Chapter Forty-Two: Grandparents

The day went incredibly slow, even when I left my office to talk to my top warriors and observe their training sessions.

In the afternoon I went to the dining hall for lunch around the same time as Caroline. I sat next to her and asked, “Where’s Brandon?” Since she wasn’t hiding away anymore I thought Brandon and her would grow attached at the hip like before.

Caroline shrugged and answered, “Looks like he’s been spending a lot of time with Bella.”

“Ah, that upsets you?” I asked because I caught the jealousy in her tone.

“It’s weird but it kind of does,” Caroline mumbled. “Don’t tell him I admitted to that. It doesn’t really mean anything.” Maybe, maybe not.

I agreed to keep her secret and let her finish eating without prying any further.

“Before you go,” I said as she stood up. “If current conflicts are too much for you then you can step down as Gamma for the time being. You deserve a break, maybe go on vacation.”

Caroline looked at me in the side of her eyes. “I’ll be fine Demetri, I know them better than anyone,” she said, her fists balled up. “It’s better that I’m here and involved with developing our strategy.”

“Okay Car,” I said and got back to my food when she left. I was still worried about her but there wasn’t anything more I could say or do. I had to let the following events play out, and even if I knew one way or another, it wasn’t going to end well.

As soon as I crossed everything off my to-do list for the day I went back to my room to get dressed for tonight.

There was a knock on my door and when I answered it Freya and Gabriel were on the other side, both dressed up. “Hi, Dad!” Gabriel exclaimed and I picked him up.

Freya looked as beautiful as she always did when she dressed up. She was meant for the life of luxury that I could give her. “We’re ready,” she said.

“It’s my mother's birthday,” I said, closing my door behind me and locking it. “Do you mind if we stop by her place so I can surprise her with Gabriel? She’s still complaining that she and my father haven’t met him yet.”

“That’s fine.”

We began walking down the stairs of the packhouse, all eyes on us. I looked down at Freya who was visibly uncomfortable. “Frey?” I put my hand on the small of her back where there was a circular window on her dress.

Freya looked up at me with her big eyes and it was hard not to get lost in them. “I feel like a joke,” she whispered.

I chuckled, earning a glare from her. “Sorry,” I apologized. “It’s just hard to believe that you feel that way while you look the way you do.” I kissed her forehead as we reached the bottom of the stairs and the murmurs around us increased. I didn’t mind the audience, I wanted everyone to know Freya was mine.

Freya rolled her eyes but it was clear she was flattered by my words.

When we left the packhouse we got in my car and drove to my parents’ house. We all got out when I parked in the driveway. We walked down the path to the porch and Gabriel rang the doorbell.

My father opened the door and he didn’t look happy to see us. “Demetri.”

“Father,” I said and put my hand on the top of Gabriel’s head. “This is my son, Gabriel. Gabe, this is my father, your grandfather.”

Dad looked down at Gabriel, studying him. Gabriel backed up between his mother and me, frightened by his grandfather's cold stare. “Vella,” he called out for Mom. “We have guests.”

“For god's sake Austin let them in,” Mom said from the living room. Dad stepped aside, opening the door wider and we all walked in past him. Mom was sitting on the couch, dressed up nicely for her birthday. “It’s good to see you all.” She smiled when she set her eyes on Gabriel. “Well aren’t you perfect, I’m your Grandmother.” She held her arms out and I gave Gabriel a bit of a push.

Neither Gabriel nor Freya looked very comfortable around my parents so I didn’t want this to be too long. Hopefully, Gabriel would become comfortable around my parents but Freya had a good reason for her discomfort. There wasn’t a better way to put it, my father was her kidnapper.

“Happy birthday Mom,” I said as she lifted Gabriel onto her lap.

“Happy birthday Lu—I mean Vella,” Freya corrected herself, remembering not to be too formal since my mother already considered her family.

“Thank you dear, have you been reading the journals I passed down to you?” Mom asked. She was instant on teaching Freya, I can't imagine the fit she’ll throw when she realizes Freya and I won’t be mating and that she won’t be Luna. Her delusion had to shatter at some point.

“Um, yes I have,” Freya said and I couldn’t tell if it was a lie. It sounded like the truth but I couldn’t think of why she’d read anything my mother gave her.

“Wonderful,” Mom said with a smile. “We’ll have to meet for brunch so we can discuss what comes next for you. Have you quit that distracting job yet?”

“Mom,” I said, interrupting her. “We didn’t come to talk about that, plus we have a show at the theater to get to.”

“Very well,” Mom said and lifted Gabriel off her lap. “It was nice meeting you, Gabriel.”

“Happy birthday,” Gabriel said before walking back between his mother’s and my legs.

We walked to the door and Dad stopped me as Freya walked out with our son. “Demetri,” he said sternly.

“Yes?”

“Our pack has a blessed wolf and you accomplished nothing during the last full moon,” Dad said. I didn’t expect to deal with his disappointment and lectures on Mom’s birthday of all days. I knew he wouldn’t agree with my decision to make moves during the first full moon but I wanted to celebrate Freya and needed me there. I was focused on my mate, not capitalizing on her ability, I didn’t care about that. “I might be retired but I expect you to lead this pack to become even greater than what I left to you.”

“Understood, that’s exactly my intention.”

“So I can assume you have something planned for the next full moon?” He asked. “You’ll use the power boost to assert dominance over the other packs in the surrounding area and take territory so we can expand.”

“Expansion isn’t my priority,” I said. “Our focus is in building stronger alliances by lending them our warriors during full moons.” My father’s disapproval showed in his face. “We’re also in conflict with The Cold Lightning pack so we might attack during the next full moon.” Not to mention we were in conflict with them because of my father's actions.

I held myself back from saying what I actually wanted to say. I wanted to confront him about taking Freya away from her birth family. This wasn’t the night for that. It was best to leave and enjoy my first night out with Freya as my girlfriend.

“You haven’t made any mistakes so far Demetri so I’m going to trust you for now,” Dad said as if he was being patient with me. “Strong alliances are important but so is expansion. With the route you’re going down you must know how important having a Luna is.” Lunas made strong connections to one another and met more often than Alpha’s did. Their relationships with each other were crucial to strong alliances and staying well-informed. “Not only that but how important a Luna is for having a strong and united pack.” I was upset with my father but I still respected his opinion because of his accomplishments as an alpha.

I looked past him at Freya as she got into the car. “I’m well aware,” I said knowing I wasn’t in the best situation Luna-wise. After things ended with Sasha I gave up on giving the pack a Luna. That was when I started thinking selfishly but my father expected more from me, for me to think as an alpha.

Dad nodded and stepped aside so I could leave.

After everything I did to Freya, I managed to get her forgiveness, at least to an extent. We were finally together and that wasn’t an easy feat but if I was able to do that…

Maybe I could convince Freya to become Luna for the sake of the pack. I was starting to feel that as an alpha I was obligated to. Either way, I’d make sure Freya was happy and smiling. I needed to do this for the pack.

I needed to convince Freya to give up medicine and become my Luna.