Evelyn POV
Elspeth was asleep next to me in the double bed. I had managed to fall asleep and woken up at around 5am. It was now 6am, I have been watching Elspeth sleep for the past hour. Just watching her cute intakes of air, her fluttering eyelids as she dreams and the way she hugs her bunny teddy makes my heart melt. I vow to myself that as soon as we have Rex back, I would watch him sleep.
My body was currently in a constant state of stress, my heart was beating faster and the desperation to have him in my arms was creating panic attacks that I kept at bay, and in the privacy of the room.
6am… Was it too early to go downstairs? I always felt awkward in another person’s household, walking around and helping yourself to things. But I didn’t want to disturb Michelle and a coffee would help wake me up to check my emails, to see if Donnie had reached the quarry safely.
I decide to leave Elspeth sleeping, she was peaceful and needed the sleep. She was starting to get dark circles under her eyes from her recent restless nights. She didn’t say it, but I think she was holding off sleeping for as long as possible. So that she could feel Rex through the twin bond before crashing out from exhaustion
I slowly tiptoe across the bedroom floor, avoiding the floorboards that always creaked under the carpet before reaching the door. I enter onto the landing and to my absolute horror, find Vicky walking out of Reuben’s alpha rooms, scantily dressed.
She was wearing one of his T–shirts, a grey one with a rock band tour image on the front and the tour dates listed on the back. Even worse she had no bottoms on, she was only wearing lace panties which I could see slightly under the T–shirt.
Her hair messy, sexy bed hair and I didn’t need a science degree to realise that not only did they share the bed but that they were sexually active, as I thought.
She reaches her bedroom door and only just notices me on the landing watching her. She acts flustered…embarrassed but Vicky doesn’t embarrass easily. It wouldn’t surprise me if she heard
me stir and decided to catch me on the landing.
I make myself a cup of coffee in the kitchen and fire the laptop up on the kitchen counter top. I intend to check my emails but I couldn’t get Vicky’s early morning dash from Reuben’s bed out of
my mind. And why did I care? Why did I agree to stay?
I was so hurt when Reuben pushed me aside when Vicky returned. Their mate bond was strong
and I didn’t need to be reminded of it. It forced me out in the first place. The wife that couldn’t win against the fated luna.
Yet I felt disappointed, why? Disappointed in Reuben giving into the bond and still not fighting for me? But why would he, and why would I want him to? The longer we stay here, the more confused I become. Even my wolf.
I hear footsteps entering the kitchen and at first I don’t look up, just remain engrossed on my laptop. I didn’t need Vicky feigning embarrassment when really she was glad I spotted her.
“Are you up early, or have you not gone to bed yet?” Cassandra remains standing by the kitchen table, unsure whether she should enter the kitchen with me currently using it as a office.
“Up early!” I smile weakly before picking up the laptop and moving out of her way. As I sit down at the table, she brings my cup of coffee over and places it by my laptop.
“Thanks…I put quite a bit on so help yourself.”
“Thats okay, I imagine you made some for Noah also.” I catch her frown before she turns
“No, he is in the spare room next door to mine.” I correct her assumption. She doesn’t comment further and I feel like I should say something.
“You should give him a chance.”
“I can’t, he doesn’t belong to me.” She whispers quietly.
“He’s been my best friend for as long as I can remember. He was on target to be the beta, but he also enjoyed medicine. He was so talented at it, he still is. Most babies born in our pack are under his watchful eyes.”
She’s not even looking at me now, she’s busying herself in the upper cabinets. I decide to keep talking, whether she wants to listen or not. She needs to fight for Noah.
“I got married young, too young. I wanted to strengthen my parent’s pack, do my bit. When I came, Noah offered to come and check the facilities. As my personal doctor he never left, and I never told him to. He was the only friend I had in a pack that was very different to the one a grew up
She’s not making as much noise now. She’s stopped reaching for the top shelves and is now
listening intently.
in./
“He’s been my light in my darkest days. My children and Noah saved me…kept me breathing. He is the best man know. Please give him a chance.”
Once the clock struck 7am it felt like a more reasonable hour to start cooking breakfast. Elspeth came down and asked for pancakes, which she was currently making with Michelle and Cassandra. I was frying off some bacon and helping to make a fresh round of hot drinks.
The smell of a great breakfast soon filled the kitchen and Noah, Reuben and Vicky were sat at the table. Silently drinking their coffees.
Elspeth carries a plate full of pancakes onto the table and places them right in front of Noah.
“There you go Daddy, I made them myself.” She proudly beams at what she as accomplished but the calling of Noah daddy makes Cassandra whimper slightly and Reuben’s hands to clench
briefly.
What can I do? Noah will always be her Daddy, I can’t change the past four years. He has been there for everything and I can’t take that from her just because Noah’s mate gets upset.
She needs to know that Noah isn’t their biological father but right now Rex’s safety is paramount
and I can’t risk it.
The doorbell rings which makes my back straighten. Was it news from Donnie or Nate? Michelle walks to the front door, leaving us all just as awkward again in our conversations to one another.
Elspeth squeezes the maple syrup bottle too hard and a mountain of the thick sticky sauce oozes out of its container. Completely saturating her pancake.
“Sorry Mummy.” She apologies under my motherly glare which I have down to an art form now.
“That’s okay, I have more.” Reuben says to Elspeth before picking up the pancake and shoving it in his mouth..
He makes Elspeth giggle by trying to chew the pancake, pretending the syrup was so thick that he couldn’t move his jaw…that it was stuck in place.
I plate the bacón up and grab a wet cloth from the kitchen sink before walking over to clean the table.
“Just be more careful next time.” I gently tap on her nose before watching Reuben and a slight giggle also escapes my lips. Both he and Noah look at me and I feel uncomfortable under both of their stares.
“Not helping Vicky? I can see your manners haven’t changed!” Candice makes a dig at Vicky as she surprisingly walks into the kitchen, closely followed by Milo.
“Candy!” Elspeth almost knocks her chair over as she runs over to Candice and wraps her arms
around her lower torso.
“Hello Elspeth.” She greets my daughter with a wide smile before looking back up at Vicky.
Candice is a female beta, she is of higher rank than Vicky…but only at the moment. Once Reuben, marks Vicky she’ll have to watch her mischievous comments.
“Why are you here?” Vicky growls, making her distain of Candice clearly evident.
“Well apparently I am a florist!” She hums before thrusting a large bouquet of beautiful red roses
into my hands.
“One of the pack members asked me to pop these in, they took the delivery early this morning.”
“Flowers, flowers for me?” I’m stunned by their beauty and by somebody’s kindness.
“Evelyn…wait!” Noah growls before taking the bouquet off me, before I can smell their scent.
“It could be a ransom note!” He takes the small card from out of the roses and opens it immediately.
His concerned face turns to a smirk, with a quick glance to Reuben.
“Beautiful roses, for a beautiful woman.”
“What?” I snatch the card off him thinking he is teasing me. But it does in–fact say that, signed by Alpha Pierce.
“You obviously made an impression on Alpha Pierce Evelyn.” Noah chuckles and I growl slightly from his teasing whilst all are watching me.
“Fucker!” I almost miss Reuben’s curse under his breath as he kicks his chair out and storms off.
