Chapter 21
Willow
I looked past the crowd to find Reuben standing there watching me. Why… Why did he do that? My heart ski pped a beat at the intensity of his gaze. What exactly did he want from me?
Without breaking eye contact with me, Reuben made his way through the crowd towards me. My heart suddenly race. What was he planning? I looked around a little. There were way too many people. The pack members moved out of his way while Wyatt and Lori raced from my side to Reuben. I did not know why but I felt as if he was going to do something only because he was distracted by both of the children.
“Daddy,” they happily hugged Reuben’s legs but I could tell that they were nervous as if he were their life line in a turbulent sea. They had been incredibly shy around all the admiring visitors, especially the women.
Reuben rubbed Wyatt and Lori’s little heads and smiled, “These are all our pack members. They are good people, friends, and are just like family,” he calmly explained to them. Both children looked up at the smiling pack members and gave a hesitant nod before their big eyes came to me.
I smiled and nodded. “Wyatt, Lori, say hello to everyone,” I remarked. They had never lived among so many people so I could understand their hesitation.
“Hello,” they said together in a low tone.
“AWWWW…
Your children are so cute, Willow,” the woman’s heart melted.”
“Alpha, your daughter is so beautiful. Just like Willow,” someone said.
Reuben’s eyes immediately went to me as he replied, “It’s true, really beautiful,” hist voice was like a whisper.
The tips of my ears turned red as I quickly looked away, acting normal.
Reuben put his hands on Wyatt and Lori’s backs and announced to everyone, “Today breakfast is on me for all the pack members.”
I blinked in confusion. Breakfast? Why so suddenly? An excited cheer broke out in the living room. Everyone wanted to hang out, chat, and have fun but Oran’s voice was louder and he was the most excited.
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“Let’s go out into the front yard. I will have the ser vants set up tables and chairs there,” he yelled.
One by one everyone started exiting the living room and mind-linking other pack members to invite them to the Alpha’s breakfast gathering.
One of my friends turned to me, “Willow, let’s go. We have a lot of catching up to do!”
“Okay,” I nodded but then I got a call from Alpha Benjamin. I had called the Alpha the previous night but the signal was poor for some reason. Hearing my phone ring, Reuben turned to look at me.
“Ummm, everyone should head outside, I’ll join you shortly. I just have to take this call,” I smiled at them and turned to the backyard. I would be alone there and it was a good place to talk.
“Hello Willow, how are you doing girl?”
“I am perfectly fine, Alpha. How is your health?” I asked worriedly.
“I am absolutely fine. How are my little angels doing?”
“They are fine, Alpha. Very excited and still exploring the pack though they are a little shy about meeting new people.”
Alpha Benjamin laughed, “that’s alright. I will talk to them later. Bring them over to the pack when you are free.” As we spoke I heard Beta Ken’s voice in the background, he seemed to be talking about some files.
“Alpha, did
you return the pack already?” I exclaimed.
“Yes, I left the hospital this morning. I can’t stay in the hospital at a time like this when you are doing your best to save the Wade Moon Pack. I have to find a way to save the pack…”
“Sorry for interrupting you Alpha but I have already retrieved the Wade Moon Pack papers from Alpha Reuben.”
“Really?!” Alpha gasped in disbelief. “How could he have given up such a thing so casily…I have heard Alpha Reuben is ruthless. He did not make you do anything weird, right? Are you okay?” There was a hint of panic in his voice.
“He did nothing wrong, Alpha. I am completely fine, Alpha,” I chuckled. “The terms of our agreement for the exchange were already set. I am doing well here, now I want you to get some quality rest and be tension free. The papers are safe in my possession and
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the Wade Moon Pack is still yours. I will come to visit you soon to handover the papers,” I calmly explained.
On the other end of the phone, the Alpha’s breathing became stable, which gave me a sense of relief. “I still can not believe that we got our pack back, Willow. If it was not you then…”
“Please, stop thinking about it now, Alpha. Everything has returned to normal and the Wade Moon Pack is safe. Don’t worry,” I assured.
“Actually the pack is not that safe, Willow,” suddenly the Alpha’s voice became serious.
I co cked my brows, “Why are you saying like this, Alpha? I have secured a peace treaty with the Shine Moon Pack…”
“This is not about the Shine Moon Pack or the peace treaty. It seems you have not heard the news about the Silver Moon Pack. They were wiped out under mysterious circumstances yesterday.”
“Wiped out under mysterious circumstances?” My eyes widened at the shocking news. I had good working knowledge of how powerful Silver Moon used to be. On top of that they were friends of the Emerald Bright Pack. Alpha Benjamin told me about the rumor surrounding the fire and the terror that had spread all around the werewolf world due to this incident.
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, I ended the phone in a state of confusion. It was impossible that Reuben was unaware of this news. I slipped my phone back into my pocket and walked to the front yard where the atmosphere was lively. A large table was set in the middle of the garden, people were chatting, and I noticed something surprising.
Wyatt and Lori were playing with other children! They had returned to their usual naughtiness but instead of playing amongst themselves they were making new friends which had never happened before. Wyatt was playing catch with some boys while Lori who was playing on the swings with boys and girls. How did they…
That’s when I noticed Lori waving. She had obviously not seen me so who was she waving to? I tilted my head to find her waving at Reuben who was talking to Oran about something important. Yet his focus was on Lori as he smiled and waved at her in response.
I blinked witnessing all of this. Wait, so… Reuben had intentionally invited the pack members to breakfast today so that he could give Wyatt and Lori a normal environment and help them to meet other children and make new friends. I was so lost
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in thought that I did not realize that Reuben had caught me watching him long ago.
That’s when someone bumped into my shoulder, “Want a coffee?” Mia, my previous neighbor and friend asked.
“Thank you,” I took the offered cup from her hand with a smile.
“I am so glad you returned to the pack Willow. Since you have decided to live here, have you looked into a kindergarten for your children?” she asked. d curiously.
“Yes, I have looked for a shifter’s kindergarten and have talked to the kindergarten to start the registration process. I will send Wyatt and Lori in a day or two,” I explained, noticing Reuben had overheard me with his wolf ears. After learning the extent of Reuben’s conditions for me staying in the Emerald Bright Pack, I had started looking for a kindergarten for my twins. Luckily I found a shifter kindergarten where all the staff and children were going to be werewolves. Thankfully, Wyatt and Lori were not going to be treated differently there.
Mia nodded and started talking about other things but I noticed something very odd. Why were the pack members acting so normal after finding out about me giving birth to the Alpha’s children? Six years ago, if this secret would have been revealed then it would have been considered the ultimate stain on the pack’s reputation but now people were acting as if that Omega rule never existed. No one was asking uncomfortable questions or being rude. Heck there was not even one judgmental stare among the group.
“Let’s eat everyone,” Oran attracted everyone’s attention. The Omegas had finished placing the delicious breakfast on the table. People started sitting at the table while Wyatt and Lori came running back to me. I pulled a chair for both of them telling them. that the food prepared by the Omegaswas just as good as mine and they should try it then suddenly everyone went silent.
I raised my head only to find everyone’s attention focused on one particular location. I followed their line of sight to find Ella entering the front yard with Bix. His face was still badly injured and he looked like he had only gotten out of the hospital just now. When our eyes met he gave me a blank look but Ella had a smile pasted on her face.
“Wow everyone is here. I hope I am not late,” smiling, she elegantly walked in. She was wearing a knee length dress and looking beautiful like always.
“Willow,” Ella smiled at me. The silence remained in the yard as people slowly looked at me to see how I was going to respond.
I recalled Reuben’s claims about Ella and their impreding marriage. He said there was
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Chapter 21
nothing between them but still I could not bring myself to return her smile. Of course, my silence caused a wave of gossip.
“Ella is the Alpha’s fiancee but Willow is the Alpha’s children’s mother. Now they are both in one place….
“Could it be that the Alpha is finally going to announce his wedding date with Ella?” someone whispered.
Wedding date announcement? But Reuben had said… was he lying to me? My mind. went blank at the news as I could no longer hear what the gossip said next.
The gossip’s attention went to Reuben who just now returned to the garden after a phone call.. The gossip immediately died with Reuben’s dangerous presence. His steps slowed when he saw Ella and Bix.
With guilty eyes Bix abruptly walked away at the sight of Reuben but Ella stayed behind. I glanced at Reuben once then ignoring the eyes of the other people at the breakfast, I began serving to Wyatt and Lori. Slowly everyone began taking their seats. and the lively atmosphere returned.
I raised my gaze to find that Ella had taken the seat beside the head of the table where Reuben had to sit. Everyone was acting normal about it. It seemed that Ella had been sitting beside Reuben all these years. A strange feeling rose in my chest that I decided to ignore until Reuben approached his chair.,
“Reuben,” Ella smiled at him, “I heard you are going to announce something…” she placed some pancakes on his plate. Watching her prepare Reuben’s plate made that feeling in my chest grow sharper. Standing in the middle of the table Reuben looked at
me.
“Yes, I have something to announce but it is more like a confession,” he stated without tearing eyes from me. My breath slowly grew uneven. He was really going to announce his wedding date with Ella. Everyone grew excited talking about their impending wedding while my emotions were getting the best of me. I tuned it out, deciding to leave before Reuben could make his announcement.
Why was my heart so upset? I knew he had been lying to me. He was marrying Ella. I should take this news in stride. So why…why…were my eyes teary?
I closed my eyes tight to help control my emotions. This was how it was from the beginning…
“Willow!” Reuben suddenly called me out.
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Chapter 21
My feet stopped of their own accord. Why was he calling my name instead of
announcing his wedding? I slowly turned around to find Reuben standing right behind me. His features were as sharp as ever but his eyes looked different than I had ever seen.
“Willow…” he called my name again only softly this time, decreasing the distance between us as he wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me into his chest. “Willow, will you give me a chance at redemption?”
“What are you doing, Reuben?” I gasped, putting my hand against his chest.
He locked eyes with me and said, “Trying to win your love back, mate…”
An uproar erupted in the garden as my eyes widened. Reuben…he….he just revealed our mate bond…
He put his hand on my cheek and confessed, “Let me love you again…”
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