“Don’t even think about making me call you dad.” Colton snaps at Radar and turns on his heel in a dramatic, sulky fashion before storming off. Colton behaving like a child because he knows he can’t do a damned thing about a situation he wanted to happen. Radar hesitates, eyes going back and forth from son to mother before going off after him in an attempt to unruffle his alpha’s feathers.
“Leave them to figure it out between them. They have a strong bond, I’m sure they will find their new level quickly. Colton just wants everyone he loves to be happy, but he will find it weird replacing his father so soon after we …….” Meadow chimes in and yet trails off, moving in between us now that our little dramatic scene is over, and slings an arm around my shoulder in that casual affectionate way of hers. Her words bringing the somber mood back and I feel a little guilty knowing that maybe this is all equally painful and confusing to Colton. Even as an adult. His father left his mark in his heart and now Radar is meant to take his place after a lifetime of being like his brother.
“He’s not against it. I think deep down he’s pleased, but you know Colton…. Has to seem like a cool and bossy alpha and won’t let Radar get any preferential treatment in case he thinks he’s gone soft.” Sierra sighs and hooks her arm in Meadow’s other one, so all three are connected and we stand for a moment watching them disappear out the far door.
I don’t know how my mates feeling, but I know it won’t last. He’s the type to figure it out fast and put it to bed so it doesn’t disrupt his relationship with Radar, or how he oversees the pack.
“Let’s go home. There’s enough sub wolves and Cesar is overseeing what needs to be done here. My Luna needs fed and put to bed.” Meadow squeezes me, sensing my need for time alone to process everything that’s happened, and bumps her temple against mine. “I had the twins go fetch a car so I can take you two back to the stead. We need to update all those we left at home. It’s going to be a hectic week.” Meadow is tired too. I can hear it in her voice and know last night she would have given her all to battle against those creatures. She may be strong and fearless but even Meadow needs mental space after killing to be able to look at herself in the mirror. Lycans were never borne to be those kinds of beasts.
“Yeah…. The work starts now. Let’s all go home.”
Going forward
“Is everything ready?” I wander into the new dining room space we cleared and created this past week in readiness for my father’s first official visit. The room which used to be the medbay, although now our outhouse for the clinic is complete, we are freeing up space indoors. The village has come on a lot these past months and even though we know a move back to the valley is in the books, we still want this place to have a use. Some of our pack might want to live out here despite the Alpha and Luna returning to the main homestead. Sierra has already expressed desire to continue here with Radar now that she feels her position as Rema no longer requires her to oversee the reunited Santos. I think in all honesty she wants to relish in her new love and honeymoon period without grossing out her son.
I’ll be sad to leave our home behind, but I know this is the start of a new chapter for all of us.
“So clean it’s sparkling. The grounds have been refreshed, everything scrubbed, and the manor is in top shape for this royal visit.” Meadow drolls with that sarcastic tone of hers. Standing with her head propped to one side as she scans all the details on her tick list. Still not onboard with an alliance between our kinds or accepting my father as a guest, but she’s trying. A lot of the pack are still reserving judgement until they see how life continues for themselves. This visit has already caused so much upheaval and mutterings among them.
“And Colton?” I ask, looking around for my invisible mate who has been AWOL since first light. Off doing whatever he does every day.
“Patrolling the grounds with Radar and Jasper. Still trying to acclimatize your brother into the pack and bickering with him at every opportunity. I swear it’s become a hobby for those two and they only hang out to argue. They sound like an elderly mated couple.” Meadow sighs heavily and then goes back to her clipboard.
I can’t say I disagree. The past week has seen my brother move into the house of his own accord and spend all his spare time goading my mate into verbal spats. They’re always together and always fighting but don’t seem to think that giving one another space should be a thing. We offered him one of the village houses on the edge of the patrol line for some solitude, and yet he moved right across from our bedroom just to piss Colton off.
He was meant to be here to protect me, and yet I have barely seen him since he dropped off his luggage. I guess because I have kept Carmen close by in hopes that their proximity would help things along, but she acts as a natural deterrent for his presence. He’s still holding out on her, and she’s so stubborn and hurt that she’s avoiding him like the plague. It’s frustrating to have two of them in a small space like this manor and yet see them never get within thirty feet of one another. I don’t understand why he’s being so certain about this given his acceptance to living here now.
“They’ll be here at noon. I have no idea what food we should serve, seeing as they are vampires.” Carmen appears almost by magical thought, hands on her hips and looking unusually beautiful in a simple white summer dress which flows around her legs in a carefree manner. Ethereal today and her blonde hair is golden like a halo of softness.
“Look, there was a time we didn’t think vampires could be out in the sun. Maybe they can eat human food too.” Meadow shrugs and both Carmen and I raise a brow in unison at her.
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