Chapter 86
The soft glow of the morning sky crept through the curtains, casting gentle shadows across the bedroom. Outside, the air was filled with the cheerful chorus of birds, their singing a comforting melody marking the start of a new day.
Kathy awoke slowly, her senses attuned to the quiet around her. Turning over, she caught sight of Anthony still sound asleep. The peaceful expression on his face made her smile. With a gentle touch, she brushed her fingers across his nose and his cheek, a small gesture of affection before beginning her own day.
Carefully, Kathy slipped out of bed, mindful not to disturb Anthony. She padded across the room to check on the babies, who were still nestled in their cribs, sleepy and content. Satisfied that they were fine, she picked up the baby monitor, grateful for the chance to step away and enjoy a quiet moment downstairs.
Reaching for her robe hanging on the back of the door, Kathy wrapped herself in its warmth before leaving the bedroom. The familiar comfort of the robe made her feel at ease as she moved quietly through the house.
As Kathy stepped into the hallway, she saw Sarah emerge from her room, already dressed for the day. Sarah glanced at Kathy, noticing her wearing a robe, and smiled. The simple, everyday moments of shared life—Sarah ready to greet the morning, Kathy savoring a few minutes of tranquility—set the tone for a peaceful and promising day ahead.
“How is your morning?” asked Sarah
“The babies woke up for their bottles then got more sleep, as right now they are still sleeping but I am thinking of getting them a nanny,” said Kathy
“A nanny?”
“Yes, nanny,”
Sarah’s eyes brightened with inspiration. “Wait, I have a better idea. How about opening a little daycare and hiring daycare workers? That way, all the pups could play together and it would give us a bit more help. We’d just have to do a lot of background checks to be sure. We could even set one up in the packhouse and another in the palace.”
Kathy considered the suggestion, picturing a lively room filled with happy children, laughter echoing through the halls. The thought warmed her, and she nodded thoughtfully, intrigued by the possibilities Sarah’s idea offered.
Kathy and Sarah made toward the kitchen; to see Vanessa and Frances were eating breakfast therefore the ladies took their seats and smiles.
“Good morning,”
“Good morning. Kathy, you should be resting. Where is Anthony?” said Vanessa, concern evident in her voice as she looked over at Kathy.
Kathy smiled softly, reassured by Vanessa’s caring tone. “Anthony is asleep, so is Miles. While we are at the table, I want to ask you two something,”
Kathy explains everything to Frances and Vanessa about the hiring nanny and open a daycare for children her three babies and anyone children that are working in the palace and packhouse.
“I never thought of that, I think it a great idea. I will have one of the rooms that can be used,”
“King Frances, is Anthony a lycan and now a werewolf,” asked Kathy
“Well, tricky part. When you see him in his form, does he look like he is bigger and normal size?” asked Frances
“It’s bigger than Miles and Sarah,”
“Anthony is a lycan plus he has alpha power too, eat some breakfast we have a long day head of us,”
Upstairs, Anthony woke with a start, noticing the empty space beside him where Kathy usually lay. Pushing the covers aside, he checked the bathroom, but she wasn’t there either. The gentle rise and fall of the babies’ breaths assured him they were still sleeping peacefully. Growing uneasy, Anthony reached out through the mind-link, connecting with Miles and Sarah at the same time to ask if they’d seen Kathy.
“Where is Kathy?” asked Anthony, his voice tinged with worry as he glanced around the room. He listened to a response through the mind-link, hoping one of his trusted friends would have an answer soon. The silence stretched for a moment before Miles replied, “She’s downstairs in the kitchen with Vanessa and Frances. She wanted to talk about something important.” Relieved but still a bit anxious, Anthony quickly got dressed and made his way toward the kitchen, eager to see Kathy and find out what was on her mind.
Anthony says good morning everyone and leans into Kathy to kiss her then Miles comes in then goes to Sarah and sits next to her to make his plate of breakfast. Kathy, on the other hand is drinking soup.
“You not eating breakfast, my love,”
“Not really, my stomach is still weak, so I am eating something lightly,”
Everyone is enjoying their breakfast, the gentle clinking of plates filling the cozy kitchen. Kathy suddenly notices that Melody is starting to stir in the crib beside her brothers, tiny arms stretching as she lets out a soft whimper. Not wanting Melody to wake the others, Kathy quickly excuses herself, setting her bowl aside and slipping out of her chair. She moves swiftly yet carefully through the house, making sure not to bump into anyone or anything as she heads upstairs.
As soon as she reaches their bedroom, Kathy hurries to the crib and gently scoops up Melody just before her cries can fully start. Cradling her daughter close, Kathy soothes her with soft whispers, relieved that her other children continue to sleep peacefully.
Kathy went over to the changing table and carefully changed Melody’s cloth diaper, placing the soiled one into a special bag inside the can that kept the smell contained until the servants arrived to collect and wash it. Once Melody was clean and comfortable, Kathy picked her up and moved to the feeding station, where she prepared a bottle and put it in the warmer. Suddenly, she heard a phone ringing and paused, thinking it was probably nothing important. But the ringtone wasn’t from her main cell—it was from the burner phone she kept hidden, a number nobody should know. Curious and slightly on edge, Kathy carried Melody with her as she opened her bag and saw the burner phone’s screen lighting up. She picked it up, answering with cautious curiosity.
“Hello?” asked Kathy
“My lady, the code is your mother color is red,”
“Yes, can I help you?”
“Your step-sister has been paying people to come and look for you,”
Kathy’s voice was low and urgent as she spoke on the phone. “I see, make sure she doesn’t. I can’t have her expose our secret about our kind,” she said, her gaze flickering nervously toward the door as she cradled Melody closer. There was a brief pause at the other end, then a quiet affirmation. Kathy swallowed, her mind racing, aware of how delicate the situation had become.
“Yes, Miss,”
Kathy thought of destroying the phone, but she knew she had to monitor her stepsister because Skye would be intrusive. She nearly forgot Melody's bottle; she went back into the nursery, grabbed the bottle, and felt the milk – it was pleasantly warm, not hot, as she fed her daughter.