It took us about an hour to get home for dinner. I was tired and drained from the meeting with the Alpha King. I was silent the entire way home. I know my Dad wanted to give me my space, especially after what Prince Michael said. Dad was furious, but we couldn’t really say anything without offending Alpha King Matthew. Politics is a delicate thing in the werewolf community.
Walking into the door of our house, we were greeted with a wonderful smell of pot roast, potatoes, carrots, dinner rolls, and salad. Mom even made a chocolate cake for dessert which made Daniel very happy.
Our dinner conversation was about Rebecca and the pup. She found out she was having a boy. Daniel and Rebecca started talking about the nursery and possible baby names. Everyone was excited. I was happy for my twin, really I was. But at the same time, I was miserable.
How can I be happy for him and his mate when less than a month ago my mate rejected me? The conversation was in full swing when I slipped away from the table. No one realized I slipped away until about thirty minutes later.
I heard a knock at my door. “Come in,” I called out. My Dad walked in with a slice of chocolate cake followed by Daniel, Rebecca, and Mom.
“Why did you leave the table sweetheart?” Dad asked me innocently enough as he handed me the cake.
“Dad, you know why she left. It’s okay to be sad,” Daniel offered as he sat down on the edge of my bed to eat his slice of cake.
“All of you were so excited. I was too, then it hit me that I wouldn’t know the joy of having a baby. And I started to cry. I didn’t want to bring down the mood in the room so I left,” I explained to everyone as the tears tried to slide down yet again.
“Oh, my baby girl, you’ll get that opportunity. I know you will. You’ll find a second chance mate. It may take a while, but I know you will find him. I just know it,” exclaimed Mom as tears ran down her face too while she held me in a bear hug.
“Thanks, Mom. I needed to hear that. You always know just what to say to make me feel better,” I mumbled as I clung to my mom in our embrace.
“It’s okay baby girl. It’s why I’m here. I’ll always be here for you,” Mom cooed as she rubbed my back to comfort me.
Mom released me from her hug. She picked up the cake and handed it to me so I could eat it. It was at that moment; that I made up my mind. I knew that I wasn’t going to become the Delta of our pack, Daniel was. I just didn’t know how to tell Dad or Daniel or Alpha Richard for that matter.
Everyone left my bedroom so I could be alone after we enjoyed our chocolate cake. Having my brother as the pack’s Delta would mean stability because he has a male heir on the way whereas I am still unmated. Wouldn’t he be the better choice?
I picked up my book to read, but somehow couldn’t get into it. My thoughts were clouded and kept going back to my brother becoming Delta instead of me. I needed to have a conversation with my father and soon.
I didn’t sleep well last night. I tossed and turned. When I actually did sleep, I slept hard. I woke up feeling worse than I did before I went to sleep. I showed up to training looking like shit which alarmed my Dad. He knew instantly something was wrong. I told him we could talk after training and over breakfast.
Melissa came over to me before training started and asked me what was wrong. She could tell I wasn’t in the proper headspace this morning.
“Mellie, what’s up with you this morning?” Melissa asked me with an eyebrow arched.
“I didn’t sleep too well last night and I’ve got a lot on my mind this morning,” I answered her.
“Okay, so the same old stuff. But, you look more troubled than usual. Want to talk about it?” hesitated Melissa as she lowered her voice to a whisper.
“Not really, I just … no. Thanks anyway. Come on, let’s begin stretching,” I suggested as Beta Micah told everyone to start stretching out to warm up.
“Hey, you know I’m here if you ever need an ear to listen,” advised Melissa.
“I know. Thanks, Melissa,” I thanked her as I began my stretching exercises.
Our training went as usual. Melissa and I sparred together. Somehow Melissa knew I needed to work off some extra stress so she allowed me to do so. Thank you Melissa for allowing me to do so and for being such a good friend.
When I got home to shower and change so I could go to work, Dad caught me before I left so we could talk.
“Hey Mellie, we need to talk. Let’s talk over breakfast. I noticed you were about to escape without eating breakfast. Come on, let’s talk,” announced Dad as he promptly escorted me to the kitchen.
“Yes sir,” I sighed as I followed him into the kitchen. “What would you like to talk about?”
We sat down at the kitchen table to eat the breakfast that Mom had prepared for us. She had prepared scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, and pancakes. She even prepared coffee and hot chocolate for me.
“Well for starters, let’s talk about why you didn’t sleep very well last night. Then, why you train the way you did this morning? What’s up with you? Talk to me. You know I know when something is bothering you. You can’t keep anything from me, never have been,” exclaimed Dad.
“I know. Well, I was going to talk to you, but I didn’t know how to broach the subject. Dad, are you sure I’m the right one to become Delta of the pack instead of Danny? He has a male heir on the way and …” was all I could say before Dad interrupted me.
“Melanie, you are my heir. YOU will be the pack’s Delta. Why are you suddenly questioning this? Is this because of what Prince Michael said yesterday?” questioned my Dad.
“Yes and no. I’ve heard some whispers from some pack members saying that Danny would be more suitable since he’s mated. I just want what is best for the pack Dad. I always have,” I stated matter-factly.
“I know some pack members believe that only male children should inherit their father’s title, but our pack is different. Alpha Richard is very excited about you becoming his next Delta. We can’t wait for you to set the precedent for the other packs who want to change their pack laws to allow firstborn children, females, to take their father’s title,” my Dad explained.
“I didn’t know that,” I said looking at my dad.
“I know, but we have been planning this for a long time. I am very proud of you Melanie. You have exceeded my expectations. I believe you will be an awesome Delta,” my Dad professed to me.
“Thank you, Dad. I needed to hear that. I guess after hearing Prince Michael yesterday, I was beginning to doubt myself again. Dad, what do you think about retooling the security system here at the pack?” I wondered aloud like I was brainstorming some ideas to him.
“What about the security system? What do you want to do?” Dad inquired with a thoughtful look on his face.
“Well, I thought about how much technology has grown and how much it can aid us in our pack’s readiness. Wouldn’t be great if we could have an early warning system of an enemy approaching our borders and their numbers?” I supposed as I explained my thought process to him.
“Yes, that does sound rather enticing. Is that something you would want to implement when you become Delta? Would you want me to pitch it to the Alpha before you become Delta to get the ball rolling? Or do you want to talk to him before you become Delta and say this is what you want to do when you become Delta as your gift to the pack?” inquired Dad.
“I like the way you think Dad. When do you think Alpha Richard will be available to talk about this? I would like to gift this new security system to the pack as my gift when I take the Oath of Delta. May I do so Dad?” I questioned my Dad with a gleam in my eye.
“I think we can manage that. Let me see when he will be available to talk about a new security system. Do you have a proposal worked out already or do you need some time to get one put together?” asked my Dad.
“Oh no, I already have one put together. It’s on my laptop at work but it’s saved to the cloud. I can retrieve it from anywhere. Would you like for me to send you a copy of it to peruse?” I inquired with a gleam in my eye.
“Why don’t you print it off on my printer in the home office so I can peruse it before we go speak to the Alpha at 9:30 this morning? What do you say?” Dad chuckled at my enthusiasm.
“Sure, Dad. How many copies do you want me to print out?” I asked as we walked into his home office.
“Well, we might want to make at least four copies, no go ahead and print out five copies. What the hell? Let’s put the proposals in folders for everyone. Do you need anything else for the presentation Mellie?” asked my Dad while the presentation was being printed out.
“No, it’s pretty much self-explanatory. I have color pictures of everything that I want to install, locations of where I want them installed, and where I want the control room to be located. I don’t think I missed anything. But that is why we are having this meeting so that we can see if I have missed anything or if we need to add anything, right?” I teased my Dad as he handed me a stack of file folders.
“You are certainly correct. Okay, now let’s head on over to the pack house and prepare for the meeting. Shall we?” my Dad exclaimed as we left his office.
“Yes, we shall. Thank you, Dad,” I gushed as I gave him a hug and a kiss.
“Thanks for what Mellie?” asked my confused Dad.
“For not letting me escape the house this morning without getting down to what was upsetting me. You’re the best,” I cried out as I held his hug a little longer.
“You’re welcome, my baby girl. I don’t want you to ever doubt your worth. You are more than worthy of being Delta. Remember that. I am so proud of you,” gushed Dad as he released me.
I saw he had unshed tears in his eyes. What could I say? Seeing Dad like this made my heart swell with pride. My wolf was prancing around in my head because her father was proud of her, of us.