Rejected Mate and Following Fate - Awakening Book
Chapter 119: Going Forward

“Is everything ready?” I wander into the new dining room space we cleared and created this pastweek in readiness for my father's first official visit. The room which used to be the medbay, althoughnow our outhouse for the clinic is complete, we are freeing up space indoors. The village has comeon a lot these past months and even though we know a move back to the valley is in the books, westill want this place to have a use. Some of our pack might want to live out here despite the Alphaand Luna returning to the main homestead. Sierra has already expressed desire to continue herewith Radar now that she feels her position as Rema no longer requires her to oversee the reunitedSantos. I think in all honesty she wants to relish in her new love and honeymoon period withoutgrossing out her son.

I'll be sad to leave our home behind but I know this is the start of a new chapter for all of us.

“So clean it's sparkling. The grounds have been refreshed, everything scrubbed, and the manor is intop shape for this royal visit.” Meadow drolls with that sarcastic tone of hers. Standing with her headpropped to one side as she scans all the details on her tick list. Still not onboard with an alliancebetween our kinds or accepting my father as a guest, but she’s trying. A lot of the pack are stillreserving judgement until they see how life continues for themselves. This visit has already causedso much upheaval and mutterings among them.

"And Colton?” I ask, looking around for my invisible mate who has been AWOL since first light. Offdoing whatever he does every day.

“Patrolling the grounds with Radar and Jasper. Still trying to acclimatize your brother into the packand bickering with him at every opportunity. I swear it's become a hobby for those two and theyonly hang out to argue.” Meadow sighs heavily and then goes back to her clipboard.

I can't say I disagree. The past week has seen my brother move into the house of his own accordand spend all his spare time goading my mate into verbal spats. They're always together and alwaysfighting but don’t seem to think that giving one another space should be a thing. We offered himone of the village houses on the edge of the patrol line for some solitude, and yet he moved rightacross from our bedroom just to piss Colton off.

He was meant to be here to protect me, and yet I have barely seen him since he dropped off hisluggage. I guess because I have kept Carmen close by in hopes that their proximity would helpthings along and she acts as a natural deterrent for his presence. He's still holding out on her, andshe’s so stubborn and hurt that she’s avoiding him like the plague. It's frustrating to have two ofthem in a small space like this manor and yet see them never get within thirty feet of one another. Idon't understand why he's being so certain about this given his acceptance to living here now.“They'll be here at noon. I have no idea what food we should serve, seeing as they are vampires.”Carmen appears almost by magical thought, hands on her hips and looking unusually beautiful in asimple white summer dress which flows around her legs in a carefree manner. Ethereal today andher blonde hair is almost golden like a halo of softness.

“Look, there was a time we didn’t think vampires could be out in the sun. Maybe they can eathuman food too.” Meadow shrugs and both Carmen and I raise a brow in unison at her.

“Isn't that the problem with their species...they eat human food?” Carmen widens her eyes toemphasize the words human and food and I start to giggle at the word play.

“Ughhh, you know what I mean. Let's just serve steak. Leave it raw and they can suck it for all I care.I mean, who doesn't like steak?” Meadows huffs at her.

"Angelics... they're vegans!” Demi casually wanders in looking mischievous at his quick-wittedremark and winks our way. All pale skinned, sandy hair and blue eyes which hint at far off DNA in hispast bloodlines. For once no sign of his identical shadow and I roll my eyes at him.

“I guess that gene was missed on you two then.” I point out. “You two could eat your own weight insteak in a three-minute sitting.” For Angelic mix breeds they lack anything good natured or pure intheir genetic makeup.

“We're Lychans, baby. The wolf DNA dominates everything else.”

"Speak for yourself.” Sierra appears in the room waving about her hands that are shrouded in a blueglow as if to prove her point and then smiles sweetly as Domi moves out of her way to let her in.She has been walking around with that honeymoon glow, mate mark on show at her collarbone,and making me and Colton seem like we are not even lovers in comparison. I never knew Radarcould be such a touchy feely, attentive, and mushy mate if I hadn't seen it myself these past days.Glued together most of the time, and always touching. Sierra is like a new woman. Glowing,bubbling over with brightness, and her magical gifts seem to have ramped up to crazy levels. Iguess all she needed was real happiness and mutual love. No more fear of dwindling gifts anymorefor her.

“I think as a Lychan pack we pretty much fail. Most of our main hierarchy are mongrel bloods ofmixed breeds. And I'm a freakin part human.” Carmen plops her ass on the edge of the new longpolished dining table and tosses her hair casually over one shoulder, with that sassy manner of hersthat I've missed. No hint of denial anymore in admitting what she is.

Since we made it clear to our pack that bloodlines shouldn“t be a shameful secret, insteadsomething to celebrate, it seems so many have come forward to profess their childhood sins ofbeing mixed breeds. All in all, it seems only about forty percent of the Santos can trace their bloodtruthfully through Lychan only. Another lie we were force fed all these years by Juan and his stupidideals. It's been refreshing though, to see them embrace their true selves and no longer hide hiddengifts from their own kind. It seems we have so many talented among us with unusual abilities thatmay not always be useful but are what makes them unique. No longer afraid to admit that theyaren't only Lychan.

"Steak it is.” Meadow pipes up getting us back on track and notes something down on the clipboardshe’s been carrying. “I'll tell the kitchen to prepare a carnivores feast. I'm sure blood suckingleec......” She stops talking when she catches my serious eye on her and swallows a little hesitantly.Not amused at her slip to insults concerning my father. “Chica, no offense but, I mean it's what theydo.” She points out and I shake my head at her with a small affectionate smile, inwardly sighingbecause she’s not wrong. I'm just too sensitive today because of how nervous this meeting ismaking me. My nerves are all on edge and I haven't been able to eat today at all.

“Not all of those with vampiric blood.” I tap my own chest and wink at her before going back tofixing the floral décor in the middle of the huge table. Letting it go and exhaling slowly to relievesome pent-up stress.

“True. I'll stop talking.”

It sometimes worries me if my unborn will have tendencies that I never experienced. Nothing iscertain and I have no idea if these babies will follow the norm and be more Lychan than anythingelse. Being twins, I'm not sure if that will affect things but looking at Domi and Remi, who are almostidentical in every way with dominant Lychan DNA, then maybe I am worrying for nothing. If Lychanvampire mixes had the traits of both, we would have heard of it by now.

"What's with the dress? Aren't you all combat pants and vest tops lately? The Lana Lane of the wolfworld.” Meadow's eyes and attention are on carmen now, as a subject change, appraising thefeminine look of today and it's only then I spot the minimal makeup and that her hair has beenstyled differently. She's put in more than the usual effort.

“No reason.” She flippantly waves a hand at us and starts adjusting chairs around the table, avoidingMed's eye. She's also more closed up and secretive than normal. Less chatty and it piques myinterest. Wondering if this is a tactic to get Jasper to notice her.

“I mean, I'm not against using your feminine wiles and assets to get your man to pay attention. Ifyou need any pointers..." Meadow is all over that in an instant and stops in her tracks when Carmenflicks flower vase water at her in warning to stay away.

“I don't. And it's not for him. I'm tired of looking like a beat-up tom boy who has lost all sense ofher image lately. I have more pride than looking like a half-baked, decrepit floor broom that's beenused to death and discarded in the dust.”

"And she’s back. Welcome home, Caremonella!” I pat her on the head with a huge grin and myannoying pet name for her, throwing my arm around her shoulder casually as I come to standbeside her. She exhales heavily, displaying minor irritation at my obvious glee and continuesadjusting seats.

Carmen moping and being weird and distant these past days was starting to really bother me. Iguess she needed some “her’ time to pull herself back together and process all that's happenedthese few weeks. We all have. Working on the manor, and the Valley simultaneously, overseeing,organizing and repairing bonds with out fractured pack has been cathartic, but emotionallyexhausting. It's only been a week since the battle that night, but it feels like we have achieved thework of a month.

“About time too, Chica. I know you can't outrun the imprint, but I'm glad you are seemingly back tobeing the cold and haughty biatch I used to love to hate.” Meadow flicks her in the forehead withprecision, swings her clipboard up and bops her on the head with it softly before swaggering offwith a naughty smile. Knowing sticking around will get some sort of physical retaliation now Carmenis no longer afraid to put Meds in her place.

“I still loathe her.” Carmen snorts and crosses her arms across her chest sulkily. I laugh at both ofthem, knowing that's the furthest from the truth it could be. They have a love-hate relationship,that's warm underneath, and I know either one would sacrifice themselves to save the other. Neithercan admit they are sisters now, and friends. Denial is what I expect for the rest of their lives.

“So, noon? Are you nervous?” Carmen turns the conversation back to what we are preparing for,and I let her go. Shrugging in a non-committal way as I go back to prepping the room and focusingon imaginary dust particles I need to remove. My gut has been like washing machine all morningand I have been trying to ignore the chaos of internal feelings for a week.

"Hmmm." I answer in a bland tone and move the flowers for the fifth time today. Using Carmen'smethod of nonchalance.

“Signing a treaty is enough of a pressure I guess, but knowing you have to work out some sort offuture relationship with your father must be messing with your head. Given what he is and who.”Carmen has the sense to let me wander off without following. Focusing on straightening pots onthe side table instead.

“I'm going to take it one step at a time. Let things develop naturally once the treaty is dealt with.Colton told me to not rush into any plans and throwing myself into trying to bond with him. Justtake it as it comes. That's what I'm going to do."00000