Ziana’s POV
After my freakout I go to find Addie. She is in one of the packhouse libraries with all of the kids from the orphanages, speaking with Marissa. I walk to them and they stop speaking, smiling at me as I approach. “Hey!” Addie chirps happily.
“Hi.” I reply as I look around at all of the studyings and quiet kids. I spot Leo coloring with a few kids his age and he brightens when he sees me then drops everything and runs to me. I catch him and bring him up to sit on my hip.
“Hey buddy. Are you ready for a movie after dinner? You get to pick.” I say. He smiles brighter and nods his head vigorously. I look to Addie and Marissa who are both smiling at me.
“You’re good with him.” Marissa points out and I nod.
“She’s always been good with kids. Especially when helping control their gifts.” Addie says to Marissa, who continues to smile at us.
“Who’s ready for dinner?!” Kai shouts coming into the library. It’s a good thing this is private library, the librarian at the royal pack would have ripped him a new one for shouting.
The kids cheer and get up, putting their things away. As they do Kai looks towards us. His eyes lighting up, then they flash a little worry when they spot me. It quickly disappears and he smiles, then waves.
The kids begin to follow him out and I look to Addie in question. She sighs, knowing that I caught the brief emotion in his gaze.
“Alpha Raegan and Beta Zeke have returned.” She explains and the lump in my throat returns as my mouth dries. She squeezes my arm as I force a smile and nod.
I hand Leo over to Marissa, and he begins to squirm.
“No. NO!” He screams, struggling in her grasp..
“It’s okay buddy. I’ll be right there. I just need to talk to Addie.” I comfort him and he pouts. I smile then pinch his cheek, causing him to pull away and scowl at me. They leave and I turn towards Addie.
“Are they joining for dinner?” I ask and she smiles warily.
“They all are. Your only saving grace is that you can sit at the end of the table with the kids instead of them.
Unless you want to sit with Zane.” She says, wiggling her eyebrows, and I frown.
I nod, then turn to leave to the dining room. The orphanage sleepover was my idea, it’s a part of my plan.
“After dinner, I’m going to watch a movie with the kids.” I say, then turn to mindlink. “After the movie I’ll go
hunting, but I have to be back by midnight to help with Mikey’s shift.” I mindlink and she nods, already knowing the plan.
We walk into the dining room to kids yelling and food being passed around. It looks like pizza. I move to the end opposite of my mates and their fathers, there is one open chair there. Addie goes towards Kai who is in the middle, trying to corral the kids there. I smile at his slight frustration and begin to sit in an empty chair, but before I can I am interrupted.
“Ziana! Come sit with us. I want to meet my new daughter!” I hear shouted through the children’s laughter and I pause, looking up to see the friendly faces of Beta Zeke and Zane. Alpha Raegan looks curious, as he studies his son, then me. Killian looks like he would rather be anywhere else than here.
I spot movement to the right of me and see Mikey walking in. His nervous energy almost rubs off on me and he makes his way towards me, but I smile and wrap him up in a hug, sending sparks to help his jitters, He stiffens the pulls back, smiling tightly at me. I smile wide as I grab his cheeks in both my hands.
“Happy almost birthday, Mikey.” I say and he nods. “Don’t eat too much, the shift may make you sick. By the end of dinner tell me your favorite food and we will have it made for after the shift. You’ll be famished.” I say and he nods, as his eyes grow a bit teary.
“Thank you.” He whispers brokenly and I nod.
“No need to thank me. If you need anything during dinner I’m only a shout away.” I smile and pat him on the
cheek, then move towards the other end of the table.
As I make my way to the open chair beside Killian, who sits at the head of the table, my nerves spike. He is angry and as I glance at Zane he seems… Jealous? I furrow my eyebrows in confusion, but sit down.
Zane is to my right and Killian to my left. Across from me is Alpha Raegan, and to his left is Beta Zeke. Both
are smiling excitedly.
“Alpha Raegan, Beta Zeke. It is a pleasure to meet the both of you.” I nod slightly to them and Alpha Raegan
scoffs, while Beta Zeke cringes.
“Darling. Call me dad. Or Raegan, but not Alpha.” He says and I fight the cringe of the d word, but I nod
anyway.
“Same for me kid. You’re my son’s mate after all!” Zeke cheers and I force a smile. As my thoughts turn.
I’m also the woman who killed your mates. I think and hear a growl in my head at the negative thought. My
eyes widen and I look around, trying to see who just growled through mindlink at me but nobody seems to
have done that.
“What was that about?” Zane asks me, then glances to the end of the table at Mikey, like he is debating
tearing the kid’s heart out.
“Oh um. That’s Mikey. I was just wishing him a happy birthday.” I say and he frowns at me.
“So. Personally?” He grumbles and I scrunch my eyebrows.
I begin to ask what the hell he is talking about when I am interrupted by a chorus of laughter from across the
table.
“No need to be jealous, son. It looks like she is already fitting into her role well.” Zeke says.
“Goddess, I would get so jealous when Rose would do that.” Raegan chuckles and Zeke nods.
Killian growls and pushes up. Excusing himself and storming out of the door.
I smile at Raegan who is eyeing me curiously again. Zeke is giving me a smile that seems to try to be reassuring, but it’s partially sad and his eyes are knowing as they look into mine.
My heart stops and I can feel my face pale as I realize he knows. I flinch as I feel a hand land on my thigh and
squeeze.
“Leo!” I hear yelled, as the lights flicker. I look down to see Marissa struggling to hold the boy back
“He’s fine Marissa.” I partially shout to her and she nods, then lets him go. He almost falls, but catches himself then bolts to me. He clings to my neck as I bend down to meet him, then bring him up. He is breathing hard and shaking, as sparks spread around me.
I send calming sparks down his body as he rests his head on my shoulder and relaxes.
I catch Zane, Raegan and Zeke smiling at me and I try to ignore it as I take a bite of the pizza in front of me.
The rest of the dinner passes on slightly awkward as Raegan and Zeke try to get to know me.
As we finish up Leo stirs and his purple eyes meet mine.
“Movie time?” He asks and I nod.
“Do you know what one you want?” I ask and he nods, then looks down the table.
“Mikey pick.” He answers and I look down the table at Mikey, then back to Leo.
“Mikey?” I ask and he nods.
“Birfday movie.” Leo answers and I smile.
“Sweet boy. Let’s go see what Mikey wants to watch then. Shall we?” I ask and he nods excitedly as I say goodbye to the others and make my way to Mikey.
