Chapter 23 - Old Wounds
Brent's POV:
I showed the girls around the entire pack and introduced them to the pack members we came in contact with, but was saving the formal introduction for this evening when the entire pack came together at dinner. The last of our tour was coming into view and suddenly my chest seized with slight anxiety. I hadn't been here in over two years.
We pulled into the gated, ranked community.After a few moments and a long drive up the driveway we stopped in front of a house I hadn't set foot in since the day I walked out of it. I had it cleaned and maintained by staff, but I hadn't had a reason, or a want, to step into it. I shut the engine off and pulled Tenley from her seat and walked around to help Alyssa exit the vehicle.
We walked up the sidewalk in silence. I was sure my nerves were flowing through the open bond, but my mate was giving me space to process my feelings. She was so good at reading me like a book and giving me exactly what I needed and for that I couldn't be more grateful.
I pressed my thumb to the pad on the handle and the click of the lock sounded. I reached to open the door, but paused taking a moment to still my nerves.
"Hurry, daddy! I have to potty!" She said as she danced around with her legs crossed. Making me laugh in amusement, she was so good at easing the tension.
I pressed the door open, the lights automatically coming on at my entrance. Alyssa followed me in and Tenley ran past the both of us as I showed her where the bathroom was. I took a deep breath. It was exactly as I left it. Her scent long gone from the house, but the memories remained,and they were terrible. I hugged the woman next to me, feeling even more grateful for her existence.
I wasn't having a hard time missing Maci. I was thankful she was gone, it was the fact that I missed out on so many years with my mate and I wish I had never met Maci. I was struggling with the night and day difference between my first and second mate. Anderson assured me that he felt head over heels for Jess, and that what I was feeling with Alyssa was not abnormal to other mateships, so I found myself increasingly confused at how Maci and I ever mated in the first place. Sure I loved and attempted to care for her like a mate should, but I never felt for her what I feel for Alyssa. It was becoming harder to wrap my mind around the situation. I had been looking further into this everyday since I first laid eyes on Alyssa, trying to find answers.
"Are you okay?" She asked, pulling me from my internal battle,rubbing her hand up and down my arm to comfort me.
I brought her hand to my mouth and brushed my lips across her knuckles, "I'm fine, just thinking about how blessed I am."
It wasn't exactly a lie, but I didn't want to stress her out with my rambling thoughts. Besides I had far more questions and very few, if any, answers right now.
We walked further into the house, looking at every single room, "Brent, when you said house, I wasn't picturing a small mansion!" She said, popping my shoulder .
"Small? Do we need to add on?" I smirked at her.
"Absolutely not!" Her raised voice echoed, causing Tenley to also yell in the large home to hear her own echo as she ran off again.
I pulled her into my chest and wrapped my arms around her, "okay fine, no adding on, but your parents are keeping Tenley tomorrow and we are meeting with designers and contractors. I have a few thoughts, but otherwise this is your canvas. Feel free to change whatever you wish."
She looked at me with a stunned expression, "anything, really?"
I smiled down at her, "yes, really. I want your touch on every inch of this house, both outside and in."
She put her finger to her lips, pondering, "what about white washing the brick? I've never really loved the look of red brick, but we can keep it if you want."
"I meant what I said my love, I want your ideas and designs to transform this house into a home for our family. I think white washing the brick in as excellent idea." I assured her.
This earned me a squeal and a succession of hand claps. I smiled widely at her. She was my dream come true and I would never get tired of making her own dreams come true.
"There is one thing we need to discuss," I said, becoming serious.
"Is it about the fact that I can't paint any of the walls bubblegum pink?" She teased.
I laughed loudly at her joke, this girl sure did love her pink.
"No, but I'd definitely enjoy getting a say in where the pink goes."
She pinched my sides, "hey now, you said this was my canvas."
She fell into a fit of giggles as I returned those pinches and tickled her until we were both out of breath and she was shrieking at me to stop. Her face red from laughter as she pushed her hair out of her face. Damn she was so beautiful.
"No, it's not about your paint color choices, it's about introducing you as Luna, I have set it for tonight." I looked at her, gauging her reaction.
She stood up straight, staring at me with bewilderment, "tonight! Are you sure? I'm so nervous though, what if they all hate me?" She asked meekly.
"Yes, tonight and there's no way in hell anyone in this pack could hate you, you are perfect for this pack. It should've been the day we arrived, but I decided to push it to the day after. I refuse to wait any longer, especially after what happened earlier this morning. The pack needs to see and know who you and Tenley are." I rubbed her arms in reassurance as she silently processed my words.
Looking up at me worried, "but Tenley and I have nothing nice enough for this introduction!" Her voice rose with panic.
I grabbed her face in my hands and kissed her lightly, "my sister is taking you shopping after your spa day this afternoon. Buy whatever you wish, but make sure to grab your Luna ceremony dress for the weekend after next. It's traditionally white. And don't you dare mention paying for it." I warned her as she opened her mouth to speak.
She sheepishly looked at the floor and I lifted her chin for her to look at me, "I am your provider. I have already warned Beth that she is not to let you pay for anything." She looked ready to protest, but I told her once more that I would be covering it and that was final. She gave in and we began to walk further through the house in search of Tenley.
We found her curled up on the couch, fast asleep. I guess her early morning wake up call had caught up to her. I lifted her up and we made the journey to the pack house where we all went upstairs together to the apartment and got Tenley tucked in.
Just as we were sitting on the couch, I was mindlinked that my family was here.
'Family? it's just supposed to be my sister?' I said back, confused.
'Its your mom, dad, and sister, Alpha,' he sent back.
My parents weren't due back until the Luna ceremony. I was confused, but happy to see them nonetheless. When I took over the Alpha duties, they chose to retire and spend half of the year abroad and the other half was spent at their lake home here in the pack, so it wasn't often I got to see them.
'Send them up,' I said as I ended the link.
"Who was that?" she asked as I pulled her to lay against my chest, as I leaned back against the arm of the couch.
I took in a deep breath, "well, it seems my parents have decided to return early and are here with my sister," I mumbled, knowing, she would be nervous.
She jumped up, her eyes wide with worry, "your parents are here!"
I grabbed her and pressed my finger to her lips, "shhhhhhh... Tenley is asleep. "
I pulled her back into me, kissing the top of her head. I left my side of the bond wide open to allow her to feel my peace. She settled back down and silently processed her feelings. Only for her to immediately become stressed again when she heard the ding of the elevator.
"Shit," she whispered as we got up to greet them. Squeezing her shoulder in comfort, I silently assured her it would be okay. Unfortunately, I couldn't have been more wrong.
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Alyssa's POV:
Even though Brent assured me everything would be fine, my heart started beating wildly when I heard the ding of the elevator announce their arrival.
Here goes nothing, I thought as a man that was nearly identical to my mate, just older, exited the elevator along with who I assumed was Brent's mother. I noticed that she was responsible for the beautiful eyes of my mate. Both having the most incredible shade of blue I'd ever seen. His sister followed after and she was equally as stunning. Man, what a gene pool.
His sister came to me first, squealing as she wrapped me in a tight hug. She didn't quite tower over me the way Brent did, but she was still several inches taller than me. Brent's mom followed quickly after, my anxiety subsiding at their warm welcome, that is until I caught the eye of Brent's father who made no move to hug or even speak to me.
Brent cleared his throat and asked that we all go to the kitchen to speak so that Tenley didn't get awoken too soon from her nap. I absolutely adored how easily he had slipped into fatherhood. He was a complete natural.
Pressing his hand into the small of my back he led me out of the living room and his family followed behind.
We sat at the table and I grabbed everyone something to drink. I was still a bit nervous and it gave me something to focus on before I went to the table. Unfortunately when I returned my mate and his father were in a deadlocked stare and I could feel the anger flowing like rapids through the bond.
I sat the waters on the table and immediately went to Brent asking him what was going on, but it was Brent's father that answered, "Oh we were just discussing how odd this situation is." Causing me to furrow my brow in confusion as I turned to look at him.
"Charles, knock this off. I don't know what you're getting at here, but -" Brent's mother had tried to defuse the situation I had walked in on, but her mate cut her off.
"No, I know exactly what this is. Brent apparently attracts gold diggers, but this time this one has a child and they are playing house with another wolf's pup."
I was taken aback, not realizing myself and my child had been the topic while I was gone. I know realized why my mate was so on edge.
"Enough! Get out, now," Brent growled lowly, his body beginning to vibrate with an impending shift.
His dad's glare deepened, "I will not be told how to protect my family. She has already had a child with another wolf and now because she couldn't handle her own affairs, you are stuck raising her pup and I will not stand for it!" His hand came down on the table like a hammer, causing all of the women to jump in surprise.
Brent then slammed his own fist on to the table. He stood up to confront his father and I reached up and grabbed him by the arm and placed my hands on his face to calm him.
"I can handle this. It's okay," I soothed him with the mate bond for a moment and once I felt he was calm enough I turned my attention back to the table, narrowing my gaze at the former Alpha.
"Charles, you seem to think you know me although we have never met, so allow me to introduce myself. My name is Alyssa Pembrook, soon to be O'Connor." My mate squeezed my hand at the addition of his name. So far so good I thought.
"I am a survivor of physical, mental, and sexual assault at the hands of my first mate." His mother gasped and tears sprung to both she and Brent's sister's eyes. With Brent letting out a growl at the reminder.
"He abused me for years, and treated my beautiful daughter like trash. I protected my daughter's title as she is the rightful heir to Reign Moon through my lineage. I never told him who and what we were, allowing my uncle to continue to oversee Reign Moon in order to keep my pack safe from such a tyrant while I tried to figure out what to do." Emphasizing that my previous mate in no way had any power, and that it belonged only to myself and my daughter
"He raped me over and over again, beat me over and over again, and I tried to play the role of the good mate, but then he betrayed me and purposely pushed the images through the bond. I succumbed to the pain and very nearly died, but Brent found me and here we are. None of what I just divulged is any of your business, but as a parent, I can understand your concerns. However, I would appreciate it if you could stop with the generalized assumptions."
My tone had become more threatening than I meant for it to, but I'll be damned if he was going to turn this around as if I wanted any of what I'd been through to happen.
Charles looked stunned at what I had just admitted, but that didn't stop him from continuing his cause, "I feel for what you've been through, but my son is not responsible for another wolf's child. I can't believe he was even willing to mate with you having a pup with another."
My mate stood suddenly, knocking his chair to the ground. I was beginning to notice that knocking chairs over when standing was becoming a consistent response to his anger.
"You will watch your words about my pup," he sneered, "my wolf recognized her immediately as mine. I have a paternal bond with her, and my wolf will tear apart anyone that says otherwise."
I took a deep breath, and looked at him, completely in shock that he had just threatened his own father. His features were wildly unhinged. The very definition of if looks could kill.
His father scoffed, clearly not taking him seriously, "I have never heard of such a thing. I don't know what you think you feel, but that child is not yours and, again, while I feel for what she's been through, you are not responsible for someone else's mess."
Brent rounded the table, picking his father up by the collar of his shirt, "get. The fuck. Out of my house."
His nose was mere centimeters from his father's causing all of the women, including myself, to shrink back with worry.
Charles yanked himself from his son's grip and motioned for his wife to follow, where she hesitated on what to do, causing Brent's father to become furious once more.
"Mother, it's okay, we will talk later," Brent softly spoke.
She sadly nodded her head, but before she left she rounded the table and wrapped me in a warm embrace, "you are incredibly strong and my son, this pack, and Reign Moon are so lucky to have you as their Luna. I know a good one when I see her. Charle's will come around," she whispered in my ear, causing my eyes to flood with unshed tears at her comforting words.
I simply said thank you, unable to form any other response after what had just ensued. She let me go and followed her mate and daughter from the room.
His sister turned back toward us before stepping on the elevator, "I'll be back at two to pick you and my new niece up if that's still okay?" She asked hesitantly. I smiled and nodded in response, a wide grin growing on her face at my acceptance.
Once they were out of sight Brent wrapped me in his arms, silently holding me in the foyer.
"You are so damn amazing, did you know that?" He asked softly, in pure adoration.
I sure didn't feel amazing right now, my stomach was churning and my head was beginning to throb, but I simply thanked him. After a few more moments I was beginning to feel worse, groaning with the pain of the headache taking over.
Brent was immediately concerned, and pulled back to look at me, "my love, what's wrong?"
I shook my head, trying to clear the fog that was overtaking my mind, and that was absolutely the wrong move. I stumbled with dizziness as Brent caught me, a deep frown and furrowed brow cast over his face with worry.
I waved him off, "I'm okay. I really just want some water and to lay down for a nap. I think between the trip here, and everything that has happened today, Im just a little out of sorts. I'm okay, really."
I attempted to walk to the bedroom, but was immediately scooped up bridal style by my concerned mate who didn't believe a word I had just said.
He walked silently to our room and laid me down, "I'm going to cancel your plans with my sister, and we will push the introduction," he announced.
I begged him to just let me nap, arguing that I still had nearly four hours until we were supposed to meet his sister. He begrudgingly agreed that we could see how I was doing once I woke up. Feeling satisfied with his compromise I settled into the pillows as he covered me up.
"Sleep well, my love," he said as he kissed my forehead.
I barely got out a response before slipping into my slumber.