Chapter 5:  Her Family

When I came out of the bathroom, I found Blasé on the bed surrounded by three little bodies.  I couldn’t help but smile, my heart swelled with love and contentment.  I walked to what was now my side of the bed and looked down at the four most important people in my life.  Blasé opened his eyes and smiled.  “Marco brought them in, Rebel had a nightmare and wouldn’t go back to sleep.”  Blasé pointed to the window and I looked over and saw that Marco, well his wolf, was asleep on a pillow and covered with a blanket.  “River set it up for him, she didn’t want him to be cold.”  He told me with a smile.  I climbed into bed and rubbed Rebel’s head.  When he felt my fingers in his hair he snuggled closer to me and let out a small sob.  “Oh, my sweet boy, I’m so sorry.”  I gently rocked him.  “She will never touch or see you again.”  I vowed to him as light snores came from him telling me he was finally asleep.  “Blasé,” I called out, “we have to deal with Fred and  Nancy, they’re causing too much heartache and fear in our kids.  They need to know that they are safe and that won’t happen as long as Fred and Nancy are still here.”  I demanded of him.  “Get some sleep and we will figure out what to do with them tomorrow.  As of now, these three nuggets are our kids, not Fred and Nancy’s but ours, yours, and mine.”  He told me with so much assurance.  He draped his arm across our kids and me, he pulled the four of us closer to him and we all drifted off to sleep.  

“Mama, wake up.”  I head a small whisper in my ear.  “Mama.”  Another little voice says poking my cheek.  “Mama.”  All three of them whispered and shook me awake.  “We hungwy.”  Ryder whined rubbing his little tummy, he has the biggest appetite out of three of them.  “Okay.”  I was able to grunt out, the three of them had made themselves comfortable sitting on my chest and stomach.  “Okay, but I need for you to get off of me, so I can get up.”  I told them, raising my eyebrow.  They giggle and crawl off of me.  I pull myself out of bed.  “C’mon, let’s go get your clothes changed.”  They cheered as they ran to their room.  “Oh my, Luna, I am so sorry.  I stepped away for just a moment…”  Minnie, their nanny sighed.  “It’s okay Minnie and please just call me Storm.”  I assured her.  “They are a handful, it’s nice to have extra sets of hands to help.”  I laughed.  “Mama!”  They called out.  “Okay, I’m coming, I’m coming.”  I called back to them walking into their room with Minnie right behind me.  They were running around their room chasing each other, River was hiding behind her small couch giggling.  The boys were play fighting, practicing what they had learned from training with Silas and Blasé.  “Alright, get dressed so we can go and have breakfast.”  I instructed as I scooped River up in my arms.  She was being a squirmy worm and squealing in laughter.  “Well, good morning my babies.”  Blasé’s mom, Grace, greeted as we walked into the dining room.  “Hi Nana!”  River said, giving Grace a great big kiss on her cheek and the boy’s giving her hugs.  We got them settled at the table and ready to eat, as everyone started drifting in, they greeted me and the triplets.  The kitchen staff brought out food as we waited for Silas, Blasé and their dad, Alex.

“Good morning, everyone!”  Alex boomed walking in and stood at the head of the table and said a prayer.  “May the Gods and Goddess bless this food and the hands that prepared it and may she bless and show mercy on our pack.”  He finished his blessing.  “Now everyone eat and enjoy.”  He smiled and everyone dug in, from what I’ve been told, the pack usually waits until the Alpha has the first bite but here, they wait until a blessing is offered up by the highest-ranking member in the room.  “Dada!”  River chirped as Blasé leaned down and placed a kiss on the top of her head.  She softly sighed and smiled, he went to the boys and whispered something in their ear making them smile wide and chuckle.  He stalked over to me not breaking eye contact with me.  His gaze sent shivers up and down my body.  “Good morning, my beautiful mate.”  He whispered in my ear and kissed my neck.  I bit my lip to prevent a moan from escaping.  I could feel him smile against my neck.  “M-morning.”  I stuttered, blushing hard.  I could see everyone smiling and chuckling.  “When we’re done with breakfast, Nancy is asking to see you.”  Blasé started.  “Why?  I have nothing to say to her except goodbye.”  I huffed.  “I want her and Fred gone for good. So do I but we need to talk to them, make sure they understand the situation they are in.”  He said leaning his forehead to my temple.  I sighed and nodded.  “Eat.”  He said holding up his fork piled with fruit and pancakes.  He was always making sure that I ate, even if I wasn’t hungry.  I had to eat a little bit of something.

We stood in front of two huge metal doors that led down to the prison cells.  “You don’t have to do this.  Silas, dad, and I can take care of this.  Luna’s don’t usually do things like this.”  I told her.  “No, I need to do this. They need to know they didn’t break me and that I’m not letting the triplets go.  And I’m not just going to be your standard Luna.”  She said standing tall with a quick nod of her head.  I took her hand and tucked it in the crook of my arm and guided her down the stairs to where her mother and stepfather waited.  “Well, well, well, you finally decided to grace us with your presence.”  Fred hissed and Storm rolled and narrowed her eyes at him.  “I’m only here to tell you and Nancy that you have two choices.  1.  You and mommy dearest sign these termination of rights and adoption papers, when the papers are approved and signed, you will both be released, given some money, and banished.  2.  You don’t sign, you go to trial and believe me you will be found guilty and upon that guilty verdict you both will be put to death.”  I told them with Storm standing tall and confident by my side.  “You can’t take my children from me!”  Nancy yelled.  “Yes. I. Can.”  Storm gritted.  “I have been the one to care for them, they call me Mama not you!  They are afraid of you and Fred.  You have your choices so decide, we don’t have time to wait forever.”  She told them motioning for them to hurry up and decide.  “Fine!”  Fred grumbled.  “Give us the papers!”  He said without even a fight and extended his hand taking the papers.  “What?!  NO!!  You can’t do this!”  Nancy begged “Fred.”  “Shut up Nancy.”  He yelled at her.  “You want to get outta here don’t you.”  She nodded.  “Then this is the only way.”  He told her signing and shoving the pen into her hand.  “Now sign, the sooner the better and the sooner we can get outta here.  Plus, we no longer have to stick around, we can finally live our life the way we want.”  Fred told her.  “You lived the way you wanted anyway.”  Storm snorted. 

“Sign the papers, so we can get outta here.”  Fred told his mate.  “Again, once the papers are approved, then you both will be released and banished from the pack and territory.”  Dad reminded them.  “How long will that take?”  Fred asked.  “Hopefully within the next two weeks.”  I answered.  “I will make sure to push it through as quickly as I can.”  Alex told them.  “Please Stormie, may I see them one last time?”  Nancy sobbed.  “I’m sorry but no, not after the last time Rebel had nightmares and is barely getting back to normal.  I will not have that happen to him again.”  She told her.  “Please Storm, please, if this is the last time…” She started but I interrupted.  “I will ask them but if they don’t want to then I will not make them.”  I told her.  “Okay.”  She agreed.  “I guess you should have been more of a mother to them and to Storm.”  Silas snorted.  “Someone will be down in a few minutes with some food and other necessities.”  Dad told them.  “Behave yourselves and you will both be treated well, cause problems and well…” He trailed off as we started walking off.  “We won’t cause any problems.  Just make sure that you give us enough so that we have enough to live on and not hafta worry about anything.  I think maybe ten million should cover it, put in some kinda account that keeps bringing in more money.  I don’t wanna hafta work or any shit like that.”  Fred said, that’s all he ever wanted, was to be able not to work.  And him not cause any problems?  Yeah, right, I don’t believe him.  “Storm,”  Nancy whispered, “I’m sorry.”  She stopped and looked at the woman who was supposed to be her mother, the one person who was supposed to take care of her and love her.  “It’s too late for apologies.  You were supposed to take care of me, to protect me but you didn’t.”  She told her softly.  “You chose Fred over me, the only good things that I have are the triplets.”  She turned and looked at her mother.  “I will take very good care of them; they will always be my priority.  I will give them the things you never gave, especially love.  You will always be my mother, but I never want to see you again.  We will be just fine without you.”  She kissed her cheek and left her. “Goodbye, mother.”  She said as I wrapped my arms around her waist and led her out back to the pack house.

As we walked in silence and got closer to the house, we heard the voices of Silas and Marco giving instructions, both of them started counting in unison.  “What’s going on?”  I asked, hugging Storm from behind.  “Oh nothing, looks like the terror three are trying to hide from Silas and Marco.”  She told me.  “They don’t even realize that they can be found by their scent.  Isn’t that a little unfair?”  She asked with a small frown.  We could hear River giggling as she found her hiding spot.  “They are so happy.  I don’t think I’ve ever seen them this happy.”  Storm said smiling up at me.  “From now on, this is all you and our pups will ever know.”  I said hugging her from behind.  “I guess they don’t realize that Silas and Marco can sniff them out, huh?”  Summer giggled.  “Nope but they are having fun though.” Storm said and for the first time in a long time she relaxed.  I watched as they tried to hide behind trees and fallen branches as Silas and Marco continued to count.  I laughed as I watched  Silas sneak up on the boys and Marco sneak up on River.  When they were discovered, they squealed and ran to me and Storm.  “Mama, dada, hewp us!”  They squealed trying to hide behind our legs.

“It’s time for lunch.”  Mom called out.  “Wunch!”  Ryder clapped his little hands, wiggled all over the place and did his happy food dance.  “C’mon mama, I hungwy.”  He said pulling Storm behind him.  “Ryder, baby, it will still be there.”  She told him.  “Nuh-uh, Poppy gonna eat it all before me, he eat all.”  He said with a pout.  “How can I eat it all if I am right next to you?”  Dad said laughing and making Ryder jump and squeal.  “Poppy, you scwred  me.”  He laughed climbing up his Poppy’s legs.  It’s hard to believe that in such a short time that, I have a family to love and protect.  I will protect them more than their own mother ever did.  We made our way into the pack house and got seated as pack members greeted us and spoke with the pups.  Those three have stolen the hearts of everyone here.  Megan and Summer helped get them seated and ready to eat.  I could see the drool starting to drip from Ryder’s lips.  “Ryder wipe your mouth.”  Storm said handing him a napkin.  “Sowry mama.”  He said wiping his mouth.  Silas, Marco, and Grace walked in carrying several trays of food for us.  As soon as they set them down Ryder and Rebel dug in.  River scrunched her face at her brother’s eating habits.  What can I say, they are growing boys?

As soon as we were done eating, the triplets talked their Poppy into playing another game of hide n seek.  As you can tell, they really enjoy playing that game.  They are trying to figure out how everyone keeps finding them so quickly.  Poppy doesn’t find them as quick; he wants to give them a sense of the hunt, at least that’s what he says.   It keeps them busy for about an hour when one of the cell guards comes rushing in yelling making the hairs on my arms stand up.  “Alpha!  Alpha!”  One of his guards came running in.  “Catch your breath!  What’s wrong?  What happened?”  Blasé demanded.  “Alpha, Luna, I’m sorry but…they’re gone!”  The guard breathed out.  “Who’s gone?”  Silas asked but I knew who they were talking about.  “NO…NO…NO…kids come out now!”  I yelled for them.  They poked their heads out from their hiding spots.  “But Mama…”  Ryder whined.  “No buts, c’mon we need to go!”  I said picking up River and hurrying up the stairs to our rooms.  “Mama, why?”  Rebel asked.  “Fred.”  Was all I said, and Rebel took Ryder’s hand and followed me up to their room.  I could hear Blasé’s voice calling for me, but I couldn’t focus on what he was saying.  “Mama, wha bout Coco?”  River pouted.  “Sweetheart, we have to get away from here.”  I told her as I hurried to the room.  “No, you don’t.”  Blasé said walking into our room.  “But Frwed…” Rebel started.  “Rebel, I made a promise to you, to all of you.  I promised that Fred would never hurt any of you ever again.  I am not going to break that promise to any of you. Now, I need to talk to mama, so you three stay here, get cleaned up and then we will watch a movie and pig out on snacks.”  He told them.  “C’mon my little stinky’s.”  Summer said taking them to their bathroom and Blasé guided me to our room.

I was pacing back and forth, panic building.  “Sugarbear, please calm down.”  He pleaded with me. “How can I calm down?!  He will come for us, for me.”  I whispered.  “He will never let me go.  I shouldn’t have let my guard down.  I should’ve known he wouldn’t just agree, he always has a plan.”  At this point, I was rambling.  “No, no, no, we need to get outta here, we can’t stay here.”  I said grabbing a duffel bag and stuffing whatever I could get my hands on.  “Sugarbear, stop!  Please, the four of you are the safest here.”  Blasé said, grabbing my shoulders.  “Please my love, stay here, if you want to go somewhere away from here for a while, then I will take all of you anywhere you want.  We have a couple of private islands we can go and just be.  No one can come or go without being noticed.”  He told me trying to assure me.  “Blasé…I-I-I don’t know.  He will find me…us.”  I whispered trying not to fall apart, even though I know I am so close to the edge.  “Sugarbear, I will not let him get near you, any of you and if he does, he will wish he had never been born.”  I looked in his eyes, I could see that he meant everything he said.  “I don’t want them too ever be alone.”  I told him. “Of course not, each of you will have a guard at all times.  Marco will stay with River.  I will need to figure out who to assign to the boys and you.  When I have to work someone will be with you.”  He told me.  “I still need to finish the semester, but I don’t want to go back on campus, that’s the first place he will look for me.”  I whispered.  “We can arrange for you to do your classes online.  You can do your whole degree online if you want.”  He suggested.  “Sounds good to me.  I don’t like going on campus anyway.”  I sighed. 

“Can the kids sleep in here tonight?”  I asked him.  “Of course, anything you want.  I’ll have Mrs. Wagner prepare some food and snacks; we can stay up as long as you want.”  He said, hugging me tight.  We set up a bed pallet on the floor at the foot of our bed for Marco and the kids.  “Thank you.  I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to fall apart.”  I mumbled.  “Don’t apologize, you have every right to be scared but you have me and a whole lotta people who will do whatever it takes to protect you and our pups.  This may sound like a stupid question, but why?”  I asked, I was still not sure why they would give their life for me or my little ones.  “Why what?”  He responded as he rubbed circles on my back.  “Why are they so ready to protect us, to fight for us?  I mean, they don’t even really know us.  They accept you as my mate and the pups as my heirs and the future of our pack the four of you are members of our pack.  You’re my true, fated mate and that makes you our pack’s Luna.”  He explained.  “Luna?  What is that?”  I asked, scrunching my nose.  “Everyone has been calling me that, but I have no idea what that means.”  He chuckled at me.  “Basically, you’re the female Alpha of our pack.  You will help me run our pack and when the boys are old enough one or both of them will take over.  River can do whatever she wants, if the boys don’t want to take over then she can or she can help them run the pack also as the female Beta.  But it also depends on what we decide to do with Marco, that’s something we can discuss later, there’s no rush right now.”  He said as I tried to process everything.  “What if someday, we have our own kids, how will that work?”  I asked.  “First, once the adoption papers are signed, they will carry my name and be my pups and heirs.  It’ll be as if they were my biological children.  They will be our first born’s.”  He explained to me.  “All this is so crazy, we hardly know each other and you’re talking forever.”  I said rubbing my temple.  “As far as I ever knew, werewolves were myths, urban legends and now I find out that my mother is married to one and my siblings are half wolf.”  I said scrubbing my hands up and down my face.  

“Hey, hey, calm down.”  He whispered softly.  “Yes, I want forever with you, it’s in our nature once we find our mate.  I want a life and a family with you and no one else.  You take as much time as you need but I am going to do what I need to do to protect you and our family.”  Blasé finished as he rested his forehead against mine. “You should know that wolves mate for life, once we find our mate, there is no one else for us.”  He whispered in my ear.  “Yeah, right.”  I scoffed.   “Okay, so there may be a few that don’t believe in the mate bond, but the majority of packs teach the importance of the mate bond.  For Alpha’s our mate balances us and help keep us from going feral.”  He told me.  I looked up at him.  “Wow, I guess that’s why Nancy was always touching Fred when he would lose it.  I guess in some way she did protect me.”  I shrugged my shoulders.  “You still have a lot to learn about our, now, your traditions.  Mom can give you a crash course and answer any questions you might have about your duties as Luna.”  He said nuzzling my hair.

I heard River squealing in delight.  “Mama, wook I hab a horsey!”  She was perched on Marco’s back as he was scurrying around on all fours.  She was so happy, I couldn’t take that away from her, I couldn’t take them away from a family that loves them and me.  All I could do was smile.  I’ve never seen them so happy and having this much fun.  “They were never allowed to play in the house, any kind of laughter would cause disaster.”  I told Blasé as I stood at the doorway watching them play in the huge hall that made up, what they called the Alpha floor.  It was an apartment floor all its own, each floor was set up the same way.  There were four bedrooms each with their own ensuite bathroom, living area, two offices, two guest bathrooms, playroom, and a kitchen.  The only reason we would need to leave the floor would be to go outside but even then, their floor had a wraparound patio-balcony.  Knowing that Fred and mom escaped, I’ll be staying inside with my squirts.  I’m not taking any chances.

“Who’s up for a picnic?”  Summer asked in a sing-song voice.  “I don’t know, it might not be such a good idea.”  I worried.  “Pwease Mama.”  Ryder pleaded.  “We can set the picnic up right outside in the backyard.  We will stay close to the house, there will be extra guards around the house.”  Silas assured.  I sighed.  “Okay, but can we, I know it’s a lot to ask but, can we install a fence enclosing the backyard area?”  I kinda winced a little at my question.  “Why would they do that for me?”  Blasé lifted my chin.  “If that’s what you want, then consider it done.  I can have someone here first thing tomorrow to get it done.”  He smiled at me.  “Don’t ever think that it’s ever too much to ask for something.”  He said kissing the tip of my nose.  “Especially if it’s for our young or you.  I want you to feel safe.  So, whatever will make you feel safe, I will make sure it’s done.”  He assured me.  “I have a better idea, Grace chirped, “let’s have a barbecue!  That sounds like a great idea.”  Alex agreed.  “C’mon my little ones, come help Poppy.”  He told them, changing the subject as he swung River and then putting her on his shoulders. She giggled all the way down the stairs as everyone followed behind. 

“You, okay?”  Blasé asked.  “I don’t know.”  I whispered.  He wrapped his arms around me and all I could do was melt into his arms.  He tugged me to the sofa, sat down and pulled me into his lap.  He held me tight and nuzzled his face in my hair and inhaled which made me giggle.  “Why do you do that?”  I asked.  “Do what?”  He asked as he ran his nose from my ear to my shoulder and back up.  Jolts of electricity flowed through my body.  “Why d-do you s-smell me?”  I was able to stutter out.  “It’s our way of having our scent on our mate plus your scent calms me and Asher.  Once we complete our bond, my scent will mix with yours and everyone, especially the males, will know who you belong to.  The little nuggets will also eventually carry our scent, it’s actually already starting to change.”  He explained as he continued to give my neck attention.  I didn’t even realize that I was now straddling his lap.  My arms wrapped around his neck, and I found myself leaning my head to the side give him more access.  “Blaaaasssssé.”  I moaned.  “My Sugarbear, you are mine for eternity.”  He whispered.  I held him tight, and he held me close as he kissed, nipped, and sucked on my neck.  Moans flowed from my lips and growls vibrated through his chest sending shivers down my spine.  I felt a bubble of pleasure start to build.  “OOOhhhhh…mmpphhh…” was all I was able to breathed out before a wave of pleasure flowed through my body.  I slumped down on Blasé’s body as he continued to kiss my neck and caress my back.  “I will never get tired of how your body reacts to my touch.”  He whispered.  All I could muster was a content sigh.  He chuckled.  “C’mon let’s straighten up.  I’m sure everybody’s waiting for us.”  He said helping me to my feet.  I went to the bathroom to freshen up.  “BLASÉ ASHER SILVERMOON!  What did you do?”  I yelped.  I turned and saw him standing at the door with a huge smirk.  “That is my temporary mark, I need to make sure our scent and mark is on you, and this is the next best thing until you are ready for Asher and me to claim you.  But does it have to be so big and dark?”  I huffed.  “I can’t believe you just did that but oddly I’m not that mad about it, but next time can you please leave your mark where it can’t be seen or easier to cover?  Or better yet not leave one at all?”  I grazed my fingers over the huge love bite he left.  “Not a chance!”  He said kissing the mark he made, making me moan again.  “This is totally natural for our kind, and it will happen again, and again, and again.”  I glared at him.  “Okay,” he sighed, “I will try to leave it somewhere less noticeable, but I can’t make any promises, especially for Asher.”  He winked and wiggled his eyebrows making me giggle.