Thank you all for your condolences and patience while I was away.
I still didn’t know what I would call justice for what Séréna and her lackey attempted to do. Gunnar and especially Henrik already had a set idea of what punishment the guy should at least get. It was shocking to see Henrik crush the guy’s hand while he was still a statue. It was shocking but not something that upset me or made me think less of Henrik for his actions. Sure, to some people, crushing a man’s hand would be considered extreme. And maybe if that hand hadn’t tried to assault me, I’d think it was extreme. However, he did try to assault me, and I’m okay with him losing his hand for it. Gunnar and Henrik may be reluctant about being Beta mates in Nebrodi, but what Henrik did proved they’d fit in great with my family. As Holly and Dean took Séréna and the one-handed jackass away, I considered what may happen from all this. Will their Alpha concede that their actions require punishment and handle it? Would he side with these nitwits? Would he think Henrik went too far and deman
Maybe bringing her to our rooms was a bad idea. Other women who crossed the threshold into either of our rooms didn’t stay long enough and were too preoccupied to notice things like my Swan Lake painting or Henrik’s Phantom of the Opera poster. So, we’ve never had to explain them to anyone. I got off easy because mine was one of Char’s paintings. Henrik, not so much since it’s a signed poster. Knowing her family’s history with that opera and that she is a singer gives him an in with her and the rest of her family. I’m not a singer or a painter. I’m not sure what she’d think of my well-hidden talent for ballet. I don’t disclose that to anyone. Henrik, Mom, and my instructor are the only ones who ever knew. Char may have painted the Swan Lake water painting in my room, but she didn’t give it to me. Mom did that. As glad as I was not to have further questions about the painting or poster, I wouldn’t say I liked how Zoe’s shoulders bunched as I walked into Henrik’s bathroom. It made me w
I didn’t want to know how long I spent in Henrik’s shower scrubbing every inch of my body. My skin was red and beyond exfoliated when Viatrix insisted I needed to stop. I still felt dirty, but I stopped. Indeed, to get beyond this. While what happened was bad, it didn’t escalate to something worse. I didn’t freeze, I reacted, and I prevented that asshole from doing something that would hurt me and my mates. Maybe I’ll feel better after Alpha Dorian punishes the guy and Séréna. I was hesitant when I poked my head out of Henrik’s bathroom and looked around. Logically, I knew I was perfectly safe. This wasn’t a shared hallway where some asshole or bitch could decide to attack me. This was my mate’s bedroom in the Alpha house, where people can’t just wander around as they want. The room was silent, and through the hole in their shared wall, I couldn’t see anyone in Gunnar’s room. Once I shoved my irrational worries aside, I found my luggage still in Gunnar’s room. They still need to expl
Gunnar and I may be twins, but that doesn’t mean we always see eye to eye or never fight. Sure, it doesn’t happen often, but it still happens. And I would be the first to admit when I’ve crossed a line. Which I did. I crossed a line by throwing that the last female he fucked before we met Zoe was a psycho. It’s not his fault. He can’t predict the future, and he certainly doesn’t control the actions of others.Just because I’m still pissed about what she and her one-handed packmate tried to do wasn’t cause to take it out on Gunnar. I had already taken the guy’s hand and couldn’t wait to see what Dorian did. He better fucking do something. It won’t take a psychic to predict that all hell will break loose if he doesn’t.
After Henrik’s story, I was very happy Alfred wasn’t here. Henrik went through a traumatic event. He should have been treated with kindness, not with abuse. I’d like to know if Alfred ever apologized to Henrik for his behavior, but I’m afraid to hear the answer. More than that, I fear what I might do if I don’t like the answer. I understand that children need discipline. There are limits. I won’t tell someone how to discipline their child when they act out or do something that could hurt someone or themselves. If Henrik had done something worthy of needing to be corrected, I’d get it. But he was a little boy who’d been through a traumatic event and was reacting to that event with panic. So what if everyone else wasn’t freaking out. He was, and he shouldn’t have been hit for it. As our laughter about their mother staying home to keep an eye on them died down, I had more questions. Of course, I wanted to dig deeper into his other concerns and see what Gunnar said. There were still some
I know how hard it is for Henrik to discuss his phobia of flying, least of all the source. I’m glad he was willing to open up to Zoe about it. Our immediate family knows what happened, which, by all accounts, is many people. However, they don’t know because Henrik told them. They know because Dad or Mom told them. Of course, how the story is told varies depending on which one told you. Dad always downplayed what happened and made it sound like Henrik was weak. Mom said something closer to what happened, but despite her good intentions, she still made Henrik sound weak. We both knew she never meant it that way, but in her efforts to not paint her mate in a bad light, she sacrificed Henrik’s dignity. Not many people asked Henrik directly, and those who did never got much of an answer as he didn’t want to discuss it. I didn’t tell people about it either. Partially because I knew Henrik didn’t want me to and partially because the one time I told someone I made Dad sound like the monster
I can’t believe their parents didn’t give them any training for being a ranked member of a pack. This whole conversation has made up my mind that I am going to detest my father-in-law and will likely turn him to stone the second I meet him. I may attempt to give him the benefit of the doubt, but the first time he says or does something that puts Gunnar or Henrik down or is sexist, he’s going into stone time-out. But worrying about how I’ll deal with him is a concern for another time. Gunnar and Henrik have agreed to come to Nebrodi and become the new Betas. That’s what’s important. I knew they were worried they weren’t prepared for the role, but it’s okay. Kat will give them all the training they need on the job, and I’ll be there supporting and helping them the whole time. Now, I need to get Henrik comfortable on a plane. My offers to ask Zio Alec or Isis still stood, but Gunnar was right. They aren’t a permanent solution. Given everything my brother went through in the fall out of
I want to let you know that I am NOT a dancer. Mom tried hard to teach me at least basic dance steps, not to embarrass the family at balls. I’ve stepped on my share of toes because no one would accept when I told them I could not dance. I’m not sure why it’s surprising that a guy my size isn’t a good dancer. Gunnar usually mucks it up, too, but he does it intentionally to get out of dancing. As a singer, I can read sheet music and follow a beat and rhythm, but singing differs from dancing. My feet can’t follow the beat, so I tend to stand still or walk when singing. So, I was sure my part of this ‘show’ wasn’t nearly as entertaining to Zoe. At least she didn’t comment on the obvious difference in skills. I could remove my clothes, but not with all the showy dance steps. ‘You’re doing fine. So, stop overthinking.’ Gunnar said in our link. ‘Easy for you to say, twinkle toes.’ I snorted and nearly tripped on my own feet while taking off my pants. ‘See.’ ‘Heads or tails?’ Gunnar ignore