Chapter 99

Third Person POV

Vera wanted Katya gone.

The obvious approach would not work. Katya was too slippery. But Vera was sneaky too.

Vera also had something Katya did not. Vera had Patti. She could do anything with her sister’s help.

Katya would regret scorning Patti and her mom.

The girls went through several ideas before Patti came up with a genius one.

“But why me?” Vera groaned.

“Because that mean lady will try so take you off alone if it’s me. If you’re the one sick…she will ignore me.” Patti said with a matter-of-fact air.

Vera’s cheek twitched. “Fine.” She grumbled.

Vera hated being sick.

It would be one thing to fake it. But her dad’s alpha sense would tell him if she faked it. No, Vera had to be genuinely sick.

“How though?” Patti thought out loud. “I don’t know how we will make you sick.”

Vera’s grimaced. “I have an idea…”

‘It’s all in the name of goodness.’ Vera told herself. ‘What’s a runny nose and cough in the face of revenge?’

Nothing motivated Vera like spite. It was in her very core to be spiteful. Katya was about to find that out.

And what better revenge than ruining her plans to be their mommy?

Vera would show Katya that no one could replace their mom.

It took time. Vera purposefully slept with the window open on a few cold nights with the fan on. Patti helped by sneaking pollen into Vera’s pillow and leaving fresh flowers in their room.

It was not pleasant.

But it worked. Vera’s seasonal allergies had worn her down into a sniffling, whining, sick mess. Vera did not have to pretend to be miserable at that point.

“I want mom!” She whined between coughs. “I want mom and dad with me!”

The elderly family doctor patted the girl’s head. “I will let them know, sweet pup. You just rest now.”

Lionel, Nan, and Katya waited outside of the door.

“Doctor.” Lionel greeted. “How is she?”

“It is only a minor cold. Nothing rest and medicine can’t fix.” He assured them.

Nan sighed in relief. “That’s not so bad. At least it’s nothing serious.”

The doctor smiled. “However, the poor young pup will be feeling quite rotten the next few days. She’ll need lots of tending too.”

Lionel nodded. “I’ll take a few days off. Keep a close eye.”

“That’s just as well. The pup told me she wanted her parents to look after her. It’s good for young pups to bond with their parents…makes the inner wolf grow strong.”

Katya winced. The idea of playing nurse maid to a sniveling pup was deeply unappealing. She could not bring herself to pass up on such a golden opportunity to insert herself further into the family.

“Then I should stay too. Help you two look after her.” Katya said ‘generously.’

Nan fought back a frown. “It’s okay. I have a few sick days I can use.”

Katya shook her head. “I should learn how care for my pups. I am their mother.”

“I am their mother.” Nan snapped. “They aren’t just your pups.”

“I am the one who gave birth to them. I carried them in my womb for nine months. Shouldn’t I get to look after them too?”

Katya growled slightly at Nan. Lionel released some of his scent. Only enough to silently warn Katya too back off.

So Katya swallowed her loathing. “I apologize. I only meant that I’ve already missed so much of their lives…please let me help.”

None of the arguing adults realized the door to Vera’s room was open.

“NO!” Vera shouted. Sending her into a coughing fit.

Nan moved into the room quickly. She slid her hands under the girls back and helped her into sitting position. She rubbed soothing little circles on the girl’s back as she caught her breath.

“Alright now?” Nan asks her.

“I don’t want her help. I just want you and daddy.” Tears ran down Vera’s flushed cheeks.

“She just wants to help you baby.” Nan tries to soothe.

Vera is not having it.

“NO! NO!” Vera wails. “Make her go away!”

This makes up Lionel’s mind. “Katya, it’s time for you to go. Nan and I have this handled.”

Lionel only wanted to do the right thing. He had not wanted Katya’s presence in the first place…but she had a point. Now he had no such conflict.

Not when poor Vera was so sick.

“Lionel!” Katya scolds. “You can’t just send me away.”

“Vera is ill.” Lionel countered. “I need to focus on her.”

“I am their mother.” Katya stomps her foot. “It’s not fair that she is staying when I am being sent away.”

Lionel’s impatience becomes frustration. A bit of his alpha voice seeps into his voice this time. “GET OUT.”

Katya jerked back. “Lionel!”

“My six-year-old daughter is sick. Her comfort is more important to me than you hurt feelings. NOW GO!”

Katya did not respond. She growled and then stormed away. Lionel was glad to see her back.

“Thank you, Lionel.” Nan expresses gently. Her attention focused on her ailing daughter.

Lionel sighs as he sits in the chair next to her. “Don’t thank me. I’ve been itching to tell her off for days.”

Nan and Lionel stare at each other for a moment. Then Vera giggles. The absurdity of the situation hits the adults too.

Laughter overtakes them too. Some of the aching loneliness in Nan recedes. It’s a start.

The next days are slow but productive. Lionel and Nan take turns tending to Vera. Changing her sweat slicked sheets when possible and spoon feeding the pup broth for her aching throat.

It’s a thankless task. Gross in nature. But the two parents are devoted to their pup.

Sometimes Patti spends time in the room. Carefully kept at a distance. The girls still finding away to make family time.

These are the tasks that stitched their cracking relationship back together.

Not the frantic kisses of lovers on a ticking clock. Or a loud, passionate disagreement. Not even their innate attraction to each other.

No…those acts were for the opening act. The prelude to their happiness. Two idiots falling in love.

It was tender looks exchanged over their child’s sick bed that lowered their defenses. The way they fell in sync when deciding who would spoon fed the girl and who would give her medicine. The quiet, considerate care that each watched the other bestow in Vera.

“Nan, you should rest.” Lionel spoke quietly. Not wanting to wake the now resting child.

Nan sighed. “I know. I just can’t rest when I know she’s struggling only a few doors away.”

Lionel chuckled. “I know the feeling.”

‘He does.’ Nan realized. She saw the deepening shadows under his eyes and the growing stubble.

“Have you been sleeping?” Nan asked abruptly.

“Not well.” He admitted.

“I know the feeling.” Nan repeated with a half-smile.

The atmosphere was relaxed. The calm after a few tantrums and tears. One that allowed Nan’s usual doubts and reservations to fade.

It gave her courage to voice something that had been eating at her heart.

“Do you…” Nan began.

Lionel looked at her curiously. “Do I what?”

“Do you want Katya back?” She let out.

Lionel’s eyebrows went down. “No.” He said with absolution.

“No?” Nan parroted. Her eyes analyzing every detail of his face.

“No, Nan.” Lionel said. “I only want to be with you.”

Nan tried to bite back her pleased smile. But failed disastrously from the incredibly gentle look in his mocha eyes. So she stopped trying.

“I was worried.” Nan admitted. “She came back into our lives like a cosmic force.”

Lionel barked a bitter laugh. “I know. I was very unhappy about it.”

“You did not act like it.” Nan hedged. Not wanting to ruin their reconciliation.

But Lionel took no offense.

“Katya is playing at something. I just don’t know what yet. I could not let her know I suspect her.”

Her heart leapt to her throat. “The girls…”

His face became grim. “I noticed. Don’t worry…whatever she’s done, she will not get away with it.”

“Good.” Nan said fiercely.

Nothing was really fixed. Not when it came to Katya. They would have to cross that bridge when the time came.

Lionel reached for Nan’s hand. She grasped it and intertwined their hands. They stay like that until Nan decided to rest…just enjoying each other’s warmth and the sound of their quiet breathing in the room.

Things with Katya were not fixed…but the relationship between those two was firmly on the mend.