SOLOMON
I looked at all of the pack warriors training and cringed. I actually felt slightly embarrassed for them. They were all trying to show off in front of me, but...there is literally nothing to show off. They have little skill in any kind of combat.
"Okay...we're going to finish this...session with a twenty kilometer run." All the men groaned.
I raised my brow and shouted, "You want to make it a hundred?"
All of their eyes widened. They kept their mouth's shut and obeyed me. I growled in frustration. Does Kendrick oversee anything in this god damn pack?
"Hey."
I turned around and saw Sophie walking towards. She crossed her arms and nodded at the men running, "They're not very good."
I chuckled, "No...they are pathetic, no offence." They were her pack's warriors after all.
She shook her head, "None taken. My father...he doesn't do much for the pack."
"Why not?"
She shrugs her shoulders, "He just hasn't put out his authority except when he wants something. so the people didn't really respect him. Because of that, they just did whatever they wanted."
I shook my, "This is wrong."
She nodded her head in agreement.
I sighed, "Well I am tired and sweaty. so I'm gonna go have a shower now. see you around sophie."
She smiled and waved and continued on her walk. Even though I don't think of her romantically, she's still a pretty cool chick.
As I was walking to the pack house. My phone buzzed in my basketball shorts. It was a message from Lincoln. As I was about to open it, someone bumps into me as I walked by. I looked back and saw it was a lady with a hood and scarf. I was about to apologize. But a strange scent tingled my nose. I frowned. I didn't know what it was, but it was stimulating...and some how familiar.
AYLA
Alpha Kendrick wanted me to get some kind firewood. Apparently we ran out again. I put my hoodie and scarf on to go outside. It was pretty chilly today. As I was walking down from the pack house. I looked up to the very top of the house and saw the window of the attic. I saw Milo through the window. He raised his hand and waved is frantically. I smiled and waved back. I turned around to keep walking, but I bump into someone. I turned around and saw him walk away. Rude! I kept walking to fetch the firewood.
MILO
I sit on me and Ma's comfy bed and look around the room. I've been in this room ever since I came out of Ma's bellybutton. That's what she told me. Everyday we wake up and build our strong muscles together. Then we play bubble games in the bath. That is fun. And then she goes and works hard so than I get to have presents from Ken.
I haven't ever met Ken before, but Ma says that he gives her presents and then she gives them to me because Ken thinks I am a good boy.
My eyes go to the wall. Ma measures my height every month. She draws it on the wall. I am going to grow into a giant. That way, Ma won't have to keep us here anymore. And we can go outside and play whenever we want.
I hear the door from down stairs close. I climb ontop of the book shelf to look out the window. Ma is outside doing something. I frowned to myself. She better not be leaving without me. I raise my hand and wave it fast so than she would be able to see me. I laugh in joy when she turns to me and waves back. I looked to the side to my friends, "Look lamp! Look Ma saw me! She waved!"
Lamp doesn't say very many words, but that's okay. I can do the talking for the both of us.
AYLA
I sighed as I made my way up the stairs all the way to the attic. Today was extra hard because one of the maids were sick so Kendrick put all of her duties on me ontop of my own. I slowly opened to door. I couldn't help but smile when I saw my son, Milo. He was on the floor drawing.
"Hey Baba." I said
Milo looked up and smiled. He stood up and his small form gave me a hug, "Hi Ma. Was working hard today?"
I nodded my head, "Yeah, today was a little hard. But that's okay." I ran my fingers through his dark locks. I bend down and kiss his head before making my to the sink to get some water, "You hungry Baba?"
He shook his head, "No, I had some crackers before." He was finishing whatever he was drawing. He looked at it and looked proud of what he had done. He came up to me and presented his drawing. I smiled when I saw what he drew.
I took it from his hand and had a good looked at it, "Milo...this is incredible!" I exclaimed. Milo smile got bigger.
"Really? Do you really like it Ma?"
I nod my head, "Ummm...YES! Milo this is the best drawing I have ever been given," I bend down to my knees and gives a big fat kiss on the cheek. He giggles and tries to push my face away. I leaned back and said, "You, my son, are a true artist." I looked back down at the picture. I frowned when I saw something I didn't notice before. There was three people in it.
"Milo? Can you tell me who the three people are?"
He pointed to the smallest one, "That's me," The pointed to the second, "That's you," Then he pointed to the biggest one, "And that's Ken." My heart dropped when I heard that. I was silent for a while. Why did he draw Ken?
"Why did you draw Ken?" I said softly,
Milo's brows furrowed, "Because he's my Pa...isn't he?"
I felt the tears prickle my eyes. But I blink them away. I close my eyes and try to stay calm. I open them and look at Milo. I held his face and say, "Milo...he is not your father. Ken is just a man who takes care of us...and that's it. He's not Pa."
Milo didn't look at me. I knew he was frustrated and confused. He walked away and said, "Then who is my Pa?"
I stood and sighed, "Look Milo, I know it's hard, but-"
He turns around and screams, "NO!" I flinched. "All the other kids have Pa's! I want one too!"
"I know Milo, I know. But we don't have Pa."
He has tears running down his face. Milo screams, "It's not fair! I want Pa! I want to play with other kids! I want to have what tv shows me! I hate this!"
I took a slow step forward.
Milo was jumping on the bed and screaming, "I hate this!"
" I know you do. But this is our world Milo. We have to make the best of it."
He shook his head, "NO! This is your world. I don't want to be in your stinky world!"
He flops down unto the bed and crawls under the covers. I tried to go near him, but he pushes my hand away. I sigh and go to the kitchen area to make him some food.
After I made him some porridge. I placed it on the small table.
"Milo? You want some porridge?" I asked.
I ignores me. I groan and get up and walk to the bed. I rip the blanket and saw Milo glaring at me. I ignore it and asked, "You want food or not?"
He shook his head,
"Fine then. It's getting late Baba. It's time to get ready for bed." I stand and expected him to move, but he doesn't. I turn back around and say, "Milo, do what you are told. It is time to get ready for bed."
He still doesn't move.
I rest my hands on my hips and raise my eyebrow, "Don't make me count to three."
I saw his eyes widen slightly, but he still doesn't move.
"One." I keep my hard eyes on him. He has to know that I am the boss here. he can't just go have tantrums and be like this all the time, "Two." I see he is starting to hesitate. He looked away and looked back. "Three." His eyes widen and he waits for me do something.
I turn away and said, "That's it. I'm getting mister wacky."
Milo jumps off the bed. He crawls to my legs and wraps himself around it saying, "I'll do it, I'll do it, I'll do it! I'll be a good boy! I'm sorry for screaming at you!"
I walk towards mister wacky while dragging him on my leg, "Are you sure?" I asked.
He nods his head, "Yes, Ma! I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"
I bend down and look at him wrapped around my calf muscle. I sigh, "Okay Baba. I forgive you." I give him a kiss on the forehead and he goes and gets ready for bed. It always good. Tip for mothers: Always go with the good cop bad cop.
As he was brushing his teeth I bend down and watch how he does. I also count how many time he should brush on each side, "19, 20,21,22,23,24,25. Okay now the other side. 1,2,3..."
Once we were ready for bed. I see him jump on the bed and wait for me. I sigh, "Baba it's Friday. You know the rules for Fridays."
Milo frowns and groans while getting off of the bed, "Why do I always have to sleep in the closet on Fridays. It's not fair."
"Remember? Because ken comes here on fridays to give you your present. But you have to sleep in the closet if you want to get it. You still want a present, don't you?"
Milo sigh and looked down while mumbling, "Yes."
I nod my head, "Okay then come on." He was still small and the closet was big enough for him to sleep in. I laid the blankets and the pillows down. I motion with my hand for him to come. He reluctantly comes and crawls into his small bed and lies down. I take his favourite toy. His toy wolf and put it next him. I sit on the floor while I stroke his hair, "There you go. All nice and comfy." I whispered. With my other hand. I hold the locket I have. I've warn this locket for years. But haven't opened fir years either. It was a silver heart shaped locket with patterns that form a wolf.
"Milo, do you want to see what your father looks like?"
His eyes widened and he nodded his head desperately. I slowly took the locket in my shaking hand. I haven't opened this in six years. I slowly unlocked it and opened it. My breath hitched when I saw him. He was a teenager at the time and so was I. A flood of emotion entered my heart. Some of it was love, some of it was anger, some of it was longing. I slowly turned it towards Milo. I pointed to the guy and said, "That's your Papa."
Milo stared at it for what seemed like hours, but were just a few minutes. "Solo? Solo-m-m." He was trying to read his name so I said, "Solomon. You father's name is Solomon Nightwalker."
Milo gulped before he broke out into a big smile. He turned to me and said, "I have a papa?"
I nodded my head, "Yes Baba. You have a Papa." Milo kept staring at the pictures in the locket.
I leaned in and said, "Would you like to have this Milo?"
His brows raised, "Really Ma? I can keep this?"
I nodded my head. I unclipped it from my neck and placed it around his, "I know I can't give you your Papa in real life. But your Papa gave this to me. And now I am giving to you. This locket can be your papa, Okay? And you can carry him with you wherever you go."
Milo nodded. He sat up quickly and pecked my lips. I smiled down at him, "Thank you Ma."
"That's okay baba. It's time to go to sleep."
I was about to close the closet, but then he said, "Wait Ma! I'm not even tired."
I sighed and said, "What do you want me to do about it,"
"Can you please sing me a song?"
I sat back down, "Okay. Lean back, close your eyes and think of something nice okay?" He nodded his head and did so.
One Evening as
The Sun Went down
And the jungle fire was burning,
Down the track came hobo hiking,
And he said "Boys I'm not turning,
I'm headed for land that's far away,
Beside the crystal fountain, Ohh come with me,
We'll go and see, the big rock candy mountain...
Before I could even finish. I heard the familiar steps of him coming. I quickly get up and softly close the closet, "Good night Baba." I whispered.