The Alpha's Favour

XXVI

"Mummy, mummy."

I remember being only seven years old, wearing my favourite Bubbles night dress. Bubbles was my favourite power puff girl and because of that, my father had also adopted that as a nickname for me.

"Crystal." My mother sighed, looking down at me from where she was doing the dishes at the sink. "You're supposed to be asleep."

I didn't say anything. I just placed my thumb in my mouth. A habit that I was yet to curb.

"Nightmares?" My mother guessed.

I nodded.

My mother looked a lot like an older version of me. Or at least that's what people told me. I always thought she was much prettier with her big and long hair which she always found new ways of styling. Her dark beautiful skin, her round hazel eyes and the beauty spot right above her top lip.

For me, at that age, there were two sure marks of gorgeousness, dimples and beauty marks, two things I didn't have.

"Well daddy is sleeping." She spoke as she walked over to the pantry and took out a box of Maryland chocolate chip cookies. My favourite.

"I won't tell if you won't." She whispered as she picked me up and placed me on the high stool beside the island.

She walked over to our refrigerator and took out a carton of milk and two glass cups.

"Our little secret, okay?" She winked at me before pouring the milk.

Daddy didn't like me eating processed sugar or cow milk.

He was a vegan who was all about the organic lifestyle.

Mum wasn't but she went along with it... sometimes. You could always trust that she'd indulge in her guilty pleasures one way or another. She loved steak.

She sat on another high stool and faced me as if we were friends and I wasn't her daughter and not to mention, a child.

"Tell me about this nightmare." She spoke like she was ready to handle whatever it was already. Like it was no match for her.

"It was a Wolf." I spoke in a whisper.

For a minute I thought I saw her frown.

"A Wolf?" She asked carefully.

"Uh huh." I put down the cookie I had picked up, suddenly feeling a churning in my stomach. "A big bad wolf with sharp teeth and red eyes."

I shuddered.

"Baby, are you sure?" She asked, reaching forward to finger my freshly done twists.

"Yes mummy, it's big and grey and it follows me around"

"It follows you?" She asked, seeming surprised.

I leaned forward as if I was about to tell her a secret. "Sometimes, I even see it when I'm awake."

She furrowed her brows at me. She absentmindedly fingered her necklace.

She was quiet for too long.

Then she finally spoke again.

"Maybe the Wolf is trying to be your friend, Crystal." She suggested.

"He's scary, mummy." I protested.

"Oh, my baby girl." She reached forward and picked me up. Placing me on her lap. "Let me tell you a story. It's about a big scary, powerful king. His eyes shone red like the Wolf in your nightmares. Everyone thought he was scary as well. His strength intimidated the other kingdoms. But all he tried to do was provide a good life for his own people. Everyone but his own were afraid and jealous of this nice misunderstood king. So one day, the kings and Queens of the other Kingdoms attacked the poor innocent king. Taking his kingdom and all his people."