Rejection, Refuge, Revere

Chapter 6

“You’re comparing me to the children now, Amo?” He says backing away and twirling me. I giggle and smile.

“Yes. You’re a man child and I couldn’t love you more.” I say, twirling him and pulling him into a dip. The look of horror on his face makes me almost drop him. He stands up, but laughs, then begins his version of tap dancing, making me snort. He stops then pulls me back in to continue the waltz.

“So which one would you like your rebound to be? We can get you a good one. Ooo how about her?” He says pointing to a woman with bright dyed blonde hair and so much makeup she could pass for a clown.

“Ooo no. I think she is more your type, brother.” I snort as he barks out a laugh.

“Mo?” I hear a small voice interrupting our laughs and dancing. The tugging on my dress, stops me fully. Looking down I see Sophie, and Jarrod standing protectively behind her.

“Oh! What are you two doing here? Please tell me you didn’t sneak out again.” I say, squatting down to be eye level with them. They eye each other then look at me.

“Is this your brother?” Sophie asks then looks at Charlie. Avoiding my question, they definitely snuck out again.

“Yes. This is my brother, Charlie. Charlie, this is Sophie and Jarrod. I met them in the garden and took them back to the children’s room. But apparently they snuck out again.” I say, pointedly looking at the two kids. Jarrod shrugs, and eyes Charlie and me skeptically. Sophie doesn’t seem remorseful at all.

“Jarrod didn’t believe you when you said brother and sisters dance. So we came in to prove it. See? I told you she wasn’t lying. This is her BROTHER, Charlie, Jarrod.” Sophie says, pointing to Charlie.

Jarrod nods, looking between us. Charlie smiles.

“You know I hated the thought of dancing with my sister, but then once we did, I realized, I can actually have fun with her. Not worry about stepping on her feet or awkward conversation. It is fun.” Charlie says and Jarrod looks at him in disbelief.

“How?” Jarrod asks and Charlie laughs.

“How about we show you?” Charlie asks and takes my hands. We start goofy dancing. Mixing up rolls, spinning each other, step ball change, flag stepping. We’re all laughing once we are done. Sophie and Jarrod start dancing with us and we start switching between everybody.

Once we are done with the song, Charlie straightens.

“Alright. Now that we have taught you to dance we should get you back upstairs.” Charlie says but they look sad and it does something to me. It always does something when kids are sad.

“You go on. I’ll get them back.” I tell Charlie and he nods. Then says goodbye to the kids and leaves.

I take their hands and begin to guide them out of the ballroom.

“Uh oh. Nanny Kendal’s found us.” Jarrod says, pointing to a woman, possibly in her late 30s, in the corner wearing a cute sundress. She doesn't look too happy, but I take the kids to her anyway. I wouldn’t be happy if the children snuck out twice either.

“Sophie. Jarrod. What did I tell you about sneaking out?” The woman, Kendal asks and the kids look down.

“We just wanted to dance.” Sophie said and the woman looked at me.

“Are you this Mo they were talking about? The one who brought them back from the garden?” She asks.

“Yes, ma’am. I apologize I didn’t bring them back as soon as they found me in here. They wanted to learn to dance.” I apologize and she nods, eyeing the kids.

“Well.. Did you get enough of a lesson? Or. Do you need one more?” Kendal asks them and their eyes light up, making me smile.

“I think we need one more. Or two. Maybe three!” Sophie exclaims, making me and Nanny Kendal chuckle.

“Don’t push your luck little missy. One more, possibly two. Stay in my sight and we will go back when you are done.” Kendal says to Sophie. “As long as Miss Mo here is okay with it.” She adds, looking at me. The children turn their gazes to me.

“Please Mo! Pleasee!” Sophie begs.

“I would like to as well.” Jarrod says, quite grumpily.

“Okay. Let’s go.” I smile and turn to Kendal. “Would you like to join us, Nanny Kendal?” I ask and her brown eyes widen in shock.

“No. No thank you miss Mo. I will watch from here.” She replies. I nod and lead the kids to another area with no people around, but still in Kendal’s eyeline.

We dance and dance, until the kids are sweaty and a bubbling mess of laughter.

A throat clears and we pause, looking towards the wall.

“Dad!” Sophie yells, then runs to a man, hugging his leg. I smile warily and study him. He is handsome. With light brown styled back hair, and the same bright blue eyes as Jarrod. Sophie doesn’t really share any resemblance, but I don’t judge.

He has Beta energy, maybe even low Alpha. Everybody can sense what rank you are.

There is Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta and Omega. There can be multiple people who have the power of an Alpha, but only the Alpha in the pack’s bloodline takes charge, unless challenged by another Alpha who is more powerful.

There are multiple Beta’s and Gamma’s. All of which can be chosen to support the Alpha. Most Alpha’s choose to have one trusted Beta, or as some pack’s call them seconds, to help them rule over their pack. The second can also have an alpha rank, or beta. I have not heard of any Gamma’s who were chosen to be the second’s, but it is not impossible.

My brothers are gammas, but me? My rank? Well, my paperwork shows I am an omega, but my pack says I am so low that I don’t have a rank.

“I believe that Nanny Kendal is waiting for you two and it is close to your bed time.” Sophie’s father tells her and Jarrod, who nods, while Sophie runs to me and hugs me tight.

“Thank you for tonight! I will never forget it. It was so fun!” She says then lets go.

“Bye Mo!” Jarrod yells with a smile as he pulls Sophie along to their nanny. I wave to them with a smile.

“You seemed to have had a good time with my children.” The man says, pulling my attention back to him. He’s moved closer and is eyeing me skeptically. He’s quite taller than me, standing around 6 foot 5, and his blue eyes seem to dim.

“They are quite lovely children. Other than the sneaking out, but that's natural.” I say and he nods, rubbing his chin.

“One can’t help but think that you are using them to get close to the Alpha. He cares for them deeply.” He says. My eyes widen and I feel the blood drain from my face.

“A. Alpha? N. No. I’m not. I didn’t know.” I stutter and look down. Alpha? Are they his kids too? Maybe, it wouldn’t be uncommon to have multiple fathers or mothers.

“Then how did you come across them?” He asks and I inhale sharply at his accusatory tone.

“Th. They found me in the garden sir. I took them back to the children's room, then came back to the ball. They snuck out again and found me. They wished to dance and I obliged. That is all sir. I. If I had known who they were..”

“If you had known they were Alpha’s children.. You’d have what, Miss Mo?” He asks and I pause. Looking for the answer.

“Nothing, Sir. I apologize for not taking them back to their nanny when I first found them down here, but I do not think my actions would have changed.” I say, then cringe. Does that sound disrespectful? It does, doesn’t it?

A hand appears in my line of vision, making me flinch slightly. I trace it to find him looking at me with a small smile.

“Would you like to dance?” He asks and I almost choke on the air. Blood rushed to my face.

“I. I couldn’t, sir.” I say and he frowns at me.

“Why not?” He asks.

“I. Well. It would be improper for me to dance with a higher rank than me.” I answer. He shakes his head, still holding out his hand to me.

“I do not think it is improper.” He says, shocking me.

“I. well. I guess. I may, if you. If you demand, I cannot refuse.” I stutter.

“Well if you ask I demand, then yes, I insist that we dance.” He says, stepping closer. I breathe deep, and take his hand. His masculine scent filled my lungs. It’s not unpleasant like most.