I never thought anything would come between us, could possibly break us. I never thought that Nolan could just claim him on a whim.
“Your pocket is buzzing,” I whispered to him.
“Maybe I’m just excited to see you,” He pulled back, grabbing his phone.
“Was that a joke?” I grimaced.
“Okay, I don’t really joke, so yes,” He shrugged. I laughed at that.
“I knew I was funny.”
“Just answer.”
Caspien looked at his phone and went stiff. He slid into his Alpha mask.
“Yes, okay. Good. You have it?” A pause, “Officially? Okay, bring it here.”
His shoulder sagged a bit when he hung up the phone, it was almost imperceptible but I knew what to look for.
“Cas?” I grabbed his arms, studying his face. His eyes focused on mine, his eyebrows pulled together for a moment, “What happened?”
“You used a nickname.” He breathed.
“No, the phone call,” I smiled, “Is everything okay?”
“Yes, he got it. Nolan signed away his rights. Had a lawyer and witness there.”
“Really?” I didn’t quite believe it.
“Really,” He took a deep breath, “It’s official, he’s all ou-yours.” He gave me a smile that wasn’t entirely genuine.
I pulled back and clutched my stomach, my lungs filled with air for the first time since I signed that paper this morning, which felt like a lifetime ago.
“Really?” I asked again, Caspien was smiling down at me with a genuine smile this time.
“Really, really, I told you.”
“Not the time.” I smiled at him.
“Fine, I won’t bring that up again,” He pulled me into his arms and swung me around.
I laughed loudly, I couldn’t stop. I almost had the most essential thing in my life taken. I knew it wasn’t that dramatic but that’s what it felt like. I felt like I got Emmett back even though I never lost him. “Put me down,” I laughed, trying to slap his chest.
He pulled me to him but I pushed away, stumbling a bit back on my feet.
I rushed to Emmett on the couch and took his cheeks in my hands, a confused look crossed his face. He tried to look behind me at the show he was watching but I tackled him into the couch.
“You’re mine,” I poked his side, earning me a giggle, and held him close. His small arms wrapped around my neck.
“I know, but Mama, I was watching something,” His little voice scolded me, and I pulled him up.
“You’re mine,” I repeated, “Let’s cuddle forever, never letting go, not even to pee.” I wrapped him in my arms, and he laughed at that.
“Can Cassy come?” I barked a laugh.
“Sure,” I ruffled his hair and he lay on my chest.
He was mine, I wasn’t going to lose him. Ever. It was official now.
The doctor came soon after we got the news and checked over Emmett. He looked surprised and reported that Emmett seemed to be in perfect health but wanted him to continue the last few days of antibiotics to be sure.
“I told you I was better,” Emmett crossed his arms and gave me a stare.
“Well then, I guess you didn’t need all those cartoons this morning then,”
Emmett’s eyes widened, and he looked to Caspien for support.
“I’m staying out of this,” He backed away with his hands up.
“Why don’t you go upstairs and get back in your clothes? And brush your teeth again, germs love when you’re sick,” I made a grossed-out face.
“Yuck,” He stuck out his tongue, trying to look down at it.
He insisted he had to get back in pajamas after Holden left this morning and wanted the ‘couch bed’ that Caspien made. He claimed that he could only go back to the couch with pajamas on. Neither of us contested that sound logic. “Can I show you the rest of the pack house?” Caspien asked when Emmett bounded up to his room to change.
“This is the pack house?” I glanced over my shoulder at the sprawling city beneath his wall of windows. I didn’t really think about where we were. I assumed just his apartment somewhere, but I didn’t think he would take Emmett back to the packhouse. “Yes, the new one. We kept the old one for pack members that want to live in a more traditional packhouse. This is ours,” He shrugged, which was more of a slight raise of his shoulders.
“Okay, I guess.” I looked up to the second floor to where Emmett went.
“No pressure, I just want to show you around. But I’m also perfectly content staying here.”
“Okay,” I thought it over.
“Okay to what?”
“Okay, show us,” I shrugged, I don’t know if I was still on a high from Nolan giving up his rights so fast, but I didn’t see the harm in this.
“Really?” He looked slightly taken aback, “Nevermind,” He coughed, “It’s final.”
He reached out to shake my hand, and I gave him a stare.
“It’s official now, let me put on a suit.”
I took a deep breath looking down at my oversized shirt.
“Want to go shopping first?”
“How?”
“Downstairs.”
“Give me one of your black jackets, please, possibly a belt or some black tie type thing. Wait, yes, that a black tie.”
I followed him up, nodding to myself, this might work or just be really bad.
I was slightly satisfied with my outfit. It was baggy even with it tied but it almost looked like a blazer dress, and it was better than jeans and his oversized shirt. “You look incredible,” Caspiens eyed me.
“Not too slutty?” I looked down at my bare legs, I only had short boots with me and I didn’t want to show too much skin.
“You can walk around naked for all I care, it’s your body it’s up to you how you want to show it off.” There was sincerity in his voice that made my stomach flip.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.