9. Chapter Nine
Chapter Nine
Bellarose
" I t’s the end of the day, can I please talk to you? You said you’d give me a few minutes.”
I was running up the stairs behind Cade, after putting Adam to bed and going to look for the stubborn man.
“It’s late. Can we talk tomorrow?”
“You’ve been avoiding me.”
“It’s not all about you, princess. Ever think I might be avoiding someone else?”
“What? Who?”
“Noneya.”
“Who’s Noneya.”
“Noneyabusiness.”
Fuck. Did I really fall for that one?
“Oh, har-har. I didn’t know you were a comedian.”
“You have a funny way of apologizing, Princess.” Cade pointed out, finally turning around. “And, you’re in my room.”
I looked around to realize I followed him all the way inside the guest suite. He appeared to be making himself at home, which I guess was understandable considering his stay was currently being measured in months. There were a few pictures of his parents on the night table and trinkets on the dresser. I watched him place his hat on a little contraption on top of the dresser before he turned back to me.
I shut the door and crossed my arms. Cade raised an eyebrow at my move, and I guess it was a little stupid to lock myself inside the room with an angry alpha. A sudden image of another alpha popped into my head but I shoved it way down where the sun didn’t shine as soon as it did. I was not that person anymore, and Cade wasn’t that type of man.
“You’re going to talk to me.”
“Okay, then, let’s talk,” he agreed, pulling off his boots.
“What are you doing?” I asked, noticing my voice went an octave higher when he took off his socks.
“It’s been a long day, Princess. You talk. I’m getting out of these dirty clothes.”
I wanted to give him a witty retort back, about how if he thought I was going to stand here talking to a closet door, but my jaw dropped when he removed his shirt without heading into the closet.
Holy fucking shit, those abs. My mouth flopped like a fish, and I didn’t manage to turn around before the jeans dropped, and I was staring at the ass of a god under black boxer briefs.
“What are you doing?” I managed to squeak again, unable to tear my eyes away from the broad shoulders, narrow waist, tanned skin and legs the size of trunks.
“Don’t tell me you’re a blushing virgin, Princess. I have my underwear on. It’s not like I’m whipping out my cock and slapping you with it.” He stopped digging in the drawers he was facing and looked back at me. “Unless that’s something you’re into?” he finished with a wicked smile.
My heart raced, my core clenched and when I didn’t answer, he turned back around and pulled out a pair of pajama pants.
“You wanted to talk?” he asked again, finally giving me his undivided attention.
“I-I wanted to apologize. I took my frustrations out on you when you were just trying to help.”
“Apology accepted.”
“But, it’s just that—” His laugh stopped me from continuing.
“That’s still how you apologize, isn’t it? Like an ass with a ‘but’ at the end.” I stood frozen against the closed door as he stalked over to me. “Would it have killed you to just leave it at the apology, Bells? Can you never just be wrong and sorry?”
His voice was low and intimate, and he was so close I could smell his scent of chocolate and orange. It smelled so fucking good, I was getting dizzy. I clenched my thighs together, hoping the smell of my arousal wouldn’t reach his nose.
“I just wanted to explain,” I protested weakly, my voice coming out a little more breathy than I’d given it permission to.
“You’ve explained. I’ll stay out of your business and you stay out of mine,” Cade replied, but made no move to pull away.
“That’s not—”
“That’s not, what? Didn’t you say you’ve spent all your life without my help?” he asked, a little anger and hurt pushing through his whisper.
“I didn’t—”
Cade leaned closer and my mouth dried up.
“You didn’t what?” he asked. When I didn’t answer, he leaned closer and I couldn’t help but look at his lips so close to mine when he asked again, “You didn’t what, Princess? Didn’t mean to make me feel like an idiot for trying to protect you?”
“I-I—”
I looked up into his eyes. The moment our eyes connected, he slammed his lips to mine so hard that my head hit the back of the door. My body stopped responding to reason. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pressed my tits against his naked chest. I felt the growl that left his chest all the way down to my pussy, instantly soaking my panties. His arms wrapped around me, and settled on my ass and he continued to kiss me.
Goddess, it’d been so long since I felt a man’s hands on me, and they never fired up my body the way Cade’s were doing right now. He pinched my ass, making me yelp, giving him the opening to plunge his tongue into my mouth. I couldn’t help the moan that tore from my throat when I felt his tongue caressing every part of my mouth.
“You smell so good. Like apple blossoms,” Cade groaned, kissing his way from my lips to my neck. I leaned my head to the side and dug my hands into his ridiculously soft hair, urging him on with another moan.
We both froze when his phone rang. He pulled back a bit and I stared up at him, our breaths coming out in pants as the phone continued to ring. When the ringing stopped, Cade’s hands kneaded my ass, and I gave a tiny moan that made him smile. He was bending down to kiss me one more time when the phone started ringing again. Cade groaned and pressed his forehead against mine.
“I should go,” I managed to say.
Cade closed his eyes and something in me desperately wanted him to tell me to stay, but instead, he pulled back and walked over to grab his phone. I opened the door and escaped, wondering what the fuck my reaction to him was. I mean, he was an alpha, and I swore I wouldn’t do that again. But something about Cade made me throw all my promises out the window. I couldn’t afford to do that again. I needed to stay away from him.
I finally got control of my life again, even if it was a mess. It was my mess and I intended to keep it that way. I locked myself in my room and ran straight into the shower before I could change my mind and run back to Cade’s room.
I scrolled through social media for hours before I managed to fall asleep. I had another nightmare, which meant I was up at four again. I fist-pumped when Cory didn’t reach out, though. Progress was progress, right? Maybe I was finally getting used to the damn things, and wouldn’t wake my twin up at the ass crack of dawn every day.
I ran down giddily to the kitchen, where Charles was already getting started.
“Good morning, Luna. Do you always wake up so early?”
“Yep. Do you?”
“Yes, but I take a nap after breakfast. When I woke up yesterday, you were already out in the fields. How much do you sleep?”
“A few hours?” I shrugged, taking the cutting board and knife he pushed my way. I’d been functioning on three to four hours a day for months now. Only once had I crashed and burned halfway through the day.
“That’s going to bite you in the butt one day, you know?”
“Possibly, but not today.” I winked and got to work.
After helping with breakfast, I set plates for Chris and Violet in the warmer and went to wake up my little monkey. We ate a quick breakfast before everyone started making their rounds through the breakfast buffet, and then I walked him to daycare.
I got a morning greeting from Violet via text, letting me know she was in the Luna office, so I walked to pick up the plates I had ready for them, only to find them gone.
“Charles, what happened to the plates? Those were for my sister and her guard.”
“Sorry, Luna. Alpha Cade came by and asked for plates to be made, and when I told him you already had them ready, he took them with his breakfast.”
I walked into the dining room, wondering if Cade had worked a miracle and gotten Violet to eat out here again, but they weren’t there. I headed to my old office, and found the door open.
“Morning, Bells!”
“Morning, I was checking to see that you got the plates I prepared,” I said, taking a look around the room.
Boxes were stacked high to the right, the one Violet was working on was sitting on a chair next to her. Across the desk from her sat Cade, who was eating breakfast comfortably, as if he did this every day. To his right, sat Chris, eating his own plate of food, somehow still finding a way to act as my sister’s safety buffer while eating, considering he was sitting between Cade and the only path to my sister. “I’ll let you guys eat.”
“Why don’t you join us?” Violet asked.
My eyes flickered to Cade, who was still digging into his hashbrown as if unbothered by the world.
“No, thanks. You guys enjoy. I already ate.” It’s not like there’s any more room in that desk for me to sit, I thought.
I went back to help Charles clean up the kitchen when Martha showed up and ruined my once-promising morning.
“I’m heading out shortly. Make sure not to ruin my son’s house. I can’t believe you let these people in. As if your brother’s warriors hadn’t been enough. How’s an old lady supposed to feel safe with so many unmated men around?”
“They are guests, Martha. Treat them with respect.”
“Well, I’m glad I’ll be gone while they’re here. I could barely sleep a wink last night.” She shivered and I rolled my eyes, but then I smiled sweetly at my mother-in-law.
“Don’t worry, you’ll still get to know most of them. They’re here for a few months.”
In usual Martha manner, she showed her displeasure at my decision very clearly. Her fake smile turned all the way down and her eyes were spitting mad.
“Why? They’re not joining the pack are they?”
“I told you. They were displaced by the wildfires. Their alpha is looking for a new property to relocate their ranch.”
“Oh, yes, I saw that man. Hard to believe he’s an alpha,”
“And why’s that?” I growled, getting defensive for my old friend. “He’s a good leader.”
“He doesn’t even have a ranked aura.”
“H—” I stopped. Come to think of it, I haven’t felt an aura from him.
Not from John or any of them, either, Coyo pointed out.
How is that possible?
Maybe they’re good at hiding it?
All of them? Isn’t that weird? Why would you hide your aura from your own pack? Something wasn’t adding up.
Don’t know.
“He’s a good alpha, Martha. If you get to know him, you’ll see. Cade’s earned his position with blood, sweat and tears.”
“You’re getting very defensive, Rose. You’re not thinking of disgracing my son’s name by shacking up to another alpha so soon after his death are you?”
“First, it’s been a year, Martha. Second, I will do as I please and third, I have no intentions of having another alpha. I’ll be alpha of this pack in two months, if I have anything to do with it.”
Martha raised an eyebrow and for once, said nothing. She turned and left, leaving me more aggravated than I started.
“Red Wood Wolves, let’s get to work!” Cade’s voice echoed off the walls as he walked past the dining room. His hat, which Charles told me they called a Stetson because of the brand, was firmly on his head, the rays of sunlight lighting up the blond hair peeking from underneath.
His people were quick to stand, cleaning up after themselves and filing out behind their alpha. That kind of respect could not be bought, and it was something that I still didn’t have. Sighing, I helped clean up what remained of breakfast before I made my way to the fields, picked up a box and started picking the fruit.
Half an hour before the lunch break, I headed up to my room to rinse and help prep lunch. Before I could reach my room, however, I felt a pair of hands circle my waist.
“I went to your room last night, but your light was already off,” Cade whispered in my ear, making my heart rate ratchet up and my core tighten.
I closed my eyes, allowing myself to sink into his arms for a moment before I ripped off the bandage.
“Cade, last night… shouldn’t have happened.”
Cade tensed behind me before he dropped his arms from around me. I felt the loss deeper than I thought I would, but turned around to face him, hoping he couldn’t see it on my face. His face was unreadable, and he was looking off to the distance.
“Got it, Princess,” he said, his eyes finally meeting mine and I saw the hurt in them, but I couldn’t—wouldn’t—take the words back.
“You’re leaving soon, and I can’t be taking up with a visiting alpha, then expect things to go back to normal. It’s a conquest for you. It’s an issue of respect for me.” And I couldn’t afford to get attached, I thought
“I’m a big boy, Bells. I can handle a rejection.” He smiled down at me and gave a little shrug, and I didn’t think I ever hated those actions more than I did just now.
Why was this hurting me more than it was hurting him? It just further proved my point. Getting involved with another alpha was out of the question. Cade left and, as I watched him retreat, I wondered why this felt like more than just a simple parting of ways for two childhood friends. This felt like my heart wanted to fracture in two.
I didn’t have time to dive into it however, so I shoved it down like I did the rest of the shit I didn’t want to deal with and got back on task. Charles needed help.
T wo weeks after the Red Wood wolves arrived I was having breakfast with Adam in the dining room. We were three-quarters of the way through the harvesting and I wanted to cry. Things were looking good. Cade’s people were hard workers. They didn’t shy away from physical labor and I’d yet to hear any of them complain about the long hours.
Last week, I contacted some of our smaller vendors thanks to Violet, who found the invoices for me, and most were willing to buy from us again. If I could sell the entire stock of wine, I stood a chance at bringing the pack out of crisis.
The full moon was a few days away, so I grabbed a chunk of money from my savings and instructed Charles and Lindsay to go buy food for the celebration after breakfast today. Everyone more than earned it this month, and I was hoping some of my widows would find second-chance mates among Cade’s unmated wolves.
I wish he was our second chance, Coyo sighed.
Over the past few weeks, Cade had been respectful of my decision to end things before they started, but a small part of me wished he would try again. I found myself annoyed whenever any woman flirted with him and with Coyo reacting the same way, she began to bring up the subject of a second-chance mate.
The prospect excited me and terrified me. I didn’t want another mate bond. I didn’t want the heartbreak. I certainly didn’t want to be luna again. I admired Mom and Dad for how they ruled the pack, but I was never able to get my pack to respect me as Crescent Moon respected Mom. I learned the hard way that their relationship was not what every alpha expected from their luna.
What kind of mate would Cade be? I found myself wondering at night lately. What kind of luna would he expect me to be if he was my second chance mate?
Would he be like Dad, who considered his luna more important than the alpha for the health of a pack and gave her a voice and vote? Or would he be like Brandon, who thought a luna’s job was to bear an heir and keep the alpha happy?
Was this pull to Cade another mate bond or simply a need for companionship and physical release? I’d heard stories of people feeling a pull to their mates before they knew they were mates.
Hell, Cory was in love with Evie since we were kids, but that could just be the fact that Evie is an amazing person and had nothing to do with the bond. I never met Brandon before the mate bond snapped into place, so I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to feel beforehand.
The other question that crossed my mind was if I was willing to accept the mate bond. I swore after Brandon died that I wouldn’t. I promised myself I would reject it, but could I do that to Cade? He wasn’t a stranger. Would I still be able to? Would I put that strain on my family’s friendship with his?
My heart and my head were warring with each other and I wasn’t sure which would win. It was exhausting and dimmed some of my happiness knowing that I might be able to survive financially.
“Bells?” Cade’s voice brought me out of my thoughts, and I stared up at the man standing in front of the table where I was eating breakfast.
“Sorry. What?”
“Are you okay? I’ve been trying to talk to you for a few minutes now.” Cade looked genuinely concerned for me, so I forced myself to smile.
“Thinking. What can I do for you?”
“I thought we might meet up later to discuss the bills?”
“Sure. Tomorrow morning sound good?”
“Sounds perfect.”
He smiled down at me before turning around and heading to the kitchen. Every day for the past two weeks, he ate breakfast and lunch with Violet and Chris in my old luna office. I was happy Violet had some company other than Chris, but I was unreasonably jealous of the private time she got to spend with Cade.
Cade kept all conversations and interactions with me in public, or with his beta, now. He seemed completely unphased by that night, and it made me wonder if I was imagining this possible mate bond between us. I appeared the only one to be stuck on what we didn’t finish that night in his room.
“Are you ready to go, Adam?” I asked when my alarm rang, warning me it was time to head to daycare.
“Yep! Can we have a picnic with Violet?”
“Today?”
“Yeah!”
There was so much hope in his eyes that I had to let him try.
“We’ll ask, okay? But I told you, Violet doesn’t like going outside a lot, remember? So if she says no, don’t be disappointed and we’ll plan another movie day.”
Adam nodded with big hopeful eyes at me and I sighed, knowing he would be crushed. He didn’t understand why she was so against going to the park with him. I doubted he would understand that going outside included eating at the park with him when everyone else was going about their free time as well.
After we cleaned up our dishes, I took his little hand in mine and we headed to the luna office. The door was open, a new development of the last few days. While Cade and Chris were eating with her, Violet felt safe. Cory said it was an improvement, even if she still closed it when Cade left, and locked it whenever she sent Chris out to run his wolf.
“Hey, Adam! I haven’t seen you in two days. I thought you forgot about me!” Violet said, getting up and moving around Chris to meet Adam in a hug.
“Can we have a picnic for lunch?”
“Oh...” Violet looked up at me and all I could do was mouth sorry to her. “Umm...”
“Why don’t we all have an early lunch picnic in that little park next to the daycare? My wolves will be too busy in the fields to be around the place, and Chris and I’ll make sure no one comes near?” Cade suggested before Violet could answer Adam.
“Really?” Violet looked more excited than Adam did at the prospect. She looked at Chris, who nodded and then she looked at me. “Would that be alright? To pull him out early?”
“For you, I’d take him out the whole day, Vi,” I chuckled.
“Then it’s a date!” Violet kneeled down to Adam’s level and gave him another hug. “What’s your favorite foo— wait, no I know this one. Chocolate,” Violet giggled and Adam nodded his head fervently.
To my surprise, Adam ran and gave Cade a hug, before he turned and gave another to Chris, whispering something in the latter’s ear that made Chris blink a few times, before he nodded and grunted in response.
“What did you say to Chris?” I asked Adam as we walked to the daycare.
“Secret.”
“Well, alright then,” I chuckled.
I dropped my little guy off at daycare and was walking toward the fields when I got a mind-link from the guard at the gates.
‘Luna, there’s a man at the gates that said you’re expecting him.’
‘What’s his name?’ I asked.
‘Elim,’ the guard responded.
‘What?’
‘Elim. He said his name is Elim. E-l-i-m. Elim. I thought it was weird, too.’
‘And I’m expecting him?’
‘That’s what he said,’ the guard replied.
‘I’ll be right over.’ I cut off the mind-link and opened another. ‘Eric, I’ll be late. I have something I need to handle.’
‘Luna, you don’t have to give me an account of your time,’ the old man chuckled. ‘It should be the other way around.’
I walked over to the gates to find a dark SUV parked at the gates. And by dark, I mean dark. The windows and mirrors were tinted very darkly. I couldn’t see anything inside.
“What’s going on?” I asked the guard.
“The man’s inside. He won’t come out.”
I knocked on the window and it rolled down only a crack.
“Who are you?” I asked.
“Elim. Alpha Cory sent me. He said you were expecting me.”
“Can you roll down the window so we can speak?”
“Did Alpha Cory not call you?”
“I’m afraid it slipped his mind,” I mentioned. Or you’re full of shit, I thought.
“I can’t roll down the window, Luna Bellarose. The sun burns me.”
The fuck? Why would Cory send a vampire?
“Hang tight, then,” I said, pulling out my phone and pretended to dial my brother.
‘Cory, who is Elim?’ I mind-linked instead.
‘Fucking shit!’ was my twin’s alarmed response.
‘Should I be running? What the fuck is going on?’
‘I’m sleep deprived is what is going on. I’m so fucking sorry Bells. I totally forgot to tell you about Elim.’ My poor twin was dealing with teething twins with no patience right now.
‘Okay,’ I said, and when he didn’t respond, I prompted, ‘So who’s Elim and why is he at my pack gates, Cory.’
‘Right, shit. Okay, so I was telling Uncle Lalo about your problem with the rogues and how weird they were behaving and Aunt Kassie suggested sending her nephew. He’s training to be an enforcer and investigator for the vampire council and she thought this would be a good way to test his skills. Aunt Kassie promised to train him in exchange. He’s going to investigate where the rogues are coming from and why they are behaving as weirdly as you’ve mentioned.’
‘No one thought to tell me?’ I asked annoyed.
‘I was supposed to, but I totally forgot. I’m really sorry Bells.’
‘How long is he staying?’
‘A few weeks,’ he replied.
‘So when you say nephew, you mean…’
‘Karissa’s son,’ he finished for me, making me groan.
‘So, he’s a prince,’ I clarified. I didn’t have the budget to cater to a prince.
‘Yes, but right now, he’s your employee. Treat him as such.’
‘That’s easy to say, Cory.’
‘Technically, Karissa’s dead so is he really a prince?’ he asked unhelpfully.
‘He’s of royal vampire blood. I don’t know the first thing about where to get him blood or how to meet his needs. I could’ve really used a heads-up. Where am I supposed to put him?’
‘Sorry, Bells. I dropped the ball on this one.’
‘You better make me some empanadas the next time I see you. All of them. All the kinds.’ My mouth watered at the thought and my annoyance mollified, thinking I was going to get something tasty out of this.
‘Promise.’
‘Alright, I gotta deal with this guy. Do you know him? Is he nice?’
‘I’ve only met him twice. He’s quiet, but polite.’
‘Alright. Love you, Cory.’
‘Love you, Bells.’
I walked back to the dark SUV once my conversation was over.
“Okay, there’s one stall inside the parkade that leads into the kitchen. Do you have a good hoodie to protect you? I’m afraid Cory’s dad-brain forgot to mention you were coming and I’m not prepared for you.”
“I’ll be covered. I just need a room with the windows blocked and an outlet with enough voltage to plug in my blood freezer.”
“You brought your own blood?”
“I did.”
Well, that was a relief.
“Alright, I’ll see you in the kitchen, then.” I tapped his door and turned to the guards. “Let him through.”
I hurried back to the pack house, making a plan in my head to figure out what to do with him. The pack house was full. The only empty rooms were on the alpha floor. I’d need to speak with Violet. In the kitchen, a slim man in a giant hoodie obscuring his features, pushed through the door, pulling a suitcase with a personal mini fridge on top. I guided him up to the top floor to a room close to the stairs.
“There’s an outlet you can use there. Just give me a few minutes and I’ll be right back,” I told him, running out and heading toward the tools.
I grabbed a hammer and nails and then ran to the shed and grabbed some of the wood we used last year to board up the windows. It was crude, but it would have to do.
I was running up the stairs when I heard a voice coming from the hall. I found Violet behind Chris, who had his arms at his sides, his posture rigid as he demanded Elim remove his hoodie.
“Chris! It’s okay.” I called out, quickly running to them awkwardly with the pieces of wood under my arm.
“Bells? What’s going on?” Violet asked.
“Sorry, Vi. I was going to head down to talk to you after. Elim is here at Cory’s request. He’s Aunt Kassie’s nephew. Karissa’s son.”
“Ka—Oh! That explains the hoodie,” Violet replied, and peered around Chris to look at Elim again.
“Yeah. What are you doing up here?”
“I wanted to get out of the office for a bit. My eyes were crossing with all the figures.”
“Ah. Well, while you’re here... Chris, can you help me? I need to board up his windows.”
Chris looked back at Violet, who gulped, but nodded at Chris. I thought she would be heading to her room, but instead, she surprised me.
“I’ll help, too.”
“Really?” I couldn’t help asking.
“Yeah, he’s Aunt Kassie’s nephew. I trust her.”
There was a look of pride displaying on Chris’ face that I’m sure was reflected in mine. Still, I noticed the way Violet stuck a little closer to Chris as they walked inside the room, keeping to the side a little so he was between her and Elim.
Violet passed the nails while Chris held the boards in place and I secured them to the window frame. It didn’t look pretty and I would go find some curtains to detract from it later, but it was a matter of survival, so I doubted Elim would really complain.
“So, why are you here… sorry, I didn’t catch your name.” Violet decided to make conversation.
“My name is Elim.”
“Elim like the Cardassian?” Violet asked, suddenly intrigued.
“You mean like Kim?” I wanted to know, trying to wrack my brain for an Elim in the show. Maybe he was new, I was a couple of seasons behind by now.
“Who’s Kim?” Violet asked, her brow furrowed.
“You said Kardashian. I thought you meant Kim Kardashian. Who’s Elim?”
“I’m Elim,” Elim answered.
“I’m lost. Who’s Kim and how’s he related to Elim? I thought he was related to Beta Kassie.” Chris looked as confused as I felt.
“What is happening here?” Violet asked, a giggle bursting from her lips.
“I don’t know. I think I’ll just be quiet and keep hammering. You continue with your talk.” I was getting a headache trying to keep up. We were clearly talking about different things.
“Elim is a name from the Star Trek Universe, Bells. The character was part of a race called Cardassians.”
“Mom was apparently a fan,” Elim replied.
“I didn’t know Queen Karissa was a Trekkie,” Violet giggled.
“She’s a bigger nerd than she lets on.” Elim chuckled, finally removing his hoodie once the boards were fully secured.
My jaw almost dropped as I took my first look at the man under the hood. He had straight raven black hair going down to his shoulders and almost elvish features. He was a beautiful man.
“Sorry for keeping myself cloaked. A downside of being a vampire.”
Elim started walking toward us, stretching out his hand. Violet quickly scuttled to the wall, prompting Chris to step in front of her protectively. Elim stopped, confusion in his eyes and for a moment, I thought a bit of hurt too.
“Did I do something wrong?” he asked.
“No. I’m sorry. I just—I have a thing. I—” Violet was blushing and her eyes were watering.
My poor sister.
“Violet is a germaphobe. She doesn’t like people touching her. It makes her freak out,” I lied.
“Oh, I apologize.”
“That’s okay. It’s just strangers that it’s an issue with. I’m working on it,” Violet said, peeking her head from around Chris and trying to smile at Elim.
“I-That’s a little weird, but okay. I look forward to getting to know you so you’re not afraid of my germs, Violet,” he said with a smile, and still a little bit of confusion.
Violet gave a small giggle at the absurdity of the lie, but nodded.
“I think I’m going to go lay down before the picnic,” she said to me when we were done.
“Of course. Thank you for your assistance.” Elim was the one to answer, giving a little dramatic bow toward Violet that had me raising an eyebrow, Chris grunting, and Violet giggling again.
“It was nice to meet you, Elim,” Violet answered shyly as she followed behind Chris toward the door.
“Likewise.”
“I’ll let you get some rest, and maybe we can meet after sundown to talk about your assignment?” I asked once I was alone with Elim again.
“That would be appreciated, Luna Bellarose. I need to get some sleep.”
I left, then promptly at eleven, I walked over to Violet’s room and knocked. When there was no answer after a second knock, I pulled my phone to text her to figure out what was happening.
Me
Are you coming to the picnic?
Vi
I’m already at the park.
Me
Oh, Ok! I’ll pick up some food and Adam and head your way.
Vi
Cade already picked up food. We just need the guest of honor.
Me
Ok
I didn’t have words for what I was feeling right now. I wasn’t used to people doing anything for me. Not since I left home. Cade kept taking duties and tasks from me despite having many himself, insisting that just because I could do them, didn’t mean I always had to do them.
That’s not how my brain worked, though. I needed to do things to feel useful. I always felt like Cory had all the expectations placed on him since birth, while I was more carefree. It was a relief, for a while, not to have so much placed on my shoulders, but then I felt like I was useless. I had no purpose and I needed to find something to do. I always took on what I could. I needed to feel like I mattered in the grand scheme of things.
That’s one of the reasons I fought to keep Redmon Moon alive. I needed to feel like all the loneliness and struggles I’d spent overcoming with my mate and the pack were for a reason. If there wasn’t one, and I headed home with my tail between my legs in failure, expecting my twin to fix my problems, what was the point of continuing on? What was the point of anything? I was going to go back home after almost a decade with no mate, no pup. Nothing to show for it but death and trauma.
I shook the thoughts away, choosing instead to head down and pick up Adam from daycare. Before I could take him away, though, Adam begged for his little friend Nate to come with us. I agreed, knowing Violet loved pups and wasn’t scared of them and letting the daycare worker manager know I was taking him with me. Thankfully, as Luna, I didn’t get any resistance, and I made sure to reach out to his mother to let her know he would be with me.
We walked to the park, which was only a few minutes’ walk from the daycare. The moment we crossed the last street and Adam saw Violet, Chris and Cade waving at him, he pulled away, grabbed Nate by the hand and ran toward Violet to introduce his friend.
We ate the cold wraps, cheese and fruit, and I was surprised to see Cade brought a few chocolates from my hidden stash of chocolates. I was going to need a new secret spot because if I ran out, I was not going to be happy.
Still, I was enjoying the picnic. Even Chris seemed to be a bit more relaxed around Cade. They were joking, talking about things as if picking up a paused conversation. He still called him Alpha Cade, but there was a bit more friendliness and even some ribbing going back and forth between the two. Was I the only one who was struggling to relax around Cade? I seemed to get more prickly than friendly when it came to the man.
It’s because he’s an alpha and you think it’ll be the same as Brandon, Coyo supplied as she followed my thoughts.
I guess. I can’t help it.
I know.
Adam and Nate ran to the slides once they were done eating, and we continued talking while keeping an eye on them. I was vaguely listening, thinking their topic was a bit above my level of intelligence when I caught a few words that drew my attention.
“Wait, are you guys talking about Loki?”
“Yes, are you watching?” Chris asked.
“Who isn’t?”
“I’m not,” Violet grumbled.
“How can you not?” I asked.
“I refuse to pay for Disney Plus while I’m away from home and can’t use Mom and Dad’s log in. I’m a season behind and these guys won’t shut up about it. They try not to spoil it, but they aren’t very subtle when they get into it. I’m going to go play with Adam,” Violet huffed with annoyance, shooting the boys the stink eye.
Cade and Chris were both blushing at her words and I raised an eyebrow.
“I volunteered to let her borrow my log in, but she said it was a matter of principle.” Chris shrugged.
“So you’re up to date, then?” Cade asked me. When I nodded, he and Chris shared a look. “We need a tiebreaker. What do you thi—”
Whatever he was about to ask was lost when I heard two tiny growls. We all turned to see Violet on top of the slide, sitting there ready to head down, but a woman was approaching them quickly, and Adam and Nate were growling at her. I stood to see go see what was happening, but stopped when I heard Cade sigh.
“I got it,” he said, motioning to Chris and me to sit back down.
Chris’ eyes glazed over and then he sat, albeit stiffly. Cade walked up to the kids, ruffled Adam’s hair, and said something to him before he motioned him to help Violet come back to the table.
“Did you see? Did you see, Chris? Like I promised!” Adam said proudly as they walked Violet back to the table.
“I saw. You’ll make a mighty warrior one day.”
“Can I go back to play?” Adam asked me.
“Sure thing, buddy,” I answered. Adam and Nate went back to play, while I watched Cade arguing with the woman.
“What did he promise?” I heard Violet ask, while I watched the woman trying to soothe Cade’s temper with her hand on his chest, making Cade take an angry step back and say something to her, pointing to the pack house.
“He... uh, he thinks we’re mates, and he promised he’d protect my mate so I’d let her go out more,” Chris answered.
“Mates?” I asked, turning back to them when the woman left, so Cade wouldn’t catch me staring.
Chris had a light blush on his face, but Violet was watching me with interest, with a look on her face that told me she hadn’t heard Chris’ answer.
“He didn’t give me a chance to correct him,” Chris defended as if that’s the part that had caught my attention.
It hadn’t. What I was thinking was that he would make an amazing second-chance mate to Violet.
“Is everything okay?” Violet changed the subject when Cade reached the table.
“Same shit, different day. I’m thinking of sending her to Crescent Moon if she doesn’t stop her bellyaching.”
“Are things not up to par for her?” I wanted to know, worried his people were not happy here.
“Nothing related to the pack,” Cade answered.
I got no more explanation than that, and once again I felt like the outsider among them. My phone alarm beeped a moment later, though, so I stood.
“I gotta take the boys back. Are you guys okay to clean up?”
“We’ve got it, Princess.” Cade winked.
I rolled my eyes and called the boys over, who hugged Violet and came to stand by my side so we could walk back together.
“Hey, Bells?” Violet called out before I got too far.
“Yeah?”
“Can we have a girl’s night?” she asked.
“Tonight?”
“That’d be great. After you put Adam to bed? Maybe we can grab some of that wine you guys make.”
“Sounds good. Leave it to me.” I told her.
I could use a girl’s night. There were too many thoughts in my head and I had no one to talk to about them. I didn’t want to tell Cory about it yet. I didn’t want to complicate things and I didn’t need him to go into over-protective brother mode.