THE NANNY SIDE JOB

Virgil held himself against the wall, avoiding facing himself in the mirror. Every word in that memory hurt him, but the worst part most definitely wasn't their fight about their job, or him taking full charge of the pack, and everything related to it…

No, the hardest part was what they talked about right after that. Also, just as if he was trying to stop a train by huffing, puffing and blowing at it, the memories didn't stop or even slow down.

Quite the opposite, as they just stormed on him.

+++

Henkjan was walking towards the door, humiliated but not humbled. His head still raced around the thought of him being the one who was right… Hanging onto it as if his life depended on it.

"Now that we settled that matter, tell me… Are you not even going to ask about your younger son?"

The ex-Alpha stood frozen in front of the doors and almost out of the office.

Virgil's voice felt like acid in his ears.

It wasn't that he didn't care… He didn't forget about it, he just… didn't think much of it… right? After all, he was not a monster…

Right?

"No, I won't ask you today, and I won't ask you later. He made his choice, and like a man, he will have to face the consequences," the father let out, not even turning to face his eldest.

"I see. I hope that you can see what you have done as well. What you keep dismissing as others' mistakes. He is my brother, and he's very much alive. Not like the father who was replaced by whoever or whatever you are now… but listen…" Virgil took a couple of deep breaths thinking if what he was about to say was really worth it. "If you ask me now… If you still care, even a little bit… Go get my brother back… He thinks he can never please you… And it was you who made him think like that… Father, he only wanted something from Mom, can you blame him? He misses her. I miss her and I'm sure you do as well… Father, Eron did nothing wrong, and I actually helped him. I supported his idea to fix the motorcycle. I even encouraged him just to see a smile on his face… He did nothing wrong and you're letting him decide to self-exile himself from the pack… From our life! I don't care if I have to beg you… Not as an Alpha or as any other title but as your son… Please, father… Just ask me where he is, I will even take you there myself."

Henkjan could feel his wolf once more, but not a word was said by him. Only the absolute disappointment that dripped from Tabashir's heart, poured directly into the remains of his human's own.

His eyes burned, and he could feel how the tears started accumulating in his eyes, blurring his sight.

Henkjan did not turn. He did not speak, either.

The double doors opened, letting the embittered father out and were then closed behind on the older Camden a moment later.

Virgil let out a bitter scoff.

"I am sorry, little brother. I couldn't even keep what was the last of our family together… I failed you, and I failed Mom. But I promise you that I won't let Father do any more damage to any of us. I'll be the best Alpha I can be and one day I'll get you back home, safe and sound."

+++

Virgil hadn't even noticed how fast time flew by as he remembered that unfortunate meeting.

It was true, that his brother leaving the house made him a better man, but there was not one day in which he regretted that the price for him to awaken was so, so high.

"Hey, handsome… Are you okay?"

"Oh, hey baby… Yeah, I'm ok."

"Oh love… come here…" she walked towards the man she loved and embraced him tightly. "It's ok, you don't have to play strong with me. I already know what my man is made of."

Pain and regrets burned the man's heart, but it was a burden that he didn't want to give her. The only thing he could do was to hug her tight, pull her impossibly close and breathe in her soothing natural smell, which in times like that one, was the only thing he needed.

"I love you, you know?" he said, his voice shaking.

"I know, baby. I love you very much too."

+++

Meanwhile, in a secluded place, far, far away from the packhouse, The Charmer who was getting ready for work suddenly felt his chest tighten. The pain wasn't new to him, he even knew perfectly where it came from.

"V… what is happening to you lately, bro? I was always the sensitive one, not you. You're making me worry, you know?" the tall, attractive man whispered to himself, bitterly smiling. "I wonder if you're affected by the same weird thoughts I have… I really wish to believe that you… care… That you… Argh!... Eron, don't be stupid… he disowned you, remember? Just talk to Helena later and see if they are both okay. You know that she's the only one who can make him feel this bad… Yeah, I guess I'll do that…"

"Hey, bro! Talking to yourself?" Jack suddenly got out of his office and was now close enough to Eron that he could hear the very low, whispered conversation that the former Right Hand was having with himself.

"Nah, just cheering myself up for work," he answered, showing a bright, toothy smile that left no place to doubt his mindset, determination and focus that was exclusively related to his job. "Sometimes I double as my own cheerleader. Has done wonders that approach of mine. "

"Really? Okay, whatever you say, man. Listen, I was looking for you because, since, you know, Max is not gonna be here today, and for the next few days…I just want to make sure that you're up to work on the sawmill, remember? I kinda mentioned yesterday."

"Sure, bro, I actually liked to work there. Although I really need to find a way to clean it. You have no idea of how I found it. That man is sick…"

"Don't tell me, man… or more like, I wish you told me before. The guy that came to check it the other day, after the accident, said that someone had been jerking off for weeks there. Embarrassed and disgusted can't begin to describe how bad I felt when I heard and saw… Let's just say that I couldn't hold my breakfast then… How did you manage to work there?"

"Well, I almost didn't. But you explained it to me and then he came to 'talk' And that happened right after the lumber went flying towards you guys."

"Yeah… that guy is so much trouble… Anyway, don't worry because now it's clean and fixed. And I have another favor to ask of you…"

"Huh? Well, sure, if it's something I can do."

"I'm pretty sure you can. Remember the guy that Max 'recommended'? He's here today, and I need someone to train him… Literally from scratch… So, if you can sort of split between those tasks…"

"You mean you want me to babysit the new hire… Because I kinda noticed a new face among Max's troops…"

"Yeah, that's Orlando… There's something with him that… I think his situation right now is not great, so I really want to help him. But I can't keep him if he doesn't at least learn know how to do the job around here. Even if it these were just the basics, at least."

"Say no more. I'll be his nanny. I admit, I don't have as much experience with that kind of job. However, I think I can at least help him with the basics," Eron assured his older and light brown-haired boss. But in the back of his mind, he was already grinning like a Cheshire cat.

Orlando… so we finally meet. And I can recognize his smell too. I wonder what he will say when he sees me face to face, instead of from behind a bush, he thought.

"Awesome, bro, thanks!" Jack told Eron, and then turned around to look for Orlando, who had also left his office and the company's staff building already. "Hey, kid! Come here."

"Yes, sir," the young man got closer to his employer, and as soon as he saw who was with him his eyes widened in surprise. Also, with a bit of worry…

"I want you to meet Eron. He just kindly agreed to help you learn and get the hang of the job today, okay?"

"Y-yes, sir… but… boss Max…?"

"Don't mind him. He will not be here for a few workdays." Jack added with a small smile. "Besides, we can't stop working just because he's absent for a couple of days, can we?"

"Yes, sir," Orlando nodded, then looked up at Eron, who smiled back at him. The supposed 'lady stealer' as Max had falsely accused the man then extended a hand towards the new hire.

"Nice to meet you, kid," Eron warmly greeted with a wide grin. Unknown to the lumberyard's newest and youngest employee, The Charmer was analyzing even the smallest movement that the new newcomer made.

Orlando finally accepted Eron's hand, not without a bit of hesitation, Unfortunately for them both, the moment they shook hands they both felt the penetrating sights of Max's friends zooming towards them.

This will be interesting, Eron's smile instantly turned into a smirk as he tried to look around him without anyone noticing. He was actually using his sharp peripheral vision which he has been able to hone to expert levels due to his recent assassin years. We will see what these yes-men idiots are really up to…

+++

An hour or two later back at the packhouse, Helena was walking down the stairs to pick Sorah and the kids up to tour the large, castle-like edification when her mobile phone rang.

"Good morning, Luna. I received your message. Please tell me, what can I do for you?" A honeyed female voice politely inquired.