Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
Anticipating my pack’s needs is what I do best.
To do that, I have to know what drives them; the matters important to their hearts.
What matters most to Sterling are his mates and his mother.
Aisha Orter is one of the sweetest, no-nonsense Beta women I’ve had the pleasure of meeting.
She doesn’t let the trauma she’s endured steal her sunshine, nor does she allow her son to prioritize her.
She supports each of us, but doesn’t smother us.
Meeting someone who could be involved in their child’s life without trying to control it was refreshing.
Opening my phone, I start a video call and hope Fate allows me to convince her to move to New York. Her face fills the screen, the sun shining through the window making her floral headband sparkle. The glow matches her warm umber skin, a few shades lighter than her son’s.
“When are we moving?”
My breath rushes out. I should never have doubted her willingness to follow her son.
“As soon as you are ready. Skye is happy here. More than she’s ever been in California.”
“I started packing after she called me on her birthday. That girl was glowin’. Might need a few days to get everything into sacks. You found me a place?”
Clearing my throat, I turn the camera around and show her the empty apartment attached to our garage. A year ago, I renovated it for her. Just in case.
It isn’t fancy, just a combined living room-kitchen area, a bedroom, a bathroom, and a small walk-in closet.
A large bay window takes up one wall. Through the leaf-bare trees, water shimmers beneath the cloudy sky, lapping at the lakeshore.
Neutral colors paint the walls, waiting for the life she’ll breathe into them.
“This apartment is part of our estate. It’s separate from the main house, so you’ll have privacy. Through this door is a patio. It’s walled in on two sides, giving you a beautiful view of the lake. I ordered a table and chair set and a porch swing, but left the cushions for you to pick out.”
“You thought of everything. Don’t know why I’m surprised,” she chuckles. Her ocean-blue eyes sparkle.
My awe for this woman never ends. From the moment I met her, she accepted me as I am. That’s not to say my family didn’t; things with them are just more complicated than they are with Aisha.
“I’ll fly out next week.”
Adjusting my watch, I make plans to have extra boxes and packing materials shipped to her place. I would hire a moving company if I thought she’d be comfortable with it, but Aisha doesn’t like strangers in her space. Especially not men
“Thank you. Having you here will mean the world to us.”
She waves me off, cutting our call short as she leaves for her monthly hair appointment. I add making a list of local salons to my growing to-do list, wanting to make her transition as smooth as possible.
As I head back to the house, a familiar black car pulls down the driveway. Caleb rolls down his window and asks, “Should I park somewhere specific?”
“This way.” I lead him back to the garage and open the second door, giving him space to pull inside. Only our shared SVU is in here until Bellamy’s Jeep is shipped from LA, so there is plenty of space for Caleb to park.
He throws a duffel bag over his shoulder and jogs toward me, mumbling his thanks. We walk in silence until we reach the house. He hesitates then.
“This is weird, right? Me being here.”
“Is it?”
He tugs his hair away from his face, examining the front lawn instead of meeting my eyes. “Feels like it is.”
Opening the door, I motion him inside. “Adjusting to a new pack takes time. When Skye first met Pack Crowley and realized they were also her mates, we had some growing pains. My role in her life is… unique. At least from the perspective of an Alpha.”
I guide him through the house to the guest room, grateful we haven’t run into anyone yet.
“Arousal and sex are difficult for me. Most days, I have no interest in either. The instinct to rut and breed isn’t something I’ve ever experienced, not the way other Alphas do. I’m content just caring for my Omega and providing for her emotional needs.”
Pushing the door open, I show him the blank-slate room I plan to renovate to suit him. Right now it’s all cream and tan, with only a dresser, bed, and side table.
“Like you, I felt like an outsider. All her other mates were drawn to her in a way I was not. Provided for her in ways I couldn’t.
What you’ll learn, Caleb, is that we all have a role.
Our relationships with her, and with each other, are our own to cultivate.
Go at the pace you are comfortable with, and give yourself time to realize we are here to support you as much as we support her. ”
He stares at me blankly, absorbing everything I said, so I redirect his attention to the room. “This is your room. For the weekend. Forever, if you so choose. When you accept the latter, we can repaint and swap furniture to match your personal style.”
Which, like Emmett, seems to be monochromatic black. Hopefully, he’ll at least allow me to incorporate some grays to give the room depth.
“I’ll leave you to settle in. Skye was still asleep when I left for my walk, but I imagine she’ll rouse when she senses you nearby. She’ll want to give you a full tour of her estate.”
“Thanks, Quentin. I appreciate how receptive you’ve been about me being here.”
I force my mouth to remain closed. Telling Caleb about Skye’s bond sickness symptoms isn’t my place. She has to open up to him about the repercussions of their separation.
Or Onyx might do it for her, depending on how much self-control our pack leader can manage the next time she exhibits a side effect.
Skye hasn’t stopped chattering since she woke up and saw Caleb. Her bond shines with excitement and contentment. He belongs here, with her.
“Dinner’s ready,” Onyx grunts, poking his head into the family room where we are hanging out. The kitchen has been buzzing since Sterling disappeared an hour ago, slowly filling the house with a warm aroma.
Skye uncurls from her spot against Caleb’s side and stretches, smiling softly as he joins her. Something squeaks, making his brows furrow as he looks around the room. A tiny, furry nose peeks out of her pocket, likely having heard Onyx’s mention of food.
“Darling, no sidekicks at the table, please,” I call.
She purses her lips and pulls Mochi out to tuck against her chest. I barely disguise my laugh as a cough when Caleb’s eyes go wide and his mouth hangs open.
“Wait, you had that in your pocket this whole time?”
“Yup. This is Mochi. She’s my sidekick.” Skye pets the top of her head, leaning so Caleb can see the guinea pig. “Isn’t she adorable?”
“Very.” Caleb frowns when Skye moves away, his eyes seeking mine as she skips away, taking her pet back upstairs to her cage. “Is it safe for her to carry it around like that?”
“Mochi has quickly become attuned to Skye’s scent. Being close makes her feel safe. Though we limit the time Skye can carry her. If we didn’t, we’d never get a moment alone with our mate.”
When Bellamy returned from the pet sanctuary with Mochi in tow, I started studying up on the small creatures, wanting to ensure she receives the best care.
Skye takes a break from cuddling with Caleb and plants herself in a chair between Onyx and Bellamy. “Sly, this smells amazing.”
Her compliment earns a tip of his lips as he sets another dish on the table. His love of cooking has led to a well-balanced diet when we aren’t on tour. There isn’t an option for him to cook when we’re traveling, so I keep the kitchen stocked during their breaks.
“Thank you,” I tell him as he sits down on Onyx’s other side.
“You can thank me when you try it,” he jokes.
We all know anything he makes will taste incredible. He is too thoughtful to serve us something he doesn’t feel lives up to his impeccable standards.
We pass around homemade bread and a bowl of salad before dishing up the Coq Au Vin. It’s savory, hearty, and warm. Perfect for a chilly November night. Conversation rolls around the table, pairing with the laughter and red wine to create an atmosphere as heartwarming as the food on our plates.
Calebs soak it all in. He doesn’t talk much, only responding to questions directed at him, but he isn’t as tense as he was earlier. His body language is relaxed and open, which I hope means he is finding his footing here.
We need him to stay.
For his sake and for Skye’s.