“He’s got you there, babe,” Ian said, smirking.
“No, he doesn’t. Do your own poop patrol,” said Colton, “I already know how to change diapers…I did a rotation as a neonatal nurse.”
“You’ll just have to keep doing it yourself, babe,” Jackson said to Steel. “Come on everyone, let’s eat,” he said, chuckling as he took his mate’s hand before walking to the dining room.
Colton turned and went to his brother’s study to get the crib as the rest of the group followed Jackson and Steel—all except Dylon who kept Cody from leaving.
“What’s the matter?”
“Have you had a vision about Daniel yet?”
“No, you know that. You’ve seen all of them. Why?”
“I think I know what Maximus is talking about and if I’m right…”
Cody’s eyes widened as he saw what was in Dylon’s mind. “Holy fuck! Do you think we should say something?”
“No, I could be wrong. I think Maximus will look it up because his curiosity is peaked.”
“Okay, let’s wait until we get back,” Cody said, as he pulled his mate toward the dining room.
~/~/~/~/~
Frank was waiting for Lizzie to finish dressing. This afternoon, she’d be presented with her Cordon Bleu certificate for successfully completing the course and he’d get to taste the results. He’d never seen her as happy as she’d been these last few days and it made him realize how much Lizzie had given up when she became a High Council Representative’s wife.Why didn’t I know she wanted to do this? Hell, my son even knew and he hasn’t lived at home for years now. After vowing to be a better husband, Frank’s thoughts shifted to the response the High Council received from Alpha Silver Point.
Humph. Not a response but more of a demand to dismiss Alpha Blackwood’s complaint unless an eyewitness could be produced. Clever bastard.Thinking through all the options the Council had regarding Josiah’s demand, Frank didn’t see his wife entering the living room of their suite. It wasn’t until she pushed his feet off the coffee table and stood in front of him that his focus returned to her. “Don’t you look beautiful, sweetheart!”
“Honestly, Frank, what were you thinking about, now that you missed my grand entrance? How do I look? Chef Dragontlovi gave us only fifteen minutes to get ready forthe awards ceremony. I couldn’t do much with my hair but it will have to do. Good thing I brought my new dress. I’m so excited and can’t wait for you to taste my dishes. Come on, I don’t want to be late. Do you have your camera? I want a picture of me receiving my certificate. I’m going to hang it on the wall next to the certificate. Or maybe I can put them in the same frame. That would look better don’t you think? Are you ready?”
“Yes, I am,” he said, as he stood. Pulling his wife into his arms, he kissed her cheek mindful not to mess up her makeup. “Let’s go so I can stuff myself on the fruits of your labors.” Putting his arm around her waist, he felt his cock stir as it always did when Lizzie was anywhere near him. He thanked the Fates again as he had done so many times before for giving him the perfect Fated Mate.
~/~/~/~/~
As soon as he finished eating, Carson rushed to his office. Cody had sent him a message saying he and Dylon would meet him there after lunch. Hurriedly clearing piles of spreadsheets from his chairs and desk, Carson stood there holding them, wondering where he could set them, when Cody and Dylon walked in.
“Hey bro, are you the new filing cabinet? I don’t think you’ll get much done,” Cody said.
Carson’s eyes locked onto the small, empty table next to the couch. Dumping the stack of papers on it, he smiled. “Sorry, don’t have visitors usually except for Steel and he always stands. Ahh, where would you like to sit? On the couch or the chairs?”
Sensing his brother’s nervousness, Cody said, “Relax, Carson, Dylon won’t bite. We’ll take the chairs.”
Settling in his chair behind his desk, Carson looked at his brother and saw someone transformed from how he’dlooked before his claiming. Cody was smiling, relaxed and once more teasing him. Then he spoke, “Cody, Dylon, I owe you a huge apology for several things I did that hurt both of you. I invaded your privacy and interfered with a claiming of a Fated Mate, both of which are so grievous I will spend the rest of my life trying to make it up to both of you. I also convinced Zane to help me…so stupid, I just can’t believe I did that. I know why I did all of it but that’s no excuse so I give you my deepest, sincerest apology and hope I can make it up to you in some way.”
Cody asked, “Why did you do it, Carson?”
His brother sighed. “Does it matter? I knew better but I ignored it and instead I hurt you…you, Cody, my triplet, as close to me as Colton is and who I look up to and respect. And yet I let my emotions rule my judgment of what was right and wrong.”
“I understand that, but I want to hear you tell me why you did it.”
Fuck! I was afraid of that. Exhaling, Carson began, “I thought I had put the massacre behind me. When Steel came into our lives and we moved here and Steel gave me this job, I finally started to live again and the massacre seemed like a bad dream. But when Dylon arrived, I picked up a faint scent of Silver Point Pack on him and all those memories came rushing back to me, nearly crushing me. That’s when I decided he had to leave. So I could have my world back…the one I was just learning how to live in. I know it was wrong and I’m so very sorry. I swear, I’ll make it up anyway I can. Whatever you want. Just tell me.”
Using their mind link, Cody heard his mate say he understood and was willing to accept Carson’s apology. He sent back a ‘thank you’ and then said to Carson, “Thank you, bro. I know that wasn’t easy for you to say, but it was important for my mate to hear why you did it. Me, I already knew, which is why I made up my mind to accept your apology yesterday. Now Dylon has also accepted your apology. But Carson, your memories will never disappear totally. A word, a thought, a smell, can bring them back in a heartbeat. You’ll never be able to erase them…the best you can do is to learn to live with them.”
“But how? How do you do it?”
“Concentrate on the good memories that you have. And youdohave good memories of our family and life before the massacre. Find them and keep them close to your heart. Anytime a bad memory threatens to overwhelm you, find a good one and spend your time remembering it, until the bad one disappears. It’s the only way you’ll be able to truly start living and moving forward.”
Carson sat there, soaking up his brother’s words. He did want to remember his happy family memories and locking them away deprived him of enjoying them. “Thanks Cody. I’ll try,” he said, and giving a small smile to his brother, asked, “Now, what can I do to make it up to you?”
