I start the story. I can almost recite it from the top of my head. That’s how often I’ve read this story already.
When I’m halfway through the story, I finally dare to glance back up and find that some of the younger kids have fallen asleep, but I’m also surrounded by a lot of the other family members, all listening to the story.
Oh... Wow. That’s definitely more attention than I want.
The birthday girl pulls on my sleeve. “Keep going.”
“Of course.” I hadn’t even realised I’d stopped reading, and I easily find my place, continuing the story.
I think I like this part the best, when it’s all nice and quiet and I can just read the story, it means that the party will be over soon.
I can’t wait to get out of here... I’ve been here long enough. My luck is going to run out, and I have a feeling it’s going to be sooner rather than later.
And I kind of don’t want to be surrounded by so many shifters when it happens... I really would like to be far away from here when that happens...
5 Max
I can’t keep my eyes off the ‘princess’ my cousin hired to entertain the kids. I wasn’t going to come to the party, but I didn’t have anything better to do and my parents like it when I show up for these things and don’t ‘keep myself hauled up in my office all the time’. So, since I had few other options, I decided to show my face here, and I don’t regret it, at all.
It was fun to watch the princess with the kids, but listening to her tell the story, I almost want to fall asleep just like some of the kids. If this wasn’t so public, I probably would have, my head in her lap, as she talks about absolutely anything, or nothing, I don’t care, just as long as she keeps talking.
Then, the story is over. The princess closes the book and looks around, letting out a slight laugh.
“The end,” she repeats, but nobody seems to be in any hurry to move.
“Daisy.” I carefully take her from the princess’ lap. “I think it’s time for snacks. Go check with your Omega mum.”
Daisy darts off, excited, as the other kids, and adults, slowly start to move, some of the kids have fallen asleep and now take a while to wake up.
I stand up and hold out my hand to the princess. She takes it and I pull her to her feet, probably much easier for her with that dress than trying to get up on her own. I have no idea how she manages to do half of the games while wearing that contraption of fabric, so many layers of fabric to that dress... I’d probably trip over them in seconds.
“Thank you.” Her voice is a little scratchy and I hold up my hand.
“One second.” I wink and catch a glimpse of her cheeks pinkening as I get her a glass of water. That girl really needs to find a way to drink more, or she’s going to faint.
When I leave the kitchen, I walk into Liam, a guy I know a little too well, an old friend. “Hey, man. I’ll be right back, need to water a princess.” I wink as I walk off and hear him follow me as he chuckles.
“Water a princess?”
I don’t reply, instead, crossing the lawn and handing over the glass. “This should help with your throat.”
The princess carefully takes the glass and drinks most of it in one go, before she lowers the glass, averting her eyes. “Thanks.”
“I thought you were joking when you said ‘princess’.” Liam laughs and then steps next to me. “But I see you were serious. This is indeed a princess.”
“Thanks for the water.” She seems to pull back a little, nervous with Liam nearby, and looks around. “I should get back to work.”
“Yes. Of course.” I step aside, pushing Liam out of the way.
The princess nods at us and goes over to the birthday girl, the upbeat persona back on, like she didn’t just spell all of us almost to sleep with her voice.
Liam bumps into my shoulder. “Who’s she?”
I shrug. “No idea. Julie hired her to entertain the kids. That’s all I know.”
He laughs. “She’d make a great wife to a cerberus, with how easily she wrangles all those kids at the same time. She can definitely handle having twins or triplets, even multiple sets of them.”
I sigh, not liking the direction this is going. “She’s human. Don’t get ideas. She might make a great nanny, but that would be it.” I turn around, to the table with ‘adult’ snacks, hoping for this to be the end of the conversation. “And she might be great at it, but she’s skittish around adult shifters. So I don’t think being a nanny is going to happen either... I don’t think she’d ever work for a shifter family.” The princess is great at hiding her discomfort, but when she doesn’t think anyone notices it, I can see the tension when she’s around adult shifters. She’s great with kids, but not with adults. Especially some of the Alphas, like my cousin’s wife, seem to make her nervous.
“And your Omega would probably be worried about you fucking the nanny. Great cliche.” Liam grabs a handful of snacks, stuffing them into his mouth and I’m glad that he won’t be able to say anything for a while.
I’d hoped to forget about the whole mating and choosing an Omega thing for the afternoon, but it seems to be on everyone’s mind right now.
I really would like to get away from it all...
“Let me carry that for you.” I quickly go over to the princess as she’s
