Bas and Timber own their own renovations company, but they’re looking into setting up a construction and building custom homes made from natural wood with solar power. I slip one of Brayden’s old flannels on over my jeans and t-shirt, tucking the front of the flannel into my Jeans to lessen the length a little as it hits my knees, but it’s warm; I then set up an old bar stool that’s missing the seat pad and a canvas in the small seating area outside the breakfast room, from the smell of cigars I would say its where the oldies regularly sit. Miles passes me some fur-lined Uggs, grumping about my baggy clothes, but I shrug.
“You are the pack princess, sweets. You need to strut, and you can't do it in the guys’ old stuff,” he huffs.
“Miles, I don't like skin-tight clothes. They aggravate my scars, even the older ones. Get me stuff that’s my style, but you approve, and I will wear it. Still, please get me some scruffs, or else you will be moaning. I have paint all over posh stuff,” he seemed happy with that, but I tag on in a quieter tone.
“but I like the guys’ stuff, their scent helps with the emotions”, he gives me a soft look and nods in understanding, then after a few quick questions ‘do I like dungarees and jumpsuits’ he was off, Tablet burning a hole in dad's bank account in his hand; I quickly texted and asked for stuff I could hike in and a decent bag for my sketch pads and boots, I got an eye roll emoji back but a thumbs up.
Turning back to my mock easel, I stick one of my playlists on that Trick had set up on my phone, close my eyes, and paint; after a while, Bowling for Soup’s cover of Flowers comes on, andI get a rhythm singing along, OPM heaven is a halfpipe comes on next which is when I notice a shell shocked Trent sat in one of the chairs with his laptop, I smile at him as Fall Out Boy’s Fake Out comes on, thinking what the hell, I shrug and carry on singing and dancing, a Welsh Cover band called Punk Rock Factory comes on. I sing along to i2i; Bram found the band not long ago, and having Welsh heritage, he liked the connection; they do rock covers of loads of stuff, including Disney and stage shows, even things like the Pokémon theme music, Zebrahead, Evil Anonymous comes on next, ironically the main vocalist is the supporting vocalist in i2i which is how I’m guessing Bram found them.
I get to a stopping point with my painting, not having the voice for Zebrahead. I have stopped singing; I plonk my butt on a chair facing Trent, who hasn't even turned his laptop on.
“You, okay?” I ask. We sit for a while, not talking. My Chemical Romance, I'm Not Okay, starts to play, and I want to sing along, but I refrain. It seems to kick Trent to answer me.
“I am, and I’m not”, he says as the chorus starts. I chuckle
“Lynx shifters are matriarchal animals; up until now, I’ve been okay, but now, with you and Lily coming in and your position as Ren’s Luna, my Lynx is out of sorts” At the panicked look I’m sure is on my face, he stumbles over his following words.
“You don’t need to be sorry. I kinda need you to reassure my lynx that you’re okay with me being pack, and I’m not about to lose my family,” he ends with a whine and can't make eye contact with me; he looks as close to tears as I am.
“Trent, look at me” I clear my throat, and as he looks at me.
“You were one of the first people in a long time to show me kindness, even after you found out I was a broken shifter. I more than understand the need to belong, and I would never take away from anyone unjustly. Your position in my eyes is more secure than mine. He ends up pouncing on me and giving me a bear hug to rival any Bas would-be able to provide, then quickly excuses himself to get to work.
Later, when the guys get home from work, I pull Jace and Brayden aside. I know enough about packs to know this is a Beta,not an Alpha, problem.
“Trent came to speak to me today as he thought I was going to push him out of the pack”, I went on to explain about them being a matriarchal society, so technically, he will look to me, not Ren, as head of the pack, and it’s not a slight on him.
“I think he needs reassurance that he’s still wanted and welcome. I would say most of those who are close to you guys would.” They agree, and we head off to join the others. Miles heads off to sort the guys’ and my clothes out for tomorrow. Ren and Brayden head to the gym with Uncle Luc. Ren has an MMA fight coming up in a few months, so he wants to spar twice a day; by nine, they are all back, freshly showered, and the rest of us have headed upstairs to finish off the mating demands so they can go live tomorrow. Alma made burgers, which Dec, Bas and Timber bought up to us and joined in the chuckle fest of some of the stuff people thought they had a right to.
“Right, that’s the last one; it should be a 30-minute job each night from now on unless people turn more stupid”, Darby states with a smile towards me as we all clear up.
“I’ll take the boxes down; need to check in with Saint on a secure line”, Declan says as the others head off to their rooms for the night. I nearly fall over as I whip my head around to him in alarm; he kisses my crown.
“He'll be fine, sister, I promise”,Dec says and heads off downstairs. I share a look with River, and he nods. I guess his shadows are keeping an eye on his big brother.
CHAPTER THREE
Ember
As I leave the bathroom, Ren is sitting on the end of my bed with his head in his hands. I walk over, stepping between his legs and carding my fingers through his hair, leaving his head bowed, which is pressed against my stomach, his hands now fisting my comforter.
“Ren, you're scaring me a little. I feel like you’re about to tell me we were a mistake, and you're leaving me for the pack bimbo” I can hear the catch in my throat as I say it. His head snaps up as a few tears fall from my eyes. I’m ready for my heart to break.
In one move, he’s standing. I’m over his shoulder in a fireman’s lift before he storms to his room and slams the door; I’m then thrown on the bed; he strips down to his boxers and then climbs into bed, pulling me to his side, my head resting over his heart.
“I was thinking the same thing, minus the bimbo”, he chuffs
“I love you,”he whispers into my hair
“Good night, my Alpha; I don’t think it’s in my DNA to stop loving you” I drift off to sleep with the sound of his heart in my ear and the hope for a night free of bad dreams.
River
I’m not asleep; I'm now worried after Dec's mention of my brother. I know my shadows will let me know if he's hurt, and when my phone rings, I answer without looking at who it is.
“Get to my room. Embers stuck in a dream, and I can't wake her.” I shadow travel before he’s finished, Embers a sweaty mess in the middle of the bed. I know Ren has a Californian King, but she looks as tiny as a child in the middle.
“Saint, let me go” I freeze, I’m only halfway across the bed; my brother would never hurt her.
