I shake my head. I like Emily. She talks a lot, so much so that the twins don’t need to interpret for me at all, but she has charisma and charm. She makes Liam laugh.
He’s different around her, more social, and for the first time since I met him, I see a playful side to him as he teases Emily and banters with Ean and Charlie. When the boys gang up on Elijah, Emily jumps in and basically hands them their asses. I just met her, but, in my heart, I know she’s right. I can already feel a bond between the two of us forming.
Anders approaches. “You’ll be okay. I won’t be very far, and I’ll see you regularly. Besides, I haven’t forgotten about our pending discussion. We’ll talk more later. For now, get acquainted with your new home and family.” He pulls me into a quick hug. “Liam will check the perimeter. When he’s satisfied everything is in order, he’ll return to the training facility. Don’t run… Promise?”
I won’t go anywhere. I cross my heart.
“Good.” He squeezes me one last time before turning to leave.
Sodie hugs me next. He is the only one here tonight who doesn’t have family. I want him to know that I think of him as my family. I point to his chest and then my own.
He smiles. “Are you adopting me?” I squeeze his hand and nod. “Good. I already think of you as my family, too. See ya around.” He touches my chin before heading for the door.
Liam stands off to the side. He doesn’t move at first. Frowning, he scans the area and grabs my arm. “When you find your room, flick the light on three times so I know you’re okay and settled in for the rest of the night. There is no rush. Take your time.” Then, he disappears into the night.
Returning to the foyer, my new family waits for me. “Ready to see your new room?” Shakti asks.
“Tomorrow, we can give you the grand tour. You’re free to go wherever you please, and you can play the piano whenever you like. This is your home now. I want you to think of it as your own,” the Alpha King adds.
“You can call him by his name,” Jeremy offers. “You don’t have to call him the Alpha King,” he snickers.
I elbow him in the ribs. When we reach the top of the stairs, the Alpha King says, “It’s okay to call me Nathan. In time, when you are comfortable, you can call us Mom and Dad, if you want.” Glancing at my toes, I’m unsure how to respond to his kindness. He puts his hand on my shoulder and make a gesture to follow Shakti.
Shakti indicates the various guest rooms as we pass down the hallway. She notes the twins’ bedrooms and Luke’s room on the opposite side. Then, she opens double doors to a room at the end of the hall.
“This used to be the boys’ playroom, but they’ve outgrown it and spend most of their time in their own rooms. I thought you might like it. It has better lighting and more space.”
I peek behind her. Large floor-to-ceiling windows frame the expansive territory beyond the grounds. A hearth centers a sitting area, and a desk and series of bookshelves situate across the room. Shakti walks farther into the room, and I follow her toward a huge canopy bed with lavender bedding and gauze curtains. The furniture is white with an antiqued look. The desk and shelves match the décor.
“I wasn’t sure what color scheme you would like. I thought pink was too girly and blue too boyish so I chose purple. If you don’t like anything, we can always change it.”
I spin in a slow circle. I love everything about the room. It’s perfect. The small couch features a sage green fabric, with a matching chair. Above the hearth hangs a large flat-screen TV.
I notice the centerpiece on a coffee table. A rectangular planter holds succulents and sprigs of lavender. I smile. I love lavender, and purple has always been my favorite color. The green is a perfect combination. I pause at that thought...
“She loves it,” Justin says out loud.
“You nailed it, Mom. Apparently, lavender is her favorite,” Jeremy shares, picking up another pot with sprigs of lavender in it. “Is lavender a flower or a bush?” Everyone laughs at his question. “What? I’m serious.”
Shakti opens a door into a private bathroom with a walk-in shower, clawfoot bathtub, water closet, and double vanity. Why would I need two sinks?
Justin chuckles. “It’s just the way the bathroom layout was designed.”
“I noticed you liked the lavender and honey soap collection I got for you so I stuck to that. We can get you something else if you like,” Shakti says.
At the very entrance of the en-suite, where we passed double doors before entering the full bathroom, she pulls it open. It’s a walk-in closet, already stocked with some clothing, but not enough to fill it.
“I picked up some clothes for you, but I thought we could go into town one day soon and you can pick out your own. I think you might like some of the cute little boutiques there . If not, we can order anything online.”
She walks out of the closet and stands in front of the glass French doors and steps out onto a balcony. A small wrought-iron table with two chairs and a lounger face the beautiful vistas beyond.
“You can sit here and eat breakfast or study if you get too cooped up indoors.” When Shakti returns inside, she hits a button on the wall, which activates heavy drapes drawing closed. “The curtains block out the light if you decide you want to sleep in during the day or just feel the need for privacy.” Pressing another button, she reopens the curtains. “Anders told me you like to read. He gave me a list of books he thought you might like to start your own library collection. And the boys have an extra laptop and an iPod they don’t use, but I can get you your own.”
I shake my head, overwhelmed by the room, by the items, by the care she put into it, all for me. This is more than enough. If I didn’t know better, I’d think I’m still in a coma and this is all a dream. This can’t be real.
Just when that nagging feeling that I don’t deserve any of this echoes in my head, Jeremy sets his arm over my shoulder and pinches me.
Ass!I slap him in the chest.
