Striding back to the packhouse, I spot Derrick coming out of the front door. “Son,” he acknowledges me, and I nod to him.
Things aren’t quite as strained between us, and he has been here nearly three months, which I am surprised about. He never asks to go home, but I send him back every weekend to see Kat, only for him to return the next day.
“Are you going to see Kat and the kids this weekend?” I ask.
“Thinking about it.”
“Just go. I never expected you to stay here, Derrick. I know she is your daughter, you don’t need to babysit me,” I tell him.
“And you are my son. Kat is doing good, but she is getting nervous about the Alpha meeting, her coronation of sorts. I wanted to head back to help with the kids,” he says, and I nod, walking to the door. “Where is Sage?” He asks, looking at the hill.
“Strawberry patch,” I answer, and he nods, following me inside.
“How are things with her, any closer to marking her?”
I sigh while shaking my head. “No, I don’t know. It is what it is” I shrug, heading for the stairs to my bathroom.
Derrick follows as I walk into the bathroom. I raise an eyebrow at him as I turn on the shower. “I was thinking,” he announces.
“Hopefully thinking of stepping out, old man, because I don’t fancy showering with you,” I tell him, and he laughs, turning around and leaning on the door frame with his back to me.
“We are both men, you haven’t got anything I haven’t got.”
“Yeah, only a few more inches, Derrick,” I correct.
“Ha, that’s what you think,” he tosses over his shoulder.
I shake my head at him, but tug my shorts off. The grass made me itchy, nudity isn’t a big thing, but it is still awkward showering, knowing my father is right there.
“Well, what’s up then?” I ask him, deciding to ignore my father’s presence while I shower.
“I was, well, I wanted to ask,” he fumbles for words, and I stick my head out the shower to see if he is still there when he falls silent.
“Just spit it out. What is it?” I ask him.
“Well, you can say no, and I will understand, but I thought…. since I have been here for the last three months…” he sighs and straightens. “I actually like it here.” He sighs, and I try to think of what he is getting at when he pauses again.
This has to be the most awkward shower of my lifetime. I doubt scrubbing myself clean after a good training session could get any more uncomfortable than this.
“Kat said she has no issues with it, but I was wondering if I could stay. Become an official member of your pack, you know. Kat said I don’t need to renounce Ezra, and I can become part of both packs if you say it’s ok. I won’t be offended if you say no. I don’t expect you to make me your Beta, but it’s up to you,” he explains and sighs.
“You want to be a pack member?” I ask, a little shocked. I have never thought Derrick would ever want to leave Kat, let alone to join my pack for good.
“I like it here. I like spending time with you and Sage,” he answers.
I think over his words, our relationship is already strained but has gotten a little easier, and I know he is trying to fix things between us.
“As I said, Andrei, you can say no. I won’t be offended, and it will change nothing. I will still stay, if you need or want me to.”
“No, Zane asked me the other day if I could take you as Beta along with him. He is more comfortable within his role as my Beta with you here.” I tell him, rinsing the soap from my hair.
“So you would be happy with me remaining here?” He asks, staring at me as if I’m going to change my mind in the next second.
“Yes. Would you be comfortable being my Beta along with Zane?”
“You would have two Betas?”
“Yes, if that is ok with you. You could still be part of Kat and Ezra’s pack, too,” I tell him, shutting the water off.
I reach for a towel, wrap it around my waist, and he falls quiet for a second, making me look over at him. When he turns around, I realize why he is so quiet.
Tears well up in his eyes, and I don’t know how to react to seeing him so emotional. “I would like that, son. You have no idea how much I would love being a part of your life again.”
I nod to him, and he steps aside, letting me pass him to get some fresh clothes. He goes to say something else when Sage suddenly walks in.
“Oh, sorry, was I interrupting something?’ She asks about to walk back out.
“No, Sage, of course not. I will leave you both to it. I will be back on Sunday, Andrei,” my father says before walking over and embracing Sage in what is usually an awkward side hug, but I am a little shocked when she actually hugs him back this time.
“Are you ok, Derrick?” She asks him.
“I am fine, never been better.” He smiles at her. He rubs her arm, and she smiles at him.
“Are you going to see Kat?” she asks.
“Yes, but I will be back on Sunday,” he tells her, and she holds up a finger for him to wait before darting into the closet and nearly knocking me backward as she rummages through the closet.
I watch her, wondering what she is doing before she grabs one of the bags from when she went shopping with Zane the other day.
She pulls out blue and pink teddy bears. “Can you give these to Kat for me?” She asks him, handing them to Derrick. I step closer to find that both teddys have each twin’s names on the bear’s paws.
“When did you get those?” I ask, not remembering her bringing those home.
“The other day, I forgot to show you. Zane took me to this big craft and fabric shop; there is more craft stuff in the bags in the basement,” she chuckles, and I nod, kissing her temple.
“Aren’t you coming to the Alpha meeting?” Derrick asks her, but I haven’t told her yet, since I wasn’t sure if she would be comfortable around that many Alphas.