Sarah POV
I had the suspicion Mr. Cavendish wanted something stronger than the water he ordered from his housekeeper, Ms. Liesel, after we had all sat down in the living room and tried to adjust to this new life.
In the car, I had made a great effort to quietly, firmly, and consistently lay out what had happened with Chloe. I had just been accepted as a kindergarten teacher at Hamilton Prep, a mostly human school with an excellent reputation. I had also been dating a fellow teacher, though I downplayed that because Chloe was listening.
And then there had been the day I’d come home to my apartment, and there in the courtyard was a man I’d never seen who was leaving a wicker basket on my doorstep.
I called out to the man and even tried to chase him, but he disappeared too quickly. I came back and opened the basket to find an infant, though I could tell it wasn’t a newborn. A small printed note in the basket had read only: This is Chloe, born May 5. Please take care of her.
That, Chloe’s diaper and onesie, and a small blanket were all I had to go on when I went to the police.
At this point, I couldn’t help but gather Chloe up in my arms and apologize solemnly for lying to her about her parents. I explained I had wanted to wait until she was just a little older to tell her the truth.
To my surprise, Chloe took several minutes to consider things before nodding very seriously and saying she understood. Then she hugged me and said, “You take care of me, Mommy.”
Grace, who had been sitting on her own in the loveseat, got down, walked over, and sat down next to me on my other side. I cuddled them both and held back a few tears. I saw how the girls looked at each other in happiness. I thought my heart would burst.
When I could continue, grateful for Mr. Cav’s patience, I explained how I’ve been raising Chloe, skipping the part about how the man I had thought I might marry disappeared as soon as I moved her in. I talked about the werewolf lore I’d learned, including seeing to it that my daughter participated in rites that were appropriate for pups, providing her with books on werewolves and humans, and never letting Chloe forget her heritage.
“And what can you remember about this man’s appearance?” Mr. Cavendish asked.
I shook her head and hugged both girls a little tighter. “He was just a silhouette, and not even that was clear, considering the evening shadows. And it’s been five years now. I remember he was tall, but I don’t even know if he were human or a werewolf.”
The chauffeur knocked briefly and opened the door to the living room. At a nod from his employer, he gestured behind him, and three strong-looking betas entered carrying my sofa, armchair, and coffee table. It was all I could do not to shout in my surprise.
“What’s that?” I wanted to know, and I would have stood up if two little girls weren’t in my arms.
Three more betas entered carrying Chloe’s mattress, box springs and bed frame, and her little white headboard with the flowers carved into it.
“Oh, we will need to discard some of this,” Mr. Cavendish said oh-so-casually, looking it over with a judgmental eye.
I bristled. Yeah, my sofa didn’t cost as much as a new car, but my furniture was fine. Hiding my dismay, probably poorly, I asked, “Wait, please, what exactly is going on here?”
“As of today, you’ll be living here,” he told me.
“You’ve just made that decision for me?”
“You don’t have a choice.”
I looked at Chloe, who immediately hugged me tighter, whispering, “Mommy. Are we going to live with Daddy?”
I saw Mr. Cavendish purposefully soften his expression. “My child deserves the best education, the best environment, and they, well, they need you. Besides, I must learn the truth about the past, and you are the only clue.”
I wanted to argue, but then I looked down into both girls with their bright blue puppy eyes. Was I supposed to deny Chloe a better life because of my pride? And yes, he was being officious, but he was an alpha and doubtlessly used to getting his way with no questions.
“All right,” I said. “I can see the necessity and how this would be the best for our, I mean, Chloe and Grace. They need to get to know each other, after all, and I won’t be parted from Chloe.”
He nodded.
“But at least I should have the right to decide where these pieces of furniture go, right?” I said. “Each item was bought with the money I earned and is filled with memories of Chloe and me. You can’t just decide to throw them away. If I’m to live here, where’s my room?”
He looked surprised that a “little” human would assert herself. He looked back over my things, and then at the kitchen table, flat-screen TV on a stand, and chest of drawers as they were brought in on a second trip by the first trio of betas.
I knew my furniture was all quite simple, but it was comfortable and clean with a homey feel. I hoped he could understand the familiar items would help Chloe to adjust to living in this new place.
“You’re right, and you will take the guest suite,” he said as he gestured to his chauffeur, who led the betas out of the room and down the hall. He returned a moment later and murmured something to Mr. Cavendish, who nodded and then asked me to go into the room and show where the things should be placed.
Ms. Liesel led me, Chloe, and Grace into a suite larger than my entire apartment. It had an attached bath and a kitchenette, and I wondered if it had been sitting empty or if Mr. Cavendish had had it emptied for me and Chloe that morning.
Soon enough, I had the betas placing the beds, nightstands, desks, and bookshelves where they would maintain go flow through the room and clearly mark off the space for my daughter from my bed area. By the time the betas were bringing in boxes of books, Chloe was putting up the pots, pans, and utensils with an air of authority that made me smile.
Grace was standing next to me as I was putting the linens on Chloe’s bed. The sheets and pillowcase were plain white, and the comforter was covered in black-and-gray sketches of wolves with blue eyes. I hoped Mr. Cavendish wouldn’t object to it. I wanted this to feel like Chloe’s “real” home as much as possible.
“Will you be my mommy now?” I heard Grace ask in a whisper.
“How is that possible? She’s just a human,” Liesel snapped, all but rolling her eyes at the idea. “Only Miss Ella is worthy of Alpha Zane.”
“Miss Ella?” I asked. What was my old employer’s relationship with Mr. Cav, exactly?
Liesel drew herself up a bit. “Miss Ella is the twin sister of Zane’s former wife, and she raised Miss Grace. Remember your place; you’re just a human.”
I shrugged and said, “You’re right, but that has nothing to do with me. I’m just here for Chloe, but that doesn’t mean Grace and I can’t be great friends, does it, sweetie?” I looked down at Mr. Cav’s daughter, who smiled and nodded shyly.
Then I realized Mr. Cavendish was standing in the doorway and turned away from the officious Ms. Liesel’s proud, beta-brown eyes.
“Sign this,” he instructed, handing me a folder, which I opened with a frown. What new thing did he want from me now?
“A nanny non-disclosure agreement?” I asked, scanning it. “I’m to be responsible for the daily care of Chloe and Grace.” That was fine.
Then I read it: Remember your human status, and do not disclose any private information about your employer. Do not seduce the employer or engage in sexual relations with him.
