Chapter 55: 53, Reunion

Sean’s POV

Sean took Adina’s hand as they walked out of the plane. It had become a habit by now, but more so. He needed the feeling of her as he saw the two black cars waiting by the side of the runway. Men and women were standing by the cars. He didn’t recognise most of them.

A little in front of the rest of the wolves waiting was a tall, well-built man. Sean recognised him as he had similar features to himself. His brother was watching them as they walked toward him. Then he started moving to meet them halfway.

“Welcome back, Sean,” his brother said. He smiled at Sean and extended his hand.

“Thank you, Liam,” Sean said, shaking his hand. To Sean’s surprise, his older brother was shorter than him. Liam had always towered over him when they were growing up, and Sean had always felt like he would never be as strong or tall.

“This is the Beloved One. Adina, this is my brother, Liam,” Sean introduced them.

“My lady, it’s an honour to meet you finally,” Liam said, bowing slightly to Adina.

“Please, call me Adina. It’s nice to meet you,” she smiled. His brother seemed lost for words, and Sean had to smile. Adina always had that effect on people when she turned on her charm.

“Ah, well, I think you would like to get going. I’m guessing you had a long flight,” his brother finally said. He showed them and their warriors to the cars.

As they approached the cars, the rest of the wolves bowed in respect to Adina and looked curiously at Sean. Now that he saw them closer, he thought he recognised one or two of them. But he had a hard time placing their faces.

“Mother will be happy to see you. She has been talking about getting you to visit since father passed away,” Liam said as they got into the car.

“How is she?” Sean asked.

“Better than I thought she would be. She is handling fathers passing with grace. Since I’m still unmated, she continues to act as luna,” Liam said.

Sean saw his brother’s eyes dart to Sean’s neck, where Adina’s mark was. Adina must have seen it as well.

‘Have you thought about what you want to tell them?’ she asked in a mind link.

‘The truth. I do not need to please them or to pretend that I’m something I’m not,’ he answered and got a smile from her.

“I didn’t know you were mated; you should have brought your mate along. Mother would have loved to meet her,” his brother said.

“He did,” Adina smiled.

Sean could see the confusion in his brother’s eyes. He was trying to figure out which of the warriors Sean was mated to.

“It’s Adina,” Sean helped him and couldn’t help but chuckle.

“You’re mated to the Beloved one?” his brother stared at him.

“He is,” Adina smiled again and held their intertwined hands. She had never let go of him since he took her hand before getting off the plane. Sean smiled at her.

Adina’s POV

Adina knew Sean was nervous and uncomfortable about returning to his old pack. She was happy she could be there for him.

His brother was still trying to get to terms with Sean being mated to her. Adina found the whole thing amusing and slightly annoying. She knew it probably wasn’t meant to, but his response to the news felt like he thought his brother wasn’t good enough to be her mate. But she focused on the comical aspect. This was Sean’s family. She kissed his cheek.

“What was that for?” he asked, surprised.

“For being you,” she smiled. He shook his head but smiled. Adina felt his brother watching them.

“You should let Colin know we have arrived safely,” Sean reminded her.

“Okay,” she agreed.

Adina was happy that Colin was a member of the White rose pack and that they could mind link over long distances. It was bad enough to be away from him. But it felt better knowing she could feel the connection.

‘Honey, we have arrived and are on our way to the pack,’ Adina mind linked Colin.

‘I’m happy to hear that, baby. Have everything gone okay?’ Colin answered.

‘Yes, so far, so good,’ she told him.

‘How’s Sean?’ he asked, and she could hear the worry.

‘He’s holding it together, but it’s hard on him. We met his brother. He isn’t what I expected,’ she said to him.

‘Why? What’s wrong?’ he asked.

‘Nothing’s wrong. I don’t know; I always pictured this older version of Sean when thinking of his brother. But I think I got a younger version,’ she tried to explain.

‘Baby, Sean has had to carry a lot of responsibility since a young age. I think he is mature beyond his years, like all three of us, Colin reminded her.

‘I know. I was just surprised,’ she said.

‘You take care of Sean, and I know he will do the same with you. Tell him I said hi and know he can do this,’ Colin told her.

‘You can tell him yourself,’ Adina smiled.

‘I don’t want to disturb him in all these family things,’ he said.

‘Fine, I’ll tell him. I love you and miss you, honey,’ she told him.

‘I love you and miss you like a crazy, little dove,’ Colin smiled.

“Colin says hi, and he knows you got this,” Adina told Sean and kissed his hand. He smiled.

“Who is Colin?” his brother asked.

“Our mate, he couldn’t make it as things got a little messy at home,” Sean told him.

“Your mate?” Liam asked.

“Yes, all three of us are mated to each other,” Adina nodded.

“How is that possible?” Liam asked.

“It just is; I honestly can’t imagine how it would be any other way,” Sean told him.

“And you are okay with sharing your mate with him?” Liam asked.

“When you say it like that, it sounds like we divide the time. It’s not like that. It’s hard to explain,” Sean said.

“It’s like any other relationship. Sometimes we are together; sometimes, we do things apart. It’s just natural,” Adina told him with a smile.

“We didn’t know you were mated. Mother has arranged a party, like a welcome home thing,” Liam said, looking uncomfortable.

“And she has invited every available female of the pack to persuade him to stay,” Adina added.

Sean looked at her in surprise and then at his brother.

“Something like that,” Liam admitted. “We would never have done it if we had known,” he quickly added.

“Cancel it,” Sean told him. It wasn’t quite a growl but wasn’t too far from it.

“It’s not that easy. We are almost there, and they have been planning this since you told us you were coming,” his brother told them as they turned onto a gravel road.

Adina felt Sean tense. The mix of anger for the party and the emotions of being so close to where he grew up were affecting him. She let go of his hand and let her hand rub his neck.

“I just want to make sure you understand this situation,” she told his brother.

“Your brother is my mate, and I am an alpha. I have no less alpha trait than a male alpha because I’m a female. I’m possessive and protective. You have planned this party, and I understand it will happen. I don’t have an issue with that. But if any of the females overstep their place, I will put them right back in their place. It would help if you let them know,” Adina said.

Liam looked at her in surprise. He had expected her to be more ladylike and timid. Well, she wasn’t when she could feel how stressed Sean was.

“It’s okay, Adina,” Sean said, gently rubbing her knee.

“Remember what we talked about with the protection going both ways? This is me protecting you,” she told him and kissed him quickly.

The cars stopped in front of an old-style ranch house with light brown plaster and stonework on the corners. There was a crowd gathered in front of the house. Adina felt herself slip into her role as the Beloved One. It was a mind-frame she always put on when meeting new packs. Sean slipped his hand around her waist and leaned close to her to whisper in her ear.

“Relax, we can do this together,” he said.

Adina smiled and turned her head so she could kiss him.

“I’m the one that’s supposed to reassure you,” she pointed out.

“I’m most comfortable when I’m protecting you. I can feel you slip into your work self. I’m just doing the same,” he said, placing a kiss on her shoulder as the cars stopped.

“This is no different from any other time. I get out first, and you stay put until I know you’re safe,” he told her.

“I’m not the one with a hoard of drooling females waiting for me outside,” Adina teased him. He chuckled and opened the door on his side as the four warriors from their pack that had ridden in the other car came walking.

Adina smiled and waited for him to give her the all-clear. Sean looked around, and when he seemed satisfied, he reached a hand towards her. She accepted it and got out of the car. And smiled as he placed his arm around her waist.

Their warriors flanked them, and Adina smiled at Tonya. The two of them had become friends since their first sparring match. They had continued to train together on Adina’s training days. Sean had told Adina that Tonya was one of the warriors most excited to learn new techniques. Adina was happy to have her with them.

Liam walked up to an older woman that stood waiting for them. She had long, brown hair that was kept in a braid. Her eyes were the same colour as Sean’s. Adina put a smile on her face and gently pushed Sean towards his mother. He refused to let go of Adina as he walked toward the woman.

“Mother,” he greeted her with a slight bow.

“Sean,” the woman smiled, but she had tears in her eyes as she reached her arms out for him. Sean looked at Adina. She could see that he wasn’t happy with the idea of a hug.

‘Just a quick one,’ Adina encouraged him and put her hand on his lower back.

Sean walked up to his mother and let her hug him. After a moment’s hesitation, he even returned it. Adina smiled as she saw him. He let go of his mother sooner than the woman would have liked, but to Adina’s relief, she accepted his retreat and let him go.

Sean took a step back and reached for Adina. Adina happily stepped up to him and let his arm go around her. She also saw his mother’s look as he did so.

“You must be the Beloved one. It’s an honour to meet you finally,” his mother said with a smile. The smile seemed genuine.  

“Please call me Adina. I have looked forward to meeting Sean’s family,” Adina smiled back.

“That is nice of you to say. Liam has told me the two of you are mated. That was quite a shock, if I may say so,” Sean’s mother smiled.

“If Sean had just told us before coming, we would have arranged things differently,” she added.

“There was no need to tell you,” Sean stated. Adina almost giggled at the very Sean-like statement.

“We are family, dear. Of course, we needed to know,” his mother said. Adina felt Sean stiffen at the word family.

“I think we can manage all the same, Mrs Murphy,” Adina said before Sean could say something.

“Please, call me Dara, dear; we are family,” she smiled. Adina felt herself stiffen at the word family as well.

Good, send the two with the least experience with family to deal with the family situation, Adina thought. She forced herself to relax.

“I would be honoured to, Dara,” she said.

“I’m afraid we will have to make some new sleeping arrangements. I have given you each separate bedrooms,” Dara said as she tilted her head.

“That wouldn’t have worked, either way, mother. I’m Adina’s guardian. I wouldn’t have left her alone in an unfamiliar place,” Sean pointed out.

“You take that thing seriously,” his mother commented, surprised.

Sean’s brows furrowed, and his stance changed from a somewhat relaxed to complete protection mode.

“Are all these people here to meet Sean?” Adina asked to divert attention from the subject.

“Yes, almost the entire pack has come to welcome him home,” Dara said, smiling big, and showed them they should follow her into the pack hose.