Activating #3
Killian sighed, “God, my sister in law is such a good person.” Killian laughed, “She will officially be your sister in law soon.” Killian teased, “It’s about damn time.
She’s always been like family. I told you to just take her as your chosen mate.
Don’t you wish you had listened to your little brother?
” Kreed admitted, “Yes, as does my wolf. Lady only ever felt like a friend to him.” I laughed and left the dungeons.
My family all gave me looks throughout that day. I’m sure they heard I took off that guy’s hands. Channing offered, “I nearly ripped his arm off. I feel I showed great restraint, Lightning does not agree.” I ignored most of the looks.
I was actually looking forward to my session with Leon because I needed his opinion. Odette kept insisting she was fine with our Valentine’s Day plans. I’d convince myself she was being sincere then question it all over again at night.
Today, I’d overheard some of Lisa’s friends talking about my epic Valentine’s Day plans with my ex last year. What if Odette heard that? Would she think I cared about Lisa more than her? Channing replied, “We aren’t planning anything, but I agree I’m also worried.”
I walked into Leon’s office and sat down bouncing my leg. The man stared at me, “Keaton, what’s wrong?” I blurted out, “Valentine’s Day.” Leon frowned, “Ok, I’m going to need more than that.” I sighed, “I had to do all these extravagant things for Lisa, and….”
Leon interrupted, “The whole pack knows about the somewhat insane Valentine’s Day things you did with Lisa. You took her to Paris for a meal, we know.” I sighed, “She hated that.” Leon frowned, “No, she didn’t. Lisa told everyone it was amazing.”
I frowned, “Well, my ex told me she hated it. What’s new?
It wasn’t good enough, but people are talking about that today.
” Leon again said, “Ok.” I explained, “Katie doesn’t want any of that.
The plan she came up with is literally not even remotely fancy.
My girlfriend wants to cook me a meal, watch videos, and have sex. ”
Leon replied, “That sounds like a nice Valentine’s Day.” I asked, “Does it? It’s totally wrong though. Valentine’s Day is about her pleasure, not mine.” Leon stared for a few seconds before saying, “That’s not true. Valentine’s Day is not about your partner’s pleasure over yours.”
I argued, “Yes, it is.” Leon rebutted, “It’s a made up holiday that has been turned into a giant day of spending. It’s about money at its core, but we will all keep doing it. My mate and I have a low key Valentine’s Day too. We make each other things instead of buying them, that’s us though.”
“Some men like buying their partner flowers. Kincade Farmer buys Carry Farmer flowers every week. He just gets some ridiculously huge display on Valentine’s Day.
Valentine’s Day is many people’s excuse to do over the top gestures and act like assholes the rest of the year until some other holiday comes around.
Do you want to make plans and stress about whether they are good enough? ”
I sighed, “No.” Leon said, “Then maybe Katie taking control this Valentine’s Day to plan something for you both is for the best. You need time to get over that fear. Katie is not like Lisa, and only time can prove that to you.”
“Lisa’s actions have essentially formed a muscle memory for you.
Things will trigger those stressors for you, and Valentine’s Day sounds like it is one.
I will say, I’m not the only person in the pack who took a quarter of your Valentine’s Day setups for Lisa over the years and did them for their mate. ”
I asked, “You did?” Leon nodded, “Yes, you are quite the romantic. Do what you’re comfortable with. Go with what your instincts tell you to do, Keaton. When you second guess that, just know it’s a stressor. Trust your instincts and let Katie surprise you with her response.”
I asked, “How do you know she’ll surprise me?” Leon answered, “I observe people. Katie will love anything you do because she’s in love with you. That girl looks at you like you’re the only person in the world. Lisa never looked at you like that, and you didn’t look at her that way either.”
“You look at Katie the same way she looks at you. I’ve heard rumors Katie doesn’t have a loving home life.
That girl would not know how to handle a Valentine’s Day planned by you.
One, because I think in love you’d go crazier.
Two, because it’s not her normal. Again, I find the way you two look at each other quite telling. ”
Leon gave me a knowing look. I wasn’t going to confide in him about Odette being my mate. I told him honestly, “I have this block about my family and Katie.” Leon frowned, “Why?” I sighed, “What if they don’t like Katie? They hated Lisa.”
Leon sat back then pointed out, “Keith likes Katie, and so do all of your friends. I know for a fact, they did not like Lisa.” I ran a hand through my hair, “I just can’t have my family dislike Katie.” Leon gave me a measured look, “You’re not giving the majority of them a chance to like her.”
I explained, “I feel like I just got them back in my life. It feels like there was this disconnected between us that’s gone. I missed them and how we were. I don’t remember why I let it get that far. Hell, I don’t remember ever really liking Lisa.”
“I remember being with her, but not why I dealt with all of her bullshit. It’s still affecting me, and I actually do not understand why at all. Katie has never lied to me. Why do I have this worry in the back of my head that it’s a trick? She’s not like that.”
Leon hummed, “Yes, this is quite the interesting situation. Your brother checked the surveillance at Katie’s apartment.” I asked, “Huh? When?” Leon answered, “The night you went over then came back acting like Lisa was wiped from your memory.”
I reasoned, “I didn’t act like she was wiped from my memory.” Leon raised an eyebrow, “Katie left and came back a few hours later, but no one can figure out where she went.” She left when I fell asleep? I wondered why.
I couldn’t help but smile thinking of her Sexy Deadpool outfit. I asked, “Why would Emmett tell you that?” Leon answered, “He didn’t. My son pulled the feed for Ken since he works there.” That’s right. Leon’s son was quite techy.
Leon urged, “Trust Katie. You want to and you should follow that instinct. I think you should seriously consider her being around your family. You yourself admit they had reasons to dislike Miss Kipner. She’s done herself no favors in our pack from the moment she arrived.”
“Justin’s siblings also hate her, with valid reason. Let’s be blunt, Lisa’s own siblings hate her. Which is nearly impossibly among wolves. The Warriors are furious about what Lisa did to Kreed. I think she’d have more people’s respect if she’d rejected him immediately so he could be with Annie.”
“Lisa didn’t want him anyway and the pack’s opinion is she’s lying that she agreed to try for her wolf. Everyone thinks she did it to hurt Kreed and Torque by keeping him away from Annie. They think Lisa did it to hurt several people, I can’t say I disagree either.”
I said, “Actually, that makes sense.” Leon laughed, “Keaton, a few months ago you’d have taken anyone’s head off for that assessment.
” He wasn’t wrong. I said, “I honestly feel nothing for Lisa.” Leon smiled, “The Katie detox is everyone’s favorite term for that.
” I snorted because that’s certainly what my twin called it.
The bell rang. I said, “Wow, I guess our time is up already.” Leon told me, “My door is always open to you, Keaton. Let Katie surprise you. I think you’ll have a good Valentine’s Day. Maybe your first good one since you were fourteen.”
If it was a good day, then Leon would end up being correct.
I left his office. Malachi linked, “I’m supposed to tell you not Katie is working in the bookstore, so she does not require a ride home.
” I asked, “Why are you telling me?” Malachi huffed, “I don’t know, Keaton.
This gives me hives. Immy asked me to let you know.
” Why didn’t she tell me herself? Also, that sounded evasive.
I went home and started working on my present for Katie that night.
Clara came into the garage and commented, “Wow. This is amazing, Keaton.” I smiled, “Thanks.” Clara whispered, “It’s been…
” Then she trailed off, “That’s not the point.
I did research on Katie’s disease. I’m not sure they’ve diagnosed her correctly. ” That was my concern as well.
Clara continued, “Once your girl knows about us, we should have our pack doctor run a panel. I couldn’t find a case where anyone required daily medication.” I nodded, “Thanks for doing this.” Clara smiled, “Of course.”
I read through it and concurred with Clara’s assessment.
The doctors hadn’t diagnosed Odette properly.
I just didn’t know how to bring up something this sensitive with my mate.
Channing growled, “Tell her that the humans don’t understand her perfect genetic makeup and they could be HARMING HER!
” I don’t know if Odette would be offended by that assessment.
There was clearly a lot to this story that I didn’t know yet.
On Friday Keith cornered me during the last period. My twin gave me a look, “Dude let Katie, whose real name you still haven’t told me, do what she wants on Valentine’s Day. She’s got this planned because it was a special deal with her brother.”
“They would cook together when he was at their mom’s. Not Katie said mostly he did it for her. This is the way she knows how to show her love because her brother taught her. I know Lisa fucked you up, but this is special to Katie.”
I felt some tension I’d been holding inside me ease. I know Katie’s not like Lisa, and if she went to the effort of telling Keith, then the least I could do is listen. I was waiting for Odette after school. Immy skipped over announcing, “Katie’s not here.”