(Book 3) – Chapter 20
“Ok so each pack has sent back a portion of their warriors the strongest mixed in so that it helps out both their pack and ours,” Blake updated us as we had lunch with his parents at their house. “A few of the leaders went back to check on things and to make a few changes they think are needed but left someone in charge. It leaves us a bit lighter on the patrols and a few other pack duties but we can make a few changes easily. Roger is leaving tonight with this Luna and Beta giving his Gamma some time to make it here with his mate.”
“I will be so glad when all of this is over with and everyone can go back to their own pack. I feel like a can of sardines when I am helping in the packhouse,” Blake’s Mom, Natasha, replied before finishing off her plate of food. “And now there are so many people with different allergies the cooks are not the happiest. I had to ask them to make this lunch special since Ryder’s iron was low at her doctor appointment.” Damn, woman was a snitch.
All eyes landed on me as I ate the last bite of my steak. I gulped it down and smiled as fake as could be before downing my drink. I think either avoidance or redirection was what I needed to do here.
“So Julian have you found a replacement for you yet? I would be more than happy to help keep an eye out for you.” I stood up and started grabbing all of the empty plates. “I know a few of the warriors were discussing who would be Beta and how it was going to be decided. I think a fight contest thing might be in order.”
By the time I made it to the sink all my mates had linked me to let me know I was not off the hook and we would be talking about it later. I just rolled my eyes at them. I checked on the twins who were asleep in the living room. I still couldn’t believe I carried these guys inside me for 4 months and then pushed them out of me. They were a great mix of all of us and I couldn’t wait to watch them grow every day.
“Baby, come back to the table for dessert. Mom made your favorite, Cheesecake.” Blake hugged me from behind and kissed the top of my head. “We did good on these guys, huh? I can’t wait till we can give them siblings.”
I elbowed his stomach making him lose his breath. “It is going to be a long while for that, mister. If these two end up like any of you two it may be more than I can handle until they can follow you around while I get a break.”
“No more grandbabies until we win this war and maybe get your mate on her throne. That will be tiresome even more so than the war. So much paperwork,” Julian whined. He really did hate the paperwork. I had found some of his put onto the gamma’s desk and even Sandra’s. She usually just rolled her eyes and did it.
“Speaking of paperwork, how is Melissa doing on the scroll?” Natasha asked as she brought dessert to the table. I pushed Blake back so I could run back to my seat.
“It looks amazing. I do have one question, though,” I asked eyeballing the cheesecake like it was s*x on a stick and I didn’t even care. “Where is your guy’s dessert? Because this delicious treat is ALL mine.”
I made a grab for the pan but was stopped by Asher putting his arms around me and pushing me back into my chair. He chuckled and kissed my head and sat down next to me. What the heck is with this with the guys denying me sweets? I growled at him lightly.
“Sharing is caring, baby.” Koda thought I didn’t hear that but was mistaken.
Julian and Natasha laughed before they brought over another cheesecake with extra whipped cream on top. I cried. f**k, I did not want to cry anymore. This lady gets me and I am so thankful for that. “I am so glad you are my in laws. I love you and this goodness so freaking much.”
“Anyway, Melissa has half of it translated but I guess some of it is old Latin and something else mixed in that some of the first witches used in their spells,” Koda interrupted my drool fest with the second cheesecake. “I had some extra protection put on all three babies and I have Jared researching the relationship that witch claimed she had with Ryder’s mother.”
I blew him a k**s in thanks. I hated even thinking about all of that. I wanted to pretend it didn’t happen for now. Every time I thought about it I wanted to grab my kids and hide in the cellar until they were a hundred years old.
“That is somewhat good news. At least we are taking steps to prepare to take it head on,” Julian reckoned. He nodded a few times before continuing to speak. “Nothing bad is going to happen to my grandbabies. It will be over my dead body.”
“And mine.” Natasha added in.
The guys all agreed. The lunch was taking a bad turn and I knew they were going to get worked up and that would suck to have another sleepless night of them pacing the hallways and in front of the doors. I had enough of it last night and Blue was still sleeping it off.
“How about we focus on the here and now since we will be having another big meeting about either getting this queen to step out or a way for us to take them on,” I urged them to move onto the new subject. “I have a few ideas on both accounts, but I worry that since the fight wasn’t immediate, we might lose some allies.”
“I agree with Ryder on worrying about still keeping all our allies the longer this takes,” Edgar shared with us. “A lot of people change their minds so often or if they finally give in to turning against us. I know that makes me seem like I have trust issues and I won’t argue that.”
“How about we worry about that as it comes and let us just enjoy the rest of the day as a family?” Knox reasoned. “I am ready to kick Blake’s a*s at some basketball. He keeps talking this big game and I call b.s.”
“Alright, bring it.” Blake pushed his chair back and waved for Knox to follow him.
All the guys got up and went to watch while Natasha and I stayed inside. I offered to help her clean up but she waved me off. I was told to go lay down to either take a nap or watch a movie of my choice. She knew the guys helped a lot but sometimes it was nice to have some quiet time to make whatever decisions I wanted. I agreed. I was sick of the shows they chose so I accepted before she even finished talking. She had set up the guest bedroom with a fridge and my favorite drinks inside as well as a tv and the cutest wooden day bed with so many pillows I could hide my body under fluffy selves and no one would know.