10. Remember The Time.

I gazed at Apollo, a smile spreading across my face. He was brimming with excitement, eager to return home and reunite with May. My daughters, their mothers, had just returned from their cruise, ready to take the kids back to their own homes. The children had missed their other parents dearly. I wasn't saddened by their departure, though. It had been a joy to be their mommy and spend the holidays together, including a magical New Year's celebration with fireworks. However, it was time for them to return to school and resume their normal lives.

They had a considerable amount of luggage with them, thanks to the abundance of Christmas presents and other items we had acquired. Fortunately, there were several adults available to help carry the bags, including my older boys, meaning their fathers. Damon stood a little further away, his arm draped around Mariella, while Wulfe stood close by as well. Everything would be just fine. I looked as they made their way back to the magic house, their laughter and talking ringing softly in the cold winter air. It was a new year, just started.

For the past few days, I had noticed a faint scent emanating from Mariella, and Wulfe had confirmed my suspicion. They were about to experience a long and intense vampire heat, something I had no desire to be a part of. As usual, I would return to work, as I had received a flood of messages that needed my attention. There was plenty to keep me busy. And who knows what the future holds? Life has a way of surprising us.

The pack members no longer nursed from me, and I couldn't be happier about it. It was a visceral reaction I had, feeling that they were draining my powers. As the triple-alpha, it didn't suit me at all. It was simply my own reaction, and I had no intention of controlling it unless the need arose.

This time had been everything I had hoped for, even though we didn't do everything I had envisioned. As the kids were older, Santa Claus and Christmas gifts were not that important. But maybe someday, with a new brood, we could experience another wonderful Christmas. After all, this was a learning experience for all of us. We had gained so much from it.

It was difficult to let Damon go. We had been so close, and I couldn't deny that it hurt. Funny enough, I had no trouble letting the kids go, but Damon was different. Perhaps I simply wasn't ready to walk alone on the boulevard of broken dreams. But I had to. It was our reality, and maybe our reunion would be passionate. This time, there wouldn't be kids if we ever decided to try the chair thing again. After all, it wasn't scented enough yet. 

I strolled through our Christmas castle once more, observing as the salvatores cast spells to remove and then redecorate the decorations. They were eager for the upcoming Christmases. I couldn't help but notice that Wulfe and Magnum seemed a bit anxious; it would be their first vampire heat, after all. It was an intriguing experience for them, but I wasn't envious. It simply wasn't my thing.

Besides, my work phone had been buzzing incessantly, reminding me to prepare for work. There was a lot to be done - plans to be made, hits to organize. According to Alaric, the NSA also had a proposition for me. It was bound to be a busy time, and I didn't have the luxury of missing anyone or anything. It was time for me to be a leader again, and I actually welcomed the change. These past few months had given me what I needed: relaxation, recovery, and the perfect opportunity to recharge my batteries.

I hadn't felt this ready to tackle work in a long time. I felt invincible, as if I could conquer the world. A smirk formed in my mind as I imagined my people looking at me, witnessing how I would whip everyone into a frenzy to get things done.

As I packed my bag, Damon appeared at the door.

He glanced at me and remarked, "Oh, you're already in work mode. Never mind, it's all good."

I looked at him and replied, "You go ahead and enjoy your intense vampire heat, babyboy. You've earned it. And maybe, just maybe, once you're done, you might want to come to work so I can boss you around. Damn, I feel like I could take on the world."

Damon smiled and teased, "Babyboy, huh? Did you know that when you say nothing at all, it smells like teen spirit?"

I smiled back, realizing that we were engaging in our little game. Fine, I was up for it.

I retorted, "Don't speak, don't talk, just kiss. I was made loving you, and things will never be the same if you don't quit playing games with my heart."

He smirked at me and said, "My heart will go on. Memories. Love Is All Around. Baby, one more time, you are the one I want."

I looked at him and quipped, "Are you sure this isn't just a physical fascination? You're strong enough to break the habit. There's no need to be numb all the time."

He approached me, kissed me passionately, and said, "That chair, I'll make sure it stays around for us to use. And we'll put our scent in there properly. Let's see what's next on the list to be scented."

I could see Mariella saunter closer, her long black hair flowing in the breeze. The scent of her vampire heat was now more pronounced, a musky and alluring aroma that filled the air. She draped herself around Damon, her touch sending shivers down his spine. To my surprise, actual irritation flashed in Damon's face, his brows furrowing in annoyance.

As the pack moved on, the sounds of their footsteps echoed in the distance. I walked into Indiana house, my mansion there, through the portal room. The creaking of the door and the musty smell of old wood greeted me as I entered. Making my way to my green Ferrari, I placed my bags inside and started to drive up to the base.

The roar of the engine filled my ears as I sped down the road, cursing at the idiots who dared to slow me down. The sound of my own frustration mixed with the honking horns and screeching tires. My road rage had calmed a little, the rush of adrenaline still coursing through me. Curses and swear words spilled from my lips in a steady stream.

Arriving at the base, I walked through the yard, feeling the crunch of gravel beneath my feet. The sun warmed my skin, a gentle breeze brushing against my face. I felt a sense of anticipation and excitement, ready to delve into my work and make things happen.

Entering the bustling office, the sound of chatter filled the air. People approached me, their voices blending together. Our base was one of the bigger ones, so there was a lot of action there. The scent of fresh coffee wafted from the break room, mingling with the aroma of paperwork and ink. The computer screen flickers with information. Phones ringing. Ah, it was good to be back. I focused on one problem at a time, the sound of pens scratching against paper as I helped find solutions and signed off on acquisitions.

Moving from one big table to another, I saw the progress that had been made. The sound of keyboards clicking and voices discussing echoed throughout the room. It took several hours to assess the situation, the hum of productivity surrounding me. I looked through plans, maps, satellite feeds, and pictures as well. I was told that there were at least 15 new guns to be tested, too. 

Finally reaching my office, I placed my bag on the couch, the soft fabric pressing against my fingertips. Opening my laptop, the familiar startup chime filled the room. I brewed a fresh pot of coffee, the rich aroma filling the air. It was time to focus, to dive into my work, and let the world fade away.

My work was constantly being interrupted by the arrival of more staff. People were coming in and out of my office, including Tim and others, who came to listen to me as I briefed them on what I had accomplished. There were a few female colleagues with whom I shared my little adventures with Damon, including the chair incident, and they found it hilarious.

I had a lot of tasks to complete before I could even consider going out into the field myself. I had to handle paperwork and then debrief the teams that had completed their missions, so I could assess our progress and determine our next move, if any. We needed to ensure that our setup attracted attention from the authorities, and if not, we would have to step up our game. For example, if certain chemicals weren't enough to make authorities clamp in, we hit there again and made the end of that facility, or found more evidence that we planted.

It had already been a few days, or maybe even longer, and I was extremely busy. My hyper focus was sharp as ever so time went by. Although I had a few mission ideas of my own, I couldn't embark on them until I finished everything here. I had just spent several hours on the phone with my handler at the FDA, discussing drugs and what we had discovered in different locations.

We were able to keep some medications, such as antibiotics, safe, as they were needed for patient care and certain hospitals were experiencing shortages. We were more than happy to provide them. However, we had to thoroughly vet all experimental sedatives and tranquilizers, as the FDA didn't have enough resources to devote to that task. It fell on us, even though we were already swamped, to test and analyze these substances.

There were also human sedatives that could potentially be used as street drugs, so we would hand those over as well, ensuring they were used appropriately. This left me with a group of drugs that I wasn't particularly pleased about. I made sure they were securely locked away.

These were animal-grade sedatives, such as etorphine and carfentanil, among many others, which could be extremely dangerous. I had already taken steps to tighten the permits with the FDA, and they assured me they would investigate the matter. 

Well, it turned out that those drugs were effective against supernaturals. Despite the Human Act law, supernaturals had managed to obtain new legislation that provided them with some protection and a place in society. We still didn't have to pay taxes, but many supernaturals had found employment, and some even held high positions.

We were no longer considered mere animals, but sentient beings. This meant that there was a risk of kidnapping attempts and assassinations. It was crucial to ensure that weapons and drugs that could affect us didn't fall into the wrong hands. Therefore, stricter laws were put in place regarding certain substances. This was actually one of my initiatives. While I was protecting others, I was also protecting myself because those substances worked well on me. I didn't want anyone to know, not even my own pack or many of the fleas, for that matter.

I was in my office when one of the fleas came by and informed me that the NSA representatives were here and wanted to speak with me. I told her to let them in, though I was pretty certain they were here to find more targets. At the same time, I was organizing a kill list for South America. I was making sure that the six upcoming missions for Sark's facilities had enough crew assigned to them. I was also going through the inventory of what they were planning to take and figuring out the best execution strategy. Just as I was focused on these tasks, there was a knock on the door.

I said, "Come in," and three men in fancy suits walked in.

My office was spacious, not enormous, but big enough to accommodate a sofa, a few armchairs, my desk, some chairs near it, my bathroom, shelves, cabinets, and a weapon cabinet. There was even a safe embedded into the wall. The walls were painted white, and I had pinned maps and plans all over my office. There was a table behind me with a printer tray filled with printed papers.

I closed my laptop and gestured for them to take a seat. "Please, have a seat. What brings you here today?" I asked politely.

One of the agents introduced himself, saying, "Hello, Miss Springcove. My name is Senior Agent William Hartley. We have a suggestion to make our cooperation more cohesive."

He steepled his fingers as if contemplating how to phrase it.

Another agent, Special Agent Tim Somerson, chimed in, "In short, we would like to offer you a position in the NSA as the new leader of the Division of Supernatural Affairs. You would be the Special Agent in charge."

Keeping my expression neutral, I replied, "I see. And what would this title entail? You know my line of work, and I'm not sure if this is something the NSA code of conduct would allow."

The last man, a tall blonde Special Agent named George Matheson, spoke up, "Our code of conduct aligns with the Human Act, meaning it's meant for humans. Since you're not human, you're not bound by it. You can continue to be the leader of your magnificent organization."

I thought to myself, damn it, I wish Magnum or Wulfe were here.

But with Alaric not available, I said, "If you'll excuse me, I'd like to call my right-hand men to discuss this as well, if it's agreeable to you."

They nodded, and I pressed the intercom button. "Are Murdock or Dexter around? I need to consult with them," I asked.

Taylor's calm voice came through, saying, "No, both of them are on a mission. Is there anything I can help you with?"

I sighed and replied, "Come to my office and let's see. Bring Tim with you."

He replied, "Sure thing, boss. We'll be there soon."

I said to the agents, "A few of my guys will join us so that we can discuss this matter. All of us need to be on the same page, especially since we operate in a gray area of the law. It would be wise to talk things through to avoid any surprises."

The agents nodded in agreement. 

When Taylor and Tim walked in, they shook hands with the agents. Tim expressed his thoughts, saying, "It's a good idea, but we have to remember that we're dealing with Mimi here. She's not a tame house cat. She might have tantrums, and her supernatural rage is something that humans instinctively fear. She might use it to drive her point across because she's stubborn."

I smiled and replied, "Guilty as charged. It was Tim's dad, Jake, who first told me to my face that my rage is a weakness, a liability if misused. And now his son is telling you the same thing."

Tim looked at me and smiled, just like his father.

We discussed the matter further and reached a consensus. I would be the leader of the new division of the supernatural, teaching agents how to identify dangerous areas and officially gather evidence. Occasionally, there might be assignments for me, but nothing too challenging, or so the guards assured me. With my official ID and the backing of the NSA, my enemies would think twice before coming after me.

The agents were interested in apprehending Krycheck and Sark, but we agreed to take it slow and see what we could do. They left me with a phone and tablet filled with manuals and laws that I could use. I also needed to make an appearance at headquarters at some point.

After the agents had left, Taylor turned to me and said, "Well, Special Agent Springcove, how does it feel now? You're no longer a vigilante, you're part of the system."

I nodded and replied, "It does feel different, but at the same time, this is who I am. We'll see if it's the best decision in time."

Tim reassured me, saying, "You're the right person for this. It's our way of taking a stand and showing the public what we're up against."

It was almost amusing to realize that Taylor and Tim were no longer just human, but something more. They saw me as someone like them, not just another human. I wasn't sure if this was what I truly wanted.

While it was a good thing, I wondered if it would tie me down too much or add more work to my plate. And what would the rest of the pack say? Wulfe? Magnum? Even Colin? I could already imagine all the tricks they would play on me. They had quite a sense of humor. Only time would reveal the outcome of this decision. Once again, I had to go with the flow and see where the hell I would end up.