Millicent's POV

I walked out of Alpha Sylvester's room in anger and humiliation. I was angry with myself for the things I had felt when Sylvester was mating Cathania and humiliated that I had been made not only to watch, but to clean up the mess they made. I have never felt more like a maid than I felt right now. But that is what you are, - a maid, at least till your fortune changes, I thought to myself. I walked to the Omega's quarters and pulled off the beautiful dress Samantha had lent me for the party and folding it, kept it back on Samantha's box, then pulled an old dress of mine over my head, which I felt was good enough for travelling and carrying my little bag, walked away.

I ran, trying to put as much distance as I possibly can between me and Alpha Sylvester and of course the Moon Ville pack. The experiences I had there were not ones I wanted to think about right now, though, I knew it would remain with me. It was not really a bad thing that it would because though it would disturb my peace of mind, it was still that disturbance of her peace that would serve as a reminder to me of the vengeance I had haboured in my mind all these years.

I stopped running after running for a long time, my wolf was surprisingly silent and I was grateful because I was not in the mood for any kind of chatter. I started walking this time, having no strength to run anymore. I had not had the time to eat anything at the party. I had at first been serving the party and had no time for food, then I started dancing and enjoying myself and my freedom in advance before the abomination in Sylvester's room.

I recalled the kiss Sylvester had surprised me with and was shocked because I had felt a stirring of desire when he did. I felt like giving myself a sound slap. I made do with bitting down on my lip. 'ouch!' my wolf howled. 'What was that for?'

I kept quiet. I did not know why I had to do this now. Now, my chatterbox of a wolf would start her lecture, the lecture I did not want to listen to. Maybe if I remained quiet, Milly would remain quiet as well, knowing I was not in the mood for any chat.

'Oh, stop punishing yourself!' she said in exasperation. 'So you felt a little desire, so what? Are you the first to do that? Feeling makes you know you're alive. Didn't you see Cathania and how she was moaning like an injured bear?'

'Hers is different. She loves him and is engaged to him. She can afford to feel desired for him, I can't . He is my enemy!'

'But you had to watch them mate. It is only natural that you feel a little stirred, you are not made of stone, you know', Milly consoled her. 'But I must say that I wished we were at the receiving end of Sylvester's thumping!' she added. 'He really has a big shaft!'

Here she goes again. 'Can we stop this discussion, please? You act like you are a beast with no control over your desires!'

'But that is what I am, - a beast and if I acted otherwise, will you not be surprised?' Milly asked in an injured tone.

I sighed exasperatedly. 'Okay. I understand. Let's end this discussion and enjoy our walk to freedom.

I walked and walked into the forest. I was getting tired and not sure where I was, my wolf became restless and she shifted and ran into the forest. It was exhilarating. I hadn't known it could be like this. The taste of freedom.

When we had had enough fun running, I laid down to sleep and woke to find I was naked. I quickly put my clothes on and continued on my way to the address Samantha had given me.

At last I located the company. 'The Blake's Enterprises', I read as I walked into the compound but I was immediately halted by the guard.

'What do you seek?' he asked. He looked friendly enough.

'I wish to see Alpha Blake', I replied.

'Do you have an appointment?', he asked, looking intently at me.

'I don't but a friend sent me here to seek employment', I supplied, believing that the best thing to do was to speak the truth.

'That is the work of the wolf resource manager, but they have finished employment this moon. Maybe next moon. You are a moon late for that', he said, sympathetically.

'But I'll like to see the Alpha. He could have something for me to do', I insisted.

'The fact is, Alpha Blake is out on an urgent business and no one knows when he will be back. You are welcome to wait but I'll advise against it. Rather come back some other time'.

I felt the same too. I decided to take his advise and return at a more convenient time. Since I could not afford to stay at a place idle, I decided to seek employment somewhere else.

After running in the woods for a while, a voice halted me.

'Who is that?' it asked.

I looked around hoping to see the owner of the voice but saw no one. Then the voice came into view and I saw that it was a male wolf of about the same age as I was.

The young man looked at me for a long time and smiled. 'What are you doing in the woods all by yourself?'

'I am travelling', I replied.

'Where to? Are you a rogue wolf?' he asked, narrowing his eyes at me.

'You could say that again!' I shrugged, and he burst out laughing.

'I didn't know that what I said was amusing', I said, not seeing the joke in what I'd said.

'Not what you said as how you said it', he supplied. 'I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you, could we start all over?'

I looked at him for a long time debating within myself weather to trust him or not. Then I made up my mind, thinking to myself that I had nothing to lose either way. So, I nodded my acknowledgment of his apology.

'My name's Raphael Mint', he said, extending his hand, a smile on his face. 'And you are....?'

'Millicent O'Brien', I replied, accepting his handshake.

'I am not rogue but I love wandering or running free and wild. I enjoy it a whole lot', he volunteered as though to show me, he had nothing against me being rogue or anything. 'Where are you travelling to?'

'You won't believe it but I do not know', I said, looking into space. 'I had come to see Alpha Blake of Moonlight Pack for employment but from the sound of things, he has travelled and they have employed all the hands they want this moon. I am in dire need of employment', I confessed.

'Then your search has come to an end', he said to my surprise.

'What do you mean?' I asked, not daring to believe what I thought he meant.

'My mother just gave birth to a set of twins and is in need of a helper. I cannot promise you that the wage will be much but it will tide you through, till a better job comes along'.

'Oh, you're a life saver!' I said and then leaping, enveloped him in a beat hug, laughing happily.

Raphael was embarrassed but smiled happily about the hug. He liked the girl already and the hug only increased his feelings for her. She is very pretty, he thought to himself.

'We live not far from here,beyond those trees over there', he said, pointing towards some very tall trees.

I looked towards the trees uncertainly. Hope I have not got myself into some kind of trouble? I did not know why, but I felt I could trust Raphael.

'Okay', I said.

'I'll race you there', he said already running.

my wolf sprang into action as we ran and ran and when we got to the trees, we collapsed under it laughing. Raphael laughed hard.

'That was fun!' I said, sincerely.

'We can do this as often as you want, if you decide to stay and work for us', he said.

'Hmmm', I said thoughtfully, 'we shall see about that'. 'Where is your house?'

He pointed to a row of houses to the left and we walked towards them in companionable silence.

'Wait here', he said. 'let me go in and tell my mother, you are here'.

I looked round and saw that the row of houses were inhabited by several others and not just Raphael and his family, because other people started coming out to stare at me, probably, wondering why I was there. I felt uncomfortable and prayed that Raphael would come back outside very soon. The looks the people gave me were not hostile but not friendly either, just curious.

If they wanted to know what I was doing there, they would just have to be patient and wait for Raphael to explain my presence there to them, I thought in my head.

What was keeping Raphael? Or was there a back way through which he had escaped leaving her here in the presence of these strange people?

'I told you not to trust that boy, I get some weird vibes from him but you wouldn't listen. If we get killed here, you shall be responsible', her wolf berated her. ' How can you trust someone you just met? Get ready to die, now!' Milly hissed.

I was just about to turn and walk away when he came out with a woman. A very beautiful woman.

I could see where Raphael got his looks. His fair hair and hazel eyes were the same as the woman's His height and lithe shape came from her as well. Who was his father and what attribute had he got from him?

Third person POV

'Mum, this is Millicent O'Brien. Our new help', Raphael introduced. Millicent curtsied.

'Good day, ma'am', she greeted respectfully.

'Good day, my daughter. How are you?' The woman asked.

'Wonderful!' she responded. 'Raphael told me, you just had a set of twins and in need of help?' she asked.

'Well...', she started but Raphael interrupted.

'Mum, we spoke about this. It will help you get more rest and regain her energy. You do too much as it is!'

'That's true.I need help and I am grateful, you decided to help out, not minding the pay. In addition to the amount I shall pay you', she mentioned an amount that was not too much but was more than Millicent had been envisaging. 'You shall have your meal with us and we shall also provide you with shelter. And please', she added, 'Call me, Mildred'.

The money was more than enough then, since she was being spared the basics, feeding and accommodation, she had cause to grateful. It had not turned out

'May I see the twins?' she asked.

'Twins?' she asked.

'Grey and the little one of course, behave like babies. Twins, in fact', Raphael said winking at Millicent.conspiratorily.

'Oh, that!' Mildred said, laughing merrily. 'Do come and see for yourself and then you shall be the judge', Raph. suggested, taking Millicent by the hand and pulling her towards the door to an inner room, or so Millicent thought but the door actually led outside, to the back of the house. There two little children were sleeping. One was about seven and the other was not yet a year old. On hearing the noise caused by their coming,they stirred and the older child opened his eyes and Millicent did a double take. The eyes looking back at her looked so familiar but she just couldn't place it.

'Hello', she greeted, swatting and taking his hands into hers in a friendly handshake. The contact jolted her and she felt a connection of some sort with the boy.

The young boy kept looking at her, then smiled. 'You are here to look after me - us?' he asked.

Millicent did not trust her voice at the trusting look in the boy's eyes and she nodded.

'Great!' the boy said. 'I feel like you are the sister I never had!' This brought a tremulous smile to Millicent's face. 'And you are the brother I would have had!' she told him, pulling him into her arms in a hug, while wiping the tears in her eyes so that they would not see.This reminded her forcefully of Alpha Sylvester and her resolution to make him pay, became stronger. Little ones such as this must be protected from such as he. She wondered why he had not attacked the pack yet.

'What's your name?' Millicent asked the little boy.

'Hugh', he said happily. 'And you are?'

'Millicent', she said and asked generally, 'Are you part of the Moonlight Pack?'

'Yes', they chorused.

'Why?' Raph, as she preferred to call him, asked.

'Nothing, just asking. You live a little away from the main residential area judging from what I saw on my way', she explained.

'That is because of the proximity of this area to the forest', Ralph said as Mildred nodded in agreement and went in to prepare something. 'I did tell you that though I am not a rogue, I love living free as you will come to see'.

Millicent smiled. She did not think she was going to stay there for long, because she still planned on going back to see Alpha Blake. Then she had second thoughts. What I want from Alpha Blake, Raphael and his family were already giving her and much more in fact. So why go to Blake?

'My brothers seem to have taken to you. Especially the older one. You have made an impression on him just like you have made on me. You must have the gift of enchantment and seduction', he said smiling admiringly at her.

Millicent was looked at him with wide eyes and open mouth but when she saw the grin growing wider on his face, she smiled as well. 'I do not think so', she said simply.

'But I do know so. Look how everyone has taken to you at first sight', he repeated.

'Not everyone', she said recalling the other inhabitants of the premises and she pointed that out to him, telling him how her heart had thumped while he was gone, thinking they were going to attack her.

'They were just curious and their curiosity has been satisfied now that they have seen you with us', he said, waving it off with his hands. 'I'm sure they are already in love with you like my family is'.

'Dinner is ready', Mildred called.

'Come let's go inside and eat', Raphael invited her gently, taking her hands tenderly.

She carried the baby inside and allowed Hugh to tug along.

Dinner was a delicious affair with lots of vegetables and fruits.

After dinner, Millicent who was already used to doing the dishes, unconsciously packed them and proceeded out the room to wash them.

Raph and his sister exchanged glances and he went outside where Millicent was already busy with the dishes.

'You are really taking your work very seriously', he observed.

Millicent jerked as she looked up. She had not heard him approach.

'Oh, you scared me. Don't creep up on me like that'.

'I am sorry. I didn't know you scare easily', he said touching her on the shoulder.

'That's okay', she said. 'About taking my duties seriously, was that not why you hired me? You are already fulfilling your part of the bargain by feeding me and sheltering me, why shouldn't I fulfill mine? Would you be willing to continue doing all that of I stayed idle? And will I also get my wage when it is due by staying Idle?' she asked, shrugging. When he didn't say anything, 'You see, an agreement is just that and must be followed to the later'.

'But you could have rested for tonight. Couldn't you have washed it tomorrow?' he asked.

Millicent shook her head smiling disarmingly.

'Well, I can see there's no reasoning with you', he said shrugging. 'You seem to have the answer to every question. I shall leave you to your chores. I'd like to take a stroll. Or would you like to come with me? I could wait till you are through washing'.

'No. That won't be necessary. I am already tired and would love to go to bed after doing the dishes', she said. 'But do go ahead and enjoy your stroll'.

He nodded and left, seemingly reluctantly.

Millicent had just come back from training with Raph and was busy with the baby, while Hugh, kept asking her questions about her pack when Mildred who had been cooking came out.

'You have really made a great impression on my nephew', she said. This was coming about three months after Millicent came to live with them. They had established a routine where Raph trained her in the evenings when he got back from work or in the morning after their run and there was still time before he went off to work. He was in the employ of Alpha Blake. He worked as one of the security officers. Little wonder then that he had been the first to sight her when she came into their territory.

'Your nephew?', Millicent mouthed, eyes agog. 'But I thought that he was...'

'My son?' Mildred finished for her. 'Yes, I see him as my son but he is actually the son of my late sister. I took him on when he was very young and has grown to see me as the mother he lost'.

Millicent nodded, she could identify with that.

'So Hugh and baby Cal are your sons?' she asked, curious.

'Hugh was adopted by Raphael's mother and I took the both of them in when she passed on. But Cal is my child. Didn't you ever doubt that Raph was my son?' she asked curiously.

'I did, the first time I saw you. You were so beautiful and young to have such a grown son, Millicent said thoughtfully, ' but I reasoned that you might have got mated early and are one of the few that are blessed with agelessness. Moreover, there is nothing in your behaviour towards him to show that he is not your son. Your love for him is very obvious and he reciprocates'.

'Yes, he does, doesn't he? I have always counted myself fortunate to have them, him especially as my son', she said, feelingly. 'But you didn't say anything to what I first said about the impression you have made on my nephew'.

'I do not know what to say', Millicent said shyly.

'Do you have a mate?' she asked Millicent.

'I don't think that there is a mate for me. I might never have a mate', she said, dodging the question.

'Of course you will', Mildred said, touching her gently on the shoulder. She could see where Raph had adopted the shoulder - touching habit. ' It takes some longer to find their mate but they do eventually. I found my mate at the age of twenty two. Had I not insisted, a Beta had wanted to make me his chosen mate'. She paused. 'You might wonder why I asked'.

Millicent nodded but she already had an inkling. Is this going to be the commencement of match making her and Raphael? she wondered.

'Just felt that you and Raph are good together. He might be your mate, fated or chosen. Either way, I know he will be good to you', she said. 'I do not want to say too much but he must have said something to you'.

Millicent shook her head. 'No, he hasn't. Are you speaking to me on his behest?'

'Oh, no. He isn't aware that we are having this discussion. I just came to speak to you as one woman to another. Could we keep this between us?' Mildred asked.

'Of course', Millicent was quick to reassure her. She was not about to start discussing feelings with Raph.

'Do you like him?'

'What is there not to like in Raph?' she asked hedging.

'That's good but not exactly the answer I was hoping for', she said. 'He loves you very much. I knew it right from the very first day he saw you. He came rushing to me and pleading with me to give you employment'.

'You mean, you weren't in need of a help?' Millicent asked in dismay.

'Of course, I was. Can't you see the workload? But I had had some other person in mind. When he spoke so glowingly of you, I knew I had to hire you or he might have a heart attack', Mildred laughed. Millicent did not join in as Mildred hoped because she couldn't see the joke in that. She had never been one to joke with people's feelings.

Seeing that Millicent was very quiet all of a sudden and thoughtful, she patted her shoulder, 'There is no pressure. Find out what your feelings for him are and let him know as soon as you can if he speaks to you of his. Do not break his heart, I beg of you', she said and went back inside to continue with what she was doing.

Millicent sat there unmoving. She did not want this. She considered Raph her friend and brother but not as a lover. She knew she could not live him that way.

Mildred had asked her not to hurt Raph, but if he was indeed as in love with her as Mildred had said, how could he not be hurt if he learns that his feelings were one - sided? And it would be unfair of her to pretend to love him. He was a good man and deserved better.

How was she going to do this? Just when she was settling down in the pack.

But I shall pretend I am not aware. He hasn't told me anything afterall, she thought but knew it was going to be difficult to go back to how they were because she would read meaning to his every touch, smile and move, which she hadn't been paying much attention to previously.

She still needed him to train her more. She was not good enough yet and she wanted to be extremely good if she hoped to hold her own against Alpha Sylvester. So, because of that, she was not going to take flight just yet, like she would have loved to.

She felt bad because it felt so much like she would be using Raph but what could she do?

'Oh Moon goddess, send Raphael's mate his way, and make him love her so much and she, him, that he might forget all about me and be happy because he deserves it', she prayed as she wiped a tear from her eye.