Prologue
Lana’s POV
I don’t even try to think about, let alone comprehend what just happened. Instead, I turn on my autopilot mode and finish collecting all the laundry. I make in downstairs to the laundry room, and finish starting all the loads of laundry when I hear the first parent go into the nursery. I make my way up to the nursery and meet the parent there. As I listen to the mother tell me about how hard it was to wake up during the night to tend to their infant, my mind begins to wander.
I suddenly begin to think about alpha Ryan. At first, I begin to think about why he stopped me in the hallway. Then I begin to think about how he stood up to Megan the she wolf he was talking to. No one has ever done that for me since Mrs. Barns passed away. It was like someone actually saw me and care about me even if it was for just a moment.
The parent stands there looking annoyed as I snap out of my thoughts. The mother shoves her child into my arms and stomps out of the nursery. I stand there dumbfounded for a split second before I check all Jeremy’s needs.
I discovered that his diaper was soaked and prepared him a bottle since he is probably hungry. He snuggles into me as I bounce him in my arm while waiting for his bottle to warm up. We then sit in the rocking chair together. He greedily drinks all his milk in no time. After I burp him, he becomes drowsy. I continue to rock him and sing lullabies to him. As I sing, I can only think about what it would have been like to have a mother sing to me as a baby. I push the thought aside and instead just watch Jeremy fall asleep.
I debate about putting him in one of the two cribs but decide to hold him and rock him for a bit longer. As I rock him, my mind begins to think of Alpha Ryan again. There was something about the way he looked at me. I knew that I wasn’t supposed to look at him but since he commanded me to, I had to oblige.
He was shorter than the average Alpha at 6’0” but he made up for it by being muscular. His tank top barely fit over his torso. Not to mention his dark brown locks that had the right amount of bedhead look. He didn’t even have to try to look gorgeous, he just was. His eyes were green like the forest to match his dark locks. He only smirked at me which made me want to faint right there and not just from being terrified that he was standing so close to me. He also smelled like mahogany wood. Lastly, even though he only smirked at me, I wish I could have seen him smile. His smirk made me feel light-headed and I can only imagine what a smile from him would do.
I didn’t realize how long I had been rocking Jeremy and daydreaming about Alpha Ryan until Jeremy began to stir in my arms. I looked up from him to the clock. I almost jumped out of the chair if wasn’t holding him. It was already 9:30am. I want to smack myself in the head. I am late with my normal laundry schedule.
As I get some toys together for Jeremy and the diaper bag, I have ready just in case, I pray that Rosy the toddler I also look after will not be coming today. I carry Jeremy to the laundry room and put him down in the playpen I keep hidden in the back. He plays with the toys I brought as I begin to transfer the laundry from the washers into the dryers. As I wait for the laundry to dry, I change Jeremy and play with him on a blanket that I brought for him. Luckily Jeremy cannot walk yet but he sure can crawl. I continue to play with him until I hear the first dryer buzz. Instantly I pick him up and put him back in the playpen. He begins to whine but I sing to him and that calms him down enough to play with his toys.
I managed to get all the laundry folded around 11:00am. I clean up and take Jeremy back to the nursery to feed him. Unfortunately, I will have to wait until after the briefing on Abigail’s party to take the laundry back to the correct rooms.
Laura the afternoon nursery helper comes in at 11:50am as I am cleaning all the bottles while Jeremy plays. I quickly update her on Jeremy and leave the room. I only have 7 minutes to make it to the ruling pack house. I sprint for the pack house and pray that I will not be late. I do not wish to forgo another meal or receive whips from Mrs. Hilden tonight.
