It's been a few days since the trip to Trixy's library, and Trishanna waited for Aunt Cynthia, the older woman insists on her calling her that, to retrieve the books about the legend. Bradley was at his headquarters, dealing with another merger, and James went back to Bloodmoon. Trishanna, Samuel and Alexis had breakfast together, but the couple left for their weekly check-up with the doctor. Lorenzo was getting busier and busier with all the new pregnancies, and he was also looking for an assistant as his mate was expecting, and the over-protectiveness was kicking in. Soon, Nicloe wouldn't be able to brush her teeth without help. The other males were no better. Sammy's daily speech about protecting their mates and unborn pups, all the motivation they needed. They acted like they were training for a full-scale war, but as she remembered what the text said about the realms being in chaos, maybe it wasn't a bad idea. As the saying goes, better safe than sorry.
Trishanna wandered around the front yard, then the house. She went into the baby's room, shaking her head at the ridiculous amount of stuff in there. James and Bradley went crazy that time in the store, but after her humiliation at the woman's words, they had cancelled the order, found three other stores and bought everything they saw. Trishanna walked to the window and sat in the white rocking chair covered with all sorts of child-like animals in blues, greens, yellows and reds. She gently hummed, rocking back and forth while stroking her belly. Lorenzo was pleased, and Trishanna was as well. She reached out to El, but her wolf just yawned. Maintaining the pup was using a lot of her energy, but she said everything was fine. Trishanna talked to her pup, delighting in their kicks and rolls. She wished to hear their voice, but so far, nothing has happened.
Alexa passed by the open door and, seeing Trishanna, she made a quick knock and walked in. A low whistle passed through her lips as she took in all the stuff. "Damn, what is it with these males and baby stuff?" She walked over to the window and looked out. At Trishanna's look, she expounded, "Sammy. He has so many shopping carts online that I swear, even in the digital world, they are falling over. He probably has three of each item, simply saying that reviews can't be trusted, yet every time someone posts some new baby item, he goes and clicks 'add to cart'." Trishanna shook her head, smiling. "Are you worried about how he can afford it? Don't worry, Sammy had more money from his spy days than he knew what to do with. You know he was the best, right?" Alexa shook her head. "I'm not worried about that, I'm worried about where we are going to put all of it. We don't have an entire floor like you guys." Trishanna smiled, not wanting to give away her friend's upcoming promotion. If Sammy hasn't told her, it's because he's not ready. "Don't worry, I'm sure things will work out. But if I don't, you can just tie him to your bed and torment him until he surrenders. I think he might like the second option." Both women cracked up. They talked about their hormones, cravings and every other pregnancy-related symptom they could. Trishanna's tummy rumbled, and she smiled. "Time for my morning snack." They headed downstairs to the kitchen, not wanting for the two of them to be served. Mrs. Shine smiled when she saw them, and soon there were buns, cookies and muffins before them. Trishanna dutifully drank her glass of milk, and Alexis had some iced tea. They talked while they ate, sitting at the small table at the side of the kitchen where anyone can pop in and have something to eat. Alexis sighed, "I wish we could go back to the library. I was reading a book that was fascinating, and I wanted to finish it." Trishanna nodded. There was actually something else she wanted to know about, but reading about the prophecy or legend distracted her. Wiping the crumbs off her lips, she wondered out loud, "Maybe if we ask Trixy, she could let us in, just for a minute." The two women smiled and rose, thanking Mrs. Shine and the rest of the staff, while heading to the Beta's room to talk to his mate.
Trixy was bored. She was no longer rushing to and from her many part-time jobs or cleaning the apartment when she wasn't. Bruno seemed to have found his place, training with the warriors, helping the new recruits and spending time with Samuel. It looked like he fit in better than her. Sam insisted that the omegas are happy to clean and that the pack never takes advantage of them. She tried asking one of them for a broom and a mop, wanting to clean at least their room, but she was denied, and before bed, Sam had punished her, withholding her orgasms until she agreed to let the staff do their jobs. Hmmm...tattletale, she thought to herself. Sam was with Bradley, and all she did was arrange and rearrange the closet. Trixy felt like she would go cross-eyed from staring out the window when a knock on the door cut through her boredom. She rushed to the door and opened it, seeing Trishanna, Trixy and Nicole standing there. The two ladies bumped into her while she was fleeing from the wing where the medical bay was. Apperantley Lorenzo was being an "over-protective ass", and Nicole couldn't take it anymore. She loved her job, but right now she didn't like her mate too much. Trishanna and Trixy shared a look, and with both linking their arms, they brought her along. Trixy stepped back, allowing the three women in. She wasn't sure why they were here, but she was glad for the company.
Trixy led Trishanna to the table by the window where she and Alexis sat. Nicole leaned against the wall, and Trixy sat on the bed closest to them. She nervously rubbed her hand on her jeans, silently cursing herself as she took in the way they were dressed. She really needed to go shopping as her life is definitely different from before. She began to pluck at the threads where the cuts on her jeans were. "So, ladies, what do I owe to this pleasure?" Trishanna waved her hand, "You don't have to be nervous, we were all bored, so we thought you might be as well." The others nodded their heads, "Well, except for me, I'm hiding from my current a-hole of a mate. God, he is so overprotective, it's driving me insane." The others nodded, and soon talk of the craziness of impending fatherhood ensued. Nicole shared that other females were experiencing the same, and Alexis called Mrs. Shine for refreshments and two extra chairs. When they came, she patted the one next to her, indicating that Trixy should sit. They talked about the weather, the pack, and giggled over some of the warriors who had great physiques. Trixy felt out of place as she never had girlfriends to sit and gossip with. Her life was so busy trying to stay under the radar, hone her powers, keep her hot-headed brother out of jail, that she didn't know how or even had the time to make real friends, yet listening to them, she felt the gap between them growing.
Alexis turned to her, "So Trixy, tell us more about you. We would love to learn who Goldmoon's female Beta is, what she's like, what she likes, etc." Ttixy swallowed, feeling all eyes turn to her, her face flushed at the attention. "Ummm... there's not much to say." Nicole scoffed, "Are you kidding? You're from a different realm, lived in an actual kingdom, have the coolest powers I've never even thought of, but I wish I had, your library is my inner nerd's dream come true..." she began listing. Trishanna piped in, "And you can coujour up those puff of clouds you call cairs at will, not to mention that unlike us regular people, you can just sit you pretty butt on those chairs and have all the information come floating to you and you you don't have to clean up, because they put away themselves." They all nodded. "You rock!" Alexis exclaimed, her youth showing. Trixy smiled. She never saw herself like that, always afraid of people finding out about her powers and taking advantage of her and her brother. It occurred to her that she doesn't have to hide anymore. When they saw her, they didn't back away in fear or disgust, as some have in the past, a painful memory tugging at the edges of her mind, but she pushed it away. Here, they embraced her fully with excitement. Is this what family is like?
Trishanna leaned over and held her hand. "We are all curious, but we won't be upset if you're not ready to share. Just know that this is a safe place and we are all happy that you and Sam are mates." Alexis nodded, "I've known Sam for years, he was such a hard-ass that I wondered if his face could even smile. Now I wonder if he'll ever stop. You, Trixy, have made him so happy, and all he wants is for you to stay by his side. I know your powers are incredible, but I promise you, if all you could have done was some lame coin trick a two-year-old could see through, he would love and want you just the same." Nicole held her other hand, "And believe me, just being here and accepting him and allowing him to know and accept all of you is enough." The women all smiled at each other, teary-eyed as their bond of friendship grew. Trixy thought that Sam's love and acceptance were enough, but now she knows what being whole is like. Her grip tightened, and her whispered thanks could be heard.
Trishanna leaned back, waving away her mushy feelings. "Alright, ladies, enough of that. Trixy, I was wondering if I," she paused and looked at the others, "if we could go to your library again. I was so focused on my babe talking and learning about that, yet over the last few days, there is so much more I want to know. I've tried asking Lorenzo and even my wolf El, but they keep saying everything is fine." She sighed, "And I'm jealous." Everyone turned to look at her, mouth open.
Trixy squeaked, "Jealous of me?" she asked, pointing at herself. Trishanna nodded, pointing at her neck. "Yes, of you and Nicole, Alexis and almost all the mated females in this pack." She sighed again. "In Bloodmoon, my old pack, a lot of wolves didn't wait for their fated mates, and rejection was high. The females schemed often, using whatever they could to bag the higher-ranking wolves, and the males were no better. Birthrates were low in that pack, and I know for a fact some of it was deliberate. There was the mate bond ceremony, of course, but there were very few mate marks. I thought that it was normal, seeing that I never went to any other pack, and was always left out at ours. I was also an outcast, an orphan that nobody took notice of, except those bitchy females. There was also a lot of cheating as people would find their mates after their ceremony, but if he or she was of lower rank or status, they usually couldn't completely ignore the pull of fate, but the greed and desire for power and position usually meant that many were hurting."
"My goal was to get away from there as soon as I was old enough to be on my own, posing as a human. Sammy often told me he would take care of me, but I knew his job was dangerous and he would be gone for long stretches without contact. I was afraid of being on my own, and a few months ago, he succeeded in convincing me. That night was the first time I was invited to a party the pack had, and everyone seemed nice, well, at least not as mean. I didn't know it was a set-up, and now I'm carrying James's baby." She looked down, rubbing her belly, feeling the little one stretch. She looked up at the horrified faces around her.
"Sorry if that was a bit heavy, but I wanted you to understand. Nicole, you are fully aware that Bradley couldn't mark me, and right now, I don't know what would happen if James did it, as he is my mate as well. I have so many questions, but I want that mark. I never thought I would, but I feel left out. Besides, wouldn't it look weird that the future Luna, who was labelled an Omega a few weeks ago, didn't have a mate mark?" The others became thoughtful.
Trixy stood and dusted off the crumbs from her shirt. "Okay, future Luna, you've convinced me." She waved her hands, and the library door appeared. At Trishanna's raised eyebrow, Trixy just shrugged. "I figured that somebody would want to return so, since Sam's not here, distracting me with his kisses, I practised opening up the portal. Come on." And as one, they all walked in, curious about how things will work out for the two Alphas and their Luna.