Chapter 67: Ada's Mate

Ada

“I’m so proud of you,” Blake kisses me on my neck as he comes to stand behind me and wraps his arms around my swollen belly. “This will become a sanctuary for so many.”

“I hope so,” I intertwine our fingers and rest my head against his shoulder as I look at the building. It is painted grey with a galvanized logo, The Den.

After five years of planning and fundraising and meetings, my dream is a reality. A sanctuary for children. It consists of a small orphanage for abandoned babies and children and a variety of services – like therapy and counselling – for children and teenagers in need. Blake supported me every step of the way and with his help, neighbouring packs invested in The Den. This means that those packs may also make use of these services.

“I don’t know what I’m looking forward to most,” I sigh contently. “The opening of The Den or Zayne’s Christmas Party.”

“Oh, for me it’s easy,” Blake chuckles behind me as he rubs my stomach. “It will be the arrival of this little dude.”

“He’s not due for another two months,” I laugh. “The party is tonight, and the opening is in two hours.”

“That wasn’t the question, now was it?” He lets go of me, takes my hand and leads me to The Den. “We should get you off your feet. You’ll be doing plenty of standing once these doors open.”

“I’m not fussed,” I shrug. “I know you’ll piggyback me if I get tired.”

“I’ll rather get you a wheelchair,” he gives me a wicked smile. “Your stomach will be in the way.”

“You always know just what to say,” I roll my eyes theatrically as we walk inside.

**

“Dear goddess, this is a lot of children,” Willow sighs as she takes a seat next to me on the bench. We are all gathered in the garden of the castle at Moon Shadow. But instead of a reunion, it is more like a farewell for Petra and Tyler who will return to Greece in the new year.

“And soon there will be more,” I smile brightly as I lovingly rub my baby bump.

“I envy you,” Willow says sadly as she sits back and looks at the children playing. “I’m pushing thirty and no mate and no family.”

“I’m sorry, Willow,” I take her hand and give it a gentle squeeze.

“Do you want to know the irony,” she laughs cynically. “I never wanted it. I was satisfied being on my own and in my career. A man was not my answer to happiness.”

“But it’s true,” I say softly. “Happiness lays within.”

“I am happy,” she sighs and looks up at the sky. “I’m Zayne’s Beta. I have accomplished that no other woman has in this pack’s history. I have great friends whom I see all the time, but sometimes … I just want to go home and have somebody waiting for me. I want somebody to look at me like Blake looks at you.”

“I wish I could help,” I whisper as my heart breaks for her. I have no words of encouragement or wisdom.

“But then again,” she scoffs as she raises her eyebrows. “When I look at Zoe and her army of children, I count my blessings.”

“Three is not that many,” I laugh softly as I follow her gaze to where Zoe is trying to pull the fighting twins apart.

“But she’s pregnant again,” Willow shakes her head. “Seriously, does Cooper ever get off of her?”

“I think the question should rather be if she ever gets off him,” Violet grins as she joins us. “Our Zoe wholeheartedly wears the pants in that relationship.”

“Yeah, now that you mention it,” I burst out laughing. “Cooper is not allowed to drink alcohol or eat sushi when she’s pregnant. She reasons it’s not fair that she should suffer through the pregnancy alone.”

“The girl’s got a point,” Violet nods. “I’m taking pointers from her. Eric can kiss his meat goodbye for the next eight months.”

“You too?” Willow gapes at her.

“Found out this morning,” Violet smiles happily. “So, keep it to yourselves. I haven’t even told Eric. I’m still processing it.”

“Congratulations, Vi,” I say.

“Hold on!” Willow puts up her hands in the air. “Let me get this straight. You’re pregnant and are planning on punishing Eric by making him a vegetarian?”

“Yup,” Violet grins. “The smell of meat makes me nauseous and FYI, you’re the godmother.”

“Sounds right to me,” Willow hugs Violet, but I can see how she fights off her tears.

I know they are best friends, but I do not think Willow has told anybody other than me that she is lonely and missing a family of her own.

“I’m exhausted,” Zoe huffs as she sits down next to me. “And my feet look like puffed-up blowfish. What are you hugging about?”

“We’re planning torturing techniques for our significant others for blessing us with the gift of life,” Violet grins. “And you’re our leader.”

“I’m not torturing Cooper,” Zoe replies baffled.

“Eat what you eat, drink what you drink,” Willow raises her eyebrows.

“Oh, that,” Zoe laughs. “It was his idea. He felt sorry for me and wanted to support me.”

“That’s a pity,” Violet pouts. “I miss the old days when we were scheming and plotting. Now we’re all about mates and diapers.”

“Good times,” I sigh nostalgically.

“Hey, where’s Gregory?” Willow asks. “I haven’t seen him.”

“He and the missus are running late,” Violet grins. “Goddess, I hope I’m still as giddy and h*rny as him when I hit my forties.”

“He’s only thirty-eight, Vi,” I laugh heartedly.

“Close enough,” she shrugs.

“Repeat those words when we stick forty candles into your cake when you turn thirty-eight,” Willow smiles ominously.

I only smile when Violet and Willow start bickering back and forth.

“I’ll be back,” I say to Zoe as I watch Zayne and Tyler walking past.

I walk as fast as my body allows me and catch up with them where they are sitting on Mom’s bench. Without saying a word, I take a seat next to Tyler. For a long time, we stare at the ocean in silence.

“Tara is really mad at me,” Zayne breaks the silence. “I called out Willow’s name in my sleep last night.”

“Goddess, why?” I gape at him.

“Did you have a sex dream?” Tyler chuckles.

“No,” Zayne gives Tyler a dirty look. “I had a nightmare and Willow is my Beta. I was shouting orders in my dream. Not moaning in pleasure.”

“Why don’t you just tell Tara that?” I shake my head. “She’ll understand.”

“I’d rather she thinks I have the hots for Willow,” he scoffs.

“But why?” I ask flabbergasted. “That makes no sense.”

“This is so embarrassing,” Zayne sighs as he pushes his fingers through his hair. “And I have never told anybody this, but sometimes I still get nightmares of the night in the caves. I was young and it was my first real fight. It stuck with me. What kind of alpha am I if I have nightmares? Tara might think I’m weak.”

“You’re not weak,” I say softly before I smack him on the back of his head. “You’re an idi*t. Even Dad, with his secrets, knew better than to keep it from Mom. Tell Tara the truth, Zayne. She’s your mate and the mother of your children. She’ll love and respect you for telling her. If you don’t, she’ll start to resent you.”

“Ada’s right,” Tyler nods. “Nothing good comes from keeping secrets from your mate.”

Zayne does not reply to that, and my heart softens. Dad was right, Zayne was only a child when all of this happened. I never accounted for how it would affect him.

“There’s no shame in counselling,” I say, and Zayne opens his mouth to protest, but I hold my hand up to silence him. “I should know, I went for sessions. How else do you think I overcome Clyde’s visits?”

“Do you think … you know?” Zayne looks at me pleadingly.

“Sure,” I smile. “Come to The Den. There’s one therapist specializing in PTSD. Nobody will know.”

“Thanks, sis,” he smiles.

“And bring Tara,” I say firmly. “She needs to know the truth and how to support you.”

Zayne only nods as he turns his gaze back to the ocean.

“Six years,” Zayne sighs. “But it feels like aeons ago since Ada’s birthday.”

“It also passed in a blink of an eye,” Tyler looks at his hands. “Sometimes it scares me how fast time runs out.”

“But you’re still fine, right?” Zayne asks concerned. “You don’t have any symptoms?”

“No,” Tyler smiles reassuringly. “But I don’t take time for granted.”

“Neither should we,” I take Tyler’s hand and lean my head against his shoulder.