The Run

Chapter Five

I woke to Oratio gently nudging me awake, the huge house in front of the car. “We’re here now, come on. I’ll get the shopping.” he smiled down at me, oh why was his smile so perfect? His entire face just lit up... No. I couldn’t let myself get close to him like this. I stepped out of the car and gently closed the door behind me, and pulled out my little son from his new car seat. I stood besides the front door, waiting for Oratio to catch up. He smiled at me, as he got to the door and opened it for us, his hands full of shopping.

Inside the house, I hold my sleeping baby close to me and start to cook while Oratio finished bringing in the rest of the shopping. I was going to call my son Zenobio. I smiled at his ear twitched; this little man was the only one who I would ever allow myself to keep. How could I expect to have a family when I had to keep moving? I didn’t know the country well enough to be able to keep them safe from humans and predators... I couldn’t leave the safety of this house until I knew that my baby would be safe out there with me...

I shifted him into one arm, and watched my cooking as I waited for Oratio to come down and join me. I had rice in one pot, and vegetables frying in another, admittedly I liked having a large kitchen to move around in. I was just turning off the heat on the food when I felt strong, warm arms wrap around my waist. I couldn’t help smiling as he breathed in my ear “So what about the name, my dear?” “Hang on, food first.” I turn and smile at him, indicating for him to pass me plates with one of my hands as I drained the rice in the sink. “Put as much rice as you want, but we’re going halves on the vegetables, okay? We have to go grocery shopping too.” I watch as his face lit up at my use of the word “we”. “Alright, boo” he smiled, and I frowned. “What does ‘boo’ mean? If you can’t tell from my accent, I’m not exactly from around here.” I questioned, putting my hands on my hips. He chuckled, causing Zenobio to bounce a little in his arms. I moved forward as I saw him start to wake up. “It’s just a nickname. Kind of like calling someone ‘babe’ or something” He explained as he willingly passed the boy to me. “Anyway, let’s get food so we can discuss the name okay?” He quickly ushered me out of the kitchen, two plates full of food in his hands, into a room that had a large table in it.

“Um... why exactly is this room so huge...?” Raising an eyebrow, I watched as he placed the plates on the table, seated next to each other. “Oh, I’m going to become Alpha, remember? They do this so that I could hold meetings and things if I need to, in this room. Sometimes it’s nicer to talk about things with a plate full of food in front of you.” He sat down at the table, and I copied him, gently leaning Zenobio into my arm beneath me. I watched Oratio as he began to spoon food into his mouth. “I already thought of a name, and in my... Well... Species... We don’t name children until either a name is kind of ‘felt’ for them, or we know that they will survive. I know what his name is, but it’s not like I chose it. It’s like the name chose him.” I watched him closely for his reaction. Oratio was vital for the safety of my child right now and I really didn’t want to anger him. He calmly swallowed his food before smiling at me as he replied “I understand. I have heard of those things happening for some of the children in other packs, but I didn’t know it was a consistent thing for other people...” He eyed me, asking me to go on as he continued eating. “His name is Zenobio.” My shoulders relaxed in relief when I saw that he wasn’t going to try to argue the point of my son’s name. “Zenobio... I actually like that name. It’s almost as lovely Cerys, but is as fitting for the person as your name.” He flashed me one of his smiles that had so quickly won my attention. “I’m glad you think so.” I couldn’t help but sigh in relief as he smiled at me and chuckled. “You’re a really good cook you know. I’d have to keep you around just for this.” He laughed at my dumbfounded expression. “I-i-if you say so...” I hurriedly said, removing myself from the table and moving up to pick up my empty plate. “I’ll do it, go and get Zenobio ready for bed.” He smiled at me as I excused myself.

How the hell was I supposed to find my way around up here?! THIS PLACE IS HUGE. I can’t exactly call him to help me out, what if he thinks I’m stupid or something..? Wait, why do I even care what he thinks about me, I’ll be gone in a few weeks anyway... Urgh. I can’t just stand here upstairs wandering around for the rest of my life. “ORATIO!!  HEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLPPPPPPPPPPP!!!! I’M LOST AND I’LL NEVER SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY EVER AGAIN UNLESS YOU SAVE ME FROM THE DUST BUNNIES!!” I shrieked out into the air, causing Zenobio to wake up with a jump and open his newborn eyes blearily at me. I sighed down to him, hearing the telltale thumps of my knight in shining armour, coming to save me from the evil large house of doom. Might as well make it funny for him, it wasn’t often that I found myself lost in the house of a guy I’ve known for less than a week, but who’s already decided he wants to marry me.

“So, I heard you’re lost young lady?” I turned and saw him smirking at me. “MY KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOUR!” I yelled, Zenobio cooing in distress at my outburst, causing both Oratio and I to burst out in a fit of giggles. “Come on then, to the bathroom. I already took the bags out of your car and put them into all of the right rooms.” I looked him wide eyed. “You did?” “Yeah, and I’m sure glad that we went and brought new clothes for Zeno and you. You go around with practically nothing? How do you survive, none of the other chicks I know would be able to do things like you do...” I blushed in reply.

Once in the bathroom, I got my first taste of what being in a real family and living in a house would be like. Oratio helped me wash Zeno, our new nickname for him, and we put him to bed together. The night was filled with warm and fuzzy feelings, to put it in a way using fewer words. I didn’t realize how much fun it would be to have a normal life like this... It felt weird to know what I was really missing out on. Stepping in the shower, I couldn’t help but admit that I didn’t really want to leave. But it was the right thing to do for my baby; he wouldn’t know how to survive if he grew up in a world like this...

I quickly dried off and pulled on my new pyjamas; the first pair of pyjamas that I had ever owned, actually. Walking out of the bathroom and into the connecting bedroom I saw him laying on the bed. “Did you really bring all of my things into the house already?” I asked quietly, knowing that he could hear me perfectly. “Well, I brought everything that was in the back of your truck. I couldn’t get into the actual car, it’s locked and you have the key.”

“But you could have just taken it from me while I was sleeping” I pointed out to him

“I won’t do anything without your consent. I wouldn’t want to upset you, or anger you. I know how some people can be with their belongings....” He trailed off “Speaking of which, you know that we have to fully mate at some point, right? I was thinking about it, though. No-one else will touch you in this pack, because you’re rouge so they already know that you’re here and why you’re still here. I figured that we could wait until you’re ready. I know you’re already surprised by all of this...”

I moved to sit next to him on the bed, looking at his pained expression and I wrap my arms around his neck “Thank you... For waiting for me...” I smile at him and pull him down next to me on the bed, cuddling into him as we both fall asleep.