Chapter 106
NADIA.
The packhouse was still gloomy but was swarming with warriors. Riley had stepped up the security around the packhouse and the whole territory. The vast neutral forest connecting Alpha Caspian and Alpha Darvin’s territories with us was already surrounded by warriors from all three packs.
After breakfast, Riley stayed in his office with Alpha Aeon. The Alpha arrived early this morning to pay respect to Zahra, and they’d been discussing something behind closed doors. Only the Beta and the Gamma were allowed inside, and even Jenny had no idea what was going on.
But I wasn’t worried. I knew Riley would let me know once we had our time alone.
I was relieved that at least he was moving around and discussing things rather than being stuck in one place.
Not that he was not allowed to mourn Zahra, but I didn’t want him to feel that he hadn’t made Zahra happy, because I knew that even in the short time that they were together, it made up for all the years that Zahra longed for him.
The warriors had arrived earlier with all the belongings that were left in the car that was hijacked. The luggage and bags were inside the private receiving room, and I was here now with the twins, Laura and Jenny.
Zahra and Leandro’s things were on the floor. We opened their luggage and the twins got to decide if we needed to keep them or tuck them away.
This was something hard to do after just a day, but the twins didn’t want to prolong this and wanted to see their parents’ belongings.
Trent and Dawson went back to their territory because Alpha Vesmont requested a meeting with the future Alpha, Beta, and Gamma of the pack.
Although Dawson had no part in it, he wanted him there as well.
It looked like he was ready to pass on the post to the new generation, which was what Dad said to us over breakfast, which I was hoping for.
Caleb was ready to be an Alpha, and so was Trent as his Beta.
Trent and Dawson requested to take Bella and Ellie to their pack, but Riley hesitated.
He knew he had no right to his sisters compared to their mates, but he wanted them around after what happened to Zahra, and the thought of the twins crossing the neutral forest again with the threat of Achilles hunting Bella was something he didn’t want to disregard.
But I was proud of Riley.
Instead of flatly saying no, he let the twins and their mates decide after stating his concern.
But everyone agreed with him that it was better to have the twins with him, since the brothers might be busy with their meeting and would not be around all day.
No one wanted to take the risk of them being cornered by the rogues in the neutral forest once they crossed over.
And if there’s anything that came out positive from this, it was that Bella was finally marked when I woke up this morning. And Trent couldn’t be happier after staking his claim on his mate.
“This one…” Ellie took a deep breath before she handed me a handmade quilt. “She said she made that for the baby. She made one for Ellie and me, and this has been with us for a long time, so I’m guessing it was really for Riley, but she wanted to give it to your pup.”
My eyes watered again as I took the handmade quilted baby blanket she handed me and clutched it to my heart. I smiled before I was able to find my voice. “The big baby can use it before we hand it over to our pup. I’m sure that’s what Mom would have wanted.”
The twins nodded, wiping their own tears.
We were like this for the rest of the time we were trying to sort out what we would keep and let go.
In the end, almost everything the twins wanted to keep.
And I understood them. If I had something left of my mother, I would keep it no matter how old or destroyed it was, but then I have nothing. Not even a memory.
We were almost done when the door to the room opened and Dawson came in, followed by Trent, with big smiles on their faces.
“So what did we miss?” Dawson asked as he dropped to the floor beside Ellie and gave her a big kiss, which was practically what Trent did to Bella as well.
The girls giggled as they scooted their bodies toward their mates.
“Nothing interesting for you, so how was the meeting?” Bella asked as he wiped the lipstick stain on Trent’s corner lips.
“I’ll be a Beta in two weeks!” Trent beamed proudly, but Bella’s face dropped as she swallowed. And I think I knew what was going on in her mind.
“Beta? That fast?” She asked, her voice almost inaudible.
“That fast?” Dawson chuckled. “You have no idea how long we waited before Dad finally decided it was time for Caleb and Trent to take over.”
“Yeah, I know. But... but...” Bella’s eyes darted and locked with Trent. “I don’t even know what a Beta does, much less what a Beta Female needs to do.”
“You’ll be fine. Mom and her Beta Female will help you. And to make you feel better, Anya, your future Luna, doesn’t know what to do as a Luna either. So you can all play around there until you both learn how to be one.”
“I didn’t know how to be a Luna either,” I added. “But Trent is right. There are people who will help you. I think it will get easier as time goes by.”
“And I know, in no time, you’ll be an amazing Beta Female, as you’ve always been with everything you do, Bell!” Ellie beamed happily at her sister, and I could see her eyes flitting with pride.
In an instant, Dawson’s arms wrapped around Ellie, resting his chin on her shoulder. His expression was solemn. “I’m sorry, I can’t give you any titles. I’m just Dawson. The third son.”
Ellie rolled her eyes playfully before she turned her body around to face Dawson, cupping his face as she looked at him lovingly. “I don’t think anyone can beat the title I have as Dawson’s mate. That’s enough for me. I got you. I won’t ask for anything more.”
I couldn’t help but smile as I looked at the twins. They matured overnight. And despite losing their parents, I was happy that they found a family who needed and loved them.