Alexisâ POV~
Helena on my left.. and Blake on my right. Both holding my hands, like they expect me to poof to never, never land⦠and itâs a possibility, if Iâm honest.
Five cars roll up the driveway.. I am practically bouncing on my heels.. I watch, as member after member of the royal guard emerge from the cars. The third car stayed still.. and silent. I look at Blake.. then at Helena.. and I snap my head back to the third car. The guard has surrounded it. The front passenger door opens and a handsome, stately man steps out. He reaches for the back door and pulls it open. A man unfolds from the seat.. standing as tall as Blake.. not quite as wide⦠but handsome! His head slowly swivels in my direction.. and he smiles..with dimples in both cheeksâ¦deep, like mine! He brushes his plum blue hair off his forehead and eyesâ¦exactly like mine, are looking at me. I canât. I canât hold it in. And I canât stop myself. I launch off the veranda and donât remember my feet touching ground, before I am in his arms and my legs wrapped around his waist.. my arms around his neck.. breathing in his fresh scent of mint and winter snow! He holds me tight⦠turning in circles.. whispering âMy baby! My sweet sweet girl! My home!â And all I can do is cry!
After what feels like foreverâ¦and not nearly enough time.. he sets me on the ground. He speaks.. his voice gruff âLet me look at you! My Goddess! I see Olivia in your face.. but I see myself, too! You are beautiful, my love! Aramis is wanting to see his daughter! He hasnât spoken to me in nineteen years⦠so it has been nice getting acquainted again!â And he chuckles.. a deep soothing chuckle that reminds me of warm fires and hot chocolate.
Blake steps up, pulling me to him âYour highness, shall we get inside, out of the weather? The snow will be coming down soon.. and our little excitable elf, here, is going to be very excited! Itâs her first snowstorm!â My dad laughs and turns to the man on his right.. âThis is Charles. My Beta. My best friend! My brother!â I just automatically reach out and hug him to me, tightly. He was awkward at first.. then he just leaned into me.
Walking inside⦠holding my dadâs hand in my right.. and Blakeâs in my left.. I felt complete. Like a piece of me had just been fitted back into place! The smile on my face wouldnât quit⦠my joy was overwhelming! We stepped into the foyer and ..eeeeeeeep.. Fuck! Iâm in a supply closet! Ugh!
Taking a couple deep breaths, I walk back into the foyer to hear Blake finishing explanations to my dad where I went and how it happens⦠My father bursts into laughter and holds his arms out to me and I do not hesitate stepping into him. He kissed the top of my head saying âThat has to be the most precious thing I have ever heard!â While Helena says âSure⦠itâs just precious! Try finding her when she pops to London.. poofs to Venice.. returning with baguettes and espresso.. or Mexico.. bringing home a rabid chihuahua! Tons of fun! Laugh it up, assholes! Your times coming!â And she walks away.
And they all laugh..while I chase after her âIâm sorry, Aunt Helena! It was one time! I didnât know the dog would bite you! Iâm so sorry!â She sighs and hugs me âItâs okay, my little one! Iâm just tired..and cranky! I took it out on you! Iâm the one whoâs sorry!â Then I heard it! An added heartbeat! â¦eeeeep â¦and Iâm in the pantry.. with three shelves of canned goods landing on me and around me⦠They are roaring in laughter and I yell âIâm okay!!!â
I run back into the sitting room⦠still with the laughter! Assholes! I run over to Aunt Helena and put my hand on her tummy⦠I whisper âIâm having a cousin! Iâm having a new cousin!â And she grabs me âI will nail your fucking knickers to the floor if you Poof One More Time! Now what? You are having a cousin??? What? Wait! What?â And I smile and nod.. she runs to find Max. Blake steps over and hands me a whiskey and says âNo coffee, my love! I want you mellowed out when that snow starts to fly!â And my dad and Charles laugh again.
We hear the chef bellow âWhat happened in here!!? Lunaaaaa!!!? Did you poof?â I stand up, rushing to the kitchen saying âI will clean it! I can fix it! Iâm so sorry!â And Chef just tells me heâs got it under control! I sigh!! I have to work on my excitement!
My dad pulls me down beside him and laces our fingers together⦠âTell me how you two met! How long ago? Clay told me what you went through the last couple years with Olivia. I am so sorry I wasnât there for you, munchkin! I missed out on so very much and I donât know how I can ever make it up to you! The guilt is weighing on me!â
I smiled. Then I shook my head, and laid my head on his shoulder.. âIt isnât your fault. My mother knew what would happen. She knew the two of you would never be together. And that there was nothing that could be done to change it. It had been written in the stars.. before she was even born. Hecate and Selene came together and brokered a deal between them⦠making you, mom, and me all players in this game! The only definite in this was the promise of my birth. Momma knew she would meet her mate⦠but she was told you would spend the night together and you would have to walk away the next morning. That you stayed four days, surprised not only momma⦠but the Goddesses as well. I never knew who you were. Hecate hexed my mother.. which forbade her from telling me anything before my 18th birthday. She was incapable of even writing it down. We still donât know what illness caused her brain to be eaten away.. but it happened so fast and she didnât live to see my 18th. So, I moved here.. to be with Aunt Helena.. and had to apply for lone wolf protectionâ¦hence, meeting the Alpha!â
We all laughed and he pulled me into his lap.. âAnd the rest is history, so the saying goes! Dinner is being served, Sire. Please join us⦠then Lexi and I will show you to your rooms!â My father stands, clapping his hand on Blakeâs shoulder and said âCall me Loren⦠or Dad! We are family, Blake! And I am no longer king!â