Outtake Grateful Drake POV
Drake was outside the cottage Eric told him belonged to Mason and Hendrick King. I closed my eyes and Pepper told me, “We can do this.” I knew we could, I just shouldn’t have to. This shouldn’t have happened to my pup. I gritted my teeth and knocked on the door.
Hendrick opened it clearly surprised to find me standing here. It was written all over his face. The man who helped my daughter greeted, “Beta Drake.” I asked, “Can I come in and speak to you and your mate?” Hendrick nodded “Of course.” I added, “Please call me Drake.” Hendrick raised an eyebrow.
The man stepped aside so I could enter. Mason had his arms crossed looking ready for a fight which confused me. Hendrick offered, “Please sit down. Would you like anything to drink?” Mason huffed at him while Hendrick shot him a smile.
I declined, “No, that’s fine. I just came to…” Mason interrupted, “We aren't staying away from Melanie! You can go right to hell.” I blinked asking, “What?” Hendrick grabbed his mate around the waist before he whispered, “Mase.”
Mason yelled, “I said what I said. The answer is no. Melanie’s like a daughter to us.
We were denied the opportunity to have pups the way we wanted.
Melanie is family to us, and you can’t just take her away!
It’s not our fault the Ring did this awful thing to her. We have been her family for years.”
I stood and held out my hands, “I’m not here to ask you to stay away from my daughter. Quite the opposite really.” Both men stalled. Hendrick questioned, “You’re not?” I answered, “No. Why would you think that?”
Hendrick answered, “The way we lived is why. In our lives, men in positions of power don’t like us and would be asking us to back off.
Our relationship with Melanie would be a threat to them.
” I frowned, explaining, “I came here to personally thank you. As a Beta, I’m sorry that’s been your experience with ranked members of packs. ”
Mason gasped, “Thank us?” I said, “I know that Melanie didn’t have a good time of it. I’ve seen the hospital file and her reaction to things. It kills me to know how my pup suffered because we all know it shouldn’t have happened.”
“I would never let anyone harm my pups. I hate the failure that I was, and am, to my daughter. I have nothing but gratitude in my heart for both of you for what you gave to her. I know how stubborn Ladybug is, so I’m sure that was not an easy road for you both.
Truly, from the bottom of my heart, my family and I thank you. ”
They both blinked at me. Mason told me, “You’re that little girl’s hero.” I snorted, “I’m her failure.” Hendrick disagreed, “No, you’re her hero. Mel loves you so much she put up gravestones she could visit thinking she wasn’t welcomed on pack lands.”
He paused then added, “We all know the problem here is Mel doesn’t know how to cope with everything. She’s angry, but logically she knows you were lied to and magic was involved. She doesn’t know where to place her anger.”
“From what Mel has said, she gets her smarts from you. You’re probably the one who can make it all make sense to her. Mel feels changed and like nothing changed for you guys. I know that’s not true, but we all know that’s how she feels.”
I did know that and it gutted me. My pup was hurting so badly. I watched and studied her. My pup was bleeding out in front of me but not from physical wounds. I couldn’t stop it. I knew my daughter’s mind was working to figure it all out, as mine was.
I told them, “I will help Ladybug how I can. As far as your desire for pups, I would offer you all the money in the world for what you did for mine. From what I’ve learned about you two, I don’t think you’d take it.” Mason snorted, “We would not.”
I nodded, “Actually, one of my nieces is gay. She and her mate are looking for male wolves to have pups with. They are going to be moving here to Black Mountain next year. They want to be closer to Melanie and catch up on what time they missed.”
Hendrick asked, “Whose daughter is she?” I answered, “Allison’s but something tells me you know that.
Their pack doesn’t treat them differently, but this pack is more open and welcoming.
They requested a transfer here and were accepted.
If you’d like their number, you guys could discuss things and see if it could all work out. ”
Mason teared up whispering, “Really?” I nodded, “If it doesn’t pan out, I can help in other ways.
After Luna Haley discovered the issues former Beta Matt would’ve come up against, she started a Supernatural support group where those that have lost their mate, were gay, bi, whatever the case could connect with each other for potential co-parenting situations. ”
“Some Supernatural’s even sign up as surrogates. Not everyone wants to be a parent but want to give that to others. There are egg and sperm donors as well. It’s an intricate network at this point, and a point of pride we have for Haley around here.”
They stared at me in silence. Haley would be pissed that not everyone got the memo about her network. It was very near and dear to her heart. Hell, we were all so damn proud of her for that work too. I nodded, “Just let me know what you decide.”
I pulled out two cards and put them on the coffee table.
One was my personal number and the other was Haley’s group they’d want to join, even if they went with my niece and her mate.
They had boards and forum discussions on raising pups, co-parenting, blended homes, it had everything.
I nodded to them both and left, feeling a little lighter.