Chapter 12: Seeing Ghosts
Oliver broke away from Serena as they turned down a new street, walking past several houses. He ran
ahead with his sister, leaving Serena to walk beside Logan.
“I don‘t understand why you wouldn‘t tell me about the kids,” he said. Serena shrugged “We haven‘t kn
own each other that long,” she reminded him with a chuckle. “I‘ve been completely on my own with the
m for so long. I‘m just used to things like that.” She felt like she was being just vague enough to keep th
e Alpha satisfied without prying deeper. “Understandable,” he said calmy. Serena watched her kids skip
ping along hand in hand. Every now and then, Oliver would pause and bend his knees. Serena thought
he looked like he was doing a pee dance. She looked around, but all the shops and public buildings w
ere behind them.
“Here, let me show
you my house,” Logan said, touching Serena‘s arm, and nodding down another side street. Serena loo
ked down at his hand on her arm, surprised by the contact. “Kids!” she called ahead. “We are going this
way.” Olivia and Oliver turned around and ran back to catch up with their mother. The Alpha lived down
a dead–
end street in the neighborhood, a house that was larger than almost all the others. Serena wasn‘t surpri
sed to see that. It had a long, private driveway up a slight hill, and Logan‘s house was at the peak of th
e hill. “I grew up in that house,” he said as they headed up the driveway. “It is nice that I never had to m
ove.”
“It is an impressive house,” Serena said. “It‘s a little big for you not to have a family.” Logan sighed, sha
king his head. “There‘s time for that,” he said. Serena nodded. So, the Alpha wasn‘t ready to settle dow
n and have a family. He was great with kids, but he didn‘t want them yet. That definitely gave her enoug
h reason not to tell him that Olivia and Oliver were his.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt
The house had a large front yard with a garden, and in the back, Serena could see a fenced off back
yard. There weren‘t any other houses or
roads behind Logan‘s house. It seemed isolated, compared to the close–knit areas
of the neighborhood. A big, lonely house, with no family. Serena felt sorry for Logan suddenly. He had h
is mate, but two people in a house that large…
one that was far away from the neighbors. “Mommy,” Oliver said, running up to Serena when they reac
hed the porch steps. He was dancing back and forth from foot to foot. “What is it, honey?” Serena aske
d. “I really gotta pee!” Oliver said, hopping up and down. “You can go inside,” Logan said, pointing to hi
s house before Serene could say anything. “There is a bathroom under the stairs in the front hall.” Olive
r ran off without even saying thank you! “Thank you,” Serena said to Logan. He smiled at her. “No worri
es,” he said. “As Alpha, I‘m prepared for anything.” He winked at her. Serena rolled her eyes. She serio
usly doubted he‘d say that if she ever told him the twins were his
kids! From inside the house, a shrill scream echoed out through the door
Oliver had left open. “Mom!” Logan said,
urgently running into the house. Serena grabbed Olivia‘s hand and ran after him. A scream like
that meant someone could be hurt! Logan‘s mother
was still technically Luna of Night Sky pack. She would be until Logan took an official mate. She was im
portant to the pack, and important to Logan. Serena hoped she wasn‘t injured
or anything. They found Logan‘s mother, Luna Florence, standing in a doorway off the hall. She was clu
tching her chest, breathing hard, staring at Oliver. “I‘m sorry I scared the lady,” Oliver
said before disappearing into the bathroom. He slammed the door behind him. Logan was at
his mother‘s side, touching her shoulder for comfort. “Are you alright, mom?” he asked, his face
full of warmth and compassion. Serena let up her grip on Olivia‘s wrist. He was great with
kids and compassionate towards his mother! As much as she hated to
admit it, the more she learned about Logan, the
more she was starting to like him. “I‘m alright,” Florence said. “I don‘t expect kids running through
the house anymore. Least of
all ones that look like you.” Serena swallowed as Florence turned motherly eyes on Logan. She hadn‘t
considered how much her kids might look like Logan, especially when
he was their age! She hadn‘t thought it would be a probiem, because who in their age bracket would
remember such detail about Logan when he was a kid. Of course, his own mother would remember! Se
rena clasped one wrist in her other hand, gripping tightly and worrying
her lower lip. “I thought I was seeing a ghost of your childhood,” the Luna said, laughing and shaking h
er head: “My age is catching up to me.” Serena gave a nervous smile when Florence looked at her. “Mo
m, this is Serena, the new pack
doctor,” Logan said. “Serena, it is lovely to meet you. You can call me Flo,” she said, holding out her ha
nd to shake. Serena
accepted it. “It is nice to meet you too,” she said. “My children, Olivia, and you met Oliver. I am sorry he
scared you.” “Please, there‘s no need to apologize,” she assured, shaking her head and holding a han
d up. Oliver
emerged from the bathroom, and Flo looked at him again, gasping. “Really, he does look so much like
you,” she said, looking at her son again.
“Mom, you say that about all the
kids,” Logan said, glancing at Serena and rolling her eyes. She smiled, stifling her own giggle. “I am not
just being nostalgic,” Flo insisted. “Come here.” She motioned for them all to follow her into the living r
oom. Serena held her children‘s‘ hands, keeping them from wandering off or touching things that didn‘t
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmbelong to them. Flo was at a built–in bookshelf. It was clear that the house had
been occupied by the same family for generations. Not only was the décor
bordering on antique, but there were pictures on the wall spanning
from recent color photos to black and whites, and even
painted portraits. “Here, take a look,” Flo said, pulling a photo album off the shelf and flipping to a page.
She held the book out for Serena to see. Schooling her features so she wouldn‘t
react, Serena looked at the picture. It was Logan when he was five, but it the image
hadn‘t been worn from age, Serena would have sworn it was Oliver!
“Wow,” Logan said. “I guess you aren‘t just being old.” He teased his mother, and she shook her head, s
cut it, or others might notice how similar he looked to Logan. “That is…
odd,” Serena said as Flo put the photo album away. She hadn‘t been prepared for anyone to make the c
and Serena‘s bones were still shaking under her skin as she
worried Flo or Logan might discover the truth. “Thank you, mother, for that trip down memory lane,” Loga
Serena chuckled under her breath, glad to follow Logan out. “It was nice meeting you,” Serena called to
hands and skipping back down the driveway, counting their steps. “Thank you
for showing us around” Serena said as they walked several paces behind the
twins. “I hope your mother recovers
her fright.” “She will be fine,” Logan assured. “I bet you‘ll be like her one day, wishing your kids would go
shook her head. “I‘ve got a while before I get there,” she said. “Alright, let‘s get you home,”
Logan said. Serena nodded and followed his lead. Logan cut through several side streets that they hadn
but feel like he wanted her to know the fastest way from her
house to his. He didn‘t have to say anything,
but there were subtle looks and glances she felt from him, like he was trying to figure her out, or trying to
stomach squirm. She tried to keep her eyes on the kids, but every now and then, she couldn‘t help but g
on strong, now he was just there with her, and it wasn‘t a bad feeling.