Riley's Pride

by Sandra R Neeley

  Lazarus wiggled his toes, his eyes still glued to Maia.

  Maia lifted the bottom edge of the blanket and slipped the socks on his feet. Then she looked up at him, smiling. “Thank you for saving me, Lazarus. Welcome. And Merry Christmas.”

  Lazarus watched as Maia, Richie and eventually Riley left his bedside, only to be replaced by Alex, the woman who’d been nursing him for days.

  Riley spoke to Alex as they walked by one another, “Maybe it’s time to back off the pain meds a bit. He can barely function. I think he’s aware enough now not to move around too much and make his injuries worse.”

  “I’ll try it and see what happens,” Alex said. “Each time I tried before, he started trying to tear out his IV’s.”

  Riley nodded, “You know better than me,” then, followed Maia out of the room.

  “Merry Christmas, Lazarus.”

  Lazarus looked up into his doctor’s eyes, feeling the warming around his long-cold heart. He’d have to be careful with this female. She made him feel things. Things that could make him hurt later. Things that he’d made it a point to kill off deep inside himself so that no one, not even his own mother, could ever hurt him again. The Reigna was different. She was an authority figure, already promised and mated to her own Alpha — a leader of this Pride. But she was also filled with integrity and kindness. No threat to him in any way. This female, though. She was dangerous, she spoke to those parts of him he’d locked away when he was still a small boy. He watched her as she sat beside him, a bowl in her hands. “I brought you some broth. How about we try that and see how it settles? The sooner you start to take nourishment on your own, the sooner I can remove the IV’s.”

  She spooned up some broth and held it at his lips for him to sip.

  He obliged her, taking in as much as she was willing to give him. After half the bowl, though, he’d had enough. He closed his eyes, relaxing, enjoying the feel of the heavy, fleece blanket covering his body and the thick socks on his feet. He’d been cold and shivering for days between the IV and the injury to his body. The warmth was a very welcome change.

  Riley, Maia and Richie went back to the living room to sounds of laughter and the sound of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. Cristie looked up from her easel, her fingers covered in colored chalks, “Bumble!” she said, pointing at the TV, where Lucas had put her favorite Christmas movie on for her.

  Roman held up a key on a hand-sized fuzzy pompom key chain, “What’s the key for?”

  “Yeah,” Lucas chimed in. “We all got one in our stocking.”

  Maia, having finally dug into her own stocking for the chocolate she’d put there herself, pulled her hand out with her own fuzzy pompom key chain — only hers had two keys. “I got two keys.”

  Riley grinned, “Those are house keys, to this house. Each of you has a key so that you can get in whenever you need to. Home.”

  “Yeah, but I got two,” Maia repeated.

  Lucas and Roman grinned at each other, knowing what Maia didn’t. They’d seen it when they’d come over this morning.

  Riley nodded at Libby, who said, “You know, I think I saw what that other key may go to. It was out in the yard.”

  Maia’s brow crinkled. She shot Riley a ‘What have you done?’ look, then stood to go look out in the yard. She glanced out of the window and noticed something red and shiny. She turned around, eyes wide to look at Riley, “No!” she said, with a grin.

  “Yep,”

  She ran to the door and yanked it open. She ran out on the porch, “You got me a truck?!” she screeched. “Oh my gosh! I got a truck!”

  Riley hurried after her, “Whoa, whoa, whoa!” he said. Wrapping her new coat around her shoulders. “It’s cold out. Put your coat on.”

  Maia slipped her arms in the coat Riley held for her, then ran down the front steps and over to her bright red truck. It was reminiscent of Bam’s truck. And she said just that, “It looks like Bam’s!”

  “It does. It’s not quite as old as his, because I wanted you to have the back seat for Cristie, but it’s the same color as his and the same make.”

  “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” Maia chanted as she bounced in the driver’s seat of the truck.

  “I know how much you loved to drive Bam’s truck, so…” Riley finished up by letting the sentence hang unfinished.

  “It’s perfect.”

  “What’s that white one behind yours, Riley?” Richie asked.

  Riley reached into his pocket and pulled out another handful of keys without the key ring on them and tossed one each to Richie, Lucas and Roman. “Here, we needed another work truck instead of sharing mine all the time. It’s not new, but it runs like a tank. Our first company truck.”

  A scream sounded from inside the house. Riley’s adrenalin spiked, and he rushed to get back inside as did everyone else. Riley headed down the hallway, following Cristie’s scream as she ran full speed at him. “Dodddddy!” she screamed.

  Riley yanked her up, “What?! What is it?”

  Libby was chasing her down the hall, “I’m sorry! I forgot it was out there and she hadn’t seen it yet, I took her with me in the kitchen to get some more coffee and she saw it.”

  Riley laughed, relieved. “You scared me half to death!” he chided Cristie gently.

  She completely tuned him out, chattering and pointing toward the kitchen, “A castle! I gots a castle! Come see!”

  “I know!” He answered, laughing. “Me and Mama bought it for you, and then your uncles put it together last night while you were sleeping.”

  She was so excited she couldn’t speak, just pointed toward the kitchen, before she finally managed, “I want to play!”

  “You have to put on some warm clothes, first. It’s cold out,” Maia told her.

  “I gots some!” Cristie said, running into the living room after Riley put her down. “Santa bringed ‘em!”

  Maia changed Cristie’s clothes and put her new white coat with the purple and pink polka dots on it on her, along with her new snow boots and her gloves.

  “Okay, you’re all ready. Let’s go!”

  Cristie made a break for the kitchen, squealing the whole way, Maia following her.

  Maia, Cristie and Libby played on Cristie’s ‘castle’ while the rest of the Pride sat around the table in the kitchen watching through the large picture windows. They’d set the play set about thirty feet into the yard, so there’d be room to play in the yard between the house and the play set. But it could easily be seen from inside.

  Richie started prepping to get Christmas dinner cooking, and Riley said, “You better make sure Maia wants you to do that.”

  Richie, feigning outrage, teased, “I’m the chef!”

  “Yes, but she’s the Queen of Christmas,” Lucas answered.

  Riley looked around at his Pride, each one of them still wearing their new coats and slippers as they sat around Christmas morning, sharing their holiday as any other family would. Maia had pulled it off. She was, indeed, the Queen of Christmas.

  Riley went over to the back door, opening it, and calling, “Richie’s starting dinner.”

  Maia popped her head out of the fort on top of the play set Riley had bought for Cristie, “Okay, just don’t make my cornbread dressing or my dirty rice, those are for me to make!”

  “Got cha!” Richie yelled loud enough for Maia to hear.

  “Doddy! Come swing me!” Cristie called.

  “I have been summoned by the mini Alpha. My swinging skills are needed,” Riley grinned at them before he went outside to swing his daughter.

  Roman and Lucas shared a look with Richie. Acknowledging without words just how lucky they were to have landed here, in this Pride, under this Alpha. They’d all been drifting, not really having any place to be or anyone to be with. They didn’t belong. Until Riley found them, or they found him. Either way, it didn’t really matter. They were exactly where they were supposed to be. Wanted. Valued. Appreciated for who they each uniquely were. They were ho
me — in Riley’s Pride.

  “I want to play on a castle,” Lucas said, standing and looking out at the large cypress play set.

  “Me, too,” Roman said, standing along with him.

  They both headed for the back door. Richie looked after them, “Hey! Don’t swing on her swings — you’re too big!” he yelled at the two behemoths headed out of the back door.

  Roman turned back to Richie, “Come play, Rich!” Roman grinned. “You know you want to,” he said, before closing the door behind himself and running down the back steps to join his family.

  Richie watched for a few moments, then said aloud to himself, “Yeah. I really do.” He reached over and turned off the burners he’d only moments before turned on. Then hurried out of the back door and outside, “Wait for me!” he yelled.

  Epilogue

  Four vehicles pulled into the parking lot of the little convenience store called, “The Only Stop.” The front door of the lead vehicle opened, and a tall, regal, beautiful female with long black hair streaked with blue got out. She stood ramrod straight, looked around curiously at the store, the trailer park across the road, and the house behind them.

  A male got out of the driver’s side, “I like it. It’s got a good feeling.”

  “As do I, my Mate,” the female answered.

  “I shall go inside and ask,” she said, starting to walk toward the store.

  Alan looked up and watched with his mouth agape as the most gorgeous woman he’d ever seen practically floated into the store. “Can I help you?” he stammered.

  “Perhaps. We wish to speak with Mr. Colter, is he here?”

  “Yes, well, no. He’s not. He’s over at the house. The family has the day off, a big party planned and all. But I’m manning the store. I can help you.”

  “Thank you. I need to know where to park our vehicles.”

  “Oh, you must be the guests that Mr. Riley told me to expect. Come with me, I’ll show you. He wants them behind the store here, so no one can see them.” Alan stepped from behind the register and escorted Delilah back out of the store. “Ya’ll can park just around here,” he said to the blonde man driving the first car. “Then I’ll show you where the gate is, so you can go on through and around to the backyard. That’s where everything is set up.”

  “Thank you,” the man called.

  The female got back into their vehicle, and they followed his instructions, hiding their cars behind the store. He waited while the occupants of each vehicle got out and gathered all they’d need for their afternoon. There were a lot of people in those four vehicles and several babies and kids. He waited until they were ready and led them all to the gate in the wrought iron fence. “Here ya go. Just follow along that side of the house into the backyard, and you’ll see where they have everything set up.”

  “Thank you,” the woman told him. “You have been most helpful.” She bestowed a smile on the young man that had him almost spellbound. He stood there, looking at her.

  She smiled, “You may go now.”

  “Yes, yes, of course. Ya’ll have fun.”

  <<<<<<<>>>>>>>

  Maia was upstairs in her bedroom. She’d gotten dressed, done her makeup, and slipped her feet into her shoes. She looked at herself a time or two and wrinkled up her face, before kicking her shoes off.

  “Do you not want to wear them?” Libby asked.

  “No, I don’t think I do.”

  “Then don’t, it’s your day, Maia. Whatever you want is what will make it perfect.”

  “Yes, you’re right. I’m not wearing shoes.” Maia looked at herself in the mirror again. Libby had taken pieces of Maia’s hair on either side of her face and loosely braided them, pulling them back into what she called a crown braid, leaving wisps floating softly around her face. Then she’d tucked tiny, white wildflowers into the braids and into the waves of dark auburn hair cascading in waterfall curls down her back. It was springtime, and she’d chosen to wear a simple ivory-colored sheath dress with an overlay of gauzy fabric that subtly hugged her figure and would blow beautifully in the breeze. The dress fell longer in the back than the front, showing glimpses of her lower legs and feet as she walked, but dragging an inch or two on the ground behind her. Simple, yet classy.

  “I love the braids — you did a good job,” Maia said to Libby.

  “You look so beautiful, Maia. Riley won’t remember how to speak,” Libby laughed.

  “He better! He has to say, ‘I do,’” Maia laughed. Her laughter faded, and her smile disappeared.

  “Don’t be sad,” Libby said.

  “I’m not. I just wish my family could be here. I wish my Daddy could walk me down the aisle.”

  “I’m sure he wishes he could be here, too. All of them. But it’s hard to travel with new babies.”

  “I know. I understand.” Maia sighed.

  “You ready?” Lucas called from the other side of the door.

  “Yes!”

  “Well, come on. Everybody’s waiting on you.”

  Libby squealed, taking Maia’s hands, “This is it!”

  Maia grinned, “It is. Okay. Here we go!”

  They opened the door, and Lucas was waiting there for them. “Wow! You are beautiful, Reigna. Alpha is a lucky male.”

  “Thank you, Lucas.”

  Lucas escorted them down the stairs.

  As they reached the bottom of the stair case and turned into the hall, he said, “See ya’ll out there!”

  “Wait! Aren’t you walking me down the aisle?”

  “Nope, not my job. It’s his,” he said pointing behind Maia.

  Maia turned around to see who was behind her, and there, having stepped out of the living room, stood Maverik — dressed to the nines in a black suit with a white shirt and black tie.

  “Hello, baby girl,” he said.

  “Daddy!” she cried, hurrying to him and throwing her arms around him.

  “Don’t cry now, you’ll make all that mascara stuff start running down your face.”

  Maia sniffled, using the back of her hand to dab at her eyes, “I wanted you here so badly.”

  “I wouldn’t have missed it.”

  “But I thought it was too hard to travel with the babies.”

  “It wasn’t easy, but I was going to be here, no matter. I started planning and before I realized it, every damn body was jumping on the bandwagon.”

  Maia’s eyes got big, “Everybody?”

  “Everybody! They’re all out there. Well, except for Vince. He stayed behind to keep an eye on things. Maybe I should stop being so hard on him.”

  Maia giggled. “You probably should.” Then, “Riley didn’t say a word.”

  Maverik nodded, “Naw, we wanted to surprise you on your special day. Speaking of, you ready?”

  Maia took a deep breath. “I am.”

  “Then let’s get her done.” Maverik took her face in his hands, “I’m so proud of you, Maia. And I couldn’t have chosen a better male for you. You have outshined us all. You are such an amazing young woman. I am proud to be your Daddy.”

  “I love you, Daddy.”

  “Love you, too, baby-girl.” He stepped up beside her, holding his arm out for her to take. “Let’s get you married.”

  Lucas, who was waiting in the kitchen, hurried to the back door, “They’re coming!” He opened the door and allowed Libby and Cristie, who were waiting with him, to start down the aisle. Cristie was wearing a small replica of Maia’s dress and had a basket full of pink rose petals that she tossed out here and there as she walked, with Libby coming down the aisle behind her.

  Richie, who was their self-appointed DJ, started the wedding march, then hurried to take his place beside Riley as best man.

  Moments later, Maverik, with Maia on his arm, came into sight. He walked her through the open door that Lucas closed behind them, across the porch and down the steps. Past all her own Pride — Lucas, who ran to get to his seat, and Roman. Past Lazarus and Alex. Past Scotty and Travis. Then past Kaid
and Delilah with their baby tucked in Delilah’s arms. Past Bane and a very pregnant Janie, and Daisy, past Goldy and Sadie, Daniel, Avaleigh and Remi and past Bam and Everly. She smiled when she saw Bam lift his baby to his lips to kiss the soft hair peeking out of the top of the swaddling blanket. Her smile was big and bright as she reached out, taking the hand of as many of her family as she could as she walked by. Maverik slowed when he got to the front of the aisle, so she could hug Valerie and lay a kiss on the heads of Hellen and Havoc, her new baby sister and brother. And through it all, Maia managed to hold it together, tears threatening her eyes, but not spilling over. Until she saw the man standing on the other side of Valerie, step forward.

  Maia gasped, her eyes widened and the battle to contain her happy tears was lost. They streamed freely down her face as Matty stepped into the aisle to wrap her in his arms. Matty hugged her tight, “Didn’t think I’d miss it, did you?” he whispered.

  Maia was trying valiantly to get control of the tears streaming down her face, “I hoped you’d be here. But I knew you had the Pack to think of.”

  “Nothing could keep me away, baby sister. I’m so happy for you.”

  Maverik tugged gently on her arm, “He’s waiting, baby.”

  Maia looked up and found Riley standing beside the pastor, waiting for her with tears in his eyes, love on his face and Richie at his side.

  “Go marry that male, Maia. There’ll be plenty of time to catch up later,” Matty said, kissing Maia’s cheek, then stepping back into place beside a small, brunette girl who looked at him with stars in her eyes.

  Maia nodded, took Maverik’s arm, and allowed him to take her to her Mate, her husband, where he waited for her in front of the cypress play fort they’d decorated with pink and white ribbons and flowers. The sun was high in the bright blue sky, the birds were singing, and the breeze gentle. Everything was as it should be. A perfect spring day.

  The ceremony was beautiful and emotional, full of symbolism, the perfect promises and vows of the heart. It was exactly as she’d envisioned. The celebration afterward surpassed any they’d ever shared as a family. They danced and sang long into the night. She met all the new babies, and more than once Remi tugged on Daniel’s sleeve to ask, “Are you sure they’re happy tears? Why are all the ladies crying?”