The morning was warm and bright and it was the perfect time for her and her children to harvest the ripe fruits and fresh vegetables from their backyard. The smiling redhead was now carrying a large woven basket with her, as her grinning seven-year-old son and giggling five-year-old daughter followed her with smaller baskets of their own. 

"Mommy, mommy, look at this!” loudly announced the sweet little lass with blond, curly hair that’s tied braided with a cute lilac ribbon. "My strawberry plants have ripe fruits now.”

The mommy gave a pretend gasp of delight that was totally believable to her children. “Oh, my goodness, baby. You’re right! They are finally ripe! Good girl!”

"But they look so small, mommy,” stated the big brother, who earned a pout from his little sister.

“Oh, they may be tiny, my darling boy, but they are twice sweeter than the ones we buy at the grocery store. Come on, both of you try it.”

"NO! He said bad things about my strawberries. He has no right to eat them!”

"Baby, remember he also took care of your strawberries by watering them since you’re still too small to carry the big watering can, right? Please forgive your brother and let him taste one.”

"Well…”

"I’ll apologize, little sister. And I promise not to talk bad about your plants again. Would you let me taste the strawberries then?”

"Oh, ok… but don’t just apologize to me. You have to apologize to my strawberry bushes too.”

"Sure, I’ll do that… hello, I’m your owner’s big brother and I’m sorry that I called you small. Although, you are kinda that…”

“BROTHER! That’s not how you apologize! Do it again or I won’t give you strawberries!”

The slim but top-heavy mother couldn’t help but giggle a little as the two adorable kids started to talk to the bushes as if they were long-time friends. She decided to leave them for a while, turning towards the vines that were climbing a small homemade wooden trellis as she started to pick some bitter gourds, long beans, and peas. 

Her children adored the peas while she enjoyed the long beans in a special stew with shrimp or fish paste and crispy pork pieces. Of course, the bitter gourds - which happened to be her beloved husband’s favorite vegetable - were also served in this stew, along with kidney beans, tomatoes, eggplants and okra. She wanted to be sure that she had these ingredients ready, just in case he decided to show up unannounced. 

And he usually did. 

Like now…

"Mom! What is that?” asked the little boy as he ran to his mother with his baby sister in tow. “It’s so big, windy, and noisy!”

The young mum couldn’t help but laugh a bit at the way her boy described the approaching vehicle. She was now very much aware of the dark-haired man who was peeking out of the back windows with a smirk on his handsome, clean-shaven face.

"That’s a helicopter, Victor. Now, don’t go near until it lands and becomes quiet, ok? That way, you two will be able to see the surprise that it’s carrying.”

"Mommy, that’s daddy! He’s inside! Happy, happy day!” squealed the little girl, Myrrh, as she danced behind her mum’s jeans, trying to hide from the strong wind brought about by the whirring blades of her father’s ride.

The helicopter finally settled on the large open space outside the white-picket fence of the house. Even before the engine died down, the two good-looking passengers - looking very impressive, masculine and attractive in their signature Italian suits, branded Swiss watches, and personalized leather shoes - went out their powerful vehicle’s door and strolled confidently towards the delighted woman and her awestruck offspring.

"Alicia, I needed to bring my friend to meet…" said the dark-haired man when he was just a few feet from the trio, but was suddenly cut off by the two kids happily yelling while running towards him.

"DADDYYYYY!" they both said in unison, as they hugged the man’s legs tightly, as if they were never going to let go.

"Victor! Myrrh! Ahahaha! Wait, wait… I’m going to fall if you don’t let me go!”

The other man, a bit taller than the kids’ father and with dirty blonde hair, laughed along with his friend and knelt in front of the two rambunctious kids. “Well, hello there. Glad to finally meet you two. I believe I’m your godfather, Vic...”

"Godfather? Oh, my goodness, can it truly be...” the lady gasped as she approached the two men and her children. “Are you...”

"Yes, I am. And I would like to personally thank you for allowing your husband to help my brother, even to the point of suggesting where he can hide.”

"Oh please, that was my pleasure. It’s only natural that we should help each other, considering what we are… But where are my manners? Please let us go into the house so we can at least have something to eat while we talk.”

And with that, the small parade that included a widely grinning father as he carried his son via a piggy back ride while his daughter settled in his arms, a very amused businessman who was looking at the children with slight longing as if he wanted some of his own, and a woman carrying three baskets of vegetables and wild strawberries, entered the two-story farm residence. 

Meanwhile, the helicopter pilot exited his seat while bringing out an impressive-looking AK-47 with a high-end scope. He then walked over to the house to stand outside the front door, which gave him a full view of the copter and the surrounding open spaces, an orchard, chicken coops and a small fenced area with geese, goats, and horses who were still slightly upset at the arrival of the large noisy metallic bird.

"All is clear, Sir," the pilot Antoine murmured as if he was talking to someone nearby, even when he was very much on his own outside.

Inside his head, a smooth, low voice answered. “Good, stay alert and always update me, Antoine.”

“Yes, Sir.” 

+++

The machine that Eron was using to slice off the bark of the large logs that were loaded on the platform beside it was quite easy for him to master. As a matter of fact, he was already using the highest setting for the saw speed in order to finish up more lumber output. He’s no expert, but he could definitely see himself doing this job quite efficiently by the end of the week, if Jack was going to let him take over the dead squirrel’s job.

Yep, he had finally realized that he wasn’t just smelling Max because he was near enough for his wolf senses to sniff him out within a good distance. It was because the whole cab of this sawmill was actually reeking of the man’s scent. And he could’ve sworn it wasn’t just the bully’s sweat that he could smell in here, but even the stench of day-old semen. 

Well, it seemed that it was just the top layer that smelled like that. If he could trust his enhanced and highly trained nose, and he knew that he could, Mad Max was using this booth every day as a place to “relieve” himself.

"Damn it, even a human can probably smell this stink by now. What the heck is he doing? Marking his territory?" Eron mumbled to himself in disgust. "Not even a self-respecting dog would do this.”

Just then, he turned towards the table where Diwa was still selling her wares. She had brought quite a lot today, so she was spending more time than usual on her usual spot…

"Wait a fucking minute…" Eron whispered as a thought hit him like a sledgehammer.

He looked at where Diwa was standing, then turned to stare at the sperm-splattered console of the sawmill’s cubicle… 

“No fucking way... What the hell? Ok, stop being so judgmental Eron, you also masturbated when you saw her taking a bath in the forest pond, alright! But then again, the number of times this dude has been doing this, practically out in the open and with her in plain sight?! Man, why didn’t he ever make a move on her… Ok, shut up, Eron! You decided that you won’t make a move on her too, remember? So, what’s so different between you and this maniac, huh?”

And even as he was fighting with himself, he saw Di look at him with that soft, concerned expression on her face and he felt his chest constrict. To his embarrassment, his manhood also reacted similarly, so he quickly broke eye contact with her and looked in the opposite direction…

"Well, look who’s here…" Eron hissed through clenched teeth, while all his protective instincts came out in a rush, threatening to engulf him completely as the subject of his anger came into view. “What the hell does he want with me now?”

Max had stopped right in front of the saw machine and was now trying to tell him something with gestures and facial expressions. Part of him wanted to ignore the guy, but The Charmer’s curiosity got the best of him.

He turned off the saw’s engine, while keeping his intense and narrowed gaze trained on the latecomer. 

"Hey, good job there. Glad someone was able to take my place with this machine. It’s pretty temperamental, and no one wants to operate it but me. They say it only likes me so there’s hardly any accident when I’m using it."

"Look, man, I’m kinda busy and you asking me to stop midway work hours is not part of my job description," Eron asked in a slightly irritated tone, his normally charming side no longer evident no thanks to his recent disturbing discovery. “What the heck is your point?”

Max gave him a small smile and an almost sincere, repentant look. “I guess I want to apologize for underestimating you. I’m sorry, and it won’t happen again.”

The newbie knew that tone. This long-time lumberjack was saying something that’s supposedly positive, but his words were filled with double-meaning and hidden agendas. How he wanted to just expose the guy’s intention and meaning right there and then, but he knew it wouldn’t do him any good.

If he showed any kind of aggression against this asshole, for sure he would be the one who would look bad to everyone. Max would then use whatever he said against him, and would make himself look like the attacked and pitiful victim of this “hostile” city boy. 

Eron would have probably played his game if this was one of his moneyed, high-ranking and famous targets in the past. But he knew better to go down to the mad one’s level…

He nodded silently at Max, then turned on the sawmill again. 

The dead squirrel smirked, his lusty eyes then turning towards Diwana…

Automatically, Eron also looked toward the direction where this bully was staring at, and felt the hairs on the back of his neck bristle.

This was all Max needed to do to complete his secret deed.

Just before Eron was able to pull the lever to release the lumber into the saw’s slot, he swiftly placed the rock he was carrying a few inches in front of the circular saw’s teeth. Once he was sure that the stone was in place, he walked away towards his posse, which was at the opposite side of the lumberyard’s open area.

Now, all the scheming team leader needed to do was wait…