Chapter 4

ETHAN, REESE AND CALEB POV

“Do you think she’ll like me?” Caleb asked, suddenly in the silence.  They were still on the plane, almost ready to land at the closest airport to the pack where their parents would pick them up. 

“Where did that come from?” Reese asked, taking a long swig from a water bottle. 

“I spent the last five hours wondering if I was going to like her,” Caleb said.  “I didn’t think for a minute what would happen if she didn’t like me.”

Reese rolled his eyes.  “She’s probably like all the other she-wolves in the pack.  Maybe even worse.  They’re all full of themselves and busy backstabbing each other to impress the guys.”

Caleb was quiet, thinking of this possibility.

“Right now it doesn’t really matter if she’s your fated mate or not,” Ethan pointed out.  “You’re not eighteen.  She’s not eighteen.  You can get a good sense of it, but it won’t be confirmed until you’re of age.”

“I wonder, though,” Caleb said.   

“Well, you’ll know in about an hour,” Reese said, looking out the window.  “We’re getting ready to land.”

It was confirmed by the flight attendant who came back to remind them to buckle their seat belts.  When Caleb smiled at her she blushed deeply before scurrying back to the front of the plane, wondering who these gorgeous boys were.  Heirs to some oil fortune, probably, judging by the private plane all the way from Italy.

The plane landed and Ethan was the first off.  He picked their mother up off her feet and spun her around. 

“Oh, it’s good to be home!” he exclaimed.  His mom laughed and leaned back.

“Let me look at you,” Luna Jenna said, leaning back.  “You’ve gotten even more handsome,” she proclaimed.

“What about me?” asked Reese.  Luna Jenna laughed. 

“You all look the same.  You’re all incredibly handsome.”  Reese kissed the top of her head and linked arms with her.  Caleb and Ethan followed them to the car. 

“Tell me about Izzy,” Caleb asked.  Luna Jenna exchanged glances with her husband.

“What do you want to know?” she inquired.

“Dad, tell Caleb about Izzy,” Reese said.  Luna Jenna snorted but Alpha James shushed her. 

“Men know what men want to know,” he said by means of explanation.  He thought a minute.  “She’s quiet.  And a little sad, I think.  We ate dinner with her and her mom last night and she was very polite.  Smart, too.  She asked how big the Packlands are, and I gave her acreage.  She converted that to square miles in her head.”

Caleb looked pleased.  He liked the idea of a calm and thoughtful mate. 

“She’s got a fire in her belly, though,” Alpha James continued.  “She used to get into fights at school whenever someone would insult her mom.  She’s strong and Alessia trained her well.  She’s coming into her strength, and she has good instincts.” 

Reese looked intrigued.  He liked passionate and strong women.

“But she still doesn’t know she’s a wolf,” Ethan stated, making a point.  James shook his head, confirming it.  “How does Aunt Lissa think she’s going to keep that a secret?  Doesn’t she turn eighteen in December?”

Jenna answered.  “She does.  We’re just being careful at our house and limiting who comes over.  The staff has been warned not to say anything.  Lissa wants to tell her when the time is right.”

James and Jenna exchanged glances.  “One more thing.  She’s having dreams.  The moon goddess is sending her visions of her wolf and we believe she’s having premonitions.  She’s usually being attacked by rogues in these dreams.  Lissa says that Izzy wakes up screaming most nights.”

Curtis frowned, his heart aching for Izzy. 

“Is there anything we can do?” he asked, quietly.

“Just be patient with her,” Jenna answered.  “Make her feel welcome and loved.  The rest will fall into place.”  They were quiet for a little bit and then Jenna clapped her hands. 

“Tomorrow is your birthday,” she announced with joy.  “We’ve got a huge celebration planned for you at the Packhouse for before your shift and first run.  Most of the pack will be in attendance.”

“What about Izzy?” Caleb asked.  Ever since he heard about her, she wasn’t far from his mind. 

“We will do a small celebration at the house before your party with gifts and cake,” Jenna said.  “We’ll send her up to her room and the rest of us will go to the party.  Lissa will get her settled and then join us.  She’s looking forward to letting her wolf run.  It’s been a long time for her.”

The car had arrived at the gate.  It lifted and James drove through, waving at the guard.  The three boys leaned forward in their seat, almost imperceptibly.  They were eager to be home.  The conversation quelled as the car pulled up to the house.

A pretty girl sat on the stairs, waiting for the car to pull up.  The triplets got excited for a moment, then became disappointed.

“What’s Katie doing here?” Ethan asked, irritation in his voice.

“I don’t know,” his mom said, her voice hard.  It was no secret that she didn’t care for Beta Silvo or his mate, Vanessa, after what they had done to Alessia.  Katie was their daughter and Luna Jenna found her incredibly annoying.  So did the triplets.

Ethan was the first one out of the car.  Katie stood up and smoothed the front of her dress down.  “Reese?  Or are you Caleb?” 

“Neither,” Ethan said, not bothering to hide the irritation in his voice.

“Heavens!  You’re Ethan.  I couldn’t tell.  You’ve done gone and grown up,” Katie said, a fake Southern accent in her voice.  Ethan rolled his eyes. 

“What do you want, Katie?” he asked.   Alpha James made a small noise of protest.  He didn’t like his boys being rude, even if the person deserved it. 

“I wanted to be the first to say hello and welcome back,” she said putting a pretty pout on her face. 

“Well, you succeeded,” Caleb said, a little kindlier than his brother.  “If you would excuse us, please.  We’re tired after the long flight.”

“Thank you for stopping by,” Luna Jenna said.  “We’ll give you a call if we feel up to company later.  I’m assuming we will see you at the party?”

“Absolutely.  I’ve got an amazing dress that I’m sure you boys will appreciate,” Katie said, eyes batting.  She took the hint and climbed down the stairs, heading down the driveway.  Alpha James watched her go.

“You boys need to be a little nicer,” he said in a chiding voice.  Luna Jenna shook her head.

“No, you don’t,” she corrected.  “That girl can’t take a hint.  You have to be blunt.”

Alessia met them in the hallway.  “Ethan!  Caleb!  Reese!”  She gave them all hugs in turn.  “It’s been too long!”

Caleb was busy looking over Alessia’s shoulder.  “It has been too long, Aunt Lissa,” he said, politely.  “I would like to meet your daughter.  Is she around?”

Alessia laughed.  “I worked her pretty hard today in training.  She’s just finishing her shower.  She’ll be down in a moment.”

The boys didn’t hear her because, in that moment, they caught a whiff of the most delicious scent.  It was like mangos and fresh rain and evergreen trees.  They could hear dainty footsteps coming down the stairs and the three boys waited in anticipation.  She came into view and the triplets knew.  Izzy was their mate.  All three of them.