She sat up straight and looked at him, surprised, smiling, but still slightly worried. She knew well enough the story of the people he was mentioning, and she also knew that they hadn't seen her for a few years already…

Because Alicia was in hiding, they never planned to make social visits with her. They could risk both their close friends’ covers and risk their lives, so there was definitely SOMETHING going on. Helena knew quite a lot about the situation, but that just added to her concern.

So, V knows about Hiromoto helping Eron…? Damn twin, we’ll need to talk sooner than I thought… she thought, cautious of not letting it through their mindlink talk, and allowing her thoughts to run in her full business mode, as the implications of what her mate was telling her required to do so.

“I met their kids,” he smiled trying to soften the topic, “our godson and goddaughter. They’re living small copies of their parents, cute, nice and polite. I hope you can see them as well soon enough, princess.”

“I know you, handsome, you’re not just telling me your day, especially after letting me know that there was a particular matter you wanted to discuss before our date. Please, go on and tell me,” she said, almost wanting to tie her hair in her usual business-bun, and sit in front of him to 'read' him better.

“I think what I need to tell you involves a few other things, my beloved mate… One of the most controversial is that… I met with Edward Kahlagu… He was very eager to meet with me, to say the least, especially after father refused to see him for so long…”

He paused, letting his mate digest what he had just told her…

“He’s building a new commercial complex and the place looks amazing. It has apartments, shopping malls, gyms, green spaces, everything together, connected by paths and bridges… like a small city within the city, in the style of the metropolitan shopping centers in the Philippines. His acquisition team has been looking for us, and I finally agreed to have a meeting with him, and we’re approved to have our stores there as well,” he continued, feeling his mate tense up with each word he said.

“V, this… You know how your father will react? That’s why he was looking for you, even if he knew we wouldn’t be available…”

“He was? Damn, he probably was told already… The least I need right now is to have a fight with him… and there’s a lot more, princess... I’m sorry I didn’t mention much of all this before…”

“I know you don’t do anything without a reason, V, but this is a very risky move, especially after what happened in the past with that dirty bastard…”

“Don’t worry, princess, I do have a reason, and there’s a good plan in place, but for it to work optimally, I… or more like, we, need your help…”

“We? Who is that ‘we,’ love?” she thought for a moment and soon related one thing with the other. “Hmm, of course… you’re working with Hero… and that’s why you visited his family…”

“Pretty much, yes… We went to try to convince his mate that she needed to move to a safer place, like the packhouse, but she refused to leave Hero… She’s been a little… unreasonable, and we’re trying to make her understand that she’s putting herself and her children at risk living where they are right now, and with the way things will go down… well...”

“Sounds like her indeed, I can still remember when we met her…”

+++

“Alicia, you need to understand that this transformation is not an easy one,” Hero followed his mate as she paced back and forth in Helena’s packhouse office, where the four of them were reunited for the occasion.

“I’ve been telling you; I can’t go back to my family without consequences, and I can’t defend myself from your enemies or bear our children if I don’t do this… it’s my choice, Hero, I made up my mind already, and you won’t make me change it,” she said with determination, folding her arms across her chest.

Virgil and Helena both looked at the scene and tried to hide their smiles. 

Hero had been an old friend since V and him were children. They met each other in a park, near one of the office buildings of the Pack’s conglomerate, where young Virgil was playing with his brother Eron under the care of one of their nannies, an omega, that each time was a different one. 

“Who are your new friends, Hero?” his mother had asked when she saw him, and more than that, smelled the people that were now close to her son.

“Don’t know, just met them. What’s your names?” the small boy with black hair asked, smiling at his game partners.

“Eron, Virgil, it’s time to go,” a voice cried out, not far from them, and the three kids lost their smiles.

Hero’s mom’s eyes went wider when she heard the voice of her boss calling for the kids.

“Dad, we’re playing with the boy,” Eron pointed a small, thin finger to Hero. “Can we please stay a bit longer?”

“We can’t stay, I need to go back to the house, son,” Alpha Henkjan said, but paused for a moment, sniffing discreetly and crouching to his son's new friend’s height. “Is she your mom?” he asked Hero.

The young boy looked at the big, strong and important man who had just attempted to ask for his mom. He ran to her, stepping in front of her in a protective way, making the Alpha smile.

“I believe I know you. You work with us, correct? So, I assume you’re like us, too, but I’m sure you’re not part of our pack. Are you part of another pack?” Henkjan inquired, intently looking at the boy's mother.

“No, sir,” she said, moving her head from side to side, slightly overpowered by the Alpha aura, and the overwhelming figure of her boss. 

Even if she was very strong herself, she knew how to respect an Alpha and she found herself being exceedingly shy around him.

“Interesting, then, how are you not… rogues?” he said more to himself, and then looked towards his children. “Kids, would you like to invite your friend to our house?”

The children’s faces shone brightly and they started jumping with joy. Their father stretched back up and smiled as well when he got back on his feet. 

He may be very strict, but he cared a lot for his two little boys.

The three kids started talking one over the other and making plans of what they could do that afternoon, Eron and Virgil were also telling Hero the many things they wanted to play with, and the many toys they had back in the packhouse.

“But the best is our chef’s cookies! You will love them!” Eron said, smiling and looking up dreamily.

“Mom, can we go? Please! Can we?” Hero begged his mother to accept the invitation, and she, in turn, looked at her boss, who nodded approvingly.

“If you don’t have any other plans… I promise, we don’t bite. My wife would also like to have a new friend to talk to,” he said with a friendly grin, showing her that he Didn’t have other questionable intentions.

“Okay, we can go,” she said, now smiling at her son.

Their friendship survived when Hero’s parents had the fatal accident, and they were teenagers already…

They tried to convince Hero to join the pack, but he was too broken, lonely and angry to hear any reasons. Unfortunately, with time, his heart hardened. He became bitter and careless, and they lost contact with each other for years. 

Until one day, he arrived at the packhouse with a lady.

A human lady who insisted on being transformed into a werewolf. 

The sooner, the better, too.

And she had quite a temper...