Chapter 48: Mindlink.

Bella’s pov.

Teeran came out of her room as she searched my face. Trying to find the words she wanted to say, but her little brain couldn’t find them…

She continued to stare at me, her face scrunched up.

“What’s up?” Teeran said casually as she walked towards the couch and sat down, smiling over at us.

Breaking Megan out of her trance she was falling into.

“I’m calling a pack meeting. The king and queen are coming here, they should arrive within a couple of days. We need to prepare everyone for their arrival. Now. I am sending it down the pack link now,” I said, looking over at her and crossing my arms while I watched her eyes widen in shock.

“The- the king and queen!” She stuttered, looking around the room as she stood up quickly, “I need to go! I need to prepare myself! I’ve never met the king and queen before! I can’t make a fool out of myself, they are royalty people!”

She ran out of the door before I could say anything else, Megan’s little eyes looking at me curiously as I looked back down at her.

“Mommy has to do something quickly, baby. And then I’ll cook you dinner and read you a bedtime story, okay?” I mumbled, rubbing her arms before standing up.

“Okay, that’s fine! I want to colour again. I love to colour! Teeran and I drew all kinds of things today. Like rocks… wolves and magical creatures!” She said while giggling, turning around and running towards her room again.

I took a deep breath before opening John's link first. Needing to get it over with now, he should be the first person to know. Not the other pack members.

‘I’m calling a pack meeting…’ I whispered, feeling his presence on the other side, lingering, listening. There…

He didn’t say anything at first, but I knew he was there, waiting for me to say something else. Not sure what to say to me. Maybe not knowing if he should say anything at all.

‘Will you be there?’ I asked, playing with my hair as I waited for him to say something, anything.

‘I’ll be there,’ he said softly, his voice making butterflies erupt in my belly, my skin tingling as I fought the smile trying to make its way onto my face.

So many different thoughts raced through my mind. At first I let them… but then I remembered everything.

My body and mind wanted him, wanted him to be next to me, to hear his voice speaking in my ears.

Tundra growled her agreeance, wanting the same things. Needing the same things…

But my brain won, all of the things I wanted to say disappearing from my mind, the link shutting down on its own… my memory kicked in right at the wrong moment.

Just when I had worked up enough courage to speak to him.

I let out a shaky breath, my arms folding in on themselves as I held myself together.

Just a little longer I told myself.

Knowing deep down that time could be good for us.

Kadence… her words still repeat in my head.

The pup they had created together, the future they could’ve had, the ‘abuse’ she went through…

John needed time too. To figure the situation out between them. To figure out his feelings.

To figure out if he wanted me or not. If he wanted a family together… with Megan and maybe, just maybe our own pups one day.

He deserved it just as much as I did.

We both needed this.

At least, that’s what I had to keep telling myself.

Because, I fear that if I gave in, gave in to him, I wouldn’t be able to pull back. And I’m afraid that if I can’t pull back, he’ll break my heart one day, and if we both don’t figure our lives out before falling for each other, I think we’ll hurt more than just ourselves.

I looked around the kitchen, grunting to myself as I began searching for something Megan would eat, getting so sick of cooking dinner every night.

“I should pay somebody to do this,” I mumbled out loud, smiling as I heard Megan’s laughter behind me.

“But mommy! I love your cooking, it’s the best! I don’t want anyone else to make my dinner… please!” She said, looking genuinely upset at the idea.

I raised my eyebrows in amusement, feeling shocked but also happy at her words.

No one’s ever told me that before, and her words make me want to continue cooking for her, even if I’m so mentally over it.

“Okay… I’ll keep cooking for you. But! You can’t complain about what is made. Got it? I get to pick dinner, even if it’s not your favourite but mine! Because my wants and needs matter too! Okay?” I said seriously, pointing a spatula I had picked up at her playfully.

My smile widening at her loud laughter.

“Mom! You wouldn’t!” She gasped, her hands flying to her mouth as she tried to fight her laughter.

I played along, feeling my chest lighten at the genuine joy I felt in that moment.

“Give mommy some time, I need to do something before I start to cook, okay?” I mumbled before turning my back towards her, needing to focus for a minute.

‘Everyone,’ I called down the pack link, feeling every single one of their presences lingering on the other side, ‘we have a pack meeting in the morning. Outside the pack house, in the large field, we’ll meet there by seven. Everyone is expected to be there, including the pups. This is one of the most important pack meetings. Make sure no one is late and everyone is there.’

I felt the questions everyone had, but I shut the link down and blocked myself off to everyone.

Not able to get into it right now… needing this time to myself, to prepare myself before I could prepare them.

I took another deep breath before rolling my shoulders and cracking my knuckles, mentally preparing myself for dinner… and what will come tomorrow when I have to tell everyone what is happening soon.

When they ask all of their questions regarding the visit with the king and queen, how John may need to tell them his heritage and where he really comes from.