Chapter 14
14
TALIA
T he T-shirt was more like a dress on me, reaching to my knees, so I'd chosen not to bother with the sweats.
When I entered the bedroom, I found Declan laying a blanket and a few pillows on the floor next to the bed.
He looked up as I stepped near the edge of the bed and cleared his throat before he said, “Do you feel a bit better?”
I smiled softly before answering him, “Very much so, thank you for asking.”
He stood up and walked over, taking a seat on the edge of the bed.
He gestured with his hand for me to do the same.
I sat down and shifted uncomfortably.
“I will sleep on the floor tonight, in the morning we will figure out our next steps.”
He said with tenderness in his tone.
Declan moved to the right side of the bed, pulled his shirt off and tossed it to the floor.
The dim lighting of the lamp extenuated the muscles in his back as he bent forward to turn off the lamp, while I climbed into the bed and pulled the covers up over my body.
“Goodnight little wolf.”
He said while laying down on the floor and rolling to his right side, facing the wall.
As I stared at the ceiling, until my thoughts finally quieted and I drifted off to sleep.
Morning came much quicker than I had hoped.
I felt like I had slept hardly at all.
The sounds of men and women screaming invaded my dreams, images of blood soaking the ground burned into my every thought… those children.
I would avenge them.
I would make those responsible pay, whoever is wreaking havoc in The Scarlet Vales will regret the day they decided to destroy my people and lands.
The sounds of dishes clinking and voices chatting reached my ears, even through the walls.
It was only just past sunrise, who else was awake already? I tried to move over, but a weight across my chest stopped me.
Looking down, I found a heavy arm stretching across my chest.
Declan’s body was tangled with mine.
He must have climbed into the bed during the night.
I pushed his arm off my chest and caused him to roll over.
“Where do you think you are going little wolf?”
he sleepily grumbled.
“Downstairs.”
I snapped.
His eyes opened wide as he looked down at the mattress. “Fuck!”
He threw back the covers and shot out of the bed.
“Talia I am so sorry, I don’t even know when I ended up in the bed.”
I looked up at him, he looked utterly devastated, his eyes cast downwards while hanging his head in shame.
I released a sigh and said, “ It's okay Declan.
I am going to get ready, and then head downstairs.”
I began heading towards the bathroom when someone knocked on the door.
Declan was still standing next to the bed, brows furrowed as he stared towards the door.
I opened the door to find a short woman around with black shoulder length hair and blue eyes the same shade as Declan’s holding a pile of clothes in her arms.
She had to be his sister.
“Are you going to let me in? Or just stare me down in?”
She had a huge smile on her face and looked much sweeter than her moody brother.
“Sorry I am just shocked at how much you resemble Declan, you must be his sister?”
She nodded.
“I’m Isla.
We look so much alike you would think we were twins, but he’s ten years older than me.”
Stepping past me, Isla walked into the room like she didn’t have a care in the world.
She set the clothes down on the bench seat as she explained, “Declan figured you might want to wear more than his shirts and pants so he asked me to bring some clothes over for you.”
“That was very thoughtful of him, thank you.”
With a glance at the pile of clothes, I was shocked to find that shed nailed my style.
I wonder what Declan told her.
She brought me leather pants, a long sleeve fitted shirt, a matching jacket.
“No problem, we are now sisters after all since you are my brother’s mate, not that I envy you for being mated to that dickhead.”
She chuckled.
I looked toward my mate who stood next to the bed, his body leaning against the headboard.
I mouthed, “When did you tell her?”
He didn’t respond, his smile just got larger.
Rolling my eyes, I turned my stare back towards his sister and laughed.
We were going to get along just great.
“He is a bit of a growly asshole, not that I have had much time to get to know him though.”
“You nailed it on the head.
He does have a soft side just not many people get to see it.
He linked with my mother when you all arrived, he didn’t tell us everything that happened except that he had found his mate, and you needed protection.”
Isla explained.
Well, that made sense.
“I also am the one who helped take care of you the past week, while you were unconscious in my brothers’ bed.”
She smiled.
“Don’t worry, we gave him a tongue lashing for knocking his mate out and not being able to control himself.”
Declan spoke up from across the room, “Are you two done talking about me yet?"
“I’ll give you both time to get ready.
Mom is downstairs cooking breakfast for everyone, and she’s anxious to meet her new daughter.
To say she is over the moon about you finding your mate is an understatement.”
Isla leaned into hug me, squeezing tight.
I was stiff in her arms, unsure of what to do.
I only every let Celeste hug me, and my foster parents growing up weren’t exactly big on affection.
“You could return the hug you know?”
Isla said, a hint of laughter evident in her voice as I wrapped my arms around her and gave an awkward squeeze back.
Letting go she looked at me and said, “We’ll need to get you used to hugs, that was awkward as fuck.”
With a soft and kind look in her eyes she stepped away and headed to the door, pausing on the threshold to say to Declan, “Don’t keep her hidden for too long, food should be ready shortly and if you want to eat anything you better hurry.
Trystan and Jaxon won’t wait for you, and I guarantee the others you have here won't either.”
I was dressed and ready in a few minutes.
The bedroom was quiet and empty when I left the bathroom.
Declan must’ve already headed to the kitchen.
Strapping my dagger to my thigh, I took one last look at myself in the mirror.
What was that behind my ear? I turned my head to the side, lifting my hair to see it better.
Fuck.
Behind my left ear was a small crescent moon.
Had that always been there? I took a deep breath and pulled my hair back over my shoulders.
I wasn’t ready to discuss this with anyone yet, so better keep it hidden...
I headed down the hall towards the sound of voices and laughter.
When I entered, I was surprised by what I saw.
Everyone was laughing at Trystan who had bacon pieces hanging out of his mouth.
A male shifter I didn’t recognize looked in my direction and shouted, “You must be Talia!”
He hopped off his stool walked over to me with a twinkle in his eyes, throwing his arm around my shoulder.
He had a mop of blonde hair on his head and striking brown eyes.
“Jaxon leave the poor girl alone.”
An older woman spoke from inside the kitchen.
“Ah come on Mrs.
Blackridge; I was just welcoming her into this crazy family of ours,”
he shouted back before turning his attention back to me, “I’m Jaxon by the way, the most handsome man you’ll ever meet, and if you get sick of that one over there? I am still single and ready to mingle.”
Wiggling his eyebrows at me, before turning his gaze back towards Declan who was leaning against the counter and looked like he was going to strangle his pack member and friend? His kitchen was crafted by someone who must have had a love for cooking, all the details were immaculate.
Granite counter tops with a free-standing island in the middle, a breakfast nook carefully placed in the middle of the island.
He had two ovens, and a large farmhouse style sink.
The cabinets were a beautiful dark artesian pine that had fine lined carvings of Celtic knots and wolves carved throughout them.
I could only dream up a kitchen this beautiful.
I looked up at Jaxon and smiled.
“Thanks for the welcome Jaxon, can you point me in the direction of the coffee maker? I really could go for a hot cup of caffeine right now.”
He bent over at the waist while waving his hand in a bowing gesture, “Right this way, my lady.”
I smiled and followed after him.
Isla was sitting at the counter with Celeste and Lucas.
She rolled her eyes at Jaxon’s antics while Celeste just smiled at me softly.
“How did you sleep Tals?”
Celeste asked while grabbing a piece of bacon from her plate.
“Like shit if I’m being honest, I am going to need a few cups of coffee to get me through the day.”
I sighed.
Declan walked up to me with a hot cup of coffee.
Smiling, I asked, “Is that for me?”
“Who else would it be for?”
His lip quirked at the side as he handed the cup to me.
I took a big whiff of the hot beverage in front of me and sighed.
“Do you have any cream and sugar?”
I asked.“ There is cream right inside the fridge dear, and the sugar is on the counter behind Declan.”
The woman standing in front of the stove answered.
I looked over at the woman who had to be Declan and Isla ’ s mother.
She was beautiful.
Her dark brown hair was cut short, it framed her face but the back with cut short at the base of her neck, she had beautiful green eyes with freckles lining the bridge of her nose.
“Thank you, I assume you are Mrs.
Blackridge?”
I asked her.
“You are welcome my dear, and yes I am, but please call me Athena.”
She smiled.
Nodding my head at her and smiling I said, “Thank you Athena, this meal smells so good.”
Declan grabbed the milk from the fridge and set it on the counter next to me before grabbing the sugar for me as well.
“Thanks Declan,” I said.
“Take a seat little wolf, I will bring you some food.”
Declan said while gesturing to the barstool next to me.
“Are you seeing this Trystan? Jaxon? Is he taking care of someone other than himself?”
Isla said, shock in her voice.“ I can’t believe what I am seeing! She already has him pussy whipped . ”
Jaxon laughed then was being smacked over the head with a dish towel. “Ouch!”
he cried out.
Athena shot a scowl his way and said, "Mind your manners in this kitchen." Jaxon hung his head in shame and grumbled, “Sorry…”
while rubbing the back of his head.
I laughed and took a seat next to Isla.
“Thanks again for the clothes.
They fit perfectly.”
“No problem, like I said earlier we are family now.”
Celeste looked over me and smiled.
“Jericho is upstairs in Declan’s office, once we are done eating, we need to go talk with him.
He will be heading home this morning but wants to discuss our next steps before leaving.”
I wondered why he wasn’t down here this morning. “Okay”
I nodded my head and wondered what the day would entail.
I went to speak when Declan set a plate full of pancakes, bacon, and eggs in front of me and it smelt heavenly.
My stomach growled...
Declan’s lip quirked up and he said, “Eat up mate, we’ve got a long day ahead and you need the extra calories.”
“And why do I need the extra calories?”
I asked, while taking a bite of my pancakes.
A small groan left my lips as the sweet buttery goodness melted on my tongue.
Declan chuckled and said, “I have been discussing our next steps with Trystan and Jaxon since I woke up this morning through the pack link, and we need to get your training going.
You need to learn to protect yourself from all threats.
I will train you to the best of my ability and so will they since we can’t get you shielded, and your glamour is fading.”
I met his gaze, holding his stare while I chewed on the piece of bacon in my mouth, until sweat was breaking out on his brow, I looked away first not to make him seem weak in front of his family and pack members, but I was barely breaking a sweat.
It was probably the fact that I was a royal that my wolf was so strong and probably an alpha, but not everyone in this room was aware of my heritage.
“Damn Declan, she almost had you there.
Her wolf must be hella strong.”
Jaxon said from where he now sat on the other side of Celeste shoving his face full of food.
“She needs to be strong in order to be mates with such a strong alpha like my boy, fate wouldn’t have chosen her otherwise.”
Athena said with a grin on her face.
“Nah she just needs to be able to deal with his moodiness.”
Isla laughed.
“Oh, I think she can handle my moodiness just fine.”
Declan smirked and winked at me.
I started to cough, choking on the bacon in my mouth.
Which only made the smirk on Declan’s face only turn into a full-blown smile.
“Hurry and finish your food.
After we speak with Jericho, we will head to the training gym, and we will discuss our plan while we see what you are capable of on the mats.”
I looked at Celeste whose smile mirrored my own then looked back towards Declan.
Shooting a smile his way, I thought about just how fun this was going to be.