loose band T-Shirt. I looked down at it and remembered when I went to see Korn in concert with my high school best friend, Natalia. I wish life was that easy again. I wish she didn't move away when she found her mate.

A mate. It made me think about when I was going to find mine. He's out there somewhere. I know I'll find him soon. It was then I realized how lonely I was. I didn't have a friend other than Bonnie and her kids. I had Blaine, but he was mainly an acquaintance at this time. He had his own pack to run so I don't see him that often. The last time I saw him was the night at the club a few days ago, before that was the Alpha ceremony.

I walked out the door and was met with a little blonde boy. He was five and the second youngest of his siblings by three years. He wasn't wearing his shoes and had ratty clothes on. The pants were a pair of obvious hand-me-downs that his older brother didn't take care of. It made my heart ache knowing these kids weren't able to wear newer clothes and couldn't afford to go to a normal school. Maybe it was time to change that.

"Hey, Teagan, where's your mother?" I asked, looking down at him.

"In the dining room. She's cleaning up the breakfast dishes," He replied, looking up at me with his big green eyes. His face was dirty and looked like he hadn't bathed in a week.

"Why don't you go take a shower in my room, dear? You look like you've been swimming in the mud holes."

He giggled but went to do as I told him to with no question. Such a good kid, very mature for his age. I went down the hallway in search of Bonnie. I stopped in front of my parents portrait and said my good mornings like I always do. I miss them very deeply. I remember running in the yard with Simon while mom and dad sat a little ways away on a picnic blanket. They always had smiles on their faces. I never saw my father angry at anyone and my mother had such a kind heart.

"Good morning, Miss Davenport," another small voice interrupted my thoughts. I looked over my shoulder and saw Kyon standing behind me with a broom in her small hand. She looked like her brother did. Like she went rolling in the dirt, clothes and all.

"Good morning, sweetheart. What are you doing?" I asked, looking the broom up and down.

"Mommy hurt her back last night lifting Megan and needed help sweeping today," she said, smiling from ear to ear, "I'm being a big girl today. I turn eight in five weeks."

"Why don't you take a break and go check on your brother. He's taking a shower in my room. You can take one too," I suggested.

"Okay, Alpha." She put the broom against the wall and then skipped down the hallway toward my room.

I walked into the dining room to find Bonnie hunched over trying to pick up some discarded napkins on the floor.

"Here, let me, Bonnie," I said, hurrying over to pick up the napkins for her.

"Oh, no, Alpha, I can do that. I'm only a little hurt," Bonnie said, looking almost horrified at the fact that I picked up soiled napkins off the floor.

"You can take the day off. Go get checked out by the pack doctor," I told her, taking her hands in mine. They were cut and bruised. She looked even more messy than her children.

"You know I can't afford that, Miss Davenport," she said, looking a little annoyed and offended that I would even say such a thing.

"I'll pay for your visit, just have her bill it to me. And you have been nothing but loyal to this family. I'll pay you for today. Also I want to enroll the kids into school. You need a break from the children and you know it. I love you, Bonnie, and I hate to see you hurting this much. Please, don't be afraid to ask for help. Did your water get shut off?" I asked.

She did a helpless nod.

"How much do you need?"

"500 dollars. I'm three months late. Please, you don't have to pay for anything. I'll figure it out. I'm just struggling now because Treven needed new shoes and he wouldn't settle for cheap ones. And Kyon's birthday is coming up and I have nothing to give her. I just need to work so I can make more money, but I can't find a babysitter for four children. The only reliable one that I found just quit without a reason. She just said that she couldn't do it anymore," she cried.

"Move in here. There is always people here to watch the kids. My guards would love having a few kids around. You wouldn't have to worry about bills, only a small amount of rent. You're not in this alone. You have friends that you can count on. Come live with me. I get so lonely here by myself anyhow. We can go clothes shopping tomorrow," I said as I give her a hug.

"Thank you, thank you so much Alpha. How can I ever repay you for your kindness?" She cried into my chest.

"Please, call me Elise. We're family now. And you can repay me over time with your loy-"

"Alpha, Alpha!" A blonde boy, around twelve, came running into the dining room out of breath.

"What is it? What's going on?" I asked, rushing to him.

"There's been an attack. Two are dead and one is being taken to the pack hospital. It was Bryce. He's coming here," he let out in a rush.

My worst fear has come. Someone is actually revolting against me. And now my pack has to pay for it. Not on my watch. I am the Alpha. They came for me, they're going to get me. Little did they know I was trained to become a guard. It was against my father's wishes, but I wanted to feel needed, like I was actually going to do something with my life. And now is the time to put my training to the test.