Page 42 of The Raven's Alpha
After dinner, Eddy’s mother tactfully invites me to join her in the living room, to show me some cherished family photos. I catch Eddy's eye, and he gives a subtle nod of understanding – they're giving the siblings a moment to talk privately. I gladly accept the invitation and soon find myself cosied up with a blanket and a lap full of photo albums. Eddy's parents flank me on the sofa, our bodies subtly entwined as we browse through the pictures. The physical closeness is comforting, and for a moment, I feel like part of the family.
We embark on a trip down memory lane, or rather, the Elwood family tree. The black and white photos are a nostalgic trip back in time, showcasing Lucy and Norman's parents and siblings. But things quickly take a turn when Norman tries to get saucy about Lucy's youthful photos, attempting to make a lewd joke about her 'finer' years. Lucy promptly puts her foot down, or rather, her hand – she playfully shoves at her husband.
“Ouch, woman, let me finish before you start attacking me!” Norman groans good-naturedly, admitting he was about to saysomething sweet, “look how pretty you were and look how beautifully you've aged.” But it's too late, the damage is done. The room erupts in laughter, and even Lucy can't help but giggle at her husband's silly antics.
“Hmm, and look at those washboard abs,” Lucy says with a smirk, playfully nudging me with her elbow. “You know, you're almost as handsome as your younger self... almost.” She winks.
Before Norman can get a word in edgewise, Lucy snatches the album from my lap and replaces it with another one, this one surprisingly weighty and bulkier than the rest. The cover features a hand-drawn logo that reads'Elwood Cubs'in bold letters, as if it's a badge of honour.
Lucy opens the book and begins to flip through its yellowed pages, my gaze is drawn to her face, watching as her eyes scan the contents until they land on the page she's been searching for. My lips twitch into a smile as she finds it, and I can't help but feel a surge of nostalgia wash over me. The photo that meets her gaze is a tender scene: a tiny, fluffy cub nestled among two larger grizzlies, and I realise with a start that this must be a picture of my alpha and his siblings.
Lucy carefully extracts the photo from the album, turning it over to reveal the date scrawled on the back: 'June 2000'. As she speaks, her voice takes on a wistful tone, “Millie was just a couple of weeks old when this photo was taken. Edgar was mere days away from his eighteenth birthday, and Henry was already twenty-one.” Her finger trails gently across the faces of the grizzly bears, her eyes lingering on each one as if rekindling memories.
“It was hard when Eddy left?” I'm not even sure why I'm asking, except that I'm still trying to process the complexities of their family dynamics. Of course, it must have been tough for them to lose a family member, but from what Eddy's shared with me, his parentshave always been surprisingly accepting of his decision to leave the family home.
Lucy's eyes glisten as she carefully returns the photo to its slot, her nod a gentle affirmation. "Yes and no," she says, her voice tinged with a mix of emotions. "I was scared to let my baby go, but I knew he wouldn't thrive here. As a child, he was always different – not in a way that set him apart, but in a way that made him unique. Curious, thoughtful... you'll understand when you have kids of your own."
I hesitate to confide in my alpha's mother about my uncertainty – the truth is, I'm still grappling with the idea of having children. Being abandoned by my family twice before I was even an adult, left emotional scars and the thought of putting anyone else through a similar experience is a daunting prospect. I'm not sure I'm ready to risk that kind of pain again.
Norman's expression turns thoughtful as he adds, "To be honest, your mate wasn't thrilled about the job opportunities available to shifters around here. He had a passion for baking, but it wasn't just about the art of it – he had a real talent for it. While there's nothing inherently wrong with baking from home, we both knew he was destined for something more."
The air in the room has grown heavy with unspoken emotions, as the Elwood parents' longing for their son is palpable. My mate’s reaction to Millie's new beau suggests he, too, is struggling with feelings of distance and disconnection from his own family.
A small voice within me whispers that Eddy is meant to be here, surrounded by his family in this secluded corner of the woods. But my alpha is a grown man, old enough to make his own decisions, even if he did leave home at a young age. Still, there's no denying the joy that spreads across his face when he's in Everlong, surrounded by the familiar rhythms of his bakery and the sweet scent of freshly baked cookies.
‘What if he wants to move back home one day?’my raven asks me.
I ponder the prospect, my mind wrestling with the idea. To be honest, I'm not tied to Everlong in any significant way; the family mansion, now vacant and filled with memories, is all that remains of my connection to the place. It's a relic of the past, a nostalgic reminder of happier times, but nothing more.
No amount of longing can revive the past, but the man standing in the kitchen is the only family I have left. Wherever he chooses to go, I'll follow him. He's the only one who makes my heart skip a beat, the only one who truly sees me, the only one I want to spend forever with.
Chapter Sixteen
Darcy Mortlake
The tension between Eddy and his sister has finally dissipated, and I'm over the moon to see them on better terms. As we snuggle up together in bed, Eddy pours out his heart to me, sharing the weight of his guilt over leaving his family, especially during Millie's vulnerable early years. We hatch a plan to rekindle their bond by introducing more quality time with his loved ones.
A nagging doubt creeps into my thoughts - what if we have to travel through the border again in the future? I share my concerns with Eddy, and he effortlessly reassures me, pointing out that by then, our bond would be official, and we'd face no trouble crossing the border together.
Eddy's words of reassurance are like a breath of fresh air - "Plus, my family can always visit us in Everlong," he says, his tone calm and reassuring. It’s a prospect that suddenly made the idea of travelling back to the other side seem much more manageable.
Our seven-day stay in Grizzly-Fields is drawing to a close, I can’t help but feel a mix of emotions. While I’ve grown fond of Eddy's family and have enjoyed getting to know them, I’m ready to return home and indulge in some much-needed alone time with my mate. The thought of slipping into Eddy's cosy cabin, surrounded by the familiar comforts of our little sanctuary, is a tantalising prospect that beckons me like a warm hug on a cold winter's night.
Over the last couple of days, our connection has only grown stronger. The invisible thread between us tightening, and I findmyself craving more of his presence. It's as if our bond is approaching its maximum capacity, and I'm left wanting more.