CHAPTER 5
1151 Words
MIRABLE POV.
I opened the door to find my mom already home, sitting on the couch, watching her favorite TV show.
I raised an eyebrow. “Mom, why are you back so early?”
She frowned. “Why do you sound like you are not happy to see me.”
I kicked off my sneakers, leaving just my socks, and joined her on the couch. “Of course, I’m happy to see you. It’s just… you never come home this early.”
“I was given a few days off,” she said, getting up. “Let me grab us some more popcorn.”
I frowned. “Why do you need so many days off? Didn’t you have one last week?”
She muttered something under her breath.
I got up from the couch and followed her to the kitchen. “What aren’t you telling me?”
My mom shrugged. “Nothing, sweetheart. I just wanted a break. It’s nothing you need to worry about.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “I don’t believe you. You don’t usually take time off, especially not twice in a row.”
She put the popcorn in the microwave, finally turning to face me with a forced smile. “Can’t a mom just want to spend more time with her beautiful daughter? Now, how was school?”
I narrowed my eyes, refusing to drop the subject. “Something happened at work, didn’t it?” Then, a thought struck me, and I gasped. “You got fired. Is that why you didn’t want to tell me?”
“No, Mira, that’s not it,” she said quickly.
“Then what is it?”
She sighed, hesitating. “I didn’t want to worry you, but I had a little… relapse at work. They decided to relieve me for a while so I can rest.”
My heart dropped. My mom’s lupus had been under control recently, and now it was back. “Are you okay?”
She reached out, squeezing my hand reassuringly. “I will be fine. Just need a little time to recover. A few days off, and I will be good as new.”
I shook my head firmly. “No way, Mom. You can’t go back to work if it’s just going to make things worse. You need to rest. Remember what the doctor said? You’ve got to take it easy, and stressing yourself won’t help.”
She sighed. “I know that, but we still need the money.”
“I can pick up more shifts,” I insisted. “You don’t have to worry about that—I will handle it.”
Mom took my hands gently, her eyes soft. “You have been such a supportive daughter, Mira, and I’m so lucky to have you. But we both know the extra shifts you take at the restaurant won’t cover everything, especially not my medical bills. We are in so much debt, honey, and it won’t get better if we only rely on your income.”
She was right. I barely made enough to get by on my own, let alone cover all our bills. I felt helpless.
“So, what do we do? And I’m still not letting you overwork yourself.”
“Well,” she said thoughtfully, “I could talk to Susan about letting you take my place at the packhouse for a while?”
I grimaced. “Absolutely not. I’m not working at the packhouse.”
Mom frowned, confused. “Why not?”
“Because…” I paused, feeling the anger bubble up. “The triplet Alphas are unbearable. They are prideful and… just awful to be around.”
“Did they do something to you?”
I shook my head, not wanting to burden her with the truth about their bullying, the rumors they’d spread, or the fact they’d nearly gotten me killed. And now, with them being my supposed mates—and suspecting I might be a hybrid—it was too much. “No, they just… they’re just difficult.”
Mom gave a small smile. “Well, the good news is that they’re barely ever around. During all the time I’ve worked there, I have hardly seen them. I actually wonder what they get up to sometimes.”
“Knowing my luck, I’d probably run into them on my very first day,” I muttered. “And trust me, they’re a handful.”
“Oh, Mira, don’t be so dramatic,” she laughed. “The boys are perfectly nice and respectful—and they’re your Alphas. You should respect those in authority.”
I rolled my eyes. If only she knew. “You wouldn’t be saying that if you knew what they put me through,” I mumbled under my breath.
Come on, it’s just for a few months. They need extra hands for the holiday season, and I’m sure they could use some of your touch,” she added with a wink.
The thought of being close to the triplets didn’t sit well with me. It’d only make it easier for them to keep tabs on me, and that made my skin crawl. But we needed the money, and if I could make it through the season, maybe I’d find another job afterward. “Fine,” I sighed. “I’ll go. But I’m finding something else as soon as the holiday rush is over.”
“That’s my girl,” she said, beaming. “Now, go take a shower, and I’ll fix us something nice for dinner.”
I was heading up the stairs when she called, “Oh, Mira—someone left a package for you. It’s on the counter.”
I paused, surprised. “A package? From who?”
“No idea,” she replied, looking amused. “The mailman said it’s from a ‘secret admirer.’”
Curious, I picked up the small box. Inside, I found an assortment of chocolates and sweets along with a small note that read, “I’m sorry. I hope this gift softens your heart.” No name. No signature.
“Who’s it from?” Mom asked, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “And what did it say?”
“It’s nothing,” I replied, quickly tucking the note into my pocket. “Just some chocolates.”
She grinned. “Why didn’t you tell me you had a boyfriend?”
“I don’t have a boyfriend,” I said quickly, feeling my cheeks heat up.
Mom chuckled. “Well, you know you can come to me for advice. I do know a thing or two about boys, you know.”
“Mom, leave me alone!” I said, flustered, and I dashed up to my room. I was almost certain it was from one of the triplets, but which one? Maybe… Noah? After all, he’d always been the kindest of the three.
- Writer
