Thirty-One

SORRY! I tried to upload three times! hopefully this time works! Sorry if the next chapter didn't make sense! Please don't skip this chapter! Let me know what you think (as always)! Love you guys for sticking with it!

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"What are you guys doing here?"

"I thought you said we could visit any time?" Dana said with false happiness. There was something about her tone that let me know that this wasn't a personal meeting.

"Mom, what's going on?" Once I looked at her I knew what she was going to say. She was thinner, paler, and had bags under her eyes. That could only mean one thing: Her wolf was dying.

Don't jump to conclusions Bee. You don't know that. Caden pulled me closer. I've gotten used to him reading my thoughts and commenting on them. It was comforting. Just hear her out babe. And if anything happened we'll deal with it. I love you Bee, you're not alone.

I love you too Caden, thank you.

Don't thank me babe, you'd do the same.

"It's your father." Mom said, breaking us out of our conversation. I felt Caden hold me closer to him and place his lips on my temple but he just stayed quiet. His thoughts let me know he was worried about me and I squeezed his hand gently to let him know I was fine.

"I thought we weren't supposed to worry." I said almost accusingly.

"You didn't need the extra stress."

"I didn't need the lies. Mom this isn't just about him." We all knew what I meant. If he died my mother woud slowly pass away. The mating does that. Some wolves were stronger and they lasted quite a few years, but most who were strong were strongest with their mate and after they passed... it didn't end well. "I'm sorry mom-"

"No, you're right. I always forget how strong you are Blake. I'm sorry."

"No. I shouldn't have said that. I'm just worried mom." I hugged her and a few seconds after we let go I was back in Caden's hold. God I loved this man. I don't know what I would ever do without him.

"Don't be. My wolf accepted a long time ago that her mate died."

"Mom we both know-"

"Blake. Trust me. I'm fine. The man I mated and the man who died had no similarities except in appearance. They were two different men."

"Mom have you been sleeping? You don't look... healthy."

"It has nothing to do with my wolf going rogue Blake. It's just because I've dealt with the council and made arrangements. It's just lack of sleep. I swear honey." She looked me dead in the eye and I knew she wasn't lying.

Caden's thoughts were on the alliance. Mine too. That means that our allied pack, my old pack, had no Alpha or Luna. There was no power couple. There was no one to run the pack. My father was far from invincible and never had a back up plan. My mom didn't know anything about the pack, he had made sure of that.

"I believe you mom." I hugged her again before I motioned for her to follow me. Caden didn't ask questions, just held my hand and walked beside me to the kitchen. "How about we talk over coffee and coffee cake?"

Dana sat on a chair, "Thank goodness I'm starving."

"Ditto." Benji said and I laughed.

I turned to make the coffee when Caden wrapped his arms around my waist, Relax babe, I'll get it. Talk to your family.

I knew this made him think of his own parents and father. Caden, are you okay?

Yeah Bee, I got you. I will always be perfectly fine if I have you.

Caden, you know what I mean, I don't want to upset you but I know you're thinking of your parents,  I said as I held his face in my hands.

He gave a small smile, You aren't upsetting me. I love that you care. I am fine though. My parents are looking down from above and wondering what I did to get as lucky as I am to have you. They are staring down in awe and wonderment because they can't believe how perfect you are either. I know you care Bee, and it means the world to me. But you've made me realize that everything happens for a reason. And they died so that I had two angels guiding me.

I held back a tear and pulled him to me, I love you so much Caden. I just wish I had an angel guiding me. Lord knows my father ain't it.

Sorry, guiding us. My parents are looking out  for you Bee. They love you, I know it.

I'm glad he understood my father and didn't try to convince me that he cared, we both know he didn't. I love them too, you know.

The love shining in his eyes told me everything. And his thoughts only proved to me how right I was. What did I do to deserve him?

A few minutes later we were all seated at the table and Caden came over with the pot he made and cups, he poured mine before adding milk and handing it to him, "Thank you Cade."

"No problem angel." I met his eyes and he winked at me You're my angel on earth.

I smiled and he looked over to mom, "What do you take in your coffee Mrs.-"

"Miranda. Will you call me Andy?"

He smiled and he was so happy that she said that. I never said anything but I know he was nervous that my mother would think he didn't deserve me because my father placed him here, but she liked him. I knew it. "Of course Andy."

"Then I take two milk." I'm glad she gave me support and let me show her how much Caden loved me. She never compared him to my father, she knew he was the real thing. A true Alpha to his Luna. She didn't  know we were fated though. Nobody but us did.

He poured everyone's coffee and we started talking about the future. I held Caden's hand the whole time and couldn't stop smiling as he talked to my family as if they were his family.

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Three hours later I was sitting on Caden's lap on the outside patio chair and he was running his fingers through my hair as I curled up into his chest.

My family and I had decided that Caden and I would call council tomorrow. Since we were allied Caden and I technically were in control of my old pack until someone was appointed or asked by council to take over as Alpha. The only problem was that I knew they would ask Benji and/or Dana and Dana straight out said that she wouldn't accept it. She had no Alpha blood and knew that I would run it rightfully, like Grandpa did. We didn't ask Benji but I had a feeling he wouldn't accept it either. I wanted him to though. Caden mated with me, but he shouldn't have to go through running another pack because of me.

Especially one that is so broken. It would take months for the wolves to accept that Caden was going to be Alpha. I knew some people there and I know a few who wanted me to fight my father for the position, but I doubt they want me running it now. I left. And I never looked back.

I couldn't make Caden pick up and restart an entire pack. It wasn't fair to him. If there was some way that I could deny this from council after both my siblings do, then I would do it. I have always dreamed of rebulding that pack, but I couldn't make Caden do that. Our pack is still recovering from the loss of fallen wolves and I couldn't make him divide his attenton between the two.

"Could you really deny running that pack?" He said breaking my train  of thoughts.

I looked down in shame, "Caden I'm a coward. I left. I'm sure they don't want me back. They probably think I would run it like my father, well, I wouldn't be running it, but you know. Plus, you're still helping this pack get over those who died in the war, and my father destroyed that pack. He destroyed everything my Grandfather believed in. He sucked the life out of that pack the moment he accepted the title. I can't accept it knowing that you'll have to balance between both packs and-"

"You're not a coward." He growled and kissed me roughly. He had me straddling him as he kissed me passionately. He pulled away holding my face in two hands as he looked me right in the eyes. "You're not a coward. You care so much about me that you would give up your childhood dream so that I'm not too busy. You are willing to sacrifice so much for me in the blink of an eye. That does not make you a coward." Amusement came into his eyes and I knew the moment his smirk grew that the seriousness he had for the last minute was gone, "And you didn't run away. You fell in love with the sexiest, most badass Alpha there was, who happend to be your fated mate. No one can blame you for that angel." I laughed and kissed him.

Once it died down and fell quiet I looked up at him, "Are you sure you want to run another pack though? These packs are nothing alike. My old one is isolated and does nothing together. Whereas ours eats dinner together and talks to everyone as if they're family."

"So our pack will role model your mother's pack. Blake, if it comes to it and they both say no, I will gladly help you run both."

"Well you would be running both-"

"No. We would run both. Blake you do just as much or more for this pack then I ever could. I may teach them how to fight and physically survive, but if they were shattered and torn inside then it would all be for nothing. You give them a reason to fight, the will to fight. Without you I would be meaningless."

"Cad-"

"Don't try to argue. I told you way back when, with you by my side we could run four packs."

"Let's just be happy that it's only two."

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Sorry again! The next chapter will be up soon (if this one publishes)!!