Her Triplet Alphas by Joanna J novel Chapter 85

Chapter 24: Dolls That Look Like Chasity Felby

Ma marched me into the living room. Pa was sitting on the couch drinking whisky on ice. Dad and Mom sat next to him. Alex and Calix were sitting on the floor with wrapped presents in their laps like children.

“Sit with your brothers,” instructed Ma. “Get the camcorder, Victor,” she said to Pa. “Camcorder? In this day and age?” Asked Alex, grinning. Pa pulled out his iPhone. *I got a camcorder on this here cellular phone,” Pa informed us. “Where’s Chasity?” Asked Calix. “Where’s the little one?” Demanded Ma. “Go get her, Munch-munch! There’s scorpions in the hay. She could get bitten,” said Pa. “We don’t have a barn, Dad,” said my Dad to Pa. “Well, why the hell not?! You grew up with one,” argued Pa. “CLAUDIA!” Yelled Ma, meaning Chasity. “Veronica, be a dear and go fetch Claudia.” “It’s Ronnie,” said Dad in unison with me saying, “It’s Chasity.” “LITTLE ONE! Where are ya?” Shouted Pa. Chasity came scurrying into the living room.

“You stay away from that barn, Claudia!” Scolded Pa. “There’s scorpions in the hay. That’s how I spent a Christmas in the hospital when I was a young-un.”

“Dad, we don’t have a barn,” repeated Dad. “That’s not the point!” Argued Pa. Dad sighed exasperatedly. “The kids need to be safe, Sonny-boy,” cooed Ma. “Claudia, sit on the floor with your big brothers.

“That one is not our gran,” Pa reminded Ma. “Oh, who is she then?” Asked Ma. “You’re not Claudia?” “No one is named Claudia,” I said through gritted teeth, losing my patience. “Munch-munch, relax,” said Ma sternly. “‘Yeah, Munch-munch, pipe down,” said Pa. “You go first. You’re the eldest.” “Mayor is the eldest,” corrected Ma. “That’s why he’s the Mayor.” “Then why does Munch-munch eat so damn much if he ain’t the eldest?” complained Pa. Calix was beside himself in a fit of stifled laughter. “Hand out the presents to Munch-munch and this little one,” said Pa.

Ma gave me a present and handed another present to Chasity. I smiled. I was happy they got her something

“Mayor, open your gift,” said Ma.

Alex took his time taking the tape off and unfolding the wrapping paper carefully so that it could be preserved.

“Lord have mercy, I’m old boy. You want me to croak before I see you open your present, Mayor,” complained Pa, despite the fact that werewolves were immortal.

We were not indestructible though. We could succumb to injuries, a small list of ailments and poisoning with wolfsbane or silver. Other than that, we would go on living indefinitely.

“Relax, Mayor likes things orderly,” said Ma. “Why aren’t you filming?” “S**t, I forgot,” swore Pa. “Wrap it back and start over.” “You just complained it was taking too long!” Alex reminded Pa.

I snorted with laughter. I felt Alex’s frustration. Ma took the gift and put the wrapping paper back on with some more tape. Pa started filming Alex opening the gift again. Alex looked at the box he had unwrapped. It was floral print. The label said Meet Henrietta Your New Best Friend peered at the transparent plastic front. It was a doll.

“Thank you,” said Alex, grinning. He was a pretty good actor. I’d give him that.

“That’s for the little one. They’re not labelled,” said Ma with a smile.

“You play with dolls, Boy?” Said Pa. “You sure this is the eldest? This is youngest.”

“Mayor is the eldest. Claudia is the youngest,” said Ma. “Calix is my youngest,” hissed Mom “You like the doll, Claudia?” Asked Pa. Chasity took the gift. She smiled. “Thank you so much, former Alpha and Luna,” she said politely:

“Are you presenting at parliament? Girl, call me Pa,” said Pa.

“It’s a collector’s doll,” gushed Ma. The doll did look expensive. Ma took it out of the box and smoothed its hair. “It looks like you, see, Claudia?” Said Ma.

The doll was redheaded with her straight hair in pigtails. It had pale, freckled skin and green eyes, and was clad in pink overalls. Chasity had dark blonde curls, golden skin and brown eyes.

“Claudia,” said Pa. “Next year, no more dolls! You’re getting to be a big girl!” “I swear I don’t even remember this one as a baby. It’s like she just shot up.” said Ma. “She’s not your gran, Ma and Pa. She came here at aged nine,” said Mom.

“Don’t be rude, Veronica,” said Ma, narrowing her eyes. “We know Claudia is adopted,” hissed Ma in hushed tones.

“Don’t rub it in,” said Pa. “Edit that part out of the home movie,” instructed Ma. “Ronnie, stop ruining the home movie,” complained Pa. “Chasity is not adopted,” quarrelled Dad, getting defensive over Mom.

“Sonny-boy, go get me some more whisky. Where’s this man’s whisky?” Said Pa, pointing at Mom’s Dad.

“No thanks,” chuckled Grandfather. “I’ll have a glass of white wine,” said our super young step-grandmother. “Nothing for her. She’s not the drinking age yet,” said Pa. “Don’t be ridiculous, Pa,” laughed our prepubescent step-grandmother. “I’m thirty-two.” “You told me you were forty,” said Grandfather under his breath.

Dad went to fetch the whisky with a sigh. Chasity actually seemed quite pleased with her doll. i opened my present next. It was a spider-like contraption that walked all over your body to massage

you.

“Cool!”I exclaimed in earnest.

“That’s for Mayor. He’s the eldest and most stressed out,” explained Ma, taking my gift and giving it to Alex.

“You can borrow it anytime, Felix,” offered Alex. “Thanks, Big Bro,” I said. “Felix is a stupid name,” said Pa out of nowhere. My inner wolf snarled.

“What’s wrong with it?” | demanded. “I wanted you named Alexander,” complained Pa. “He’s named Alexander,” said Ma, pointing at Alex. “He’s not. He’s named Alex. Like my name, it’s not short for anything,” explained Mom patiently. “Snookers, it’s your turn.” cooed Ma. Calix ripped open the gift in a second flat, the opposite of Alex “I love it!” Said Calix excitedly.

It was a gun. “Calix,” said Mom, alarmed. Please be careful with that.” “He’s an Alpha, Veronica,” said Ma. “He might have to shoot people here and there.” “Yep.” said Pa. Dad had his head in his hands. “Thanks so much. Ma and Pa. You’re the best!” Grinned Calix. “Claudia, go ahead,” encouraged Ma. Chasity opened the gift in her lap. It was another gun. “That one is Munch-munch’s gift,” said Ma, giving it to me. I did not need a weapon to ice people but it could come in handy. “Thanks,” I said, flashing them a grin. “Where’s my gun?” Joked Alex. “I feel left out.” Pa pulled another gift out of the sack he had brought. “It’s here,” he said, grinning, handing Alex another gift. “Alex gets two gifts,” complained Calix. Alex painstakingly unwrapped his gun. “You’ll get two gifts when you’re the eldest, Snookers,” cooed Ma. “I’ll never be the eldest,” said Calix, wearing a bemused expression. “Stop complaining and go outside to play with your gun,” said Pa. “DAD!” yelled our father at Pa.

“Pipe down. There’s rubber bullets loaded in there. The real bullets are in here,” said Pa, pulling yet another wrapped gift from the sack. “We got ’em silver and regular. Their skin will just push the regular out if any accidents happen. Now, the silver, be careful with those you hear !” Said Pa, enunciating his last warning.

“Don’t put the real bullets in when you’re playing ok,” cautioned Ma. Ma and Pa were literally insane. “I won’t,” promised Calix. Pa ruffled his hair.

“Good boy,” said Pa. “Did you get all of that?” Inquired Ma. “Yeah it’s all on the cellular phone camcorder,” confirmed Pa. “Should we watch it over dessert?” Said Ma. “It just happened,” I said incredulously.

“We’ll watch it next Christmas,” said Pa dismissively. “Hey, do you want me to film the kids opening your gifts with my camcorder or did you bring your own?” Said Pa to Grandfather.

Calix

On Christmas Eve, I made sure that Chasity slept in the same bed with us. She sometimes slept alone downstairs in her new room but I couldn’t imagine waking up without her on Christmas morning.

“Waking up to you is the greatest gift, Chasity, so I want to wake up with you on Christmas morning,” specified, leading her up the stairs.

“What did you think of Ma and Pa?” I asked her.

Ma and Pa were Dad’s parents and they were awesome. Even though I was really close to Mom, I was not that close with her Dad and her new Stepmother who was almost Mom’s age so Mom was pissed.

“They’re colourful,” said Chasity as she entered Alex’s room.

Felix snorted with laughter and shut the door, locking it. Alex was sitting at his work desk, typing away on his laptop. How was he always so busy?

“What are you doing?” Said Chasity going over to peek at Alex’s laptop screen. “Pack stuff,” mumbled Alex. “Urgent pack stuff?” she asked, sitting on his lap. “I guess it could wait,” he said, looking at her.

She kissed him. I had this sneaking suspicion that she liked Alex’s room the best. We seemed to sleep in here the vast majority of the time. It was the neatest room by far, I knew she was afraid of all the eyes in Felix’s paintings and i felt she was biased against my Jurassic Park Sheets because of the dinosaur eyes.

“Are your grandparents all sleeping over?” Asked Chasity.

She was on Alex’s lap but he had resumed typing. She would sharing the top spot in Alex’s love life with pack protocol.

“Nah, they’re not. That’s why we opened their presents tonight,” said Felix, stretching out on Alex’s bed.

Felix was like a cat. Eat, sleep, in heat for Chasity, repeat. “What are you looking at?” Snapped Felix at me for staring at him. “Nothing much,” I said snidely. “Whoa!” Said Alex and Chasity in unison.

Felix tackled me but I had been anticipating that. I ducked out from under him and put my fists up. Felix jumped to his feet with his fists up, grinning.

“Nor in my room,” said Alex. I could sense he was one carpet wrinkle away from using his eldest Alpha voice on us. “Don’t fight,” cried Chasity, pouting. She came and stood between us. “Baby, we’re playing.” said Felix, scooping her up into a hug. I hugged her from behind. “We’re not serious, Chasity.” I cooed, patting her curly head.

“I don’t care. I don’t like it,” she whined. “Ok,” grumbled Felix reluctantly. Chasity then forced us to watch a human movie with her. “I love movies from the Human Realm! There have a channel called Lifetime…”

My eyes glazed over. Charming women involved listening intently or acting like you were. Tonight was a night for the latter.