Book 2 Chapter 23

Caleb's Point of View

I left Daphne, Scarlett, and Hannah to prepare for the dinner tonight. The catering company had

arrived, and our guests had already been shown to their rooms. No amount of preparation could

have prepared me for today. I am worried that this may be an utter disaster, and with everything

already bogging Daphne down I worry how this will affect her. I am also worried about putting our

peculiar wolves in danger, and now I have new pups that are special that will need to be protected

as well. This stress is going to cause me to grow grey hair.

I slip away to my office, hoping for a few moments of silence. It is not long before both Theo, and

Marcus slip in. I pour us each a drink and we settle into the chairs to catch up a bit.

“I meant to ask earlier but got caught up in the moment. Lola seems rather attached to the girl

Maria that you found, are you guys planning on adopting her if you can not locate her pack?” Theo

is straight forward with Marcus.

“I have no idea really. Lola calls most of the shots when it comes to the pack house. I have been

focused on training the warriors and dealing with the rogue attacks. Plus, with winter coming I

wanted to ensure that we were good to go.” Marcus seems as stressed as I am.

“Scarlett and I are contemplating formally adopting Hannah. We both love her as if she were our

own blood, and Caleb and I raised her. I was going to pose the question to you after this gathering

Caleb, but since we were on the subject, I figured now was a good time as any.” Theo is talking in a

matter-of-fact tone, but I can tell that he is nervous.

"As long as Hannah wants the adoption, then nothing would thrill me more. I know that we both

raised her when she was younger, but Theo you have always been the one that took care of her the

most. I would love to be her official Uncle.” Marcus, and I raise our glasses in a congratulatory drink

to Theo. I do believe that Hannah will be thrilled with the idea, even though she is almost of age.

“What about you Caleb when are you going to begin filling this house with pups?” Marcus asks.

“I think it is going to be awhile my friend. We have had some complications.” I answer him honestly.

“You and Daphne are having issues?” He asks me with worry in his face.

"Yes and no. We were pregnant, just barely. Due to the abuse that Daphne suffered when she was

younger there is lasting scar tissue, and the fetus was not viable.” Marcus is my friend; therefore, I

do not hide the truth from him.

“I am sorry for your loss my friend.” Marcus reaches over and clasps me on the shoulder in

condolences

“I handled it better than she did, but she feels like she has somehow let down both me and the

pack.” I sigh finally getting it out.

“Although Lola and I did not lose a baby, we thought for awhile when we first met that she was

pregnant.” Marcus started talking

“I remember that at last years Mabon Ball.” Theo pipes in.

"Yes, at the time I did not want her to be pregnant. I was worried that it would have been her

previous boyfriends’ pup if she were” Marcus looks down into his glass with shame. “We have been

trying for months to conceive and have not been able to. Our pack doctors are running some tests

to see if there is anything preventing a pregnancy. I think that is why she is close to Maria. I know

that she wants lots of pups. I do not mind adopting, but I do hope that we have a few of our own as

well.”

"Scarlett and I have discussed the idea of having pups, but for now we have decided to wait. We still

have a few things to work out being second chance mates, and we want to make sure that we are

healed fully before bringing a pup into the world.” Theo informs us.

Marcus gives a deep rich laugh. “Who would have thought that in less than a year all three of us

would be mated, and sitting here talking about pups like a bunch of women?” We chuckle in

agreeance. At one point both Marcus and I were worried about turning feral for failing to find our

mate.

"Honestly after the attacks and finding the hybrid kids I am ready for a vacation.” I glance over and I

can see that Marcus is tired, and stress. Being an Alpha and looking out for an entire pack can be

mentally and physically exhausting

"Did Isabella tell you that she was a hybrid, or did you interrogate her?” I did not mean for the harsh

edge to be in my voice, but it was present anyways.

"Goddess Caleb she is a child. I know I may appear rough around the edges, but I would never allow

anyone to interrogate, harm, threaten, or abuse a child. No after we defeated the few soldiers that

they had left I did ask how the twins grew so fast. Isabella and Maria looked uncomfortable, but

when I explained that they were safe they finally told us the truth. If it had not been for Isabella's

vision from the Moon Goddess Lola and I had discussed raising the twins on our own.” Marcus

seems slightly upset that they are not going to be raised by him. “Just so you are aware Savannah

likes being rocked side to side, whereas Bryson likes being rocked back and forth.” His voice hitched

at the end.

“I will ensure that they are both taken care of and loved deeply. The woman that Daphne was

calling, Mavin, lost a child about six months ago. Unfortunately, the boy caught pneumonia, and did

not pull through. Her and her husband were understandably devastated. They will be great parents,

which is why I think Daphne thought of them first.” I do my best to console my friend. It is painfully

obvious that he cares for the children deeply.

“It was definitely a surprise. I have not heard of a witch since I was little. I remember at one point

there was a rumor that one was located near Spokane in Washington, but it was only a rumor. I am

positively fascinated that we had one so close, and we never even knew it.” Theo's brain has

switched to science, and I almost groan out loud knowing that he will not let this go until he has

sated his curiosity.

“I thought the entire idea was a bunch of rubbish until we met Isabella and the twins.” Marcus

states.

“Well, it is certainly a surprising twist in life. If Isabella is telling the truth than obviously the Moon

Goddess has something planned for us all. Perhaps people have evolved to the point that the

factions no longer need to hide?” Both other males laugh at my suggestion.

"Caleb come now; they still have an issue accepting each other if the pigment in their skin slightly

differs. Could you imagine how it would be if they found out that there were beings in the world

that possessed the ability to shift into a wolf, or a bat, or ones that could tap into the magic of our

world? They would fear us and hunt us for sport. No, I do not think that is the Mood Goddess's plan,

or at least not yet.” I hate to admit it but Marcus is right. The humans are not ready as a whole to

accept us yet.

"Scarlett just linked me and told me I need to get ready for dinner. Please excuse me guys.” Theo

quickly gulps the last of his drink before hurrying out of my office.

"Yeah, I should get ready too before Lola starts nagging me about washing up. I swear that woman

is going to try to wrestle me into a monkey suit soon.” Marcus chuckles again as he also heads out.

Taking their cue I down the rest of my drink and hurry to get ready as well.