Page 72 of Shattered Trinket
With a shake of his head and a quiet laugh, he eases into his seat. Dragging River behind her, Ripley makes her way over to us, her determined steps reverberating in the air. River comes to a halt as they stand in front of Jeremiah, and I observe how the strong and dominant alpha that I’ve claimed for my own becomes tense. As River holds his hand out, Jeremiah’s gaze shifts upwards, his expression filled with astonishment, as if the notion of someone wanting to shake his hand in peace is utterly unimaginable.
My poor alpha has spent his entire life as the outcast, being seen as a monster, and now that he’s not being treated like one, I fear he doesn’t know what to do.
“Shake his hand, Jeremiah. He won’t bite… you,” I murmur to him with an airy laugh, shocking everyone with my little joke.
Ripley snorts and holds her hand out for a high-five, and I oblige.
“That was a good one,” she laughs, shaking her head before we both look back at Jeremiah and River.
I breathe a sigh of relief when Jeremiah finally reaches out and grasps River’s hand in his much larger one. As he nods at River, a gentle smile curves his lips, reflecting the warmth in his heart. It’s a symbol that represents the fresh start we’ve all been waiting for.
Once they drop each other’s hands, River and Ripley continue moving until they reach an empty chair. She throws him into one across from us and climbs into his lap, looking at all the guyswith a big smile before locking eyes with me. She’s practically vibrating in River’s lap with excitement, making the corners of my lips curl up involuntarily.
“So… Everybody looks to still have all their limbs connected to their bodies. Can I assume you’ve all worked it out and you’ll officially be my sister sometime soon?”
I can feel my cheeks flush with heat, and in response, my body instinctively curls more into Ridge’s embrace. As his arms tighten around me, I can feel the warmth of his embrace and the tenderness of the kiss he places on the top of my head, causing a surge of emotions to stir inside me. Being held by him makes me feel cherished and safe, as if I’m the most important person in the world.
“Och! Ye wee brat. Leave her be before ye scare her away from us. We’re walkin’ a tightrope right now, eh?” Zeke mock whispers to Ripley with a silly grin and a wink aimed my way.
With a mischievous grin, Ripley sticks her tongue out at him, and I can’t help but chuckle at their playful exchange.
“They asked us to move in,” I tell her quietly, biting my bottom lip.
With a gasp, Ripley’s excitement fills the air as she lets out a high-pitched squeal. Excited, she jumps out of her seat and excitedly grabs my hand, practically yanking me up from Ridge’s lap. Ridge reluctantly releases his grip with a low grumble, and as I stand up, Ripley wraps her arms around me, bouncing up and down, causing me to burst into laughter. When she calms down, she releases her grip on me, and Ridge swiftly pulls me back into his lap, his arm securely wrapped around my waist as he plants a gentle kiss on my exposed shoulder, sending a delightful shudder through my body.
Mama walks over and joins us when she hears all the commotion, her eyes twinkling as she looks at me and winks.
“What’s with all the screaming?” she asks with a grin, her hands on her hips.
Ridge shifts beneath me, clearing his throat.
“We asked them to move in,” he tells his mom, and her arms drop as a pout forms on her lips.
“You’re leaving me? So soon?” she asks me, and I feel a pang in my heart.
This woman, this amazing, thoughtful person, opened her home for me. Took me in and has been so instrumental in my healing process. She’s my mother in every sense of the word, and I love her so much for everything she’s done for me.
“Uh-oh. What’s wrong, my love?” Damien asks Mama Valley as he comes up behind her, wrapping his arms around her and kissing her cheek.
“She’s leaving us,” Mama tells him, a hint of sorrow in her tone.
“Ah. It’s okay, Angel. It’s not like she’ll be far, and you knew it’d happen, eventually. This will be good for all of them.”
“I hate having an empty nest,” she grumbles with a sigh, and my lips quirk up at her petulant tone.
“Don’t worry. She was a big baby when I moved out, too,” Ripley whispers at me, laughing when Mama swats her shoulder.
With a sigh, Mama walks over and bends down, her hands reaching out to hold my face as she gazes into my eyes. She must see what she’s looking for because she eventually nods in defeat before giving me an encouraging smile.
“I am so proud of you, sweetheart,” she murmurs before kissing my forehead and standing up.
As tears well up, my eyes sting, but I fight back the urge to cry by blinking rapidly. The day is filled with possibilities, and there’s no more room for tears.
The rest of the day becomes a blur of musical chairs as I’m passed from one alpha to another, each vying for a chance to hold me. While some of them assist the dads with the food, the majority of us remain rooted in our current positions, unwilling to venture elsewhere.
Over time, the others outside find their way to us, grabbing extra chairs to join in the socializing. Jeremiah gets caught up in a conversation with Nico, where the topic of tattoos and related subjects takes center stage, while Micah talks with Kian and Syn. My heart warms seeing these two men being welcomed into the fold so easily after the earlier drama, and for the first time in a long time, I’m completely relaxed around so many people.
Hours pass as we eat, talk, and spend time with everyone. The sun eventually sinks down to make way for the moon and stars, and although I get caught up in my own conversations with everyone, I still continue to watch the changing sky. By the time everyone starts saying their goodbyes, I’m yawning in Emmanuel’s lap, fighting to keep my eyes open.