Chapter 3. Meet Our Family

Monica, Jack & Clara

“Put that back!” Monica yelled.

Monica was already growing tired of Lacey’s younger siblings. The young twin cubs were always getting up to mischief. She used to be the housekeeper for Lacey’s family before her parents were murdered, along with her elder brother.

After the death of Monica’s master and mistress, she didn’t want to get involved in wolf politics and suddenly lost interest in it. All she did now was care for Lacey’s younger siblings. The most important role she played in Lacey’s life was serving as a maternal figure to her and her younger siblings.

Now in her early 60s, she should be doing less talking, but the young twin cubs were always getting up to mischief.

Jack flicked around with fear in his eyes. “Auntie Monica, we’re just taking a look,” Jack said. Monica’s yelling stirred fear in him.

She wasn’t the type to yell at the twin cubs, but when she did, she had a reason for it.

“Yes, Auntie, we’re just taking a look,” Clara said. She rolled back the carton containing a Glock 17 under Lacey’s bed and sprang up to her feet. Jack followed her cue.

Monica stared and stared at them. She shook her head in disbelief and emitted a loud sibilant sound. “Move away, kids,” she said, waving the broom in her hands to chase them away.

They were not supposed to be in Lacey’s room. Luckily, Monica came in time to tidy up Lacey’s room and saw them peeping into the carton containing a Glock 17. It was one of the gifts Lacey had received so far from Detective Jones.

After Detective Jones had the Glock 17 licensed under Lacey’s name, he gave it to her for protection. He took this step because of the incident that claimed the life of her parents and elder brother. Lacey wasn’t good with guns and turned them down at first. But after much persuasion, she reluctantly accepted it from Detective Jones.

“You two are not supposed to be here,” Monica said, pointing at the twin cubs with the broom.

Clara spread her arms as she expressed anxiousness. “Why not?” she asked.

“Yes, Auntie,” Jack said, folding his arms with his gaze on Monica. “Why not?”

“You mess around with Lacey’s stuff, and she hates it,” Monica replied.

Clara cast a wide-eyed gaze on Monica. “That’s not true,” she said, hands on her waist. “We only tidy her stuff.” She grinned.

“Now listen,” Monica said, putting down the broom and slowly walking up to them. “You two are too young to be messing around with a gun.”

“We’re not young,” Jack cut in. “I’m 9, and so is Clara.”

“Yes, case in point,” Monica spoke in a soft tone. She knelt next to them and continued. “You two are 9, and that makes you minors, not allowed to play around with a...”

“No, auntie… that’s not what my brother is trying to say,” Clara said.

Monica put on a soft smile and giggled silently. “What else was he trying to say?” she asked.

“It means we are 18 because 9 plus 9 is 18. This means we are adults and of age to handle guns,” Clara explained, switching her gaze to Jack. “Am I right, bro?”

Jack nodded with a smile on his face. “Exactly my point,” he said.

Monica emitted a long, deep breath expressing her tiredness. The twin cubs had already drained her strength with their debate. She shook her head in disbelief. “If that’s how you two interpret the law, then you may end up in jail.”

“That’s not true,” Jack and Clara argued.

“We are ‘minors’ and can’t go to jail, right, Jack?” Clara glanced at her brother for clarity.

“That’s right.”

“Fair enough…” Monica dragged herself to her feet with a smile on her face. “Look who has agreed they’re ‘minors.’ So, I don’t want to see you two around any guns.” She walked back to where she had dropped the broom and shoed them away with it.

After they left, Monica emitted another long, deep breath, expressing relief. She always exhibited the air of a wise old matriarch. Lacey had often counted on her. Even though Monica didn’t want to get into wolf politics, she had always acted as the family’s protector since the loss of their parents and elder brother. Her role wasn’t just that of a housekeeper anymore, but she had always seen herself as one to avoid getting entangled with wolf politics. Deep down, she was aware she was playing the role of a guardian wolf. She couldn’t deny the fact that it was in her nature. No wolf could deny its nature, especially when it had triggered the wolf gene.

Monica bent beside Lacey’s bed and pulled the carton out. She opened it to make sure the twin cubs hadn’t tampered with the Glock17. “I’ve told Lacey to put this somewhere else,” she mumbled.

Monica’s wrinkled bony hands could be deceiving to those who knew nothing about her - her face was a crisscross of wrinkles and scars. She was still a good-ass kicker, whether in wolf form or human form.

She picked up the carton and headed to the door.

Since Lacey was forced by circumstance to turn their mansion into a hotel which she ran, she lived in the newly designated worker’s quarters with Monica and her young siblings. Their room was next to hers. The young siblings’ room was situated in the center of the quarter’s hallway, with Monica’s room on the left and Lacey’s on the right.

If Lacey didn’t want to put the gun she was gifted in a place out of reach of the twin cubs, Monica was determined to do it for her. She wasn’t ready to lose anyone from her late master and mistress’ family.