The Salvatore Saga, Part Four: My new Life

I felt pretty smug while clearing the table. So to speak, I was set to win at Monopoly. Seeing all those ears and tails made me smile. I noticed Damon watching me, talking to possibly Wulfe, but for what reason? No idea, and honestly, I wasn't interested.

My life was quite fun, even though I was well loaded. As I planned to move to my chair—the solitary one in the corner that looked tough but was actually taller—I was hopeful it would help me get up easier with this weight of cubs.

Suddenly, my cubs woke up, starting to move and causing me to gasp. I grimaced, feeling as if they were strangling my liver or my spleen.

Number two noticed and asked, "Do you need one?"

I nodded and replied, "Just wait for me to sit down; they're playing with my organs or something. Damn, addicts."

Number one was puzzled, and as I finally sat in my chair, I nodded, prompting number two to press a button on the remote for my flank organ. My mind relaxed, and soon enough, the cubs calmed down, bringing a wave of euphoria as my thoughts cleared. They were like little addicts, but it was all fine since their activity would keep them calmer.

Damon remarked, "Oh, you're quite packed, baby. It seems you'll have your first litters soon. It's hilarious that they're addicts; I find it funny seeing you asking for a flank. Surely, I could give you a nice infection in your lungs as well."

I rolled my eyes, not in the mood. I had to keep snacking on my treats and then, in two hours, head to the kitchen for a drinkable meal. Sitting still in my chair was easier than it looked, especially since it was one of my special ones.

Not long after, I heard footsteps and Mariella and Colin, and number four, entered the room. Mariella seemed slightly irritated and number four handed Damon the report of her bloodwork. He read it and grumbled something under his breath.

Colin then commented, "Once again, your bump doesn't count since you're not her biological half. Charles, on the other hand, has no mental need to create a bump for her. She really should learn to eat."

Damon nodded and coolly said to Mariella, "Darlin', it seems you need to focus on living instead of being a sex addict. Get a grip. It's almost dinner time, so put on a better attitude and start planning your cub rooms. I'll be busy checking on the others."

Mariella simply nodded and came to sit next to me.

I silently told her, "You know, number one works on a warning-flank basis, but the others don't. If they think a flank is necessary, you'll get it, regardless of whether you've stopped doing whatever it was."

Mariella frowned and asked me silently, "What do you mean?"

I replied, slightly amused, "Well, a day or two ago, not sure when, I was on my way to the kitchen and saw Elena running away. Number two was chasing her, and she was about to get a flank punishment. There was no mercy, and she was given an extra large punishment just because she ran away. So be warned. And the Salvatores around here, whether they're for building or cooking, are also keeping an eye out, so it's wise to take it easy."

She smiled slightly and said, "I should start planning our education and everything else... it's going to be hard."

I smiled back and said, "Take a look at your report. Ask the daddies for help. Tim, Taylor, and Wulfe are so excited to be fathers, so they'll be willing to assist you. You can talk to them. As for me... well... do as I say, not as I do."

Mariella furrowed her brows and said, "Number two said you overruled him."

I nodded and explained, "I told Damon at the end of my heat that I'm not responsible for my actions, as they're reactions to his actions, or lack thereof. So that's how it is. My priority is my cubs, not the laziness of the Salvatores."

I didn't feel like elaborating any further. That explanation would suffice for now.

Damon constantly observed Mimi, and in his mind, Wulfe remarked, "I know she's ahead of the others, but she refuses to acknowledge it or share her hiding place with me. It's frustrating, but then again, she's the alpha female who understands her reality."

Damon replied silently, "I know. It's all because of me and my addiction to sex or whatever it may be. I'm not sure if I can keep up this act."

Wulfe softly responded, not verbally, "She was right, she truly understands you. It's funny, or maybe not so funny, but it's just..."

Damon asked, "What are you talking about?"

Wulfe said telepathically, making sure Mimi wouldn't overhear, "Mimi told me that you constantly psyche yourself out to fail. She was right. She mentioned maybe it started with Damien's manipulation, but it has stuck with you. Now, there's this twisted certainty in your mind that you'll end up getting back together with Mariella and can't be with Mimi. You're sabotaging yourself."

Damon frowned, realizing that he was doing it to himself. But how could he get rid of it?

Wulfe suggested, "Reverse it. Think of yourself as the new alpha, wanting to show Mimi what kind of husband she's just married. She has an impressive system for her cubs, but she doesn't see you as their father."

Damon was confused, and maybe Mariella could help him with this, but then again, would it give her a weapon for manipulation? Perhaps it was time to show Mimi, and himself, that he could do this. He smiled as Number Two, another member of the pack, told him how much of a challenge it was to chase after Katherine or Elena when they ran away.

Damon looked at Katherine, who was sitting on the sofa with her poodle ears twitching, even though they were corded, and smirked as he replied, "You know, Katherine, I'll teach you to be a good girl and that running away won't save you in this pack."

She simply grunted and pursed her lips in dissatisfaction.

As Damon teased Mariella, I grabbed my tray and sat next to me, continuing to eat.

Magnum found this amusing and teased me. "I named you well, hummingbird. Well, you may not be fast right now, but you're always eating."

Wulfe calmly suggested, "My unicorn, should we go and rest up before the meal?"

But before I had a chance to answer, Elena went to sit on Wulfe's lap and anxiously whispered something in his ear.

Wulfe's voice was calm, and loving as he gently stroked her rounding belly. They teleported to another location, where he wanted to show her that the cubs were doing well. Wulfe subtly hinted that he wanted to cuddle and talk in my bedroom.

It was clear that he needed to be with me, as he was also a father to Elena's cubs and others. This closeness and fatherly love for the cubs was a new experience for him. It was heartwarming to see the excitement in Tim's and Taylor's eyes.

Giselle had visited us a week ago and shared that even though the cubs would be born as animals, they were much more than that. I already knew this, but it was nice to hear confirmation.

I also showed Giselle some of my plans, including my cartoons. She was very impressed and wanted DVDs for her own magic house. I told her to buy her own, as I was tired of giving everything away.

I showed her where to find them online and offered to make copies of the disks. She was curious to know what was popular, and I had plenty of stuffed toys like bears and Pokemon figures waiting for Wulfe's magic touch. He had promised to make them durable so that the cubs wouldn't easily rip them apart. Of course, they would need to be washed in the washing machine, and Colin would be responsible for that.

Damon couldn't hold his excitement, and I knew he would end up in bed. I didn't feel like explaining everything to him. I had already discussed it with Wulfe, who, to my surprise, was also loyal to Damon. He saw our love as something to be cherished and had shared his own thoughts with Damon.

Before dinner, I thought about checking on a few things, but I realized that with all my preparations, moving would not be easy. So, I decided to stay put. I had created my own den where I planned to give birth, and I didn't want to reveal the location, not even to Wulfe.

After a few hours, once the cubs were born, I could move them to my official den and let the pack take care of them. I might tell Wulfe, but I would need a few hours alone with my cubs to bond.

This was my instinct as a mother and alpha female. For others, who were in love with multiple males and had cubs fathered by them, they would seek support from those males during birth, as they should. 

Of course, it could have been my case as well if there had been multiple fathers. However, the breeder of my cubs was this spineless wimp who danced according to Mariella's tune. So, no chance.

My alpha side was in full control again. Snowball had been rolling for quite a while, and Damon was far from the unwavering obstacle. It would not happen. So yeah, I already had my plans set up.

I had one secret thought hidden deep in my mind that Wulfe wouldn't find out. I had made several other plans that I was actively using, so he had his work cut out for him. And I kept on making more. He took it as a challenge, but a few bursts of my compounded power made Salvatores back off nicely.

Charles, Adam, and the boys...well, they were fathers of many litters of females, so it was expected for them to be there and give their opinion. But the reality was that they just didn't have time to keep me under control all the time.

Funny, I have to admit. Once again, I was the strongest, and now I knew how to use it to my advantage. Meaning, I behaved nicely, ate when I should have, didn't do anything funny, and came up with pack activities.

But at the same time, I didn't tell anyone just how wild my alpha side truly was. Oh, she wanted so badly to let Damon feel her power, but not just yet. I would have fun later on.

As Damon asked, "When is it time for dinner? I mean, do I have time to go and check on our wing with Mimi?"

I rolled my eyes, but fine, let's be a tour guide then. I wasn't going to tell him everything.

Seven chimed in, "Two hours. She likes to sit, so she might not be too happy if you bring her a present to her magnificent wing. Others have their wings too, except for Mariella, not yet anyway."

Damon nodded, looked at me, and said, "Come on, let's go. I need to see where we are, so I know if there's something that needs to be changed."

I retorted, "I have things under control. You're a father to other females too, so they might want to show their wings as well."

There was something in his eyes, in his voice, that made my alpha power react.

He said, "Did I stutter? Let's go. There's a lot to be done, and time is running out."

I stood up from my seat, rolling my eyes just as Wulfe and Elena returned.

Damon glanced at Mariella and, rising to his feet, let his alpha power wash over everyone to assert his dominance.

Number two chimed in, "Giselle will be joining us for dinner. She wants to discuss a few things with Mimi and the others. She tends to be direct, so..."

Damon interrupted, saying, "That's fine. We can have guests over. Giselle may be blunt, but it's all good. Mariella, I want you to go with two, five, and seven to check on Mimosa's and Shadow's plans. See what needs to be changed or improved. I want to hear your plan of action when I return, so get going."

Mariella rolled her eyes but moved to stand with the wolves.

Damon turned his attention to Elena and Katherine, saying, "Both of you, head to the gym with Magnum and Tim. I want a report on the females' physical condition. I want them to have natural births, so be prepared for that."

Katherine started to protest, but Damon scolded her, "Don't even try to come up with reasons not to give birth. You look like a goldfish."

Katherine seemed slightly offended, but quickly quieted down when number two gave her a stern look. I guessed it was a flanking gaze, and she wasn't in the mood for one at the moment.

It was ironic, considering those gazes used to be directed solely at me, but now all the females were getting them.

Damon turned his gaze to me and calmly said, "I have flank injections for you if you get too excited. They will only affect you, not the cubs."

I rolled my eyes as he teleported me to my wing. I had put carpets down so the cubs could run and walk comfortably. The walls were painted with a variety of colors and adorned with images of butterflies, bees, and flowers.

The birthing room and the cubs' room were still separate, but we had already prepared a space for the older cubs, six weeks and older, who would spend more time outside. I took Damon to see it first.

It was a calm and restful space, with carpets lining the floor to absorb sound, soft mattresses scattered around, and a corner filled with stuffed toys waiting to be played with and washed. There was also a shelf filled with children's storybooks, as reading and storytelling would be a part of their education.

On the wall, there was a special clock with colored pointers, and sections of the table were colored differently. It was designed to teach them how to tell time and when it was time for specific actions, like meals or outings. 

Damon strolled through the vast expanse of space, observing everything around him, gently touching objects here and there. He picked up a book and flipped it open, then settled into a large chair that occupied a corner of the room. Surrounding him were mattresses and a cozy reading nook.

He glanced at me and said, "Alright, go ahead, explain the main points."

I let out a sigh and replied, "Well, for the older cubs, +6 weeks, who spend most of their time outside, when they come in, it's important for them to calm down. The schedule is the same in every room. I will teach them when it's time to eat, sleep, go out, and interact with others. This will make it easier for the Magic House to expand from there. As you know, these cubs grow up very quickly, reaching adulthood in just one year, so their childhood is fleeting. Every week matters. When they come in, it's usually time for the evening meal. I've had to be firm about mealtime rules, especially since the Salvatores tend to be lazy."

Damon asked, "Why did you override number two, and what happened?"

I explained, "I wanted to provide four meals a day - two main meals and two snack times. He complained that there wouldn't be enough time for anything else, but he didn't even listen to me until I insisted."

There was another chair in the room, so I took a seat and continued, "Two meals are meat-based, and the two snacks consist of nuts, seeds, chocolate, coffee, and berries. Giselle suggested adding nuts and seeds to their meals, as my cubs sometimes experience low blood sugar crashes. Fruits can be given with the meat, but the berries would be a nice addition."

Damon acknowledged, "You make valid points, but it will take time to implement these changes, and we're not the only ones with cubs."

I rolled my eyes and responded, "We've installed a new meat mixing machine in the cub kitchen, so preparing the meals will be quick. And adding the snacks is also easy. We have magic at our disposal, and if the Salvatores refuse to cooperate, Wulfe assured me that he can make it happen quickly. I'm not the only one who wants snacks for the cubs."

Damon suggested, "Once I am fully caught up, we can focus on feeding. So, I assume you plan to read stories to these babies?"

I nodded and replied, "Yes, the babies aged 0-2 weeks, waiting for immortality, will have their own caretakers, as cleanliness is crucial. Then, the ones aged 2-4 weeks require more teaching, which takes up a significant amount of time. However, the younger ones still sleep a lot. The most active ones are aged 4-6 weeks. They will go on outings and meet others. Lastly, the ones aged 6 weeks and older spend most of their time outside or in the magic house, if they are ready for it."

Damon nodded and said, "Alright, let's explore other rooms. I can't make any decisions yet as I need the full picture. Good job so far, but there are a few changes. Firstly, we should have more interactions with others, especially younger ones. Maybe we can have some movie time or something. It's important to expose them to the rest of the pack once they become immortals, rather than keeping them in their own bubble. We'll discuss this later though, as I need to see what others have planned."

I was seated there, and I knew this might be the moment.

I had to ask, so I looked Damon in the eye and said, "Now, I need to know if this is just a three-hour rule or if you're committed to doing this properly and not just ending up in bed."

His response surprised me once again.

He said, "Oh baby, I fully intend to end up in bed, specifically yours. From now on, we'll sleep together. I won't let you out of my sight. I know you're pregnant and planning to have cubs in secret, but I'm not sure where you're hiding. However, you can be certain that I'll stick to you like burdock."

His voice was firm and calm, but I had to test him. Slowly at first, I started to release my alpha power, subtly but gradually increasing its intensity.

Then he looked at me, furrowing his brows, and said, "Really? Fine, I can play with you."

He swiftly and mercilessly hit me with his alpha power. I retaliated, and he grunted, hitting me even harder. As he struck, he lazily waved his fingers, binding me to my chair.

He said, "It's nice of you to show me what you're capable of. It's good to know the extent of my work with you. But understand this, missy, you won't win. Now, I'm not going back to fucking Mariella."

I was attempting to regain my alpha power to strike him again, hoping for a bit more force this time.

He raised his eyebrow and confidently stated, "Start learning. I won't back down. Now, let's explore the other rooms so you can learn your new attitude - the one where I won't back down."

As we moved to see the other rooms, I still had a small plan in mind. Damon remained rather quiet, exerting his power over me the entire time.

Soon enough, it was time for us to have a meal. When we teleported to the kitchen, I couldn't help but think that my efforts had hit a roadblock. Could this be true? If it was, I had my own methods to ensure my privacy. I wasn't going to allow him into my personal space, my birthing den if I could prevent it.