She said hi?

She said hi?
As Bella watched Graham get into the car and the car drive away, and she felt her anxiety grow, there was a knock on the door. She walked into the apartment and opened the door. On the other side was her father.

“I’m sleeping on the couch until Graham gets back,” he informed her.

“You don’t have to do that, dad,” she said.

“I know that peanut. But that’s what I’m going to do. Someone needs to keep an eye on you and the beans, and I happen to have a lot of time on my hands. Now let’s get you off to bed. It’s late, and it has been a nerve-fraying day,” he told her, shooing her into her bedroom.

---

Graham was sitting on the jet, going south again. He was still torn between staying with Bella and going where his warriors needed him. He took out the sandwiches and smiled at the thought that Bella had made sure he would have something to eat.

He wanted to call her and talk to her. But it was after midnight, and she needed to sleep. He hoped she could rest. He took solace in her being surrounded by their pack and family. Once he had finished eating, he unzipped his bag and took out Bella’s t-shirt. She really thought about everything. He smiled as he folded it under his head and leaned back to get some sleep.

He was awoken by the pilot, letting him know they would start the landing procedure. Graham sat up and tried to focus on what lay ahead. Mike and alpha Noa would also join them. He was hoping Logan had sorted out a ride and was waiting at the airport for him.

As he exited the jet, Logan was waiting for him. He gave him a smile as he walked up to him.

“Morning, boss,” Logan said.

“Wouldn’t call it that when the sun hasn’t even risen. Mickey and Mavis say hi,” Graham grunted. That made a goofy smile appear on Logan’s face.

“Mavis said hi?” he asked. Graham chuckled.

“She isn’t even four months old. No, she didn’t physically say hi. Mickey said it for her. Gees, you need those parenting books more than I do,” he laughed at his friend.

“You never know, the kid might be a genius,” Logan defended himself.

“Sure thing,” Graham nodded.

“Man, I can’t wait to get back home to see them,” Logan sighed.

“I know. Sorry, you had to be down here,” Graham said. He had taken out the thermos, poured some lukewarm coffee into the attached mug, and handed it to Logan as he drank from it.

“Thanks. You remembered to bring coffee?” Logan asked as he took a sip.

“Ellie,” Graham explained.

“That makes more sense. How did we survive without her?” Logan smiled.

“I haven’t got a clue. Lately, I feel like if she isn’t planning it, it goes to hell,” Graham sighed.

“She took part in planning our attack, right?” Logan asked.

“Yeah,” Graham smiled.

“Good, then we have an advantage,” Logan said.

Graham knew his friend was half-joking. But Graham felt more confident knowing the plan was Bella approved.

“How was the funeral?” Logan asked in a sombre voice.

“Awful like they always are, but peaceful and dignified,” Graham said. There was silence in the car as they both were lost in thought.

“How are alpha Richard handling things?” Graham asked.

“It was fine until you decided to act. Now he is running around like a headless chicken, trying to organise things, just to rearrange them the next minute. We pretended to listen to him and then waited for orders from his beta. I’m sorry that you needed to come, boss. But it feels better that you are here,” Logan told him.

“Don’t be. It’s my job and my honour to stand next to you. And if I can make alpha Richard a little less pain in your asses, then it’s my pleasure,” he smiled. Graham took out his phone and texted Bella to let her know he had arrived safely. He got a reply after a minute that made him frown.

“What’s wrong?” Logan asked.

“Ellie answered my text,” Graham said.

“Isn’t that a good thing?”

“Not at three in the morning. She should be asleep,” Graham pointed out.

“The mate bond screws with the sleep when we are away. She will get more sleep tomorrow,” Logan assured him.

“I know. I just worry, especially since she is pregnant,” Graham confessed.

“I get that. Maybe she could stay with Mickey and Mavis?”

“Apparently, her father is staying with her,” Graham smiled. He needed to thank James when he got back home.

“That’s good. He will make sure she gets plenty of rest,” Logan nodded.

“Yeah. We were actually supposed to eat dinner with him and Jessica tonight. Ellie has gotten it into her head that they have a thing between them,” Graham chuckled.

“Really, and she is okay with that?” Logan asked, surprised.

“She wants her father to be happy. Preferably happy in our pack,” Graham shrugged.

“Well, I guess he is done for, if the luna has set her mind to it,” Logan smiled.

“I don’t know. I have a sneaking suspicion that she inherited a lot of her stubbornness from James,” Graham said, amused.

They finally arrived at the pack ground and quickly passed through the gates. Logan drove up to what looked like a village of large tents.

“It’s not a luxury life, but it is surprisingly comfortable and keeps us dry,” Logan told him as he stopped by one of the large tents.

“We have this one and the four ones to the right. The Redheart pack is to our right and the Whiteriver pack to the left,” Logan explained.

“Nice, let’s get started then,” Graham nodded.

---

Bella decided to get up when she checked the time for the fifth time, and it said five am. She went into the bathroom, got ready, and then tiptoed into the kitchen, trying not to wake her father.

She put on some coffee for him and started making her usual breakfast. Graham had arrived safely a couple of hours ago, and Bella relaxed a little. She needed to figure out what to do about their dinner plans. The operation would start at eight pm, and she would be there for every part.

The dinner should be over by that time, but Bella knew she would have difficulty concentrating on being social that close to seeing Graham go into battle. Maybe they could make it into lunch instead? She thought. She would ask her father.

Bella made her father breakfast as well. He was just as much a lover of routines as she was and always ate the same thing for breakfast. Bella’s hands knew the deal without her brain having to get involved in making the two slices of toast with honey and a mashed banana mixed with oatmeal and nuts.

She heard her father stir in the living room, and he soon joined her in the kitchen. He looked a little ruffled from sleeping on the couch.

“Morning, peanut. Did you get any sleep?” he asked, kissing her cheek.

“Morning, dad. Yes, a couple of hours. What about you?” she asked and handed him a mug of coffee.

“Ah, that’s the thing,” he sighed happily. “I slept rather well,” he then said.

They sat down at the breakfast bar and ate.

“Dad, I was thinking. Do you think Jessica would mind if we made the dinner into lunch?” Bella asked.

“That’s today. I don’t think she would mind. I think she would understand if you postponed it as well,” he told her.

“I don’t want to do that. I just need to clear the hour closest to the operation,” she told him.

“Peanut, I think we need to talk about this dinner, or lunch, with Jessica,” he said.

“Sure, dad, what’s on your mind?” she smiled.

“I have this feeling that you are trying to, well, to set me up with Jessica,” he said, looking uncomfortable.

“And if I were, would that not be okay?” she asked him.

“Peanut, your mother and me…,” he started, but he didn’t seem to know how to finish the sentence.

“You and mom were true mates, and you will always love her,” Bella helped him along.

“Yes,” he sighed.

“I know that, dad. But I also know that she would want you to be happy. The question is, would you be interested in Jessica? As someone to go on a date with?” she asked her father.

“Well, I don’t know. I haven’t thought about it,” her father said. Bella just raised an eyebrow.

“Okay, so maybe I have thought about it. But I don’t know. She is really sweet and not bad looking,” he mumbled.

“She is gorgeous, dad. All I want to do is give you an opportunity to get to know her. I won’t force you to ask her out. But if you feel you would like to do that, it’s fine by me. I like her,” Bella said.

“When did you get so grown up?” he sighed.

“Dad, I’m mated with two pups on the way and a pack to run. I think I have passed into adulthood by now,” she laughed.

“Never, peanut. You will always be my pup,” he smiled and ruffled her hair.

“Dad,” she complained. He just laughed.