41. Chapter Forty-One
Chapter Forty-One
Cory
“ W hat’s going on, Dad?” I asked again when he didn’t answer the first time. I didn’t like how serious he and Mom looked as they considered my sisters.
“Inside, Cory,” Dad answered, his tone brooking no argument.
I may be the alpha now, but when it came to family, he was still in charge. I pulled my mate inside the house, annoyed that the plans I’d made were getting put on the back burner, but concerned about the looks Mom and Dad kept exchanging.
I watched from a corner of the room as everyone walked inside, noticing the guilty look on Violet and Bells’ faces, as they entered behind Chris. To my surprise, even Bells was staying close to Chris, while Violet was holding onto his hand for dear life, hiding a little bit behind him as they warily regarded Dad’s reaction to whatever was happening.
I couldn’t make sense of what was happening, and I was itching to hug my sisters. When no one said anything for a few minutes, I pulled away from Evie and walked to Bells, unable to wait any longer. I pushed past Chris, who tensed as I approached, and pulled her into a hug.
“I missed you,” I whispered.
“I missed you, too,” she whispered back, hugging me tighter.
The smell of coconut mixed with her apple blossom scent hit my nose, and my eyes went to her neck. There was no mark there, so where was the smell coming from? I looked down at my sister and took a step back, stunned at what my brain suddenly deduced. My eyes went to Violet next, and I put my nose in the air, letting Tenoch forward to verify my theory. Violet’s scent was there, mixed with a new scent of hazelnuts.
I took another step back, bumping into Evie as she wrapped her arm around my waist, seeming to already guess what was happening, and trying to soothe me with the mate bond.
“You’re both pregnant.” I didn’t mean it to come out as harshly as it did. I was just stunned. My eyes flitted from Bells and Violet, wondering which one of them was going to tell me I was wrong, but when neither did, I sat my ass down on a footstool as I battled the feelings of hurt and betrayal.
“Neither of you trusted me enough to tell me.” I didn’t mean to say that part out loud. I only thought it, but was at least mildly comforted to see the way they winced at the words, and the regret that crossed their face.
I looked over at Dad, who had his arms crossed as he stared his daughters down, waiting for an explanation. I took a small bit of solace in knowing Mom and Dad didn’t know either.
“It was my idea. I wanted to tell everyone in person,” Bells spoke up, and I didn’t know if that was supposed to make me feel better or worse.
She was my twin. We promised to tell each other everything when she left, and then reestablished the rule after she told me how life really was under the asshole, Brandon. Why didn’t she trust me anymore?
“Who’s the father?” Dad asked Bells. He wasn’t looking at Violet or Chris. It was clear by the way Chris was standing protectively in front of Violet who the father of her pup was. I didn’t want to think about the fact that my little sister was having sex, so I turned back to Bells.
“No one,” Bells answered, raising her chin.
“You’re trying to play the immaculate conception card, mija?” Mom asked with a small giggle.
She didn’t look as upset as Dad. Although to be honest, Dad didn’t look upset. He looked serious, like he did when he wanted answers, but he didn’t look angry.
Bells huffed out a breath that might have been covering a snort. “No. The dad is not in the picture.”
“Who is it, Bells?” Dad asked again.
“No one, Dad. I had a one-night stand after the wine cellar blew up and everyone had gone.”
I didn’t believe that for a second, but I said nothing. Bells wasn’t the type to sleep around for the sake of it, although, maybe I didn’t know my sister as well as I thought I did.
There was silence as everyone processed her words, and I vaguely noted Chris and his parents were mind-linking while the rest of us had this mini-family showdown.
“So, what’s the plan?” Dad finally asked with a sigh, when he realized Bells wasn’t going to give him any more information on the subject.
“I’m keeping them,” Bells replied, daring anyone to challenge her with her eyes.
As if anyone would oppose.
“Them?” Mom caught on right away.
Bells swallowed and nodded, a small smile appearing on her.
“It’s twins. Violet and I had ultrasounds when we found out.”
“I’m only having one,” Violet reassured everyone, making Chris’ lip twitch as if he wanted to laugh at the relief in her voice.
“When?” I asked. “When did you find out?”
“Two weeks ago or so.” Violet shifted on her feet, focusing on Chris’ hand in hers as she spoke.
“You need to make appointments with the pack doctors. Do you know when you’re due?” Mom asked.
“End of March, beginning of April. We’re doing the math ourselves, though, since the clinic was for humans,” Violet answered.
Just like that, the conversation turned to care, preparation and congratulations. I wanted to be happy. Hell, internally I was screaming with joy knowing I was going to be an uncle again, but the hurt was still there. My relationships with Bells and Violet were always so close and strong, and now I felt like the odd man out. A stranger looking in.
‘Can you say something?’ Bells reached out.
I turned my eyes to her, knowing I’d been in the corner of the room without speaking for a few minutes now.
‘You promised.’ That was all I could think to say, without voicing how much it was hurting that she didn’t trust me. She didn’t need the stress of my butthurt feelings added to all the shit she’d gone through.
‘Cory, this isn’t something I could just explain over mind-link. It’s something I was struggling to wrap my head around, and I thought you’d be disappointed in me.’
My hurt ebbed and I sighed. I pushed away from the corner, and pulled her into another hug.
‘Never going to happen,’ I assured her, and felt her hug tighten around me as she expelled a shuttered breath.
“Do you know what you’re having, yet?” Brenda asked Violet and Chris, who shook their heads.
‘Maybe you should hold off, Cory,’ Bells warned me as I turned my attention to Chris and Violet talking to his parents, thinking now was a good time to get my plan going.
‘Are you kidding? Even more reason to do it, now,’ I answered with a wink. I cut off the mind-link, and went to kiss my pregnant mate.
“I’ll be back, Little Pokémon,” I whispered to her when I pulled back.
“Really, Cory? Don’t you think maybe you should give up this plan?” She narrowed her eyes at me, knowing what I had planned.
I didn’t keep it a secret from anyone, but Chris and Violet. I wanted the man to sweat a little. Even more so now that he’d knocked up my little sister.
“Let me have my fun and do my brotherly duty, and I’ll let you punish me for it later,” I whispered in her ear.
Her eyes darkened, and I felt her lust blasting through the bond. I did my best not to smile smugly, knowing I was getting my way. My kinky mate loved punishing me just as much as I loved punishing her.
I schooled my face and turned back to the room.
“Violet, Chris. My office, now, please,” I ordered.
“C—” Mom started.
“I need to be debriefed on the assignment,” I cut her off.
Brenda and Gabriel remained silent. I had already gotten their blessing on what I was going to do. They understood why I was doing it, and Gabriel even wished he could be a fly on the wall, confident his son would drive all my worries away. I really hoped so, too.
“We’ll be back by the time dinner is ready.” I walked out of the house, knowing Chris and Violet would follow.
I mind-linked Jo and James and told them the additional news, but regretted it the moment they lost their shit via mind-link. I had to cut them off and promise to answer their questions later, because we were on our way to them.
We walked back to the pack house in silence, and I could see the nerves in their faces when I walked them into a conference room instead of my office. Jo and James were already waiting there for me, frowns on their faces.
“What is this, Cory?” Violet asked, seeing what she must feel was an ambush waiting to happen. She wasn’t fully wrong.
“I want to know everything that happened after I left Redmon Moon,” I told her as I sat down between my friends, and waited for them to take their seats across the conference table.
“You already know everything that happened, Cory.”
My sister looked annoyed, and that was fine. I needed to do this for my own peace of mind.
“Not everything, Bug. I sent my best warrior to guard my little sister, who can’t stand being touched by anyone outside of family, let alone men, and they come back saying they’re chosen mates and she’s pregnant? Something’s fishy here.”
“What happened between me and Chris is our business. It has n—”
“Cory’s alpha,” James cut her off, earning him a glare from Violet that made him shrink back a little, unused to such looks from the quiet, shy Salonen.
“And, Chris is his employee, who was charged to protect you, not seduce you,” Jo finished.
Violet opened her mouth to snap at them, but Chris took her hand and put it on his thigh, stopping whatever my sister was going to say.
“It’s okay, Violet. They have a right to ask.” Chris turned to look at me and my friends. “I didn’t set out to do anything other than guard her as instructed. But, along the way, I fell in love with Violet. I did my best to fight it, but I-I couldn’t. I’m in love with her and I don’t plan on fighting it, anymore. As long as she’ll have me, I’m going to remain by her side.” He spoke in his usual calm respectful tone, but there was a determination in his voice that made me happy.
“And, if I say no?” I asked, and instead of showing them how happy I was, I frowned at both of them.
“Cory, what the heck?” Violet hissed.
“You and he have second-chance mates out there, Violet. What happens if he finds his mate? What happens to you and your pup?” That one was an actual concern. A big one.
“With all due respect, Alpha. You can consider this my notice that I’m never working a full moon ever again. I don’t need to or have any desire to look for anyone else. Violet is it for me, and Titan agrees.” Chris took a deep breath and looked down at Violet before turning back to me. The sudden defiance that filled his eyes was something I’d never seen in him. “If you disapprove so strongly, we have options," Chris finished.
I was instantly intrigued and concerned.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked, crossing my arms to show I didn’t appreciate the implied threat. Chris didn’t back down, though. He answered my question without hesitation.
“I love Crescent Moon. I’m proud of the pack, how it runs and how it treats its pack members and allies,” Chris explained something I already knew about him. It was one of the reasons why I trusted him so much. Then, he surprised me. “I’m not looking to leave or take Violet away from her family, but I’m not giving her and our pup up because my alpha doesn’t agree. If my being with Violet offends you so much, I have a standing offer to join another pack. We can be out of your hair by the end of the day.”
“Who?” Jo demanded to know right away.
“I spoke with Alpha Cade a week back. He’s willing to hire me as an elite warrior and train the beginner warrior class. His last trainer joined another pack so he and his mate could stay near her family in California.”
“Seriously?” James’ jaw was on the floor, and I could see a bit of panic in his eyes at the thought of losing Chris. We had plans for him.
“As serious as taxes, Gamma James,” Chris deadpanned, making me snort and Violet giggle.
I tried to shoot my sister a glare, but I wasn’t sure if I was successful. I always had a soft spot for her, and it’d been a while since I heard her giggle.
My plan to intimidate Chris wasn’t going to plan. The man had thought of everything, and honestly, I was happy to see it. This whole thing was a charade. I wasn’t mad they were together. I didn’t give a shit about the fact he’d been her guard. I liked Chris. A lot. I only wanted to make sure Violet didn’t get her heart broken when she appeared to be improving so much. I didn’t know how many more punches my sister could take, before she didn’t try to stand back up.
“What? It’s funny,” Violet glared right back at me.
That was something else I was happy to see. My quiet, little sister appeared to have found her spine and some sass while she was away. Something I was sure had a lot to do with the man who looked after her over the past few months. The man I noticed looked at her as if she were the sun his world revolved around.
I knew it was his influence, because I’d seen the way Chris supported and tutored warriors after hours when they needed help or kept failing in their training. It wasn’t even his job. He did it because he cared about his pack members. He had the patience of a saint, and always lifted people up with his subtle remarks of strength and improvement. That was why he was perfect for Violet. He made her stronger, like a fated mate was supposed to do.
The fact that Cade had seen that, and recognized his talent annoyed me and made me proud to have him as a pack member and brother-in-law.
“Funny? You think Chris is funny?” Jo asked, looking at my sister as if she’d lost her marbles.
“He’s very funny,” Violet confirmed while glaring at Jo, and made all three of us look at the man sitting next to her.
Funny was never a word anyone had associated with Chris. The man rarely cracked a smile.
I guess we didn’t do a good job of masking our skepticism as we stared at him, because he chuckled at our reaction, brought my sister’s hand to his lips and kissed it.
“I told you no one likes my jokes, Little Warrior. You’re the only one.”
My heart melted at the look Violet gave him, and how happy he seemed to make her. Love and adoration, something that I had never seen her direct to anyone other than her family, was shining in her eyes. I’d missed seeing her happy.
“Little Warrior?” Jo asked, looking at Violet as if the world wasn’t making sense anymore.
“What else would you call someone who’s gone through what she has, and stood stronger for it on the other side, Beta Jo?” Chris challenged, and I thought he had a point there.
I uncrossed my arms and sighed, happy to stop the interrogation. I had all the information I needed.
“Well, alright, then. Evie already has it on her agenda to allocate a house for you two, once the rest of Cade’s people leave. She’ll reach out to see if you have any specific requests for location or style. Until then, I know Brenda and Gabriel are giving you a room in their home, but if you want extra privacy, there are a few rooms on the right wing of the alpha floor you can grab now that Cade is gone. No pressure. It’s just an option,” I informed them.
Chris blinked at the sudden change in conversation and Violet narrowed her eyes suspiciously at me.
“Wait, that’s it?” she asked.
“Did you want me to be mean?” I asked, trying not to smile. Violet stood and huffed, crossing her arms. A little more seriously, I asked, “Bug, did you really think I’d try to separate you from the man you love?”
Violet ignored me. Instead, she stood and paced, throwing her hands up as if she were arguing with herself. I took a peek at Chris, who caught my worried look and smirked.
‘Prepare yourself, Alpha. You’re about to witness pregnant Violet in all her hormonal glory,’ he warned with pride, shortly before Violet exploded.
“You’re exactly the same as Dad, Cory,” she accused. “You think it’s okay to pretend and make people worry. You kept us in limbo for weeks, Cory. Weeks! You weren’t mad at all, were you? You just pretended to go all alpha just to fuck with us?”
I paled a little. Violet rarely cursed. If she was doing so now, I’d really fucked up
“I wished you would have told me when it happened,” I told her honestly. It had hurt a little, but I had to admit Evie having kept her own pregnancy from me until she had no choice, was still a bit of a sore subject that I was sure was affecting how I kept reacting to all these other secrets. I was a reasonable guy. I wasn’t “growly” as Violet called me.
“But, you weren’t really mad that Chris was my guard and we fell in love like you made it seem,” Violet clarified.
“You’re my little sister, Violet. I had to make sure he was serious,” I said in my defense.
Bells warned me Violet might be pissed when she found out, but I had no idea at the time that pregnancy hormones were involved. I would have approached this differently. But, it was my job as the older brother to make sure Chris wouldn’t hurt her. A job I took more seriously than ever after everything she’d suffered.
But, because she still looked pissed, and I hated when Violet was mad at me, I added, “Apparently, he’s as serious as taxes.” Violet’s lip twitched but she didn’t laugh. “Oh, so he says it and you giggle, and I don’t even get a tiny smile?” I asked indignantly.
Chris chuckled, and I saw what Bells meant when she said Chris made Violet stronger, and Violet made Chris relax. This was probably the most I’d seen the man laugh in the last five years combined.
“I love you, Cory, but if I get the chance, I’m putting itching powder in your underwear. All three of you!” Violet warned, walking around the table and giving each of us a kiss on the cheek.
I got a little bit of whiplash with her change in mood, but I’d take it. I’d even take the itching powder if it meant she was happy with me again.
“I was forced to participate. I’m under Alpha command,” James called out, making me glare at him.
It was his damn idea to do a triple threat intimidation. Initially, I only wanted to have a conversation with my sister and Chris when they got here.
“Nice try, James. This has you written all over it,” Violet smirked. “Cory’s an annoying, overprotective brother—"
“Hey!”
“—but he’s usually more direct,” she finished.
‘Food’s almost ready,’ Evie reached out.
“You’re getting meaner, Bug. But, I’m so happy to see you smiling again. I’ll give you carte blanche to get back at us if it will keep that smile on your face.”
Jo and James nodded in agreement on either side of me, making Violet’s eye soften as she stood next to where Chris was sitting.
“Dinner is almost ready, but before we go eat I need to ask a serious question,” I told them, all teasing gone from my voice. Violet and Chris looked at each other before Violet nodded at me to continue.
“Do you know who the father of Bells’ kids is?” I couldn’t help asking.
“Yes,” Violet answered, looking uncomfortable to be talking about it.
“Who?” I asked.
“Not our news to share, Cory. When she’s ready, she’ll let you know,” Violet said, her tone telling me she wouldn’t budge from her answer.
I looked at Chris, who looked just as determined as my sister. While I was happy Bells had both of them while everything was happening up in Montana, I couldn’t help feeling annoyed.
"Why does no one respect my authority?” I whined. “I’m alpha. I should ask, and get an answer.”
“Because, this isn’t a pack issue. This is a nosy, big brother issue,” Violet deadpanned, making James and Jo laugh at me.
“I’m not nosy!” I countered, but even I didn’t believe it. When it came to my family, I needed to know everything that could potentially hurt them, so I could prevent it, and I wasn’t going to feel bad about it.
Chris chuckled at my weak defense, and we stood to head to Mom’s house.
‘It’s good to see you both happy. Welcome to the family,’ I mind-linked him, needing to make sure he knew I was genuinely happy to see him with Violet.
‘Thank you, Alpha,’ he replied.
I groaned out loud, remembering how much of a stickler he was for titles. He was going to be family. It was going to make it awkward to be addressed as alpha all the time during family gatherings.
“Are you ever going to be able to call me Cory?” I asked him, making Violet giggle.
“I’ll do my best, Cory,” Chris chuckled, making my jaw drop that he actually used my name without a title. “At least, in private.” I heard him add under his breath, making me chuckle.
I’d take it.
James and Jo split from us to go back to their mates. Bells requested this first dinner to be only immediate family, and I understood why now. Tomorrow, Mom was having extended family over to the private dining room in the pack house to welcome them back. And I guess now we had more news to give them, too.
"Do you know what the gender is?” I asked as we walked.
“No. It was too early when they did the ultrasound,” Violet explained.
“Do you have a sonogram?” I continued to ask.
Now that everything was out in the open, I was itching for more information on my new nieces or nephews.
“Do you?” she asked.
I pulled out my phone and showed them the picture of our pup, warmth spreading through my chest. Chris stopped and pulled out his wallet, bringing out a copy of their sonogram very carefully, as if it were the most precious possession to him.
Fuck. I couldn’t believe Evie was due at the end of February, and Violet and Bells were both due sometime in March. That was a lot of pups running around. Meli was due later this month, and I knew James and Zi were starting to try for one.
Life was about to get very chaotic, and I was excited for it.
Three-quarters of the way to Mom’s house, I stopped for a moment, and looked down at Violet with a new worry.
“He didn’t hurt her, did he? The man Bells was with?”
“No, Cory. It’s not my story to tell, but I can tell you he was a good man who would have cut his right arm before hurting her.”
Fuck. What the hell went down in Montana? Why didn’t it work out if he was a good man?
When we got to Mom’s, everyone was talking in the living room, but I could see Bells was struggling to stay awake.
‘You, okay?’ I asked her, pulling my mate up from her seat, so I could take her place and pull her onto my lap.
‘Just tired,’ Bells said, yawning as if to prove her point.
“Let’s eat!” Mom called out from the kitchen, the smell of curry wafting out stronger as the door swung.
We gathered around the table and as we ate, I remembered I hadn’t talked to Bells about my plan.
“I told Chris and Violet they’re welcome to stay on the alpha floor until we can figure out a house for them, Bells. You’re welcome to do the same. We need to induct you back in the pack later, too.”
Bells perked up at the last part. The longing in her eyes was hard to miss.
“You don’t mind, do you, Dad?” Chris asked.
“Nah. You two need privacy, anyway, not to be staying in your old room down the hall from us,” Gabriel reassured him.
“I want to stay there, too,” Bells told me, an apologetic look at Mom and Dad.
“It’s all good, Bells. It’s more fun in the pack house, than here with your old folks,” Dad chuckled.
‘We need a new dining room table on the alpha floor. Bells, Chris and Violet are going to be staying on the alpha floor for a while,’ I mind-linked Jo.
‘Meli already ordered a new one. The current one was getting cramped, and we have new pups joining soon.’
‘Let’s bring one of the party ones in there temporarily. I finally got Chris to call me Cory, and I’m not chancing not having the room, and him going back to Alpha Cory, if he thinks we don’t want them there.’
‘Violet’s a fucking miracle worker,’ Jo laughed.
Chris worked very closely with us because he was good at what he did, incredibly loyal and trustworthy. We’d tried every which way to get him to drop the formalities, at least when we were in private, but the man was stubborn as all get out.
‘So it seems,’ I answered, eyeing what felt like a permanent smile on the ever-serious Chris, while Violet talked about her lack of morning sickness with Mom. I was happy she was being spared that. I wanted nothing but sunshine and rainbows for the rest of her life.
After dinner, we got Bells, Violet and Chris settled in the alpha suites Evie and Meli prepared yesterday, in case they said yes. Cade, his parents and Beta John had been staying here until a few weeks ago. We were still housing about a hundred of his pack members, but at least we didn’t feel like sardines anymore.