Breaking Traditions- the Shifter and the Mage

by Madilynn Dale

  I am careful as I carry the casserole through the kitchen and toward the dining room. I enter the room again, still smiling and eager to sit down with everyone. The food smells delicious, and my stomach is now growling.

  I set the dish in the middle of the table and take my seat. "Okay, let's eat!"

  Everyone begins feeling their plates with food, and I smile as we settle into a gentle, even chatter. We discuss things like school and family. We leave out the issues going on with my family and I during the discussion.

  The rest of the evening goes by without issue.

  I find that I enjoy the company of Carrie and Casey. They are fun and spontaneous. They share stories of their college experience with me and what it has been like for them. Joe and Stacie are polite and relaxed as we all talk around the table.

  After a time, I bring in a tray full of chocolate pastries for everyone to enjoy. I get compliments from everyone as they sample at least one. Eddie and Derick take more than one, which makes me laugh. They have been eyeing them since I made them on Tuesday.

  The rest of the night is spent in relaxed conversation, and I focus on the feelings of joy, love, and compassion that filter from Alex via our bond to me. It helps to drown the inner turmoil of sadness that has increased since the arrival of his family. It has grown even more since dinner started, but I have done my best to hide it.

  I continue to fight these emotions as I move through Thanksgiving the next day. I love that everyone is smiling and laughing as we stuff our faces with food. I can feel the joy in the air as everyone converses around the table.

  Stacie, Lainee, and I woke up extra early this morning to begin cooking. We wanted everything ready to be served no later than one p.m. We succeeded in having it ready early, surprisingly.

  It was a welcome sight when we began carrying the food out to the table. Everyone literally spent the morning starving themselves so they could eat as much as possible. It reminded me of what the holiday was like when my family still visited my cousins for this meal. We quit joining them for Thanksgiving, though after my great grandmother passed away.

  I continue to enjoy the meal as I sit next to Alex, pushing my nostalgic memories to the back of my mind. This is not a time to be sad but to enjoy the company of those around me.

  Alex's sister Carrie smiles at me from across the table and flicks her head over her shoulder.

  "So, when are you guys going to tie the knot? I know that being mated is basically a done deal, but I hope you are considering a wedding." She asks me, and Casey smiles mischievously beside her.

  I blanch at her comment and turn to look at Alex. That is something we haven't discussed, and I have been hoping he would propose, but I also haven't been hinting that I am ready. To be honest, I don't know if I am ready, especially since my parents and I are currently not on speaking terms. The thought sends me back toward that pocket of sadness I have been battling all day.

  "We will get there when we are ready. You two are just ready to wear fancy dresses. Am I right?" Alex points at them with his fork and accidentally flings a piece of stuffing toward the cranberry sauce. It goes unnoticed, though, because there are random pieces of food scattered next to dishes anyway.

  "Yes, but I am ready to have some nieces or nephews! Will they be wolf pups?" Carrie asks, dancing in her chair with excitement.

  "Woah, hold on." I hold my hands up in the air.

  "Even if we were ready to marry, there wouldn't be kids until after I finished college. I can't imagine trying to study and tend to a baby."

  Stacie laughs and stops smiling, "smart girl. It's not easy. Trust me on that."

  "Oh, come on, mom, you did it with two of us! I bet she could handle it." Carrie says, flipping her hair over her shoulder again. It must be a nervous tick.

  "No way, not going to happen for a bit. You two are just going to have to chill. Why don't you find someone and marry? Then you could have your own little ones." I smile mischievously.

  "I am so not ready for that, what about you, Carrie?" Casey looks at her sister.

  "Heck, no!"

  We all laugh and change the topic of sports, every man's favorite subject.

  Eventually, we all filter into the living room after Eddie and Derick offer to clean up. They claim it is the least they can do since they didn't aid in the preparations for today. Stevie and Lainee join us while their counterparts clean. I am thankful to have the chance to converse with Alex's family more.

  The way his family interacts is very different from what I am used to with my family. While I enjoyed the holidays with my cousins, things were always very formal. We had to dress in our Sunday's best outfits, and some of the lace dresses my mother had me wear were terrible. It itched like crazy, and it never failed; I always ripped my hose. Even when I was older, I still had to dress nicely for holiday dinners with just the three of us. I never understood why we still had to follow that old tradition.

  The day wears on, and we enjoy watching football while lounging on the sofas and drinking tea, coffee, and beer. We all hit the leftovers from lunch for snacks frequently, but the deserts disappear quicker than anything else. At least I know everyone enjoyed them.

  As the light turns to dark and the day comes to an end, we begin the process of saying goodbye. Everyone is exhausted and fighting sleep. Having ridiculously full stomachs makes everyone even sleepier. Joe, Stacie, Carrie, and Casey are supposed to fly out in the morning. I hug each of them and thank them for coming. I tell them we will see them again soon as we walk toward the front door. Alex and I follow them and wave as they enter a cab that they called for earlier. It will take them back to their hotel. I am so thankful that Thanksgiving ended up being better than I planned. I am left full of joy as Alex, and I turn back to the house and make our way to prepare for bed. It's back to work tomorrow and studying for finals. Yay.

  20. Alex

  The morning after Thanksgiving, I wake up to my phone, vibrating loudly before the alarm. It bounces across the top of my dresser as it continues to vibrate. I stretch and roll to my side before grabbing it and disconnecting the charging cable. I open it up and see a text from an unknown number. As I scan over it, I notice that the sender states that he is Stan.

  Stan: Hey, this is Stan, no need to come in for work this morning. We are staying closed because the boss man is in the hospital. He had a heart attack.

  Me: Oh, is he okay?

  Stan: Yeah, thankfully, it was just something minor, but he had two stints placed this morning. He is recovering now. They are going to keep him for observation until tomorrow.

  Me: Wow! What hospital is he in?

  Stan: He has a room at St. Michaels Heart Hospital, #205. Terri is there with him.

  Me: Okay, thanks.

  Stan: You should take Natalie up there. It might be a good way to patch things up.

  Me: That's not a bad idea. I hate that it has to be under these circumstances, though.

  Stan: She can handle it. See you later.

  I set my phone back down on the nightstand and roll to my other side to face Natalie. She is sleeping peacefully at the moment with her long hair splayed out on the pillow beside her. I know if she were to wake and see me staring at her, she would complain that it is weird but who cares. I love the moments where she is unguarded, and her light shines through. That is when she is at her peak of beauty. No makeup, messy hair, comfy clothes, and bare feet. I love her natural beauty.

  I am surprised that the noise from my phone didn't wake her. She is usually a light sleeper, but I guess all the excitement yesterday took its toll on her. She slept like a rock last night, and I even woke up to her snoring at one point.

  Rolling to my back, I stare at the dark ceiling contemplating how to go about this daunting task of getting her to the hospital. Would she believe me if I say I just want to drop in and check on my boss? Would she find it weird if I asked her to come with me?

  I know she has work later today. Once she is there, her emotions will p
robably go nuts, so I hope she can call in. Being Black Friday, she may not be able too, but hopefully, her boss will understand.

  I have to get her up there somehow. If it were my parents and this happened, I would want someone to notify me. Regardless of the circumstances, I know they still love each other.

  I will give her time to wake up before we go. That will make it seem like it is just a regular employee checking on their boss, right?

  I continue to dwell on these thoughts for a few more minutes before giving up on sleep. I push up from the bed and move through my regular morning routine. After showering and dressing, I go to the kitchen and start some coffee. I am surprised that Stevie isn't up moving around yet, but I let the thought go as I wait for the coffee to brew.

  Watching the brown liquid fill the glass container, I think about the love my family shared with Nat yesterday. I could tell she was fighting a lot of sadness, but she seemed to enjoy herself genuinely. Watching her smile and goof around with my sisters warmed my heart. I know she will make a great addition to our family. I just need to find time to pick out a ring and propose.

  I can't believe I hadn't thought about that until yesterday. I guess I have been caught up in school and work. I know I love her and that we will be together for life, but do we have to do the whole marriage thing. I know it is a human tradition that many paranormal beings tend to follow but is it something we want to do. Would it be the right thing?

  I pull myself from those thoughts as the coffee pot beeps. I take a deep breath of the coffee aroma filling the air. I release the breath and remove a mug from the cabinet closest to me and fill it up with the black liquid. I leave a small space near the top for the creamer and grab a bottle of caramel creamer from the refrigerator. Before pouring it into my coffee, I grab a silver spoon to mix the brew. I then proceed to add the sweet liquid to my bitter caffeine bliss.

  Taking my first sip, I sigh and return to my thoughts about marriage. It would be splendid to watch Nat walk down the aisle wearing a flowing white dress. To have her hold my hand as we share vows would bring tears to my eyes. I can picture it now. She would be ridiculously happy, and I would be ecstatic. All of our family and friends would be present, and we would celebrate. Yes, I am going to ask her.

  I smile and continue to sip my coffee. I move to the bar to sit and relax. After about thirty minutes and two cups of coffee, I head back down the hall to our room. I softly push the door open and head to the bed. I sit at the edge and begin to stroke her hair.

  "Hey gorgeous, are you waking up?"

  "Mhm?" She mumbles, opening up her eyes. She blinks at me for a second before sitting up.

  "Morning, why are you still here? Don't you have work?" She is more alert now and looking around the room. I can feel her anxiety has peaked, and she is searching for a threat. It must be a wolf thing.

  "Yeah, but they called me off. My boss is in the hospital. He had a heart attack. I was wondering if you would go with me to check on him?"

  She stretches and pushes around me to stand on the floor. "Yeah, let me throw myself together, and we can go."

  "Thanks, I appreciate it. Take your time; there is no rush." I smile reassuringly and put my mental wall up and double it. I cannot let her know what is actually going on. I don't want her upset before we get there. It is going to be an emotional day for her.

  I follow her out of the room as she heads to the shower. I continue past the bathroom door after she enters to fix another coffee and prepare one for her as well.

  Ten minutes later, she is out of the shower and dressed. I hand her the cup of coffee as she enters the kitchen.

  "Do you want me to take this with us so we can go see your boss? I don't want to hold you up. I can tell you are concerned." She frowns, taking a sip from the cup.

  "It's up to you, love. I am okay with whatever you decide."

  She frowns at me but continues to sip her coffee. I watch as her facial expression changes to a concerned look with her eyebrow raised. She then moves back down the hall with her mug. She returns a minute later with her backpack and an empty cup.

  "Okay, I am ready. Let's go."

  I lead the way to my car parked outside. She smiles reassuringly at me as I start it up and put it in drive. It takes us a total of twenty minutes to reach the hospital and another five to find a decent parking spot. Traffic is horrendous today, and the hospital parking lot is full.

  After parking, I grab and hold Nat's hand as we make our way toward the door. I stop in the lobby to read the description of each floor. Sighing, I push the button for the elevator next to the sign. A minute or two later, it opens, and we enter an empty elevator.

  She remains quiet as we ride up and don't ask any questions about my boss. I begin to worry about how she will react. As the elevator doors open, I take a deep breath and begin to navigate toward room #205.

  21. Natalie

  As the elevator opens, concern fills me in regard to Alex's boss. I can tell that what happened is bothering Alex as we step off. I didn't realize he was so close to them already. He has only been working with them for a few days. It seems off, and I have a weird feeling about this.

  I don't dwell on those thoughts, though, and choose to be supportive as I follow him down the tiled hall. The smell of bleach and antiseptic fills the air, making my nose burn. Hospitals are not a fun place for shifters, but they are a necessary thing on occasion.

  I feel him squeeze my hand as we approach a room labeled #205. There are no name tags on the door, so I have no idea who we are going to see. I also don't recall asking him who his boss was at any time. I feel terrible for not inquiring and being more interested in his new job. I guess dealing with my emotional roller coaster, work, and school has caused me to become distant. I will have to fix that. I watch as he takes another deep breath before knocking on the large wooden door leading into the patient's room.

  A deep gravelly voice answers, "come in!"

  The voice sounds familiar, and I raise my eyebrow as Alex turns to look at me with a concerned look on his face before pulling me into the room. I let him lead me as he pushes past the curtain, and we pause at the end of the bed.

  I stare and feel the blood drain from my face as I realize who the man in the bed is.

  "Dad?" I say and rush to his side.

  He looks at me, and tears fill his eyes. I watch as they trail down his cheek, landing on his blue hospital gown. "Natalie! Oh, sweetheart! I am so happy to see you! What are you doing here?"

  He pulls me into his arms as tears begin to stream down my face. I can't believe it; my dad is in the hospital.

  "Alex, what are you doing here? Did Stan call you?" He addresses him over my shoulder. His words cause my thoughts to stop, and confusion fills me.

  I pull back and glance between the two of them. "Wait, you two know each other?" I am so confused.

  "Yeah, he works for us. Wait, oh!"

  Alex smiles at us as my dad seems to connect the dots. His face is one of bewilderment as he realizes who Alex is.

  "I knew you smelled familiar. You're my daughter's mate! Wow, this whole time. Terri is going to be mad when she figures this out." He grabs my hand and pulls me to sitting at the edge of the bed. He has a solid hold on me as if to keep me from wandering off. I guess my absence has affected him more than I thought it would. It causes a new wave of tears to stream down my face and my heartache. Maybe it was all just a misunderstanding when we fought?

  "Well yeah, I didn't want to tell you, and honestly, I didn't realize you were her father until after you hired me." Alex shrugs his shoulders and shares a sheepish smile with the room.

  "I can't believe you have been keeping this from me this whole time! I am pissed but, at the same time, thankful. Dad, I can't believe you had a heart attack!"

  "I know, honey, it was a surprise to me as well. It upset your mother. She hasn't been doing well since the fight. She has been extremely depressed and full of regret."

  "She's not the only one
," Alex says as he moves to take one of the chairs under the windows.

  As he sits, I take a moment to look at the hospital room and gather my thoughts. It is a small but semi-private space with multiple curtains hanging to be used for privacy. There is a small tv situated on the wall near the end of the bed. A bathroom is tucked back in the corner closest to the door.

  The room has several lights as well as two windows. The lights are off at the moment, causing the room to be dark and filled with shadow. This leaves the only light in the room spilling through the blinds that cover the windows. It is a natural, golden light that makes me think of brighter days.

  "Where is mom, dad?" I look around again as if I had missed her.

  "She went downstairs to get a coffee from the cafeteria. She didn't sleep last night."

  I sigh and continue holding my dad's hand. I have somehow managed to control my tears and keep them at bay. I know that it is only temporary, though, and my anxiety slowly ramps back up, thinking about how mom will react. We sit this way in silence for two minutes before I hear someone coming down the hall. The tap, tap, of the shoes, sounds familiar, and I know it is my mom.

  I tense up, unsure of what is about to happen. I continue to listen as she enters the room. I take a deep breath in, preparing for a confrontation. I release my breath and watch as her form appears from around the curtain that separates the bed from the open door. She stops dead in her tracks as she realizes I am sitting on the bed with dad.

  I feel my tears begin to flow again as her face goes from shock to sadness. Her tears flow down her face as she moves to set the coffee down on the bedside table next to the bed.

  She has no words as she pulls me into the tightest hug I have ever experienced. We stand like this for a good five minutes, with tears falling down our faces. I was not prepared for this reaction, but I am thankful we are not yelling at each other. I don't think I could handle another fight like that.