Ember
Darby asked me about a personal laptop. I gave him an overview of what I wanted/needed, and he decided on a basic tablet, a computer for my writing and a basic laptop to run my book blog and emails.
Devin recommended doing the blog with Jace, so I had a male perspective and didn't get trolled by men, claiming that it was a book aimed at men, so I shouldn’t have an opinion.
I texted Ren and Creed and told them I wanted to sleep alone; after reading most of the mate requests, I needed to think.
As it was, I woke to be kicked in the back by a dreaming Kitsune, who wasn't impressed when I blew raspberries on his snout to wake him up.
Over breakfast, I asked Uncle Nic if there was somewhere I could potentially set up a painting space that was low traffic once I had got a job to pay for supplies. That was the wrong thing to say in front of Grumps; apparently.
He scolded Uncle Nic and my dad, then handed me his credit card and told me to order anything I wanted.
Except for a private jet, as we already had one.
We are not snobs, so we don't need a second one.
I just stared open-mouthed at him, not knowing if he was serious; he was.
Apparently, they do have one, but it's only used when Uncle Nic takes everyone on holiday, as he has too many looks with loads of boys with him and no females in sight.
Dad and Nic looked like they were being scolded like wayward teens for not telling me I had a bank account that was topped up regularly, like Brayden's.
Now they know I had graduated, had seen my grades and college work, so I had money to burn, they both apologised and said with everything else they’d forgotten.
“Glowbug, I want to give you a full check up and do some blood tests, to see if I can work out a way to give you medication if you need it, especially when you have kids, I don’t like the idea of not having anything that helps you” Xander says as be breezes through grabbing food and coffee to go, heading to the hospital, It was lucky he was covering at the one I was taken to when I got hurt as normally he is at one closer to home, but a virus had spread and he was called in to cover.
Before Ren leaves, he tells me he has some canvases and paints in a trunk in his closet that are mine, and to help myself, he also has all my stuff from BloodWolf in a smaller trunk.
Bas offers to move one trunk to my bedroom and the other downstairs, but I will need to be quick as they set off for work soon.
Bas and Timber own their own renovations company, but they’re looking into setting up a construction and building custom homes made from natural wood with solar power.
I slip one of Brayden’s old flannels on over my jeans and t-shirt, tucking the front of the flannel into my Jeans to lessen the length a little as it hits my knees, but it’s warm; I then set up an old bar stool that’s missing the seat pad and a canvas in the small seating area outside the breakfast room, from the smell of cigars I would say its where the oldies regularly sit.
Miles passes me some fur-lined Uggs, grumping about my baggy clothes, but I shrug.
“You are the pack princess, sweets. You need to strut, and you can't do it in the guys’ old stuff,” he huffs.
“Miles, I don't like skin-tight clothes. They aggravate my scars, even the older ones. Get me stuff that’s my style, but you approve, and I will wear it. Still, please get me some scruffs, or else you will be moaning. I have paint all over posh stuff,” he seemed happy with that, but I tag on in a quieter tone.
“but I like the guys’ stuff, their scent helps with the emotions”, he gives me a soft look and nods in understanding, then after a few quick questions ‘do I like dungarees and jumpsuits’ he was off, Tablet burning a hole in dad's bank account in his hand; I quickly texted and asked for stuff I could hike in and a decent bag for my sketch pads and boots, I got an eye roll emoji back but a thumbs up.
Turning back to my mock easel, I stick one of my playlists on that Trick had set up on my phone, close my eyes, and paint; after a while, Bowling for Soup’s cover of Flowers comes on, and I get a rhythm singing along, OPM heaven is a halfpipe comes on next which is when I notice a shell shocked Trent sat in one of the chairs with his laptop, I smile at him as Fall Out Boy’s Fake Out comes on, thinking what the hell, I shrug and carry on singing and dancing, a Welsh Cover band called Punk Rock Factory comes on.
I sing along to i2i; Bram found the band not long ago, and having Welsh heritage, he liked the connection; they do rock covers of loads of stuff, including Disney and stage shows, even things like the Pokémon theme music, Zebrahead, Evil Anonymous comes on next, ironically the main vocalist is the supporting vocalist in i2i which is how I’m guessing Bram found them.
I get to a stopping point with my painting, not having the voice for Zebrahead. I have stopped singing; I plonk my butt on a chair facing Trent, who hasn't even turned his laptop on.
“You, okay?” I ask. We sit for a while, not talking. My Chemical Romance, I'm Not Okay, starts to play, and I want to sing along, but I refrain. It seems to kick Trent to answer me.
“I am, and I’m not”, he says as the chorus starts. I chuckle
“Lynx shifters are matriarchal animals; up until now, I’ve been okay, but now, with you and Lily coming in and your position as Ren’s Luna, my Lynx is out of sorts” At the panicked look I’m sure is on my face, he stumbles over his following words.
“You don’t need to be sorry. I kinda need you to reassure my lynx that you’re okay with me being pack, and I’m not about to lose my family,” he ends with a whine and can't make eye contact with me; he looks as close to tears as I am.
“Trent, look at me” I clear my throat, and as he looks at me.
“You were one of the first people in a long time to show me kindness, even after you found out I was a broken shifter.
I more than understand the need to belong, and I would never take away from anyone unjustly.
Your position in my eyes is more secure than mine.
He ends up pouncing on me and giving me a bear hug to rival any Bas would-be able to provide, then quickly excuses himself to get to work.
Later, when the guys get home from work, I pull Jace and Brayden aside. I know enough about packs to know this is a Beta, not an Alpha, problem.
“Trent came to speak to me today as he thought I was going to push him out of the pack”, I went on to explain about them being a matriarchal society, so technically, he will look to me, not Ren, as head of the pack, and it’s not a slight on him.
“I think he needs reassurance that he’s still wanted and welcome.
I would say most of those who are close to you guys would.
” They agree, and we head off to join the others.
Miles heads off to sort the guys’ and my clothes out for tomorrow.
Ren and Brayden head to the gym with Uncle Luc.
Ren has an MMA fight coming up in a few months, so he wants to spar twice a day; by nine, they are all back, freshly showered, and the rest of us have headed upstairs to finish off the mating demands so they can go live tomorrow.
Alma made burgers, which Dec, Bas and Timber bought up to us and joined in the chuckle fest of some of the stuff people thought they had a right to.
“Right, that’s the last one; it should be a 30-minute job each night from now on unless people turn more stupid”, Darby states with a smile towards me as we all clear up.
“I’ll take the boxes down; need to check in with Saint on a secure line”, Declan says as the others head off to their rooms for the night. I nearly fall over as I whip my head around to him in alarm; he kisses my crown.
“He'll be fine, sister, I promise”, Dec says and heads off downstairs. I share a look with River, and he nods. I guess his shadows are keeping an eye on his big brother.