Silence rang through the room, my second plate half done already. The expressions around the room ranged from shock, horror, and anger. I felt as if I had shrunk to half my size. Was that…directed at me?
“Well I’ll be-” Mitch started.
I was silent, my chest tightening.
“Let me get this straight.” Zack began. “You’re from Graycrest. Your mom was a rogue. Your dad is the alpha. But he’s an asshole, and exiled you, because you didn’t want to admit you’re carrying a rival pack’s alpha’s pup?”
I nodded, taking another bite of my food to avoid answering. Voicing anything right now would only reveal how anxious I was.
“I knew official packs were strict..” Cam would start, before being interrupted by Beau.
“Thank you for not being in an official pack Dad, Mom. I don’t want to ever join one.”
“You poor thing. To not only be abandoned but humiliated…cruel man.” El would tut, bringing me another plate.
She kept the food coming, which I was thankful for.
“You’re safe here.” Mitch would state, leaning over and taking a piece of bacon off of my plate. El huffed at his action, but I only smiled.
“Is no one worried they’re going to come looking for her?” Easton would speak up, looking around the table at his family. “She’s an alpha. Isn’t that like- valuable?”
“Yes…but her mother wasn’t the luna. Official packs care deeply about bloodlines and fated mates. A marriage like your father and I are frowned upon in the official packs, and according to their ridiculous laws, you kids aren’t normal. Most pack wolves will wait until they find their fated mate to have pups. Love is important, yes, but it's not everything to them.” El would explain.
I swallowed my food to chime in. This was my forte, it's what I had been raised around, although El seemed to know a lot about pack life. Had she lived in one before? I set that thought to the side, a reminder for later. I wanted to ask her about that later.
“I’m a bastard child according to my pack.” I’d start to explain. “I’m my father’s shame. A mistake that he’s forced to keep around because of the ancient pack laws. Had he never found the Luna, yes, I would have been important. With my brother Brycen being the Luna’s son, he’s the Alpha Heir. I lost that title the day he was born. If I had stayed, my father would be looking for someone to marry me off to, hide my existence and keep me out of the way. From what I understand, I probably would have been forced to marry one of the pack warrier’s, whose mate died already.”
I cringed internally. I had been terrified of that fate, constantly trying to mingle as much as possible, praying to the Moon that I’d have an inkling of who my mate was even without my wolf. The fate that had been explained to me was even worse of a hell than the one I had grown up in. I supposed in a way, this was a far better outcome.
I could see El shaking her head out of the corner of my eye.
“Yeah, it's official.” Beau would say. “I hate official packs.”
Easton didn’t seem convinced, staring at me hard. I swallowed the uneasiness that rose with his gaze.
“As I said, Lupa is an enigmatic goddess.” El would say, her hands resting gently on my shoulders. “She has plans for you, and it was not marrying someone you didn’t love.”
I smiled down at my plate, now only pushing the food around. I had lost my appetite with this conversation. There was so much that could have been, good and bad mixed together. This wasn’t all bad though, I had come to terms with that a while ago. El and her family were one of the best things I could have ever ran across, even if some of them still didn’t quite like me. Their wolves did, so even with them being suspicious, I was counted as part of their pack. I wasn’t alone anymore. Anything would have been better than marrying a man twice my age. That I was certain.
“Oh…that reminds me.” Excitement began to run through me again as I remembered last night. The two beautiful pups that greeted me with my wolf. I wanted to tell El the good news. She had been the first one I thought of when I saw that, through the shock of learning I’d have twins, I knew they would be okay, and I wanted El to share my joy.
“Yes?” El would ask. I had caught her attention, and the attention of the table. A blush ran to my cheeks as I was suddenly embarrassed. I had formed a bond with El, but the others still made me a little nervous, especially when it came to talking about the pups I carried. I was younger than most of them, and not only admitting I was pregnant but openly speaking about it with them felt awkward.
“I saw something else with my wolf last night.”
The sound of the spatula against the pan stopped, as did the scrape of forks against plates. I had the attention of everyone. Beau must have told his brothers that I held a deeper connection to my wolf than others did, because they all seemed interested.
“What did you see?” El would ask.
“My pups.” I’d say, the smile wide on my face as I shoveled some eggs into my mouth to add a dramatic pause when someone asked the next question.
“Pups?” Mitch would ask, eyes widening. “As in…”
“Twins.” I supplied after swallowing my mouthful.
“And they’re…” El was whispering.
“Healthy.” I answered. She was in shock, like I had been when I saw them.
I was touched how much she cared, especially when her arms wrapped around my shoulders.
“Oh thank the Moon. Cheyanne this is…incredible.”5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZyPlTVYDk3
5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZvTF1rzr9
“I’ve never heard of someone seeing their pups in their mindscape.” Mitch would comment.
“This means we have to make the room bigger, doesn’t it?” Zack would ask, trying to seem annoyed but smiling.
Tears fell onto my shirt, and I heard El sniff above me. One arm moved from my shoulders as she went to dab at her eyes. Almost everyone at the table seemed relieved, which I hadn’t expected. The boys cared that much? I hadn’t thought we were really close enough for them to care. Besides, since when did boys care about babies? Men, yeah of course, but boys? They were more focused on being chaotic and all that, right?
“I’ve been so worried for you…this is wonderful sweetheart.” El would sniffle, her grip growing tighter as she leaned into the hug.
I leaned into her hug, letting my eyes close and just absorb the love. Would my mother be this happy for me? Probably. She struck me as the type to love all pups, even if they weren’t kin, and these most certainly were.
El reluctantly released me as the smell of burning meat began to fill the kitchen. She seemed flustered when I looked back towards her. It was an unusual look for her, she was always so level headed and confident, but it was comforting in itself. I wasn’t the only one who got emotional.
“Great. We’re gonna have two brats running around.” Easton would comment with an eye roll.
His grunt was what I heard next, as Zack elbowed him.
“Shut up!”5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8Tq6IftiT
5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz9h8jU0Kpv
“Easton Howe Thompson! I have about had it with you!” El turned from the stove, anger etched onto her usually gentle features, the spatula held like a weapon in her hand. “Go take a run.”
The kitchen went deadly silent, everyone holding their breaths for Easton’s response. He opened his mouth to respond, but a low growl sounded from Mitch. Huffing, Easton shoved his chair from the table and stood up, storming out of the house. The door slammed against the frame, leaving us in tense silence.
“Go with him, Mitch.” El would say, voice quiet, as if she was tired from her scolding.
The large man didn’t hesitate, standing and following his son out the door. The others dispersed to their rooms quickly, Cam keeping his gaze locked on his feet as he set his plate in the sink and retreated down the hall. Zack cleaned up the others, leaving mine with me, and started to clean the dishes. The trickle of water filled the room that was otherwise silent. Beau picked up Mari, taking her to his room I assumed. Clearing the kitchen, leaving me, Zack, and El. Their reactions told me this was something they didn’t deal with often, their quick retreat reeking of nervousness.
I remained seated, watching it all unfold with some confusion. If that little scolding was what they retreated from, none of them would have survived my pack. A light sigh came from El as she pulled out a chair next to me and sat down, facing me.
“Shh…it's okay sweetie.”
I was confused, why was she talking to me as if I was upset by that? I opened my mouth to question her, and salt water ran over my lips. Oh. I was crying. That’s why everyone had cleared out, they were giving me space. It had hurt…my fears of being a burden being confirmed.
“O-oh. Uhm, no…It’s okay.” I said quickly, wiping at my face. “I’m not-”
“We’re happy for you. Really. Mitch has been coming to me every day to reconfirm the blueprints he drew out for your room. Trust me honey, we can’t wait to meet your pups.” She tried to comfort me.
“I-I know that. You’ve been nothing but nice to me…It just…caught me off guard.” I’d admit.
It had been my fear that I was a burden, I had gone my entire life being independent, but to have someone say something that confirmed that fear, it pierced through my heart. Easton had never been very happy about me being here, and I knew I wasn’t very much help, but I had hoped I’d find some way for me to fit in better.
“Easton hates everyone, and hates change.” Zack would chime in. “You should have seen him when Ma was pregnant with Mari. He wouldn’t talk to her for an entire month. It's not you.”
I appreciated their attempts, but my stomach churned in unease. My mood had plummeted and I just wanted to be left alone now. I could feel my wolf stirring, sluggish and tired, but answering my sadness with a blanket of love and warmth. I gave a small smile to El, trying to mask the hurt in my eyes despite the tears still brimming in my eyes.
“I’m…I’m going to go lay down. I’m still…still tired.” I’d state, standing up and pushing my chair out, gathering my fork and plate and walking it over to the sink. Zack took it with an apologetic smile.
“Of course sweetheart. Get your rest. I’ll bring you some tea in a bit.” El said, that motherly love flooded her voice, along with a hint of sadness.
I didn’t want to push her away, but there was a reason I didn’t like to talk about my pregnancy around anyone but El and Lorrie, I feared the judgement and rejection.
Slowly, I shuffled my way down the hall into Mari’s room. Closing the door, I drew the curtains closed and laid in the bed, staring at the wall. Everything felt…hollow. Numb. Had I been stupid, thinking I could raise my pups here? As sweet as El and Mitch and Beau and Zack had been, was it all a facade? Were they being nice, and nothing more? Would forcing them to be around my pups only make them resent me, as my father had grown to resent my mother? The down spiral of anxiety induced thoughts began to pull me under, tears falling freely as I muffled my sobs in the pillow, until sleep took me into her peaceful depths
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