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.

'Hia, hia', went the sound from Millicent as she trained. She had been training really hard since she had that discussion with Mildred two months ago. She would train at her free time and train with Raph when he got back home. She had noticed how he looked at her tenderly, his eyes filled with love that it always tugged at her heart. She nearly asked him not to love her once but since he hadn't said anything about loving her, she kept quiet.

Mildred had once commented on her ferocious training 'You train as though you are preparing for a war. I hope we are safe?'

'Of course you are. Do you doubt your safety with me? I have been known as a weakling all my life and taken advantage of. I want to erase that impression and rewrite my own destiny', she said , a far - away look in her eyes.

'You speak with bitterness and determination', she observed. 'Were you hurt by someone in the past?'

Millicent marvelled at her perception. She had not told them about her birth pack - Crescent Pack nor a great deal about the pack from where she came - Moon Ville pack. Just the basics. She had got tired of staying there since her parents died and everything reminded her of her parents and she wanted to go rogue but before she could, their ruthless Alpha banished her for not obeying orders and mourning for too long for her parents.

It had got her the sympathy she knew it would, though she had not needed it, just an explanation why she couldn't go back to her own pack.

'Some of the Omegas bullied me and I could not fight back', she said, frowning in recollection. 'Who knows where one would find herself next? It is better I grab this opportunity and make myself stronger, so no one takes me for granted', she concluded, hoping that would put paid to the unwanted questions.

'You do not believe that the Moonlight Pack is your final destination?' Mildred probed.

'Like I said, I do not know for certain what the future holds but it is better one is prepared for anything it throws one's way'. And she continued her practice.

Mildred went back into the house, deep in thought.

That night, Raph came home thoughtful. After his meal, he looked at Millicent. 'I would like you to accompany me on my stroll', he said, looking deep into her eyes.

'Of course', she said and straightening her dress, she stood and went out with him. The pups were already asleep and Mildred waved her off when she tried to ask if she might need her help with anything.

They walked in silent for a long time and Millicent was beginning to think they might be walking into another Pack but of course it was not as easy as that. At last, Raph came to a stop in a clearing that had a fallen tree. The tree was quite large and the leaves had been cleared from it and it served as a good bench.

'Sit', he said and she obeyed, placing her hands on her knees and looking up at him.

'You have really not said much about the pack from which you came and I have not bothered you because I felt you would tell me when you were ready', he said.

'There's nothing to tell!' she said quickly. Too quickly and it did not escape his notice.

'So you say', he said smiling at her to put her at her ease. 'I am not going to prob but there is a question I wish to ask you', he said.

'Ask away', Millicent said with a shrug, hoping it was one she would be able to give an honest answer to.

'Do you er.. h..have a mate?' he stuttered. 'Of course you must have. Every wolf does. What I mean is have you er found him?'

Millicent felt that the same discussion she had with Mildred was about to start but this time with Raphael.

'Emm, that is a strange question you have asked. Is there any reason for that question? Are you planning on sending me back to my mate? Have you found him?' she countered.

' Do you always answer a question with one of your own?' he asked smiling happily. Millicent could feel the relief in his voice, and the joy reflected on his face and she bit her lip. How was she going to answer his personal questions without hurting his feelings. And this was what she had wanted to avoid all along.

'From your response', he continued happily, it is clear you've not found your mate and have not been mated to anyone. I have liked you for a long time. In fact since the first day we met. Though you have not given me an inkling about the way you feel for me, I know you could not possibly despise me', he said, humbly. Though the same utterance from Sylvester, we ould have sounded conceited. 'So I have decided that we should....'

'You did not tell me how Alpha Blake got to know I was in your house', Millicent said hastily, hoping he would catch on and change the subject or at least, the utterance could buy her a little reprieve.

'Raph frowned but decided to play along, wondering if she was playing hard to get? There really was no need for that.

'Oh, didn't I?' he asked. 'He wanted to know the new person in our pack for security reasons and I told him you were the daughter of my mother's friend and have come after a long time to visit, after losing your parents. He wanted you to work in his kitchen but I told him if it pleased him, to leave you to help my aunt out in the house we since I was not always around'.

'I was shocked when he sent for me'. Millicent said. She had wondered what he wanted. Has Sylvester got wind that she was there and had asked him not to drive her away? She couldn't put anything past Sylvester.

'You sent for me Alpha'. she said.

'You are welcome to Moonlight pack!' he growled. 'I hope your stay be everything you hope it would be',

'I know it will be', Alpha Blake. 'Your pack is one of the best around here. Am I glad to be here!' she replied, looking down, in respect to the Alpha.

'Millicent', Raph started now, Millicent could see him debating inside himself and knew the instance he made his decision. 'You must know I care very deeply about you', he continued as though he had not been interrupted and he took both her hands in his and drew close to her.. 'Do you love me?' he asked, fidgeting, but took control of his emotions and looked her deeply in the eye. 'I want you to be my chosen mate!'