Beastly

"Mommy, look what I painted!" his hands clutched the ends of the paper and raised excitedly to get her attention "It's you, me and daddy."

"Not now Alexander. Go meet your nanny." she replied, not even turning to look in his direction. Her hands carefully manoeuvered the scissors she held, snipping the dead leaves of her plants.

"But mommy-!"

"I said, not now. Can't you see I'm busy?"

His heart ached as tears rose to his eyes. There was nothing important about him. Is it because he couldn't be green like these plants? Is it because he talked too much? Why couldn't she just look at him once? A sudden rage hit him and he turned, accidentally knocking over one giant plant and falling over in the process. Through his blurry eyes, he stood up on wobbly feet, whimpering at the pain in his knee.

What hurt him the most was his painting was now smeared with muddy water. His mommy had just watered that plant and it soaked through the flimsy paper faster than he liked. He looked back at her and froze.

She was looking at him now, her blue eyes that he had inherited, glared at him with malice. Before he could speak, her hands were around his small neck and he found it hard to breathe.

"Momm-" he choked on air, his head getting lighter as he found it harder to scream. Tears rolled down his cheeks without any inhibition, as she scowled at him

"You little monster." she said, sounding like she was beside herself "You're just like him. You destroy everything I love!"

Her face got closer as she lifted him a little.

"Shouldn't mommy kill you?" she asked, sweetly "That way, you won't have to cause any more trouble for anyone. You won't end up like daddy."

Although she smiled at him, he could see tears fill up her eyes as well. She suddenly dropped him to the ground, and he took greedy gulps of air. As much as his little lungs could take.

"When your eyes beg for life, it annoys me..." she mumbled "As long as you have that look in your eyes, they'll always look like mine. I hate it."

Her calm demeanour returned and she returned to snipping her plant leaves.

"Get out."

........

Xander's eyes met darkness when he opened them. His heart beat wildly against his chest as he sat up, groaning. He was still in his office in the packhouse and had fallen asleep on the chair he had been sitting on for the past few hours. Glancing at the clock, he saw that it was 2:34 am. It was a good thing he had woken up. He had to get home.

Thinking about his dream, he rubbed at his temples, feeling a headache coming. It had been a long time since he had dreamt about his mother. The fear he had felt as a child had been stored away and been gradually overcome by the years of training and hardship he had endured. Xander found it strange how he was able to see his mother again and that memory had come back to haunt him in his dream. It was possibly because Ava had recently asked him about the woman that gave him life.

He felt sick a little and heard Nixon stir a little in his mind as he got up to leave. Picking his things and his coat, he left the office, locking it behind him and beginning his journey home. Very few pack members were awake and looked visibly shocked to see him. He ignored them and wore his coat, his body pushing out into the cold night air. Opening the car door, he quickly started up the car and backed out of the driveway, in record time. He was tired but his mind opened up to get reports on the activity of the night. Various guards were at their duty posts, some scouting different regions of the territory. It was peaceful and quiet and he hoped it stayed this way so he would be able to catch a good amount of sleep. Although, he felt too on the edge at the moment to even fall asleep.

closer he got. The scent of his mate had become part of his home, and it settled everywhere like it always belonged. He quietly climbed out of the car and walked in, not surprised to see the lights off. Sighing heavily, he took off his coat and his shoes and climbed upstairs. Even though his mind was on going to take a shower, his feet somehow led him

only place that had this amount of concentration of

He hesitated.

would definitely be asleep. Her training had begun about 4 days ago and every day, she got back, she would look about to pass out. Still, these past few days, he had rarely

her

was the most logical thing to be. Marcus was a threat to his authority. Any Alpha would be uncomfortable with having someone like him moving around freely within the pack. Despite this, Xander couldn't deny that he had some amount of respect for the man. He would never admit it and he still disliked Marcus for taking Ava away from him, but it wouldn't change nor

sleeves as he walked closer to where she laid. The lighting in the room wasn't enough but his sharp eyes could

mate was cute. All he wanted to do was

it around his fingers as he stared at her. It had become a custom for him to watch her sleep before retiring to bed. Now that he thought of it, it made him sound like a

he wasn't able to look away. Maybe it was the way she smiled or told a joke with a straight face. Maybe it was the fact that she was stubborn and strong. Back then, if someone had asked him, he wouldn't have been able to give them reasons. What he felt was past what the mate bond allowed. One thing that he

drowsy ones, her face flushing

it was. The way she said his name. He always hated being called his full name yet she had

middle of the night and watching me sleep?" her voice was deep with slumber as she changed her

he started, "How did you know I was

has become too hard to ignore, even when I'm asleep." she replied, peeking up at him through her

"Yes."

wanted to see me first before you hit the hay? How romantic." of course she was being sarcastic, but a small smile made its way

for

a small yawn, her nose scrunched up in a way

she back away when he was near. Their conversations were light and not awkward the few times they got to see each other. Even though he wasn't fully satisfied, he would take whatever she was

finally replied

larger as he looked down at her,

have done that a long time ago with all the chances you've

pulled the covers over her head, obscuring his

up

to you tonight." he said, watching in amusement as her head popped

This

"Sharing is caring."

give a-hey! Don't

her request, he climbed in anyways, chuckling at how much distance she tried to put between

be a teddy

answering "Even if I say no, you'd still bug me till I

innocent expression on his