Chapter 106

Nan’s POV

“Nan…will you be my mate?”

Perhaps I should have been shocked. Maybe I should have questioned him. Made sure that he fully understood the consequences of mating with a wolf-less like me.

My happiness and relief from getting our daughters back gave me courage I did not know I possessed.

“Yes.” I say.

Or maybe I was just tired of letting doubt get between us.

Lionel’s answering smile was beautiful. Home and love wrapped up in the white glint of his bunny teeth. Not a fang in sight.

I kissed him chastely. Mindful of the children between us. Lust not even coming into the equation for once.

Our engagement was kept quiet for a while.

Neither of us wanting to have our bubble of happiness burst. The real world would come rushing in all too soon. This time was just for us.

Public opinion had changed greatly in the aftermath of Katya’s past.

The same gossip columns that villainized my very existence now devoured Katya’s fall from grace. I was suddenly the ‘shining example of Motherhood amongst a viper’s pit.’ I could only scoff at the hypocrites.

The girls had some nightmares at first. Unable to fully relax. Fearing Katya might return every time they opened their eyes.

‘Curse that evil witch,’ I hiss to myself. ‘I wish I could have at least scratched her eyeballs out.’

I may not have claws or fangs. That did not mean I was weak. I could have dealt some damage if I had tried.

It took time to reassure them. Many nights were spent in Lionel’s ridiculously enormous bed. The sleepless nights were a little tough at first.

I was still taking time off from work. I felt grateful for the understanding of my bosses. Most likely due to their fear of incurring Lionel’s wrath.

I would take the blessings I could.

Soon the girls came out of their shells. Patti was once again dancing in the mornings as she got dressed. Vera was back playing ‘scientist’ with juice and condiments.

The house was no longer cold and empty. My family was whole once more. Lionel and I are engaged.

Everything is okay.

It was now summer.

My daughters and I spend most of our days in the pool. Mermaids now the obsession of the summer. It was fun.

‘I wish it would always be like this,’ I reflect as I watch the girls splash each other and paddle. ‘Just me and my family…thriving under the sun.’

A warmth fills my chest. I would have dismissed it. But…

This was not the only time.

I noticed it a while ago. I did not think much of it at first. Who did not have happy feelings when they thought of the love of their family?

It was the intensity that alerted me of how strange it was.

It was not just emotion. It was…it was…physical. A heavy, warmth in my chest.

Not painful. Just powerful. Strong.

The next was the sensations.

Everything around me was brighter and more robust. As though I’d had my head under water my entire life. Everything was just more.

It was confusing. I have no frame of reference for it. How do I tell someone that I felt strange sensations and something in my chest whenever I felt love?

There were no words for it. No way to explain myself. So I kept quiet.

It was the next stage that really made me open my eyes.

I was making dinner with Lionel one night. He had messed up something really simple. It made me burst into a fit of giggles.

His indignation only made it worse. I could not stop. The he joined me once the humor of it caught up to him.

It was such a simple moment. Light and happy. Love for this silly man filling to the brim within me.

There was a bouquet of flowers on the table. A remnant of one of our dates. Not dead…but slowly wilting.

They stopped wilting. They did not heal. But they no longer wilted…despite that being three weeks ago.

They were still in near perfect condition.

I knew then that this was more than wishful thinking. This was something else. Something supernatural.

This was not normal. I knew of no wolf that had healing powers. No wolf-less with any powers.

I thought deeper about it. Going over every memory I could think of. Anything that could hint that I might have had powers.

I have been bullied all of my life. Cuts and bruises a common occurrence. I showed no healing powers then.

Wouldn’t any healing powers manifest if I was in danger?

It makes no sense.

Until I remember Patti’s awakening fever. Hadn’t she been terribly ill? Had she not gotten better once I touched her?

I did not think too much of it at the time. My concern and love for my daughter the only thing on my mind. Now it seemed so obvious.

Just who were my birth parents?

I can’t help but think that this has something to do with them. Perhaps this was part of the reason I was given away. Maybe they knew something about me that no one else knew.

It’s important that I find out my answers.

‘After the wedding,’ I tell myself. ‘I’ll get my answers after the wedding.’

There would be more time. Lionel and I would have the rest of our lives to look for leads into my past. There is too much for us to do before we actually mate and get married.

“Nan!” I hear Lionel call my name. I look up from my seat beside the pool.

“Over here! We’re by the pool!” I holler back.

He emerges from the mansion. Wearing some tight white trousers and a dark button up top. The sleeves rolled up to show his forearms.

It’s a salivating sight.

I clench my thighs tight. Trying to avoid embarrassment. Not wanting any dampness to show on my dry bikini bottoms.

The flare of his nostrils and devious smirk tell me I have failed. I glare at him. Letting my eyes flicker over to the still playing children.

Warning him not to say anything in front of our innocent daughters.

His smirk widens. He refrains from commenting. I relax my shoulders.

“You and the girls should get rinsed off. I have a surprise for you later.” Lionel says.

“A surprise?” I ask playfully. “Please tell me it’s not your cooking. Food poisoning is a bad surprise.”

He growls lightly. “You think you’re so funny.”

I nod. “One of us in this relationship needs a sense of humor.” I tease.

“I have a sense of humor.” Lionel argues.

“Hmm…too bad you lost it then. Tell me when it’s found.” I snort.

He sighs dramatically. “I’m engaged to a bully.”

“Someone should bully you.” I counter sweetly. “Don’t want to inflate that ego of yours any worse.”

“Is really an ego if I can back it up?” He raises an eyebrow.

“That’s a good point.” I begrudgingly concede. Lionel was prideful for a damn good reason.

“Wow…did you just admit I’m right?” He crows. “Lionel: one.”

“I guess I can let you have one win every once in a while. I don’t want to make you cry like a loser.” I laugh.

“So gracious.” He smirks.

“It’s good you know that.” I jape.

He rolls his eyes. “Just go ahead and get ready.”

“Is there any special thing I should put on for me and our daughters?” I ask.

He shakes his head. “The girls will not be there. The staff will be keeping an eye on them.”

I blink. ‘What kind of surprise is this?’ I think.

“Okay…” I say slowly. Hoping Lionel will fill in the blanks.

I am disappointed.

“Just wear something nice. Casual. Like a summer dress.”

I am suspicious. But I do as he asks. I slip on a strapless sky-blue summer dress that ends just below my knees.

Lionel is waiting beside the stairs for me. “Let’s go to the living room. Everyone is in there.”

‘Everyone?’ I narrow my eyes. ‘Who…’

The room is filled with a crowd of people. Faces I have only vaguely seen from magazines. Even…his mother…and Joseph.

‘When he said everyone, he meant everyone,’ I think faintly. It dawns on me that this is a pack meeting.

An official one. Something I have never been invited too. I am stunned.

“I have called you all here tonight to announce my engagement to Nan!”