Chapter 203: A full table

Chapter 203: A full table
Vida's POV

Sixteen years after the arrival of Aiden.

Sixteen years of bliss, sixteen years of endless happiness. Sometimes I still woke up and couldn't believe how far we had come, from pain, from loss, from nearly dying, from giving a second chance to this. A full table, one filled with laughter, a family, a life that I didn't think I would have up to this time. A small soft smile crept into my face as I watched them, my children and my mate, sitting around the dining table, arguing over food like nothing else in the world mattered, Aiden sat across from me, already looking too grown for my comfort. His shoulders were broader, his voice deeper, yet his eyes still carried that softness he had as a baby. With each day passing, he is becoming more handsome, stronger, and caring like his father.

Beside him, sat Zaryra, our first daughter, she had arrived two years after Aiden, her long, Ash blonde hair falling effortlessly over her shoulders, even though they were tied in a ponytail, her blue eyes bright, so much like my father's. That still caught me off guard sometimes, and then there was Winter, my little storm, my miracle, and my heartbreak. She sat quietly between Meredith and me, unusually calm this morning, her green eyes observant, thoughtful, too thoughtful for a seven-year-old.

My mind wandered to seven years ago, when I had her, I couldn't forget that day, my grandmother, the goddess of the guardian, had shown up a week after her birth, something she didn't do when I had Aiden and Zaryra, all she did was send a gift but didn't visit. But with Winter, it was different. She had shown up, standing beside winter's cottage, Meredith had thought it was someone who wanted to harm our baby, only to find out she was my grandmother. She had placed a bracelet on Winter's wrist, calling Winter, her successor, and that she was there to take Winter.

Meredith said he would not allow it, after much pleading grandmother had agreed that she would let winter stay with us till her eighteenth birthday before coming for her, Meredith pleaded for twenty-five, but grandmother said that was too long a time, that the next queen of the guardian was supposed to learn all the acts of a queen before she turned twenty.

We had no choice but to agree. Meredith had wished that our little girl find her mate before her eighteenth birthday, so that she wouldn't have to be taken away, but he had no idea her fate had already been sealed. My fingers moved unconsciously, brushing through her hair gently, she leaned into the touch without looking up, and my chest swelled with pride. We had eighteen years to spend with our little girl, eighteen years to make unforgettable memories. The number never left my mind, but I am not dwelling on that, Akira had told me times without number that if it's Winter's fate, no one could hurt her, that I shouldn't think, her fate will turned out like my mother, that was killed by her guardian relative, I want to believe so, I really want to, "mother;" Aiden's voice pulled me back, I blinked looking at him.

"Yes, son?" He hesitated slightly, rubbing the back of his neck, a habit he definitely got from Meredith.

"Can I ask for permission?"

Meredith didn't even wait. "Permission for what?" He cut in immediately, his tone already suspicious, I shot him a look, he ignored me, Aiden exhaled, his shoulders dropped.

"I just want to stop by Uncle Roe's place."

My brows furrowed slightly, "Roe's?" I muttered before I could say anything else, Winter’s voice cut in, light and teasing.

"Isn't it obvious?" she giggles, and all eyes turn to her. She pressed her lips together, trying and failing not to smile.

"What is funny, little storm?" I asked narrowing my eyes slightly 

She tilted her head, looking straight at Aiden, "Aiden wants to see Xyra."

"Winter!" Aiden snapped in frustration, his ears turning red.

"Sorry, my brother," She pouted, while I blinked.

"Xyra?" My gaze shifted between them. Xyra was Roe's fourteen-year-old daughter; he was the same age as Zaryra, and suddenly things started making sense, "Oh!" I glance at Meredith, his expression dark, I guess he is having the same thought as I, before he can say anything.

Xavier calling! It was Zaryra's phone announcing the fellow calling her. Our head snapped towards her, knowing that it was Alpha Logan's son who was calling her, "Why is he calling you?" Meredith asked immediately. Zaryra looked confusedly at us. Right from the moment Zaryra was born, Xavier had formed a friendship with her, something that was slowly turning inseparable. "Go on, answer the question young lady."

"I don't know, Dad."

"What do you mean you don't know?" Meredith requested, but before he could demand an answer, Meredith's body stiffened slightly, I knew that reaction, someone must be mindlinking him, his eyes turned black briefly, his posture straightened, when he blinked again, his expression had shifted, "Finished your meals" he said firmly, "Everyone is already outside." No one argued, not even Winter, who always loves to eat, this was the first time the kids were attending the inauguration of an Alpha or any high-ranking wolf so they were excited for it especially Aiden, since they would be having their ceremony very soon because Meredith and the other ranking wolf would be retiring soon.

By the time we stepped outside, the morning air felt alive, buzzing and cars were lined up, voices were everywhere, and then there was Xavier, who was standing beside Nash, Gamma Austin's son, the future Gamma of this pack. Xavier's attention was on his phone until his head snapped up, straight to Zaryra, and just like that, everything else disappeared. He took two long strides closing the distance between them before any of us could even react. He was right in front of us. My lips twitched slightly when he didn't acknowledge us. It was obvious that all he saw was just my daughter. "Why are you wearing this?" He asked already pulling off his coat.

Zaryra blinked, "What?"

"Your hands are exposed." Before she could respond, he draped the coat over her shoulders then his hand move softly and carefully, he untied her hair, letting it fall freely down her back, "leave it down," he murmured, then His voice softened, "you look beautiful with your hair down," and sudden he leaned down and pressed a kiss to her head, my eyes widened slightly and I felt Meredith tenses beside me

"Xavier." Meredith's voice cut through the moment like a blade.

Xavier froze and pulled back instantly. I guess he didn't see us there. "Sorry, Uncle... Beta Meredith..." He stammered, clearly unsure of what to call him. I almost laugh, but like his father, alpha Logan, he was quick to compose himself and, straightening his posture, "Beta, can Zaryra ride with me?"

Meredith parted his lips, "No!" I elbowed him sharply, he shot me a look, I smiled sweetly at him, "Fine!" He muttered reluctantly, then pointed a finger at Xavier, "If..."

"I swear, I will protect her with my life," Xavier cut in immediately.

Meredith paused for a brief second, studying Xavier, then nodded once, "good,"

"Thank you, Uncle!" Xavier said.

"What about your sister?" Meredith asked suddenly.

Xavier didn't hesitate, "Alpha Alec picked her up last night."

My voice bulged as the realization hit me, the young man who was supposed to be preparing for his inauguration today, drove a seven-hour journey to pick up a female that her family would drive there today, "What?" Meredith shouted, and I winced slightly. Xavier just nodded calmly, and without another word, he turned, took Zaryra's hand, and led her to his car like it was the most natural thing in the world. I watched them walk away as a small smile formed on my lips. These kids are growing up fast. In the next six to eight years, they might probably have their own family.

"father," Winter's voice came again, we turned to her, "can I join them?""

"No!" Meredith answered instantly, too fast and too loud. Winter blinked, ready to throw a tantrum, but Meredith moved his hand and ran it through her hair. "Not today Storm." She grumbled but didn't say a word when I slowly turned my head toward Aiden's spot. It was empty; the young man was just beside me, and he was now nowhere to be found.

"What about Aiden, can I go with him?" Winter's voice came up, pointing in the opposite direction. My gaze followed her fingers, only to see Aiden at the side of Nash, Gamma Austin's son.

"Mom and dad, I'm riding with Nash, and we will be..." I didn't hear the rest of the words because the engine of the car was already roaring.

I sighed softly, "Of course, you can." Before I could finish, it was already gone. Meredith just stared, almost lost in what was happening in front of us, then suddenly, we heard Austin laugh beside us.

"These kids grow fast." He grinned, "won't be surprised if we become grandparents soon."

Meredith turned slowly, glaring at Austin, Meredith hated to be reminded that someday his little girls would find their mate and move away from home. "Don't even start"

Linda laughed lightly, linking her arm with mine, "Come on," she said, "Luna Akira is waiting for us, she is the one driving the females."

"What?" Meredith snapped again, and I didn't even look back.

"Deal with it," I said simply, walking ahead, while I saw the frustrated face of Alpha Logan. I guess he had just been kicked out by the Luna. "Sorry, Alpha!" I muttered, "You three are single for today."

"Who will take me in?" Logan announced as he walked towards Meredith and Austin.

"I guess we are stuck together." It was Austin who replied, I could practically still feel Meredith's frustration behind, I didn't look back because one look and I would bail out from my sisters, my friends, the family I had known for eighteen years, the family that had been with me through all the hard times, even though we aren't related by blood, this family is stronger. I smiled as I slipped into the car because this chaos, this life, this love was everything I had fought for, and even with the uncertainty of the future hanging over us, I could still feel that this life was worth all the fight. I tilted my head to my daughter. Even with Winter's time ticking quietly in the background right now, one thing I was sure of was happiness and a life without chaos.

"Finally, I didn't have to ride with Father," Winter whispered, all eyes tilted to her because we knew those words of hers, she wanted to be beside Meredith. "Mother, don't you miss father?" She asked, and I shook my head. She sighed, "Can we not create a little space for dad? I kind of..."

"Missed him." The three of us said in unison, and Winter covered her face with her palm. I ran my arms through her hair.

"I missed him too. After this trip, we are not riding without him."

"Yay!" She screamed, then leaned into me, "Thank you, mummy, for loving dad, and all of us." I pressed a kiss on her forehead.

"Thank you for loving me."