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*Levi*
I am observing an outdoor conference from a distance. This last meeting is of no interest to me, so I have decided to skip it. My role today as the Alpha of my pack has been fulfilled, and all that is left is to gather my composure before returning to the secluded hotel. Suddenly, there is a disruption.
"Who let that child wander around here? He's disrupting the meeting!" The conference leader bellows, and I glimpse a small boy standing lost amongst the crowd. He's a cherub with blonde curls, a pair of emerald-cerulean eyes, and appears to be around four years old.
The boy looks terrified, caught in the crossfire of the leader's wrath. I quickly stride over. "Calm down, he's just a kid. He didn't mean any harm."
"I don't care about his intentions, Levi. Remove him from the premises," the leader retorts, rolling his eyes as he attempts to regain control of the gathering.
I kneel before the child; he's whimpering now. I speak softly, humorously, "Don't mind him. He's just a grumpy old wolf."
"Levi, I heard that," the leader warns, but I can't help but chuckle. I exaggerate a guilty expression, drawing giggles from the little boy.
I extend my hand, "Come with me, little man. Let's find where you belong. Did you wander away from your mother?"
"I wanted to see the big Alphas and then she was gone," he takes my hand, his voice a quiet confession.
I flash him a reassuring smile, "Don't worry, we will find your mommy. I bet she misses you just as much."
We leave the crowd, and I scan the surroundings for anyone who appears to have lost a child. "What's your name, and what does your mommy look like?"
"I'm Josh and mommy is pretty," his gaze meets mine, eyes sparkling with innocence.
I chuckle, "Well, Josh, I'm Levi. Let's find your pretty mom."
Suddenly, a woman dashes towards us. She's clad in a summer dress adorned with flowers, her blonde hair plaited into a French braid, wearing white sandals. I do a double-take - it's Destiny, more stunning than ever.
She has a child? The thought never occurred to me. It doesn't matter, and it strikes me that this could be my chance, my opportunity to know more about her, in a situation where I hold the advantage.
*Natalie*
Panic seized me the moment Joshua vanished from my sight. He's only four, still unaware of what's safe and what's not. He's my everything; I can't bear it if anything happens to him.
Then, there he is. My initial relief is solely for my child, but then my attention shifts to the towering stranger next to him. It's Levi, the last person I expect to find with Josh. His handsome face breaks into a smile, recognizing me instantly.
"Mommy, mommy!" Josh's joyful yell echoes as he runs into my open arms. I hug him close, my gaze darting to Levi. "Thank you for taking care of him, my Alpha."
"You are welcome, miss," Levi replies gently. Josh disentangles himself from my embrace and grins. "Mommy, Levi helped me. I'm sorry, I just wanted to see the Alphas."
"That's okay, sweetheart. Mommy's just glad you are safe. Next time, ask me to go with you, okay?" I tell him, affectionately ruffling his hair.
Standing back up, I face Levi, unsure of what to say next. It's unusual to bump into clients outside work, particularly when I'm with Josh. "Thank you, Levi."
"My pleasure... I don't think I got your name, miss?" A small smirk plays on his lips. He's cornering me intentionally.
Resisting the urge to glare, I answer, my resentment towards him for the deal he struck with my boss flaring. "Natalie. My name is Natalie."
"What a beautiful name for a beautiful woman," Levi compliments, his charming smile doing little to defuse my irritation.
Holding Josh's hand, I know we need to leave. I can't assert control in this situation, not when I'm with my son. "We should go, Josh needs to have dinner."
"Mommy, can we go to McDonald's?" Josh's hopeful voice pipes up, pointing at the fast-food chain across the street.
I kneel next to him. "I'm sorry, sweetie. Mommy can't afford that right now."
"But mommyyyy!" he pouts.
Levi instantly chimes in. "If it's alright with you, I would be glad to treat you both to McDonald's."
It feels like a low blow, leveraging my child against me. "Haven't you spent enough this week?"
"Mommy, please say yes, please?" Josh's pleading gaze meets mine.
Levi mirrors the same look, chiming in, "Please, mommy."
"Alright, Josh, we can go," I relent, earning a delighted squeal from my son. Levi's smile grows wider, and I whisper fiercely to him, "We need to talk."
He nods, looking slightly unnerved. As we cross the street, Levi holds the door open. "What would you like? If you find us a table, I can handle the orders with Josh."
"Just a Big Mac with a strawberry shake and fries," I reply. His smile sparks a question. "What? Is there something wrong with my choice?"
"Absolutely not," he smirks, "I appreciate a woman who enjoys her food."
Rolling my eyes, I head off to find a table.
*Levi*
I allow Joshua to select anything he desires from the menu, puzzled by Natalie's evident irritation. Granted, learning her name in such a way wasn't exactly gentlemanly, but I'm keen to know more about her, and she has been quite guarded.
Joshua is charming, and it's clear that Natalie is a superb mother. This only fuels my desire to understand her better.
As we collect our food, I load a couple of lighter items onto a tray for Josh to carry, balancing two laden trays myself. Natalie… the name suits her perfectly… is easy to spot.
Upon reaching the table, I set down the trays. Her eyes widen as she surveys the assortment of food. "Uhh, you must be incredibly hungry, Levi."
"Not particularly," I admit, grinning sheepishly, "but Josh seemed keen to sample a bit of everything. I wasn't sure of his preferences, so I let him order as he wished."
She groans, burying her face in her hands. "You are truly one of a kind, buying enough food to feed an army for a four-year-old."
- Writer
