Chapter 30 - Friday
Alyssa's POV:
It was Friday, the day of Caitlin's arrival. While I was not mad at her in any way, it was still a tough pill to swallow that she was coming here. I wasn't sure if I could handle the emotional turmoil that seeing her face-to-face may cause… Hell, had anyone asked her if she was even ready for this?
I had distracted myself with moving and decorating our new home, making multiple trips to town to add character to the already gorgeous house. Tenley kept her room the same as it was in the apartment. She said it was "perfect" so there was little to do there. Our bedroom, however, looked nothing like the one we shared in the apartment. The former room had been painted in a dark navy and had dark wood furniture, and basic bedding, but what could you expect from a bachelor pad? Our new room featured creamy beige walls with an evergreen accent wall behind our bed that gave our room an earthy vibe. Our bedding was thick and plush with a cream duvet and a thick, knitted blanket that draped over the end. We had several pillows on the bed, giving it the look that one could simply dive in and sink down into cloud-like comfort.
Our bathroom was equally magnificent, and quite possibly my favorite room in the entire house. I had chosen shiny, robin egg blue tiles as our back splash that went from the top of the vanity all the way up the ceiling. Gold, circular mirrors sat over top of them, giving the room a magically luxurious ambiance. Seeing the vision I had for our home come to reality was like a dream. It was exactly the way I had pictured it coming together.
I walked back through the living room toward the kitchen, after putting some of Tenley's toys in her room, to check on the soup I was cooking. I stopped to, once again, admire it. It was next on my list of favorite rooms in the house. A large accordion glass door had been installed, and it stretched fully across the back wall that opened out onto a massive patio equipped with a large outdoor sectional and a long dining table for entertaining guests. The sectional we had chosen for the living room was camel brown and the leather was as soft as butter. I had taken many naps here in the last couple days as the sectional sat in front of a spectacular fireplace, making it an extremely desireable place to sleep. A large, navy rug was set in the middle of the room and complemented our wood floors perfectly. A huge, sparkling Christmas tree sat in the corner of the room and its charismatic presence filled me with the holiday spirit. My eyes glued to the little red box with a green bow, I smiled, knowing it held the gender of our baby. Much to Brent's dismay, I asked Emily to place it in the box for the three of us to open on Christmas morning. I wanted it to be special and I loved the thought of opening it as a gift. This baby truly was a gift after all.
I continued my walk through the entryway of the kitchen and turned my attention to the pot of soup on the stove. I hadn't needed to do much for the already beautiful chef's kitchen. The artesian stove, immaculately designed wall oven, and microwave drawer already brought so much charm, but I did add some peonies to the large kitchen island. I absolutely adored fresh flowers. I would have a garden full once spring arrived.
The soup was just about done as I heard Brent come down the stairs and then sensed that he was headed toward the kitchen. I looked back in time to see my freshly showered mate pull his shirt over his head, appreciating the way his chest and muscles rippled with the small effort.
He came up behind me, kissing my cheek, "that smells delicious, thank you for cooking."
I smiled at the sentiment. He was always so complimentary. I was still having to get used to the night and day differences between my first and second mate.
I turned around, reaching up on tiptoes to kiss him as he pulled me away from the hot stove, "I figured you'd be hungry after the extra training you called for today."
He smiled, kissing my nose, "and you would be right, my sweet Luna."
I dropped my shoulders sadly, "do you think they hate me for having to pick up extra trainings? It is my fault after all."
"My love, what happened to you is not your fault, nor is the additional training. I assure you that they are all completely understanding of my request to up the training momentarily while we await for the trials to be over. They are all thrilled to be able to protect you," my body and mind relaxed a bit at his words, "furthermore, when I announced we would be opening more warrior positions, I didn't even have to assign the new warriors, they all volunteered. I can't tell you the last time I was able to fill positions on a 100% volunteer basis. They did that for you, not me." My eyes misted over as Brent rubbed up and down my arms. I had never felt so cherished in my entire life.
All I could do was nod with the amount of emotion lumping in my throat. I walked over to the cabinet and pulled out three bowls, serving each of us lunch as Brent went to grab Tenley. She was in our media room where she'd been almost every minute since we'd moved in. Apparently cartoons were so much better on a movie screen while sitting in a huge, nested bean bag.
I placed her bowl in the refrigerator to begin cooling it as I grabbed the bread from my dream oven. Pinch me now, how was this my life!
Brent returned a while later, I assumed he had a little bit of a hard time removing her from her oasis. He plopped her down and went to grab her chocolate milk. I laughed quietly, she only drank that with breakfast, he must have had to bribe her to come down.
Once we were all settled we sat at the island to enjoy our lunch of chicken noodle soup with toasted ciabatta bread. Our dining room table was a gorgeous, gray stained wood table but it was massive. I wanted it big enough to entertain family and friends, so when it was just the three of us, this is where we sat.
"Momma, you make the best noodles EVER!" Tenley exclaimed.
Brent nodded, "she absolutely makes the best food I have ever tasted in my life, but don't tell your Gigi I said that," he smirked in my direction.
Giggling, I smiled at them both, "you two sure know how to make a girl feel good, thank you. I sure love cooking for y'all."
We continued to eat, Tenley getting another bowl and Brent getting three more. Even cooking for just three, I still had to cook for a small army with their appetites. Most times after meals I cooked, I barely had enough left to justify saving the leftovers.
Brent rinsed everyone's dishes and placed them in the dishwasher. He never allowed me to clean up after cooking, one of his quirks I was totally on board with if I was being honest.
His phone rang and he dried his hands on a towel to answer it, "Alpha O'Conner," he said smoothly, voice full of authority, making me shiver with lust. His voice was tantalizing. A deep, rich baritone with a slight grovel to it.
Brent winked at me, obviously able to read my emotions. Knowing what I was feeling, and making me blush.
Brent placed his hand on his hip, nodding and humming out a response to whoever was on the other line, "got it, I will meet you at the pack house," he paused to listen once more, glancing up at me, "I will ask her, but I am not making any promises," he said as he pressed the end button.
Cocking my head in confusion, he answered, "that was Anderson, they're en route to the pack house from the airport, and Caitlin is asking to see you." I held my breath, having no clue what to say.
'Say yes,' my wolf pressed.
'I don't know If I can handle the reminder..' I answered.
'You've overcome everything. You can do this. Don't let Dalton take your best friend on top of all that he's already stripped you from.' My wolf was always so wise. Offering words of encouragement when I had no idea what to do.
With this in my mind, and the fact that I now knew Caitlin wanted to see me,I answered my awaiting mate, "I will go, but only if we can drop Tenley off to my mom on the way. I'd rather feel this out before involving her."
He nodded in understanding, "of course we can. Go ahead and link your mom to see if that's okay and I'll go get her ready. "
After confirming my mom was fine with the plans and quickly changing my clothes to something more snowy weather appropriate, we were off.
We pulled up at my parents not long into the drive, they lived in a cul de sac about ten minutes away from us. A small, but precious little townhouse style neighborhood where retired wolves lived. My mother loved their new home. She had always wanted her own house outside of the pack house but hadn't had the opportunity due to there not being availability back at Wolf Moon. I was so happy for them, another thing Brent had done for my family and I loved him to pieces for it.
He insisted I stay in the car, nervous I would slip on the sleet covered sidewalk. I couldn't disagree. I couldn't walk a straight line on a normal day, so I had no business trying to walk on a slick sidewalk. Let's just say if clumsiness was an Olympic sport, I'd have a gold medal.
He returned shortly after, hopping back in the car and we continued the journey to the pack house. My anxiety grew as the pack house was getting closer and closer. Letting out slow breaths to calm my nerves as Brent gripped my hand in his.
We pulled under the awning, Brent helping me exit the car and then handed the keys to the Omega awaiting us.
We walked through the sliding doors and made our way to the first floor conference room. It was a smaller meeting room for times like this when we didn't want or need very many people involved. The plan was to keep her presence here as low key as possible as to not stir up any drama, or to alert anyone that has the potential of having ties to Dalton.
I took one last deep breath as Brent opened the door, his hand pressing into my lower back, guiding me into the room. I looked up and immediately made eye contact with the woman in question. Tears flooded my eyes as I took her in. My best friend since I was five years old. My reaction was not what I was expecting. She took one, hesitant step forward and without thinking I crossed the room in a flash, pulling her into my arms as we cried softly.
The men in the room were silent as we had our moment. She pulled away from me and began apologizing over and over for everything that happened to me. Saying she should've seen through his guise as he never took care of us, but she had simply thought he had finally turned over a new leaf.
I shook my head furiously at her apology, "this was all him, don't you dare apologize. I honestly didn't know if I could stomach this meeting today. That was the worst day of my life, but I had to remember it was also horrific for you as well. I'm so glad you're okay and that we can put him away for what he's done to the both of us."
Caitlin tried to respond, but we were interrupted with Ryan's late arrival. Caitlin stood up straighter, looking around me, "mate," she whispered.
Ryan was stunned, glued to his spot. He echoed her words and carefully walked toward us both, "you, you're my mate," he said incredulously.
I stepped back, giving him room to get to her as he took her in his arms, wiping the tears that flowed down her cheeks.
Suddenly he stilled, his back becoming rigged as he pulled away from her, a scowl forming on his face as he looked at Brent, his wheels turning, "wait, you're the one we're meeting with. You're the one that Dalton- ." He stopped speaking and growled, turning from her to march out of the room, leaving Caitlin stunned .
He reached for the door and Brent blocked him, "what the hell are you doing leaving your mate?" he growled.
"I am going to go kill the fucker that did this to her!" He bellowed, causing Caitlin and I both to jump as he tried to get past Brent who was still blocking him.
Brent grabbed his shoulder, Ryan was shorter than Brent, but not by much, "I have taken care of that shit show multiple times and we are involved in an active investigation, going to him right now solves nothing, you know this. I know exactly how you're feeling right now, but calm yourself and get back over there to your mate. She is going to need you." Ryan was silent, chest heaving with the effects of the adrenaline andanger running through his body. He fought his wolf and the need to protect Caitlin, but eventually he calmed down. He walked back over to her and held her once more as she cried with relief into his chest, having feared he was leaving her because she was touched by another.
He continued to soothe her, and I motioned for everyone to walk out and leave them be. They clearly needed a moment to wrap their minds around what had happened.
Anderson spoke first when we shut the door, "man, I figured his mate was near with how he was acting yesterday, but not in my wildest, okay maybe my wildest, but never in my regular dreams, did I think his mate would be Caitlin. This investigation just got a whole lot more intense. I have no clue how I'm gonna keep even one of y'all from killing him let alone two..." He grumbled at the predicament in the only way Anderson could, with jokes and sarcasm.
After about twenty minutes, and a mindlink from Brent later, Ryan opened the door for us and we filed back in.
We all sat, Brent at the head with me in his lap, he had become increasingly protective and wanted me as close as possible to him at all times. Caitlin also sat on Ryan's lap as she was still very emotional from all that had happened, and I'm sure he and his wolf were still raging over knowing what Dalton had done to her.
Anderson grumbled that he felt left out, and Ryan looked at him like he had two heads, "geez, man, how do you think I've felt all these years, get over it, you have a pregnant mate at home," Ryan responded unapologetically.
"Yeah, and he has his pregnant mate in his lap. I didn't know it was 'bring your mate to work day' or I would've grabbed Jess," Anderson sarcastically shot back.
Caitlin's eyes rounded as she looked down the table at me and hopped off of Ryan's lap, "I'M GOING TO BE AN AUNT AGAIN!" She screamed and jumped up and down. "What is it? What are we having this time?"
I tried to answer, but Brent cut me off, "we have no idea because SOMEONE wants to wait."
I rolled my eyes at him, "oh hush, you're starting to sound like Anderson," I looked back at Caitlin, "we're literally only waiting until Christmas."
Brent butted in, "yeah only till Christmas, that's forever away."
I popped his shoulder, "my gracious, that's barely 23 days from now you big goober..."
Anderson cleared his throat, "yes, okay, babies are great. Now can we get this meeting started? Jess has her first visit with Emily today to talk about this whole 'home birth' thing that Luna has her on a bout."
Okay, now I understood his sour attitude a little more now, Brent had been weird about it at first, too.
"Yes, let's get started," Brent announced, "Caitlin, a room has been prepared for you -"
Ryan interrupted, "with all due respect, Alpha, Caitlin and I discussed her staying with me. I don't see any reason it would compromise anyone's safety and clearly I know how to add additional surveillance to my home if you'd like me to, but I want her with me."
Brent nodded, "very well. Moving on, Caitlin, the trial is set for the end of January. Anderson, myself, and Ryan will be prepping you after the holiday and the end of the year Northern Region meeting. Please take this time to settle in and make yourself at home in your new pack. Ryan, you and I will discuss the induction of our new Gamma female as soon as we get some of these loose ends figured out," Caitlin and Ryan nodded in unison.
Brent asked if anyone had any questions and when he got no response he went ahead and dismissed, "this meeting is adjourned. We had more to discuss, but it seems things have taken a turn and we need to regroup. Ryan take Caitlin and show her around the pack house and land. I will redirect the Omegas to your house to have her luggage taken there.”
Brent stood and we all followed, “Oh, and Caitlin, your Gamma female duties can begin as soon as you're ready for them to, but there is no rush."
Caitlin smiled and thanked Brent and with that everyone exited the room. I hugged Caitlin once more as she headed off with Ryan, and turned my attention back to Brent.
"What are you going to do for the rest of the day, my love?"
"Well, now that I have the design team whipping this place into shape with all things Christmas, I'm going to get back home and work some more on the Christmas feast and then start looking at the menu and place settings for the end of year meeting. I don't have everyone's RSVPs back yet, but the notes you gave me from last year will be helpful on how to begin placing everyone at least, oh look!" I loudly exclaimed, "the window decorators are here!"
I was beyond excited as I adored the large windows of the pack house lobby and from the moment I started planning the Christmas decor, I wanted department store worthy Christmas windows and they were finally here to begin the work.
Brent chuckled at my excitement, "sounds like a busy day, please don't overdo it," he said as he rubbed my stomach discreetly. We were waiting until the Christmas feast to announce, even though my pregnancy scent was getting stronger by the day, no one dared to ask.
I smiled, "I promise to try not to overdo it, but this is my very favorite holiday and I want to be apart of it all," I said as I pecked his lips and walked toward the car service Brent had ordered.
He opened my door, "please make some time to rest today," he said once more.
"You worry too much about me, but I think I will call my mom and have her bring Tenley over and have her stay to watch our favorite Christmas movie together. Try to offer an olive branch since she's still a little testy that I didn't tell her immediately about our bun."
Brent laughed at my use of “bun” in reference to the baby, "sounds great, please let me know if you need anything at all."
I smirked devilishly, "anything? "
His eyes darkened at my connotation, "anything."