Chapter 90
RILEY.
Nadia and I were standing by the steps, watching as some of the house helpers cleaned the area where the dinner was held last night.
My mother and her family were already on their way to the airport.
They have to catch their flight since the twins have school tomorrow and none of them wanted to miss their classes.
Dawson volunteered to drive them, but I had two cars follow them—one ahead and the other behind them.
I wasn’t taking a risk. I wanted them to be safe, especially around the territory where rogues might be hiding and waiting for an opportunity to attack.
Darvin and his sisters also went home after breakfast. So the packhouse was back to normal, and both my Beta and Gamma were back at work. It was only me that decided to take a day off so I could spend time with my mate. We still have to celebrate her birthday with just the two of us.
Nadia was instructing the young Omega to place the white flowers in my office and the rest in the Luna’s library on the fourth floor, where she spent most of her free time studying about the pack or simply lounging around with a book when the sound of an approaching car disturbed the peace of the packhouse grounds.
I walked down the stairs to where Nadia was and snaked an arm around her. She hugged me back before we walked to meet whoever was approaching.
“Trent,” I told Nadia as I pecked her forehead.
The car stopped, and Trent emerged from it, carrying a nicely wrapped box.
“Happy birthday to my favorite Luna.” He smiled widely as he came forward and gave my Luna a hug.
“You’re too early for next year.” Nadia giggled, and I snorted a laugh while I handed the gift from Trent to an omega female and instructed her to place it in my office.
“Not too tight, Trent. That’s my Luna.” I complained when I found him still hugging Nadia.
“So fucking possessive.” He chuckled back before holding the hand I extended and we came for a quick hug. “So what did I miss?”
“Why didn’t you come last night?” I asked him.
“We came home late, and I was already bummed out. But then I woke up and Caleb and Dawson weren’t home, so I thought the party was still ongoing.” He then peeked his head to the side, looking inside the packhouse. “Are they not here?”
A lovely smile graced the lips of my Luna, and as much as I wanted to slam into his face that his brothers found their mates last night, I just let Nadia tell him that. She might deliver the blow nicer than me.
“Well, soon you’re going to have a new favorite Luna.”
“What do you mean?”
“Caleb found his mate last night!” Nadia shrieked, and I was still in awe of her excitement as if she had won the lottery.
Trent’s eyes widened as he raised his hands to his hips. A smile tugged at his mouth. “Don’t tell me it’s the blonde girl? Sebastian’s sister? Or not?” His brow furrowed at the last two words.
“It is Anya! How did you know?” Nadia clasped her hands together as she kept nodding her head.
“Fuck that! The fucker must be on cloud nine! He couldn’t stop talking about that female for months and wanted to come here to pursue her. Well, he got more than he was asking for.”
“And Dawson found his mate too.” I blurted out, and I didn’t miss the scowl on his face. And I felt fucking satisfied.
“What… the… fuck! No fucking way! I was supposed to find mine first.”
“Well, tough luck!” I chuckled, enjoying the scowl on his face.
“So who’s he mated to?”
“Riley’s sister.”
I hissed at Nadia’s words, and it was Trent’s turn to laugh before he started throwing jokes again.
“So the Gamma and the Alpha’s sisters? Are you sure Beta Dominic doesn’t have a sister?
Well, that fucking means I don’t have a mate, right?
” He snickered, but this time the pain in his eyes was real.
And I almost felt bad for him.
“Well, that means I can fuck around more.”
I was about to berate him for his ways when another sound of a car approaching was heard.
All heads turned in the direction of the sound, and it didn’t take long when Dawson’s 4x4 white car appeared in our sight.
“Well, here is Dawson,” Trent said as he crossed his arms over his chest.
“Why are they back? Did they forget something?” Nadia asked me, and I just shrugged my shoulders because I had the same question.
They left thirty minutes ago and should have been almost to the neutral city by now. Unless they forgot something important and wanted to pick it up. Either way, they only have limited time left before their flight.
ELLIE.
My hand was holding Dawson’s as we drove away from the Silver Moon Pack territory. He volunteered to drive us to the airport at Harley City, which was almost three hours away from my brother’s territory. And I couldn’t be happier.
The few hours I spent with him were too short, and I wanted more time, but I have my goals at the moment, and I was glad Dawson understood. But he would be following me to Atlanta in a couple of days, and we could spend more time together, hopefully completing our mating process.
Although we got hot and heavy last night when everyone went off to bed, Dawson was gentleman enough not to push through all the way.
As much as I wanted to have sex with him, I didn’t want anyone running in on us while we were doing it in the entertainment room, because for some unknown reason, we couldn’t find the keys that Beta Dominic gave us for our room.
We might have dropped it off somewhere, and we didn’t want to disturb him because we saw him kissing Sofia when we found them in the playroom.
So we just contented ourselves with cuddling, but I couldn’t stop Dawson from touching me and making me come before we drifted off to sleep. I just hoped I could return the pleasure to him. But soon, I know I will.
I clamped my legs together and steadied my breathing when I realized that the thought of last night was arousing me. It was different if it had just been Dawson and me in the car, but I had my whole family as well. And that would be utterly embarrassing.
I rolled the windows down, and Dawson did the same. My arousal might have hit him, too. He squeezed my hand before he placed it in his mouth, kissing my knuckles.
“Oh, Goddess! I can’t find my phone!” Bella’s shrieking voice broke the silence in the car as she rummaged through her bag.
“Check again. Sometimes you tend to miss small details,” Mom said in a bored tone as she closed her eyes again and leaned her back against Dad’s chest.
“No. It’s not here. I remember putting it on the bathroom counter in my room while brushing my teeth, but I can’t remember picking it up.”
“We can just have Riley send it to us by post,” I told her, my fingers playing with Dawson’s hand.
“No. I need it tomorrow. Some of my reviewers were on that phone. Do we have time if we turn around? Please.”
“I can drive fast, but we will get there with just twenty minutes of leeway before your flight. So you have to jump out of the car and find your phone, and then we need to drive off right away.” Dawson answered her. “Or I’ll call Riley now so he can look for it.”
I squeezed Dawson’s hand, smiling at him when he glanced at me. He winked, and the butterfly in my stomach fluttered at his handsome features. He looked like a boy next door, ready to ravish any female who would offer herself to him. And I was so happy that he was mine.
“Thank you, Dawson!” Bella let out a sigh and leaned her back against the seat.
“By the way,” Mom said. “Your brother said he wanted to take you into his pack the next time you visit. That means you can learn how to mindlink and witness the wolf’s ways of living. Did he inform you both?”
“Yes. I told him I’d be up for it. And Dawson will be staying with me in Riley’s pack until I’m ready to move in with him. I want to spend time with Riley, too, so I’m happy Dawson will stay there as well.”
“Sounds perfect! And you, sweetheart?” Mom looked at Bella, who was gazing out the window.
“Definitely. I want to be there when Nadia gives birth.” She replied.
“And you might find your mate while you stay here,” Dawson added.
“I’m not interested. I want to finish my degree and I need three more years, so I can wait.” She answered. She had this mindset the moment we turned eighteen, but it didn’t mean she didn’t want to meet her mate. She just didn’t want him to get in the way of her dreams.
“Ah, too bad. I was hoping you could meet my brother, Trent. He might be your mate.” Dawson chuckled. “But I’m not sure he can wait another three years.”
“No, thanks. I’ll be fine.” Bella responded, and I giggled.
“He’s not Bella’s type for sure. They said he has a big build like Riley and Caleb, so he’s definitely not Bella’s type. She goes for skinny boys with long hair.” I added.
“Fuck, that’s me!”
“Suit yourself, Dawson but I’m not interested in you.” Bella scoffed. “I just don’t want anyone to get in my way of finishing my degree.”
“You can study here, like what Ellie plans to do,” Mom added.
“Leave Bella alone. It’s hard already to lose Ellie. I don’t need to lose both at the same time,” Dad butted in, and I saw his eyes water when our gaze locked. “Maybe we should move nearer to Riley’s pack.”
“Aww, Daddy! You’re not losing me!” I pouted as I looked at him lovingly.
“You gained a son!” Dawson added. “A handsome one.”
Dad chuckled as Dawson turned his car towards the packhouse grounds, and my eyes darted to the front of the house, where Riley and Nadia were standing. Beside them was another man.
“Is that Trent?” I asked, and Dawson nodded.
“Yup. Time to meet my brother, Bella.” Dawson teased.
“Stop it. Not funny.” Bella replied.
I turned to look at her just in time to see her swallow. Her eyes were fixated on Trent. A smile graced my lips. Not interested, she said. But Bella has a habit of staring when she finds somebody attractive.
Dawson jumped out of the car, and I followed him. At the same time, Beta Dominic came out of the packhouse, carrying Bella’s phone. He was the one who answered the phone earlier when Dawson called.
“Fuck, man! You’ve found your mate! Is that her?” Trent came and hugged Dawson. His eyes were on me. A smile was on his face before his nose scrunched up while he was hugging Dawson.
A growl reverberated from his chest as the word ‘mate’ came out of his mouth, and I stood frozen in my spot as his eyes shifted back at me.
What was happening? Did he think I was his mate? My eyes widened as I stepped back before I heard a car door slam.
And the next thing I knew, Trent was rushing to where Bella was, pinning her body to the side of the car.
“Get off of me, you freak!” Bella shrieked as she threw punches at Trent’s chest. Dawson rushed toward them and took Trent away from Bella.
“She’s my mate!” Trent yelled at Dawson.
All eyes turned to Bella as she hugged my mother tightly.
“Bella, is Trent your mate?” Riley asked her in a warm voice.
“I don’t want him.”
Nadia and I gasped at the same time as my eyes shifted to Trent. I saw pain flash in his eyes, but it was gone in a second. He pushed Dawson away from holding him. His face was now void of any emotions as he walked near Bella.
“Fine. Let’s make this official. Give me your name.”
“No. No fucking way, Trent!” Riley growled.
Dad went in front of him. He laid his hand on Trent’s shoulder as he spoke calmly. “Calm down. Let’s talk about this.”
“Just give me your name!” His voice was calmer but firm as he talked to her, ignoring Dad’s words.
“Can we all calm down!” Nadia was about to stand between Trent and Bella, but Riley grabbed her waist and pulled her, placing her behind him.
“Bella Grayson.” Bella’s voice was shaking.
“Bella...” My voice was shaking too. I knew how Bella dreamed of a mate, but I had no idea what she was thinking at the moment. Does she really want to be rejected?
“She wants this. I’m not going to push myself on someone who doesn’t want me.” Trent snapped at everyone who was trying to stop him.
“Oh, Goddess! You’re just like Riley! Can you calm down?” Nadia was furious, but Riley was stopping her from moving from her spot.
“I, Trent Jefferson Adams,” Trent started, but before he could continue, Riley’s clenched fist was already on his jaw.
He staggered backward before he fell to the ground. Riley hit him hard.
Gasps and screams were all around me as I stood dumbfounded. My eyes zeroed in on Bella as she rushed in front of Trent, crouching, her back to him as she tried to block him from Riley, who was aiming for another punch.
“Stop, stop! Riley, please! I’m sorry! Don’t!” Tears poured down her face as her hands moved to her back, touching Trent’s legs, while he simply lay down on his back and let out a deep sigh, tightly clutching his jaw.
“If I hear another rejection coming from your fucking mouth, I don’t care if you’re family, I’m going to fucking kill you!” Riley spat at Trent before moving back and going to Nadia, checking if she was hurt, because Nadia had tried to stop him from lunging at Trent.
My eyes darted to my father. His chest was heaving and anger was written on his face, but Mom was holding him back. Bella was still guarding Trent, her chest rising and falling as she tried to stop her tears, her hands still holding on to her mate’s legs.
“Maybe we should let them talk.” I finally found my voice as Dawson came beside me and pulled me into his arms.
“No.” Both Dad and Riley said it in unison.
“I’m not leaving them alone until I have a guarantee Trent won’t reject Bella.” It was Riley.
“I won’t, unless she asks me to,” Trent replied, but he was still on the ground with his eyes closed and his chest heaving.
“Bella?” It was Mom this time.
“I won’t.” Her voice was almost inaudible.
“Fine. Let’s give them time to talk.” Riley’s voice was cold. He let go of Nadia before he went back to Trent, offering him a hand.
Trent took it, and as soon as Riley helped him off the ground, he hugged him and whispered something in his ear, to which Trent just nodded his head. Both their faces showed no emotions at all.
I looked at Bella, who was still on the grounds.
Her face was already dry with tears. I wanted to go to her, but Dawson directed me to the packhouse.
Only then did my heart relax when I saw Trent extend his hand for Bella to take.
It took a while before Bella took it, and he helped her off the ground.
“She’ll be fine. She’s in good hands,” Dawson whispered in my ear before kissing my hair, and I just nodded my head, scooting my body closer to him as we walked toward the packhouse.