A Royal #7
Alexandria linked me, “Odette is adorable, Keaton.” Annie linked me, “Keaton, she’s just amazing. I love everything about you two together. She’s sweet and somehow innocent. You stand tall with her, I love it so much.” She fanned her face as Kreed nuzzled her.
I nervously gave Odette my present. My mate teased me, which eased some of my tension. Emmett linked, “I love this girl. Woodland creatures, that’s funny. More than she knows.” Everyone was smiling at me. Jasmine actually wiped a few tears away.
Odette loved her gift. I was beyond relieved; I couldn’t help but kiss her. I was teased get a room. That was easily doable since Adlee had a soundproof office. I picked Odette up and threw her over my shoulder. I knew everyone was stunned. Kreed of course recovered first to make cat calls with JJ.
Keith linked, “Did you really just do that?” l linked Channing, “Block everyone out. It’s time we spent our mate’s birthday how we wanted.” I took her over and over. I was going to have to replace things in here.
I linked Clara, “Expense everything from my accounts to replace Adlee’s things.
Odette wants the floor deep cleaned too.
” Clara linked, “Uhh ok. Is this the type of thing I can expect from my Alpha now that you have your mate? Because I was told to expect that, but you were always so reserved with Lisa. Hence I was not prepared for this.”
I told her, “You should prepare to be in their shoes. I’m sure that will make Trey happy when you can reach him. Since I think we can all admit now, he escaped to Europe to get away from my ex and her crazy.” I felt a little bad my future Gamma took such measures.
My Beta replied laughing, “I’ve never been more glad to need to prepare for something. It’s damn good to see you like this, and Trey will agree. He more left to wrap his mind around Lisa possibly being his job to protect.” One could hardly blame Trey for not wanting to do that.
Odette and I teased each other. I was certain my mate thought I was teasing her about marriage, but she was mine. My mate had marked me, and when she understood everything I was marking her. We were forever.
When we joined everyone else, they stared at us. I linked my family, “Stop staring.” Emmett replied, “You just…” He trailed off. I retorted, “I’m aware of what I just did. You do it a lot. Finish a sentence, big brother.” Emmett gaped at me until Malachi hit him across the chest.
JJ muttered, “That’s nothing. There was lighthouse fucking people.
LIGHTHOUSE.” I glared at my cousin, but he winked at me.
The rest of the day was perfect. Emmett linked me, “Let’s go for a run, little brother, we need to talk.
” I groaned, “Fine.” Channing grumbled, “Everyone cockblocks us when we never did that to them.” No joke.
I dropped Odette off, met up with my big brother and shifted. I knew we were searching for Jag a little bit, but for the most part we were having fun in our wolf forms. We ran the whole territory until Emmett shifted back and I followed suit.
My big brother commented, “Odette’s good for you.” I smiled, “I know.” Emmett added, “I’ve never seen you happier.” I smiled, “I don’t think I have been. I feel like I can breathe again with her.” Emmett snorted, “You fucked her when we all were around.”
I shrugged, “You all have done that around me.” Emmett nodded, “Yes, we have. You never did that until today.” I replied, “I was with the wrong girl.” Emmett laughed, “No joke. Was Odette sad when you left her?” I scoffed, “Odette was calling her ‘mob brothers’ so she was fine.”
Emmett laughed, “Well, should you talk to them and ask them about your girlfriend’s clairvoyance.” Channing grumbled, “That tone again.” I asked, “Are you worried about Alexandria?” Emmett snorted, “I live my life worried about my Jellybean.”
I admitted, “Yeah, I get it.” Emmett shoved me, “Do you, now?” I nodded. My big brother was waiting for me to say Odette was my mate. The words just wouldn't come, even though my mouth was open. My throat felt like it closed, I didn’t know why I couldn’t tell him.
I told my brother, “I’ll try to figure out what they are. I’m sure Alexandria and Keith are safe. If you need me, I’m available as a wolf and the Silver Blade. I will always help protect our family.” Emmett smiled, “I know.”
My big brother hugged me, “I love you little brother.” I replied, “Good. I love you too.” Emmett said, “I’ve heard about your promposal plans. Alexandria wants to watch it all go down.” I shrugged, “She can. Hell, you can too.”
Emmett winked, “I’ll pass that around.” I snorted, “You guys have better things to do.” Emmett disagreed, “Not really, I love seeing you with Odette.” I asked, “Why?” Emmett answered, “Because you’re you with her. It’s nice to see. I missed you, little brother.”
Emmett paused then admitted, “We all did. You withdrew from us more and more throughout these last few years. I knew you were still in there because I was watching you eliminate people who were threats to our family. Not everyone knows that though.”
I sighed, “You’re going to say I should talk to dad.” Emmett shrugged nonchalantly, “He’d like that.” I admitted, “It’s hard.” Emmett asked, “Why?” I explained, “He’s such a strong Alpha. For a long time, I thought he was disappointed to have a son like me.”
Emmett clutched his chest, “Keaton, no. Dad would never be disappointed you are his son. Dad loves you.” I said, “Loving me and being disappointed in me are different things, Emmett.” Emmett’s eyes filled with tears, “I hate that vapid she bitch. Dad loves you, and he’s not disappointed in the Alpha you are. You really need to talk to him.”
I said, “That is the advice I’m getting lately.” We sat in silence for a while. I told him, “I want to get back to Odette.” Emmett nodded, “Sure, just think about having a heart to heart with the old man.” I nodded while being pretty sure I would.
When I walked into Odette’s apartments Ken told me, “Odette took Tatum for a walk, but they aren’t back yet.” I turned right back around only to meet my mate at the door. My mate liked going to the pond we were at the other night. I actually liked it there too.
When we walked into her apartment I froze. There was a picture of Channing in wolf form displayed on her wall. Channing was a lost cause, purring to his heart’s content. Odette told me Ken gave her the picture.
I linked Ken, “You gave Odette a picture of Channing.” Ken replied, “I just thought your wolf might want something of himself in her apartment since you haven’t been able to shift into him for her. She doesn’t know you and Channing are the same being, but she did know she’d met him.”
Channing was going to be purring forever. I sincerely said, “Thank you, Ken.” He laughed, “Any time, kid.” It was a really good picture. Channing come forward to have a moment with our mate. We lost ourselves in each other until we fell asleep.
When I woke up, her side of the bed was cold. I ran around the apartment to find my mate, but I knew she wasn’t in it. Tatum was gone too, but not her leash. What the hell happened? I linked Emmett, “Get to Odette’s NOW!”
I called my mate’s phone, but she didn’t answer. I heard it buzz near me. No. NO! Channing snarled in my head. I flashed downstairs asking, “Ken, where is she?” Ken answered, “I’m not sure, I just got here. What’s going on?”
My dad, grandpa, Emmett, Kreed, and Malachi walked in.
Keith and Clara walked in with the rest of the Farmer clan.
Emmett asked, “Keaton, what’s wrong?” I growled, “Odette’s gone.
Her phone is upstairs and her not dog is gone but the leash isn’t.
That fucker got her somehow! I was too relaxed. I should’ve….”
Emmett cut me off, “You don’t know that…
” I growled at him, stopping that sentence.
My big brother raised an eyebrow. I declared, “We have to get out there and start looking.” I threw several articles of her clothes at them for my mate’s scent.
I said, “I’ll fucking kill him and rip him apart piece by piece. ”
Emmett asked, “Because….?” My brother intentionally trailed off. It was time to come clean. They would be behind me to find my mate. Then Odette’s voice floated to us. Emmett sighed, “Of course.” I didn’t care about that anymore.
All that mattered was my mate and the fact she was here.
Odette felt bad, but that wasn’t what I wanted.
It felt like all the air had finally come back.
Odette was here, and she was ok. Clara took her upstairs linking, “Your promposal is today and if you bail everyone who worked really hard will be pissed off.” My Beta had a point.
Clara threw me concealer. Which made all my male relatives, who previously were unaware, now suspicious.
Even Ken raised an eyebrow at me. Clara saved me with her hickies comment.
Odette’s heart rate picked up though. Channing was far too smug, “I am a marked wolf.” I replied, “They didn’t all know that. ”
Emmett asked, “Don’t you even say…” My phone rang, cutting him off I picked up, “Hello.” The florist answered, “Mr. Daniels, I am so sorry, but we cannot fulfill your order. Our shop flooded and….” I interrupted, “It’s fine.”
I told Emmett, “I need to deal with this.” My big brother snorted, “Uh huh.” I flashed out and called Uncle Eric.
My godfather answered, “Keaton?” I sighed, “I know this is a big ask, and I can pay you…” Eric cut me off, “You’re my godson, which means you don’t pay me for shit.
” He really never made me pay for things.
I explained, “I have this plan to ask my girlfriend to prom, but the flowers just fell through. I know you have several shops and…” Eric assured me, “They will send over whatever you need. I’ll have Wesley pop Buttercup in with everything.” She ran all the flower shops for them. I sighed, “Thanks.”