Page 13 of Crystal Luna
Curtis pouted, crossing his arms. “You promised I could tell him!”
Mia threw her arms around her brother and apologised. “I’m sorry, I just got so excited.”
Heath chuckled and made his way around the desk. “That is very exciting news indeed. Do you two remember what we talked about and what we will do when this happens?”
“Give them space, be patient, and wait to be called to visit,” Curtis recited.
“Very good. So, no wandering off and trying to see the baby, okay?” Heath’s eyes rested on his daughter, and she let her shoulders fall forward and her head hang.
“Yes, Father,” they both promised.
“How about we cook dinner and put on a movie?” Heath suggested.
“Will you actually watch it with us or are you gonna disappear to work halfway through?” Curtis seemed cautious, afraid to get his hopes up.
Heath worked a lot, forgetting that his children were now at an age where they would start to notice. Guilt flooded his heart and a longing feeling spread through his veins. Laureen had been the one to keep Curtis company when she was alive. Now that Heath had to split his time between pack duties and his family, he had the feeling he couldn’t give both one hundred percent of what they needed.
“Maybe Velora wants to have dinner with us again. Have you seen her since last time?” Mia asked.
“I saw her this morning.”
“You did?” Mia frowned disappointedly. “I haven’t seen her at all.”
“Can we go ask her to come join us?” Curtis asked.
Heath hesitated. He knew the two of them only meant well but didn’t want to overwhelm Velora with anything. “How about we cook dinner and you can check on her after? If there’s food left over, we can bring her some.”
They both agreed and they spent the evening in the kitchen. Both Mia and Curtis insisted on cooking an extra portion so they could be sure to have food for Velora. They ate fast, but made sure to finish their plates and set them in the sink for him to clean.
He watched with mixed feelings as they grabbed Velora’s plate and walked towards the door—Mia not without giving him a kiss.
“Please be respectful and don’t force your company on her.”
“Yes, Father,” Curtis promised before closing the door behind him.
Chapter Six
Velora
She followed Beta Wayne out of the office and into the warm midday air.
“I thought I could show you the gym first,” he offered. “Is that alright with you?”
She nodded and stayed a step behind him as he led the way. She’d passed the gym a few times, but always early in the morning or late at night—when no one else was around.
“We offer all our wolves combat training, even the ones who don’t join the warriors. Our pack tends to be full of hot heads and it gives them a place to vent,” he continued jokingly.
As they got closer to the gym, she swallowed against the knot in her throat. The warriors were outside training in close combat. So far she’d been able to keep her distance, but now she was walking right into the middle of the crowd. It made her gut twist.
“If you like, we can sit down with Marvin—our lead warrior. With Evelyne so far along, I’m not sure I can be as consistent with you as I’d like. I’m sure he’s a better teacher anyway. Some of the things he can show you might help you on your journey ahead if you decide not to stay with us.”
Velora had spent a large amount of her time trying to decide to stay or move on—she’d come to no conclusion. She’d loved having basic human amenities—she’d spent hours in the bathtub—but didn’t want to burden anyone or abuse Alpha Heath’s offer.
To her relief, Beta Wayne opened a side door to the gym that kept her from walking through the warriors. “Let me show you around a little.”
He moved aside, letting Velora step into the space ahead of him. The room was filled with equipment. There were weights, mats, targets, and other things she couldn’t even recognize.
“It’s always open and you can come in here at any time.” Beta Wayne leaned in with a soft smile. “Early mornings or late nights are always the quietest.”