Hours later, after we had explored the territory together, we trotted back into the yard. Tegan and Wyatt were sitting on the front porch together, and Tegan let out a low whistle. Zee and I came all the way up to the stairs before we shifted to human. Zee rushed up the stairs to keep from freezing her toes off, and I had to fight laughing at the sight of her dashing into the house.
“I don’t think Eli will be letting you have that room back,” Wyatt called to her. “He says he wants to turn it into a recovery room if it’s needed in the future.” Zee turned and looked at me in question.
“Go ahead to my room,” I told her. “I’ll see if I can rescue your clothes for you while you shower.” She flashed me a grateful smile and shut the front door. I turned to the expectant faces of my betas.
“She’s white,” Tegan observed. “It’s an interesting contrast to your black. You made quite the regal pair coming out of the woods. I expect your parents will agree.”
“Yeah, I’m sure that will be the first thing that comes up,” I said a bit sarcastically.
“I wonder what your kids will look like,” Tegan mused, ignoring my comment.
“Geez, Tegan, let them mate first,” Wyatt told her. “She just became a wolf last night. Don’t go planning out their lives for them already.” Tegan pinched his leg and he glared at her while he rubbed the spot. I didn’t have time for their banter. I had things to figure out first, like calling my mother before Tegan did.
“I already asked her,” I said, earning a surprised look from Wyatt, and a pleased look from Tegan. “She said yes, so I guess that means we need to start planning a ceremony.” I didn’t even begin to know what Zee would want to do. She didn’t seem like the big wedding type, but she had to have imagined her wedding. I wasn’t sure how it would all work out with the mating ceremony.
Tegan must have noticed my unease because she started laughing. “I’ll get with Zee,” she could barely keep her face straight enough to talk to me. “We’ll figure out what she wants to do and work it together with the traditional ceremony. Don’t stress out. You’re not the first male to go through this.” I shot her a glare and she was still laughing at me when I went into the house.
My first stop was the room that Zee had been staying in while she was healing. I knocked but there wasn’t an answer, so I opened the door. It looked like Eli had been hard at work. He’d set up the room to resemble some hybrid form of a hospital room, doctor’s exam room, and bedroom.
Eli wasn’t in the room, so I set to work gathering up the few belongings that Zee had been collecting there. I had hoped that Eli would be around so I could talk to him. He still slept at his own place, but he had been gradually moving in a lot of medical equipment. It had me curious, and a little wary about his intentions.
I took all of Zee’s things to my room and tried to figure out where I should put it all. I assumed I’d make room for it all, but I wanted to wait for her to decide. She might want her own room for now. I stopped to consider that while I listened to the shower running. I really didn’t want her in another room. I wondered how quickly a mating ceremony could be put together.
My phone rang, yanking me back to reality. I glanced at the display and almost groaned when I saw my mother’s name. Tegan must have called her already and I was going to get my head ripped off or interrogated. I hit the button to answer the call.
“Alex!” Her excited voice cut off my chance at a greeting. At least she sounded like she was in a good mood.
“Hi, Mom,” I tried to match her cheerfulness, so hopefully she wouldn’t pick up my nervousness. “I was just about to call you. I have something to talk to you about. Are you alone?”
I hoped she was. I didn’t want the whole pack sitting around hearing my news. “Your father is here,” she replied. “Do you want to say hello?” I heard my dad’s voice rumbling in the background.
“No Mom just tell him hi for me,” I told her.
“Alex says hi, dear,” I heard my mother say away from the phone. My father spoke but I couldn’t catch everything he said. “Oh, Alex, your father wants to know when you planned to tell us about this little female you plan to mate.” With that I felt my hope deflate.
“I swear Tegan can be a real pain,” I grumbled. “I just asked her today Mom. I didn’t know what she’d say. It was all of ten minutes ago when we got home, and I told Tegan.”
“Yes, well, you could have called immediately after she said yes,” my mother persisted.
“We were out on a run, she’s a new wolf and I wanted her to see the territory,” I told her. I waited for the questions to start.
“Tegan told me she’s quite beautiful,” I could hear the excitement in my mother’s voice. “A pure white wolf. I imagine she complements you perfectly. Tegan also mentioned that you changed her. I wonder, if you were planning on turning a human, why you didn’t call your father or me about it first.”
“I don’t’ know Mom,” I replied distractedly. The shower had shut off and I turned to watch the bathroom door. “It was a heat of the moment kind of thing.” Zee walked out wrapped in a towel. Water was still glistening on her exposed skin and I stared at her long enough to cause her to giggle and my mother to yell my name through the phone.
“Sorry Mom,” I apologized quickly while I motioned to Zee where her clothes were. “What were you saying?”
“I asked when you would be bringing her to visit us?” my mother’s voice brooked no arguments. She expected us to come see her. Zee stood in her towel still, watching me. She reached out and ran her hand over my forehead where my brows were scrunched up in thought.
“Umm, I’ll see when we can make it out there,” I trailed off as I watched a lonely drop of water slip down the side of Zee’s neck to the dip in the base of her throat. She waved her hand in front of my face and I met her eyes. She was grinning and pointed at the phone, nodding her head that she would come with me.
“You’ll do more than see,” my mother said, again with the bossy tone. “I’ll have tickets waiting for you to fly in tomorrow evening. Your father is booking them now. We won’t keep you long, Alex. I’m sure Wyatt and Tegan can handle things for a few days.”
I raised my eyebrows at Zee, unsure if she would be willing to go, but she just nodded her head at me. “Well, I guess we’ll see you tomorrow then,” I conceded reluctantly. It didn’t feel like the best time to be leaving the pack alone, but I hoped that the Hunter’s silence meant he was content with what he had done to Zee for a little while.
My mother happily rattled off our flight time and made me promise to call as soon as we landed. She finally let me go and I dropped down on the edge of my bed. I ran my hand through my hair and sighed. I hadn’t expected to have to pack and head out to Colorado. I’d been planning on doing something romantic with Zee. Something to make up for the subpar proposal.
I felt her towel brush against my knees and then her little hands were in my hair. She twined her fingers through the strands and pulled my head up, so I was looking at her. Her brown hair looked black when it was wet, and it was falling in wild tangles around her face. I reached up to tug a strand of it and she leaned in to kiss my lips.
I moved my legs apart and pulled her between them. Her small body pressed up against mine and I kissed her softly. Sliding my hands down her back I cupped her ass and pulled her tighter to me. She gasped and I took the chance to flick my tongue into her mouth. One of her hands slid down to hold my neck, like she didn’t want me to stop.
Finally, gasping for breath, she pulled back. Her eyes stayed on mine as she dropped her towel to the floor. I gripped her bare hips and leaned forward to press a kiss at the base of her neck, right where the drop of water had touched her earlier. Her breath hitched as I trailed kisses along her collarbone.
“You’re so beautiful, doll,” I murmured against her skin. I could feel her trembling in my arms, and I stood quickly, causing her to step back. I pulled her back to me and turned her around. Yanking down the covers
behind her I helped her lay down and then I covered her up. I toed off my boots and yanked down my pants. She grinned playfully at me while she watched me strip off my clothes.
Down to just my boxers I climbed in the bed and rolling her to her side I pulled her back against me. I reached behind me to hit the controls on the wall and the lights went out. She snuggled back into me and I pressed a kiss to the back of her neck.
“What are your parents like?” she whispered. She was tracing her fingers lightly over my arm that I had wrapped around her stomach.
“Overwhelming,” I told her, and I chuckled. She pinched my arm and I laughed out right. “Sorry, doll. They are overwhelming. My mother loves everyone, and she can meddle like no other. She will ask you everything about you, but mostly everything about us. She pries like no other, but she is so sweet that you’ll tell her everything she wants to know. Just you wait.
“Dad is different. He is quieter than her, sterner. He’s the alpha though, so it comes honestly to him. He’s still loving but stepping out of line with him is never a good idea. Our pack is very close and easy going, but the rules don’t get broken. He believes in immediately correcting a problem, no questions asked.”
I felt her shiver in my arms again, and I suspected that this time it was from apprehension. “Don’t worry, they’ll love you,” I whispered in her ear. She nodded a little jerkily. “Ask Tegan, Mom will fawn all over you and Dad will just be strong and silent. No big deal, I promise.”
“Okay,” she still sounded unsure. I rolled her to her back and leaned in to kiss her. It took her a moment, but finally I felt her relax into the kiss. I didn’t give her another chance to worry as I kissed and touched her, reveling in her little noises and sighs. When I finally sank into her, I knew her mind was only on us and I worked hard to be sure it stayed there.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Zee
The closer that we got to Alex’s childhood home the more nervous I became. I had been a bit of a mess since going home that morning to get clothes for the trip. Delilah and Silas had been there. Neither had acknowledged Alex. In fact, they had talked about him as if he wasn’t standing right there with me.
“He has you brainwashed to join his cult then,” Delilah had said flatly when I told her that I was going to marry Alex. I figured telling Delilah that it was actually a mating would just push her that much more over the edge.
“No Delilah,” I had tried to speak calmly. “I love him. He hasn’t forced me to stay with him. I’m choosing it.” Alex had squeezed my hand tightly, and I shot him a small smile. That of course was when Silas had chosen to chime in.
“Classic cult mentality,” he had whispered loudly to Delilah. Delilah seemed to agree because with her face set firmly, she told me she would not support the marriage. With that Delilah and Silas ignored both Alex and me for the rest of the time that we were packing up some of my things. As we left, I tried once more to talk to Delilah.
“I love you Delilah,” I said quietly, trying to catch her eye. “I know you might feel like I’m abandoning you for Alex and that’s why you’re latching onto this wild idea of a cult, but I will always be your sister. I’ll always be here if you need me.” Delilah had not spoken a word, but I’d seen the lone tear as it left a trail down her cheek.
“Hey, don’t worry,” Alex’s voice shook me from my memories, and I looked over at him. He was dressed in blue jeans as usual, but he had traded in his typical black shirt for a long sleeve button down in charcoal grey. Over it he wore his black leather coat. He looked edible and it made me second guess my clothing choice again.
“Maybe I should have worn a dress,” I looked down at my own blue jeans and the red wrap sweater with my black wool trench coat, and I regretted the choices. I looked like I was going out with my friends shopping, not like I was going to meet my future in-laws. I started debating whether or not to have Alex pull off somewhere so I could rummage for something better to wear.
“You look beautiful,” he told me, reaching for my hand. He pulled it to him and pressed a kiss to the back of it briefly. “We’re a casual pack, especially since so much of our time is spent outside. You’ll fit right in.” I wanted to believe him, but Tegan had already told me about all the females that would be after him the moment he stepped out of the car.
When Alex finally pulled the rental car into the snow-covered yard of an enormous log cabin that put even his to shame, I knew that Tegan had been right. There were three women sitting on the front porch, all wearing long sleeve dresses of varying shades with tights and boots. They could have been triplets were it not for their different shades of hair.
The one with wavy blonde hair, that wore a hunter green dress, stood and wiggled her fingers at Alex as he stepped from the car. He nodded at her, and she beamed as if he’d just crowned her princess of the wolf world. Alex walked around the car and opened the door for me. As I climbed out all three females glowered at me until Alex turned around. Then they were all perfect smiles again.
“I told you I should have worn a dress,” I hissed as he looped my arm through his and pulled me towards the house. He just chuckled in response. I didn’t have any more time to consider my wardrobe choice because a gorgeous woman walked out on the porch. She was tall, probably on the upper end of the five-foot range, and statuesque. Her hair was raven black, and it fell in waves down around her shoulders. High cheekbones and full lips complimented her face, giving her a regal air. I knew immediately that she must be Alex’s mom.
“Zee, Alex, I’m so happy you’re here,” she gushed happily. I noticed that her smile reached all the way up to her chocolate brown eyes. Her enthusiasm wasn’t faked, and I was relieved that I would have at least one ally in the house. Then she turned to the three women on the porch and her face set in hard lines. “I believe they could use some help in the kitchen, if you girls have nothing else you should be doing.” All three of them ducked their heads and walked back into the house without a word.
“Hey Mom,” Alex moved up the steps and wrapped her in a one arm hug while keeping me close to his side. “This is Zee. Zee this is my mom, Ophelia Kallis.” As I prepared to shake hands with her, Ophelia pulled me into a tight hug. It took me only a moment to hug her back.
“Thank you so much for having us out to visit Mrs. Kallis,” I said into the woman’s shoulder. Ophelia pulled away to look at me, and I blushed at the inspection.
“You can call me Ophelia or even Mom, half the pack does,” she smiled as she spoke, “And thank you for finally putting a leash on my son’s heart. Come on in, you must meet Pearson. He is very excited to meet you, too.” She wrapped her arm around my shoulders and pulled me along into the house. I managed a look back at Alex, who was smiling as he followed us inside.
“I’m so excited to have you here,” Ophelia told me as she escorted me through the house. I briefly saw that they had a similar stone fireplace in the front room as we walked. The house seemed to be full of people, all watching me with various degrees of curiosity and wariness. I caught a glimpse of blondie talking with an older man and nodding in my direction.
“We have so much to talk about,” Ophelia continued, and I turned back to her so I wouldn’t look rude, even though I was curious about this much bigger pack. “We’ll want to start planning your mating ceremony immediately. I’m sure you’ll want to add in some of your own things. I can just picture you in a white gown, with that hair and some red lipstick. You would look just gorgeous.”
I opened my mouth to speak but Alex chuckled, and I turned to shoot him a glare over my shoulder. He raised his hands innocently and just kept grinning. Ophelia kept talking like nothing was going on around her, “Of course, if you want to invite friends and family we’ll have to have a separate ceremony for that because I can’t imagine how we could play off the wolf parts of the ceremony.”
“Wolf parts?” I asked, unsure of what she meant. Tegan had mentioned that the mating ceremony was a lot like a wedding, with a few differ
ences. I hadn’t gotten a chance to find out the differences yet.
“Oh yes, dear,” Ophelia nodded, now we were going up a set of stairs at the back of the house. I was going to be lost if I tried to find my way back out of here alone. “Didn’t Alex tell you about it? I mean honestly, Alex, you can’t just expect her to know all of this. It’s your responsibility to teach her about our ways.” She turned to give him a reproachful look.
“Sorry Mom,” Alex shrugged a little. “I just haven’t gotten around to that yet. Other things keep coming up.” He wiggled his eyebrows at me, and I felt my face heat up. I wanted to give him a good kick in the shin for bringing up our sex life right in front of his mother, but she beat me to it by reaching back and smacking him in the arm. I tensed up, waiting for something to happen but I didn’t know what.
“Alexander Ozias Kallis!” she reprimanded, “You don’t embarrass this poor girl like that. Right in front of your mother, I swear. Has Michigan turned you into a hooligan? Although, I hope this means I’ll have grandbabies soon.” I sucked in a surprised breath so fast that I choked on my spit like a complete fool. She patted me on the back quickly and I smiled weakly at her. She was just as bad as Teagan. Grandbabies?
Before I had a moment to say anything to either of them, she stopped at a door and knocked twice before opening it. A man sat at a large desk covered in papers, a computer screen holding his attention for a moment before he looked up to see us.
His face broke into a smile, much more reserved than Ophelia’s. Still I could see the dimples in his cheeks, so much like Alex’s, and the laugh lines around his hazel eyes. He had a strong square jawline like Alex, too. His hair, which was probably dark when he was younger, was a steel grey color and despite his commanding demeanor it fell in haphazard waves.
“You must by Zee,” he stood to greet us, addressing me first. His voice was a low rumble that was both soothing and aggressive. I imagined that it wouldn’t be fun to be on his bad side. “I’m Pearson Kallis, Alex’s father and the alpha of this pack.” I had the sudden urge to bow my head to this man. A feeling that crept up my spine and invaded me until I did just that, lowering my head and eyes with just a shiver of resistance. Alex’s hand found mine and he squeezed it tightly.
Falling Hearts (Hearts of Wolves Book 1) Page 15