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“She’s accepted him. She’s just been through some difficult stuff, and James is patient enough to let her work through it.”
“I know, dear. I’m just excited for him. He’s a good son. I want him to be happy.” We looked on as James and Danny jumped inside the bouncy castle with Molly, and both of us laughed. “Forget I said that. Clearly, he’s living the dream.”
“I think he’s the same emotional age as Molly,” I laughed, watching James try to do a flip and landing on his face, sending Molly into a fit of giggles.
Bells left a little while later, returning with Violet, Mom and Dad. The grill was hot and ready to go soon after, and Dad, Uncle Gillian and Uncle Danny decided to man it together while the rest of us chatted with the guests as Molly’s new friends started arriving. A short while later, I saw Violet sitting alone near the fence, and I went to keep her a little company.
“How you doing, Bug?” I asked, bumping her with my shoulder. Violet let out a deep breath that seemed to come from the very depths of her soul.
“A little better,” she answered, and I wrapped my arm around her, feeling her melt to my side. “I’m thrilled Evie is your mate. I know I haven’t said much, but I really am happy for you.”
“I know, Vi. You don’t have to explain. Just take your time to heal. We’re not going anywhere.”
“I know,” she said, wrapping her arms around me and allowing me to comfort her for the first time since the massacre.
We hung out in silence for a while. Once the food started, I left to help James plate and give out the food and sweets. By the end of the night, we were all exhausted from being social and let the older adults go home while the rest of us cleaned up. Molly was fast asleep in Meli’s arms while the rest of us put everything away.
“I can’t thank you guys enough. I didn’t think the party would be as much work as it was,” Zi said when we were finished and sitting around the small living room, while Molly was being put to bed by James. Evie was sitting on my lap, and Meli was on Jo’s. Bells went home with Violet not long ago, so it was just the six of us right now.
“Nothing to thank, we just wanted Molly to have a blast,” Jo said, and to everyone’s surprise, Zi burst into tears. “What did I say?” he asked in a panic.
James walked back into the living room, grabbed Zi and placed her on his lap while she cried and unintelligibly explained.
“She’s saying she never expected to have so many people caring about Molly. She’s been alone for four years, and she feels so lucky that I forced her to come here.” Evie translated.
“Wait, you forced her?” I asked.
"No... I only encouraged her to apply by telling her I would miss Molly too much, and that I made my job dependent on hers.” She shrugged sheepishly. “She didn’t want to join a pack after what happened in her old one. I knew our pack was different and would be good for her and Molly. Plus, I really would have missed Molly too much. I regret nothing.”
“And well you shouldn’t. If you hadn’t, I would still be looking for my mate,” James told her and when Zi started crying harder, he kissed the top of her head. “It’s alright, Zi. You’re here, and you’re both mine, now. I’m never going to leave you alone. We’re never going to leave you again. None of us. We’re all here for you and Molly.”
We left Zi with James at his nod and headed home, and I wondered about James’ words. If Evie hadn’t left, James would still be looking for his mate, who wasn’t part of any pack. Maybe things just had to happen in the order they did for it to work out for everyone. Perhaps I had to give up a few years so that James could have his own happy ending.
The weeks went by too quickly, and before I knew it, it was the day before the luna ceremony, and I was fucking pouting.
“Why do you have to take her for the whole night, though?” I asked Mom.
“Because I can, Mijo(son). We’re having a spa day to get us all nice and ready for tomorrow and we’re staying the night in the city. You can survive a day without her and let your poor mother spend some time with all her girls.” She ended her speech with her big blue eye looking up at me and pleading. I chuckled, giving up.
“Wait a minute, that shit still works on you? Seriously?” Bells cackled behind Mom.
“Fuck off, Bells. She’s Mom. Of course, it still fucking works.” My face burned with embarrassment when even Violet started chuckling at me. “Make sure you stay with the guards. No one wanders off. You’re the most precious people to me and the packs and I need to make sure you’re safe. You know what. I should come with you. I’ll stay with the guards,” I ranted, and James nodded in agreement. He wasn’t happy Zi was leaving for an overnight trip. He was even less happy that some guards escorting them were unmated since he hadn’t marked her yet, even though he hand-picked most of them. Still, with almost a dozen of the most important women of all three packs, we were sending about two dozen guards along with them, and it would be almost impossible to have them all be mated.
“No. You stay. You promised to help take care of Molly. It’s one night. We already booked the whole spa for the day and you insisted they book the entire hotel floor for us. We’ll be fine. Will you please trust us?” Mom asked, giving me that same fucking look. I huffed and crossed my arms. When she saw it might not work, she added. “Kassie can fight better than you, and I got pretty close to beating ya. With us, Adrien and almost twenty four guards, I’m sure we can take care of ourselves.”
“How come Adrien gets to go?” James pouted.
“Because out of everyone, I can appreciate the benefits of a fucking spa day, that’s why.” Adrien barged into the pack house foyer with his overnight bag. “Stop being a party pooper, and let the girls enjoy their men-free night.”
Adrien ushered everyone out while giving us the stink eye, but he winked at me before he left. I did feel a little bit better knowing he was going to be with them. His porting ability would be handy if anything happened. Once we watched the SUVs drive off, I looked around the men left in the foyer after Dad and my uncles made their way toward Dad’s house.
“Now what the fuck are we doing?” I asked.
“Well, I have to pick up Molly from daycare in half an hour, so if I start walking really slowly, I might make it there about twenty minutes early.” James laughed.
“Fuck, we’re pathetic. How about Cory and I go buy some beers, juice and snacks and we just hang out with the only woman left in this pack who will hang out with us?” Jo said.
“Yeah, that sounds about right. I’ll see if Lucien wants to join us. They took his pregnant mate after all,” I said.
