Chapter 21
Vanessa
It felt good to talk things out with Kelsey. Maybe I did need to hear him out and try to understand where he was coming from better.
Could I really just walk away from him? Could I sever our true mate bond and live to tell about it?
Nope. After talking to Kelsey, I was pretty certain I could not.
I missed my mate.
I missed the life we were just starting together.
Yes, it all happened quickly, and maybe I overreacted a bit too. But I was certain that I wanted him and those boys in my future. I had no idea how that could work or what it would look like, but I needed them. After getting a taste of that life, I didn’t want to settle for anything less.
Every part of me screamed to just go to them and tell him.
I wanted to go home.
When I thought about it, home was no longer my cozy little house I loved. Now it was a house in the woods full of laughter, animals, little boys, fresh baked bread, and the man I knew in my heart I was meant to love.
He was still going to be a lovable jackass who would inevitably drive me crazy, but he was my asshole, my big bad wolf. And this time when he huffed and puffed, I wasn’t going to go anywhere.
However, I would make him sweat it out one more night, and then I was all in no matter his stipulations. I had to believe that somehow, we’d find a way to make it work.
When I got home, I was feeling restless. Instead of going for a run, I found some boxes and my suitcase and started packing a few things.
All in, I thought.
He could refuse me, but I wasn’t going to let him get away with that without trying at least. He was mine and he was just going to have to get used to that.
Kelsey had told me the boys were going to a new family. It broke my heart. Somehow, I knew I needed to stop it, I just wasn’t sure how. I was counting on Isaac feeling the same. They needed a home, not just another placement. And I was pretty sure we needed them.
After I’d packed up all I could, I climbed into bed. I was exhausted but feeling much better than I had the last few days. Those had been dark and hopeless, but now that I’d made up my mind and was braced for the most important battle of my life, there was a glimmer a hope.
For the first time in days, I fell asleep with a smile on my face.
*****
I awoke feeling more refreshed than I had in days. With my newfound determination I got up and showered, carefully applied makeup for the first time all week, and got ready to go to work.
First, I had to get my mate back. Then, I had to find a way to convince him that we needed the boys in our lives. I wasn’t planning to take no for an answer on either count. I just hoped I wasn’t too late.
The one good thing was that no matter how things went down, I’d have the weekend to recover. If Isaac rejected me, I’d spend the time balled up and crying at my house. But if all went well, I’d be spending the weekend curled up with him at home instead.
I got into work early, hoping to catch him and get this over with, but the boys were already there, sitting on the front steps waiting for me when I arrived.
“Boys? What are you doing here?”
“What do you mean, Ms. Vanessa?” Mason asked. “Isaac always drops us off here in the morning. You know that.”
“But this early?”
He shrugged. “Said he had some things he had to do.”
“It’s fine. We don’t mind,” Noah said.
I eyed him suspiciously, but he just smiled.
“They’re trying to give us to another family,” Cam blurted out.
He ran over and hugged me. “I don’t want a new family.”
Tears pricked my eyes as I lifted him into my arms and hugged him tightly.
“I know. It’s all going to work out.”
I didn’t want to get their hopes up, but the fact that the boys already knew about the new foster family scared me.
I didn’t want to lose my family. These boys deserved stability.
And maybe life would always be a little odd with me and Isaac, but they would know they were loved and cared for at home.
That had to be more important than a dad in the seat cheering at every event.
Besides, I knew I would always be there and I could cheer loud enough for the both of us.
“Let’s get inside. Did you have breakfast yet?”
“Yes ma’am,” Noah said.
He was being far too polite and agreeable for this early in the morning. I couldn’t help but be a little suspicious.
Once we were settled inside, I gave the younger boys tasks to do and pulled Noah into my office.
“You’re worrying me.”
“What? Why? What did I do?”
“I know you can’t be happy about a new foster family and another move.”
He shrugged. “They said we could all stay together. And adoption might be a possibility for us. We could have a real family.”
“That’s what you want?” I asked him.
“More than anything. I just want my family together with us all living under one roof.”
I nodded, but tears were already stinging my eyes.
“Okay then. Go see if your brothers need any help.”
“Yes ma’am.”
Cam came by a few minutes later and caught me crying.
A few minutes later I heard him yelling at Noah down the hall.
“What did you tell her? You made her cry.”
“I didn’t say nothing.”
“Then why’s she crying?”
“I don’t know. I just told her that we had a chance at getting adopted.”
“You’re going to blow everything. You can’t say stuff like that, remember?” Mason said.
“Shut up. I’m the oldest. I know what I’m doing.”
A crash had me wiping my eyes and running down the hall.
The boys were on the floor fighting. Fists were flying in every direction.
“Enough,” I yelled, as I started pulling one kid out of the pile at a time.
When I went to grab Mason, Noah’s fist connected with my cheek.
“Ow,” I cried.
All three boys froze and all jumped to their feet.
“Oh no,” Cam gasped.
“Now you did it. You’re ruining everything,” Mason yelled.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to. I’m sorry. I would never hurt you on purpose. I’m sorry. Please don’t punish us. It was an accident. I swear. I’m so sorry.”
I pulled him into my arms and held him tight as he started to sob.
“What is this all about?” I finally asked.
“We can’t tell you,” Cam said with a proud smile.
“Shut up,” Mason warned him.
“You know you can tell me anything.”
“Nope, not this,” Cam insisted.
Mary chose that moment to walk in.
“What is going on in here?” she demanded.
“Now you’ve done it,” Mason told Noah.
“It was just an accident,” I assured her.
She reminded them of some morning chores she’d been having them do this week. Reluctantly they all snapped to it and got their chores started.
“What was that all about?” she asked me.
“I don’t know. They’ve been fighting and acting strange all morning. Tonight’s the full moon. I suppose we can just blame it on that.”
“How was your lunch with Kelsey yesterday?”
“Good.”
“You look more like yourself today.”
“Is that your polite way of saying I’ve looked like shit all week?”
“Oh, sweetie, I don’t have to tell you that, you already know you’ve looked like shit all week.”
I snorted. “Gee, thanks.”
Somehow, we managed to get through the morning with no further incidents. Mason and Noah caught their school bus and kids started arriving. I locked into my routine and the morning passed by quickly.
There were no surprises at lunchtime. Overall, the day ran smoothly without any other issues.
I’d been back and forth on whether I wanted to ask Kyle to keep the boys a little longer so I could run home and talk through things with Isaac, or I wanted to tell him that I was taking the boys home.
In the end I couldn’t see getting their hopes up like that, so I decided to wait for Kyle to arrive and then ask him to watch the boys.
As I stood in line handing off kid after kid, I started to get nervous.
“Hey Vanessa. How’s it going?”
I looked up and saw several of the Westin Force dads in line.
“Tarron? What are you guys doing here? Is this daddy pickup day and I missed it?”
“Something like that. We had the afternoon off so decided to give our ladies a break.”
He leaned in to kiss my cheek as I passed him his son, Caleb.
A vicious growl echoed all around us. My wolf jumped to attention. I knew that growl. My jaw dropped in surprise as the path parted and there stood Isaac.
He was here in front of everyone and he was holding a bouquet of roses and a large box of chocolates in his hand.
Tarron seemed humored by this.
“Hey Isaac. You’re the last person in the world I’d expect to find here.”
“Wait, you know him?” I asked.
Tarron nodded. So did Silas, Ben, and Baine, who were all with him to pick up their kids.
My mouth dropped open.
“How? When? How?” I repeated myself.
“What are you doing here, man?” Ben asked.
“Idiot. He’s clearly here for Vanessa,” Baine told him.
My cheeks felt like they’d just exploded in flames.
“Seriously though?” Ben said.
“I’m here to pick up my kids,” Isaac said.
Kyle was standing behind him, smirking.
“Boys, your ride’s here,” I managed to say, but it came out a little breathless.
Isaac just stood there staring at me.
“Oh no, he’s going to crash and burn,” Mason said.
“We’ve got to help him,” I heard Noah say.
“Big gesture,” Cam reminded him.
“I’m here, aren’t I?” he finally said.
I just stood there in shock, but my heart started to race and my hands were getting sweaty.
“Back up and give them a minute,” Silas said.
“Dude, are you sure you want to do this in public like this? Most of the Pack thinks you died a long time ago,” Baine said.
“Big gesture,” Isaac muttered.
“Get down on one knee. Remember what Mason said,” Noah instructed.
Tarron started to giggle.
I elbowed him in the ribs.
“What are you doing here?” I said, finally finding my voice again.
“I miss you. We miss you. We want you to come home, for good.”
“Get down. You have to grovel and beg,” Mason insisted.
I grabbed him and used him like a barrier between us.
“You didn’t have to do this,” I told him.
“No, I think I did. So, what do you say?”
He awkwardly held out the flowers towards me.
I took them and a smile so big it hurt my cheeks spread across my face.
I shoved the flowers at Tarron, and the chocolates at Noah and I hugged my mate, and then I kissed him for everyone to see.
My body shuddered and relaxed for the first time since I’d walked out his door. This was where I belonged.
He kissed me like no one was watching and I felt his body shaking in relief too.
When Silas and his guys started to cheer for us, I pulled away and remembered where we were.
There were tears escaping my eyes, but they were happy ones. Isaac gently wiped them away.
“You seriously didn’t have to do this. I was coming to talk to you after pickup today anyway.”
“You were?”
I nodded.
He glared down at Mason.
“Hey, don’t blame me. How was I supposed to know that? Besides, the big gesture always wins the girl in the movies.”
“This is one smart kid right here,” Baine said.
Noah elbowed Isaac in the side and the two of them shared a look.
“Right. That. So, there is one stipulation,” Isaac said.
I groaned. “There always is with you. What is it this time?”
I didn’t mean to sound so defensive, but I couldn’t help it. Still, he was here making the grand gesture I never even dreamed I’d someday get. Sure, it was a little awkward and super embarrassing in front of everyone, but he had stepped out the shadows to be here for me.
As usual, his actions spoke much louder than his words, or so I thought.
He cleared his throat. “It’s a package deal or nothing.”
“What?”
“I may have sorta begun the process to adopt three little pigs. So it’s all or nothing at this point.”
“You’re adopting the boys?”
He shook his head.
“No. We’re adopting the boys. All you have to do is say yes.”
“Yes!” I yelled, throwing myself back into his arms. “How? When?” I asked. “I thought they had a new foster family lined up.”
“Yeah, but these kids need stability. The deserve a real family, not another foster until we can find a new place for them,” Kyle said. “You can think it over.”
I shook my head. “No. We want them.”
Everyone present started to cheer.
“So you’re adopting Cam and his brothers?” Silas said.
“We are,” Isaac confirmed.
Silas fished something out of his pocket and pressed it into Isaac’s hand.
“The twins are having a birthday party tomorrow. I forgot to hand out invitations, so here. You better be there.”
Isaac groaned.
I gave him a sheepish look, but he shrugged.
“We’ll figure it out,” he promised.
I smiled and kissed him again.
“Are you coming home for good this time?” Cam asked.
“Yes,” I said, hugging each of them.
This was my family now and we might not be perfect, but we were going to figure it all out together.
Mason winked at Isaac. “Told you the big gesture works every time.”