Chapter 65 - Surprised by Three Mates
Klaus POV
“Klaus, they’re here.” April walked into the main hall. I looked at the pup in my arms.. he looks so much like her it's unreal. I know.. she tried to ruin everything.. she killed her mate.. kidnapped mine.. but I can’t help but feel like I failed her.
She told me she didn’t want to be anything more than friends at first.. but one drunken night as teenagers led to us being in a relationship.. after that, I could tell she was really falling in love.
I’m the one that kissed her first. I’m the one that started it. And now? Now my best friend is dead.
Is it selfish to wish she wasn’t? She would’ve been executed soon anyways. It probably would’ve been far worse than what happened.
“Klaus?” April's voice broke me out of my thoughts. I looked up from the green-eyed pup and at my mate.
“Yeah, sorry,” I said. I stood up, the pup cooing as I moved. I walked towards her and went to hand her the pup, but she shook her head.
“You hold him. Come on. They’re waiting.” She placed her hand on my back and walked with me to the front door.
My heart raced in my chest as the front door opened. My eyes immediately met with the familiar ones of Alpha Jax. A look of anguish filled both of our faces. His loss of a beta, my loss of my best friend.
“Welcome, Alpha Jax. I wish you were visiting under better circumstances. Come inside, we have a feast prepared.” King Hunter said.
“Ahh, my old friend. I agree.. but what’s done is done.” Alpha Jax slapped King Hunters back in a greeting hug.
I watched from the doorway, unable to move. I looked down at the pup, his green eyes staring straight up at me.
It’s normal for pups to be born with their eye color. Humans usually have blue or brown eyes.. then they change their color as they grow older. But pups.. pups' eyes carry the souls of their parents. And this pup.. carries the soul of Adalyn. I just hope it’s the good part.
A car door opened and out stepped a woman. Her bleach blonde hair brought goosebumps to my skin. The same blonde hair of the beta.. the same blonde hair on the head of this beautiful pup. Behind her, stepped out a tall man with blonde hair, not as light.. more or less dirty blonde.
The beta family.
I didn’t move as they both looked around. Their eyes set on me and the pup..
“Dear goddess..” the woman slowly walked towards us. My heart racing in my chest, I stepped down the first step.
“You’re going to be so loved.. little one.” I whispered down at the pup.
I took another step, then another. The female beta and her mate growing closer with every second.
“Is.. that..” The male beta voice broke. I stepped closer to them, now a foot apart.
“He’s.. uh.. he’s a very quiet baby.” I didn’t even know what else to say.
“May I.. hold him?” The woman asked. I looked down at the pup once more and smiled softly.
“Here is your family,” I said to the pup. I held him out, the woman holding her shaking arms out. The moment she sniffed his head.. she burst into tears.
“He smells like my boy.. my boy..” she sobbed. The male beta wrapped them both in his arms, holding tightly to what remains of their son.
I took a step back as I held my tears from falling. Adalyn lost her parents long ago. Her mother died after birth.. much like Adalyn. And her father couldn’t bare being without his mate so he took his own life. Maybe.. just maybe.. if they hadn’t left her alone in this world.. maybe she would’ve turned out to be better.
“And who are you?” The woman asked.
“I.. uh.. I was once best friends with his mother.” I said as I motioned toward the pup.
“Then we’ve both lost someone greatly special to us.” The man said.
“It would seem so. Can I just.. I just wanted to apologize.” I said.
“You weren’t the one who took our son from us. There’s no need for an apology.” He said.
“But.. I was the reason she did it,” I said. What am I looking for? To get myself killed? Goddess, I’m an idiot, aren’t I?
“She was the reason. She didn’t have to take his life. But she made a choice. Whether or not that choice was made because of you.. you were not the one who took his life.” The woman said. I felt a weight lift off of me almost immediately.
“Come. We have much to discuss.” King Hunter said as he walked to the door. One of the guards opened the door and we followed Hunter inside.
I felt April's fingers intertwine with mine and I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.
“Are you okay?” She asked. I smiled at her.
“I’m fine. Let’s get some food.” I said.
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“What was she like?” The woman asked.
“I don’t think..” she stopped me mid-sentence
“She was your friend. The mother of this beautiful pup. I just want to know. The pups eyes.. they’re not my sons.” She said.
“They’re Adalyn’s,” I said softly.
“They’re beautiful.” She whispered as she eyed the pup. She had given me her name.. Loraine.
“Adalyn.. she didn’t have it easy. Her mom died at birth.. and when Adalyn was six.. her father took his own life in front of her.” I said. Loraine gasped and looked at me shocked.
“She was great in school. Straight A’s all the time. There were times when she’d get onto me for making anything less. She was kind.. and gentle.. until..” my smile faded and I was brought back to reality.
“I’m sorry,” Loraine said. I shook my head and smiled.
“Don’t be,” I said.
“This was a great meal, my King. You’ve got yourself a great cook. I might have to steal her.” Aloha Jax joked.
“You may have to fight me for her. Maria makes the world's best French toast.” April giggled.
“Is that so? I hear we’re in need of a French toast extraordinaire.” Jax laughed.
The servants cleared the table of our dishes and trash. And we sat here continuing to chat and exchange stories of our lost ones.
“Do you want to hold him?” Loraine asked me. I didn’t say anything at first. He’s not mine to hold. But goddess knows I care deeply for him.
“He’s your family just as much as he is ours.” She said softly. My eyes filled with tears as she passed him back to me.
I held him tight. His scent is reminiscent of Adalyn’s. But also unfamiliar.. his fathers. I only met him a couple of times. When their pack was visiting mine.. I was too busy working on things for my father. Too busy to realize Adalyn had found her mate and killed him.
He was kind, a great fighter from what I’ve seen and been told. Strong. Strong like this beautiful pup.
“So.. does our future beta have a name?” Alpha Jax asked. Loraine looked at her mate and smiled.
“We were thinking Zaedyn. Zane is the name we gave our son. We thought.. even after everything.. we could give him a name from them both.” Her mate, Griffen said.
My eyes widened with shock. I didn’t know what to say. How can they be so.. different than I thought they’d be? I was expecting them to be furious. To have hatred in their hearts for what Adalyn has done. But they’re the complete opposite.
“You don’t have to do that,” I said.
“And we would like it if you, Klaus.. would be his Godfather. As we said. He’s your family too.” Loraine said. My heart fluttered with happiness. April grabbed my hand and squeezed it tightly.
“I would be honored.. to be little Zaedyn’s Godfather,” I said. My eyes filled with tears and I looked at Zaedyn sleeping soundly in my arms. He will grow to be a very strong man. I can tell.
We spent an hour continuing to talk, continuously sharing stories, and admiring the little pup.
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“Thank you, my King, my Queen. Now we have our future beta.. he will be loved greatly and challenged daily.. He will be a force to be reckoned with.” Alpha Jax said.
Loraine pulled me into a hug, then followed Griffen. April held Zaedyn, he was holding tightly to her finger and cooing. Goddess, I can’t wait for our pups.
“He’s amazing.. isn’t he?” Loraine asked.
“He truly is.” April smiled. Loraine looked at April curiously, then spoke.
“You’re pregnant?” Loraine asked.
“I.. we hadn’t taken a test yet..” April said. Loraine gave her a sheepish smile.
“I’m good about these things,” Loraine said. April handed me the pup and I took one last look at him.
“I’m going to visit you as often as I can.. And you can come to visit me. We will be great friends.. my family.” I whispered. I inhaled deeply, taking in his scent one last time before I would hand him off to leave.
April's hand rested on my shoulder and I handed Zaedyn to Loraine.
“We have your number now.. I will send you pictures daily.” She smiled.
“Thank you,” I said. She got him in his car seat and placed him in the car.
“We will meet again,” Griffen said.
We watched as they all piled into their vehicles and took off.
“So.. I’m guessing a test isn’t necessary.. huh?” Alastair said from behind us.
“Can we still do it? For the memories?” Alexei asked. April giggled and nodded her head.
“Let’s go.” She said.