I opened the door to the mansion playroom. The boys took off to play on the fake rocks and run through the tunnels. With a sigh, I wandered over to a large beanbag and slumped into it.
Rudy climbed onto the largest rock and started howling. "Look, Dad, I'm a wolf! I'm the alpha of the pack."
"Really, who's your beta?"
"Drake, because he's littler than me."
The black pup was struggling to climb up the rock.
"Just be careful."
"I'm protecting the pack." He puffed out his chest.
"I think a rogue is attacking the cave."
Rudy's eyes grew wide. "Oh, no. Drake, go to the cave." He hurried down the slide and ran to one of the tunnels. "Drake! Hurry! The rogues are here." He pretended to slash at the invisible enemies with his claws.
Drake eventually made it back down the rock and hurried over. He stood by his brother and watched him fight off the rogues. I rubbed my muzzle. I had been avoiding this day. Teaching pups how to shift could be super easy or the most frustrating thing. They either got it, or they didn't, and I was worried that Rudy would be the harder of the two.
The door opened, and Max poked his head into the room.
"Max! Max, the rogues." Rudy ran over. "Come and help. But I'm alpha." He held up a finger."
Max chuckled. "Sure thing."
Rudy grabbed his cousin's hand and dragged him over to the cave.
"My uncle sent me to get you. He's in his office. I'll watch the boys while you're gone."
Nodding, I stood with a groan. "Do me a favor and teach Rudy how to shift."
Max grinned. "I heard you came by so Andreas could help."
"Teach me." Rudy peered up at Max. "Please, teach me to be covered in fur. I want to. I want fur like you. Please."
Max sighed. "Alright, let's give it a go." He turned to me. "Hurry back."
"Will do." I left the room and walked down the hall. I was hoping to see two furry little pups when I came back.
I arrived at the alpha's office and knocked.
"Come in."
Opening the door, I stepped inside. Hector was sitting on the couches with Andreas behind his desk, shuffling through papers.
"Hector, came to check up on him?"
Andreas scoffed. "Don't start."
"Where are the boys?" Hector turned in his seat.
"I left them with Max. We'll see if the future alpha can get that Rudy to shift."
"Wouldn't that be a pleasant surprise," said Hector. "That pup deserves to be able to see his true form. He's a werewolf. It doesn't matter what form he was born in."
I walked to the couch and fell into it. "Hopefully, one day, it happens. I've caught him a couple of times trying to shift." I rested my head against my fist. "It crushes my spirits as a parent that I can't do a damn thing to help him."
"Well, what are we waiting for." Hector rose to his feet. "Max doesn't know what to do."
"I'm almost done," said Andreas. "Give me a few more minutes, and then we can go."
"I don't need you. I taught you how to shift." The retired alpha marched from the room.
Andreas shook his head. "He's getting more stubborn with every passing year."
"He cares."
"We all care." He stacked the papers on his desk and started singing another pile. " By the sounds of it, I might need to make an appearance at the playground." He shot me a smirk. "Sunny was just as fired up about it as Marcy after your mate called her."
"Well, if I'm late to work, you know why."
Andreas shrugged. "I'm late all the time." He motioned to his desk. "As you can see by the state of my office."
I laughed. "I better go and check on how things are going with Rudy."
"I'll be done in a bit. I head to the playroom when I finish."
Nodding, I rose to my feet and went to check on the boys. Crying sounded down the hall. I quickened my pace and entered the room to find Rudy sobbing.
He spotted me and ran over. "I can't do it! Daddy, I can't be a werewolf."
I picked him up and hugged the child. "It's okay. We can keep practicing."
"Grandpa hates me."
Hector's mouth fell open. "Rudy, I could never hate you."
"I can't do it. Grandpa's mad at me."
The alpha lifted his head. "I told him to focus. He was getting all teary. A dominant has to be tough. He'll never learn if he is constantly crying."
"He's five, Hector. He's not a dominant. He's a pup."
"I'm not mad, Rudy," said Hector. "I'd never be mad at you, and I could never hate you."
My son wiped his face. "Really?"
Hector nodded. "I'm sorry if I made you sad. I want you to learn how to shift. I want to see my grandson as a strong red werewolf."
Rudy touched his hair. "But I tried. I can't grow fur." He collapsed on my shoulder. "I'm broken, Daddy."
"No, you're not. You'll learn."
"The other kids say I'm broken. They can shift, but I can't."
I lifted the boy's chin and cleared away his tears. "You know what, I think you're still too little. You might need to grow a bit more."
Rudy frowned.
"Just a little bit more. We can try again in a week or so when you're a little bigger. Alright?"
He nodded and let out a sigh.
"How about we get your blanket out of the car and watch a movie?"
"On the big TV?" said Rudy.
I nodded. "Sounds fun, right? Drake, do you want to watch a movie?"
'"Yeah!" He jumped down from the rock he was on and ran over. "Movie, Daddy." He lifted his arms.
I picked him up. Hector watched me with his arms folded.
"Another time," I said firmly. "No one learns in a single day."
The retired alpha shook his head. "Whatever."
Rudy climbed down and ran over. "Are you going to watch the movie with us?"
Hector smiled slightly. "I suppose."
"Can we have popcorn?" asked Rudy.
"Popcorn!" Drake threw his hands in the air.
"Sure."
Rudy grabbed his grandpa's hand and dragged him from the room.
I followed and stopped at the door. "Coming, Max?"
He shook his head, not looking up from his phone. "I'll pass, thanks."
"Thanks for your help."
Max lifted a brow. "Grandpa has never been good at being patient. Rudy was trying really hard to do it, but I don't think he's ready."
Taking in a deep breath, I stepped into the hall. "Tell Andreas we went to the theater room. I'll see you around."
"Will do."
He waved slightly as I closed the door. I knew it wasn't going to be easy. But Rudy was still young. He had plenty of time to figure it out.
***
"Pregnant?" I looked up from the test in my hand.
Shaking her head, Marcy opened the cupboard and took out a bag of chips. "I've been crying over everything, so I thought I'd check. There you have it."
Smiling, I held out my hand. She shoved a handful into her muzzle instead. Closing the gap, I hugged her as she ate another mouthful of chips.
"It's unexpected, but I'm excited." I kissed her cheek. "Another pup would be great. Are you happy?"
"Yes, but stressed. I already have to figure out what to do with Rudy. He's close to starting kindergarten."
"We don't have to send him. We can wait until first grade. The pups have to stay in human form so that no one will know any different."
"I'm considering it." She was starting to tear up as she grabbed a box of crackers. "I'm done with daycare. Sunny said if I needed to take leave from work for a bit, she'd talk to Andreas."
"Why not?" I rubbed her shoulders. "You can prepare for the new addition to our family. Andreas has always let you take leave whenever you needed it."
She eyed me. "This is serious. I'm not trying to get out of work. Rudy is being pick-on," she stated. "My baby." Marcy pressed her hand to her chest. "They will not make my baby boy cry anymore. Those snooty mothers and their little monsters will not bully my child. I'll be damned before I let that happen."
I wrapped my arms around her and rocked from side to side. "I don't think the other pups mean anything by it. As his parents, we're a bit more sensitive to innocent comments. I doubt they're trying to be mean."
Marcy wiped her eyes. "I'm calling Sunny." She marched from the room.
I glanced at the test in my hand and smiled to myself. Another pup was on the way. We hadn't planned it, but I was excited to have another child. "Do you still want this?"
"Fallon, really?" she groaned. "I peed on it. Throw it away and wash your hands, for god sake."
Laughing softly, I did so and went to the sink.
"Daddy, Daddy." Rudy ran into the room, followed closely by his brother. "Is Mommy mad?"
"No, she's on a mission," I chuckled. And she was also pregnant.
The boys looked at me, confused.
"What does that mean?" Rudy tilted his head to the side.
I scooped the boys up in my arms. Drake giggled and hugged my neck.
"Mommy is protecting her pups."
"Us?" Rudy glanced at the living room. "Why?"
I shrugged. "It's what moms do."
Marcy could be heard in the other room. It sounds like she was crying, but they were angry-frustrated tears. I had learned to give her space, and I'd ask her later if she wanted anything when I took a trip to the store with the boys.
***
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