The Broken Wolf
Chapter 59

The smell from my kitchen is absolutely amazing, and it feels so nice to be cooking again. I realize as I’m removing the prime rib out of the oven that my finger hasn’t hurt at all today. I glance at it, noticing that there’s not even a hint of a scar left on it from the accident. Seth was able to heal it completely. Additionally, though, the scar from my b***d adoption has become even more faint and I frown at it. It’s always been something that connected me to my mom and dad and it hurts that it’s fading so quickly now, especially with everything going on.

Seth comes up behind me and wraps his arms around me, pulling me out of my thoughts. “It’s nice you were able to make bread for dinner, even though you were so rudely distracted this morning,” he says with a smirk and I swat at his hand playfully.

“That’s the flattest bread I’ve ever made,” I tell him with a small laugh. “It didn’t have enough time to rise properly.”

“I don’t know what that means,” he says, smiling against my neck. “It smells wonderful, though. I’m sure it’s fine, and was definitely worth it.”

I turn around in his arms, wrapping my arms behind his neck, pulling him down to k**s him. “I’ve never cooked for a King and Queen before,” I tell him honestly. “I’m nervous.”

“They’re not the king and queen, Love.” he tells me reassuringly. “They’re just your mate’s parents.”

I giggle at him. He’s trying so sweetly to make me feel less nervous. “I’ve never cooked for my mate’s parents before, either.”

“You made dad’s favorite dessert. He won’t care about anything once you give him that.”

“So, dessert first, then?” I say and he just laughs, releasing me and moving across the kitchen to inspect the bottles of wine.

“Your pack seems to have a decent wine collection,” he says absentmindedly as he looks at what I’ve brought for the evening.

“It’s not the packs,” I tell him simply and he turns to look at me quizzically. “They’ve all just been mine. Everything you saw in the office is mine, not the packs.”

“Really?” he asks me, surprise evident on his face.

“Of course,” I tell him, slightly offended. “I’m not going to spend my life making amazing meals and drink s**t wine with them.”

He laughs at me, opening a bottle and reaching to get the glasses down from the cabinet. I look around and inspect my work. Everything is ready, the table is set and Seth is handling the wine.

“I’m going to go get ready,” I tell him and he just nods. I close the bedroom door and walk to my closet, looking at the dresses hanging. Seth is wearing black slacks and a white button-down shirt, thankfully he decided not to wear a tie, so I don’t have to be formal, but I need to look nice. I grab a dress that’s black with lace sleeves and is low cut and short, but when I put it on, I replace that it doesn’t fit my new body. It’s too short now and my chest is nearly exploding out of the top.

I try on a couple more black dresses and run into an issue with each of them. I look at other colors hanging in the closet but unless I wear a sundress, I don’t think anything is going to fit well. All my jeans and shirts have been more snug, but I didn’t realize the dresses that all fit so perfectly would be such an issue. I pull out a long black dress. It’s nice, probably too nice for dinner, but if it fits, it will have to work.

Thankfully, the dress seems like it will fit as I slip it on. It comes to just above my ankles now and is tight at the waist with a split halter top- a line of detailed lace going down the chest. It’s definitely too much for dinner, but it’s going to have to work. I take it back off and sit at the vanity to fix my hair, curling the ends loosely and pulling it up into a ponytail. I throw on a little makeup. Honestly, it’s not much, but it’s more than I typically wear and decide to put on a nude lipstick with it. I go back, pulling on a black lace thong and slide into the dress.

I crack the bedroom door. “Seth,” I ask nervously. “Could you zip my dress, maybe?”

“Of course,” he says and walks over, coming inside the bedroom. “Molly, you look absolutely stunning,” he tells me, staring at me like he’s meeting me for the first time.

“None of my dresses fit anymore,” I tell him, looking down at my bare feet. “It’s too much, but it’s all that would zip- and I’m not even sure it will.”

Seth steps over and I turn my back to him. He slowly zips it up and while tight, it’s closed and I’m not spilling out of the top. I’m about to turn around but he leans forward and gently k****s my shoulder, his hand moving down to my h*p and pulling me against him. He wraps his arm tightly around my front and I can feel him hard behind me.

“I’ll buy you all the dresses you could possibly imagine,” he tells me. He’s about to say something else when we’re interrupted by a knock at the door.

“Can you get it?” I ask him quietly. “I still need to put my shoes on.”

He doesn’t say anything else as he turns and walks out, closing the door to give me time to put my strappy black heels on. I take a look in the mirror and nod. It’s still weird that I look so different now, but I think I look pretty nice, and Seth definitely did.

It sounds and smells like our parents came down together and I open my door, confirming my thoughts.

“Hi,” I say meekly, nervous that they’re all here. They all turn to look at me and Audrey’s face lights up as she sees me.

“Molly, Dear,” she says walking over to hug me and hold me out at arms length. “You look absolutely amazing! Is it just your shoes, or are you taller?” she asks me, looking at me carefully.

“It’s both,” I tell her with a slight giggle. “I’m a little over dressed because nothing really fits well. I’m going to have to have some dresses made soon.”

“We have a wonderful team at the palace,” she says with a smile and looks back at my mom. “We can get her measurements tomorrow and have them get to work so you have a whole closet ready when you and Seth arrive!”

My mom nods at her. “We can go in the morning, and have them make some here for you to have until you leave. If that’s OK?” my mom says and I look at her. She looks like her immaculate self- her hair is flawless as always. She’s wearing a long red dress that flows out some at the waist and looks perfect on her.

“That would be nice,” I tell her and Seth comes over, taking my hand and squeezing it.

Mom looks at him, and at our hands, but walks over to us and pulls me tightly into a hug. “I love you,” she whispers in my ear. “I always have.”

I don’t know what to say, so I just nod and hug her back tightly.

She’s a good person. I hear Sage in my head, defending my mom to me. You always knew you were safe with her, always. That doesn’t change now.

Sage’s words really hit me, and I know my little wolf is right. I knew the second I saw my dad that I was safe, and I knew when I saw my mom that I was home. I nod, I’m not really sure who to, and fight back tears as I continue to hug my mom.

“Dinner smells great, Kiddo,” I hear my dad say. “What are we having?”

Seth speaks up for me, knowing from the bond that I’m feeling super emotional. “Molly spent all day making prime rib, asparagus and potatoes. She somehow managed to make bread, too.”

“No dessert?” Dad asks with a laugh.

“There’s a chocolate cake,” I tell him as mom releases me and Seth pulls me to his side, gently rubbing his hand on my h*p.

“Let’s eat so we can get to the cake,” my dad says excitedly, walking over to sit down at the table.

“I’ll get the wine,” Seth says, looking down at me and I nod. This entire situation feels so stuffy and I think we can all use some wine to help us relax. Peter looks uneasy near Audrey, though she’s holding her emotions quite well. My mom and dad are just awkward, but I’m betting they’ve talked. He doesn’t seem too angry, so that’s good at least. I put on an apron and start plating our dinner.

Seth helps me bring them to the table, and I quickly realize that things aren’t OK between either of our parents as our dads are seated next to each other on one side of the table, across from our moms on the other side, leaving the ends for Seth and me. I remove my apron and take a seat, looking up at Seth, who looks at me with a look that shares how uncomfortable he is with this.

Everyone begins to eat, no one saying a word, when Peter finally breaks the silence. “Molly, I’m afraid I may need to steal Seth from you to work on what we talked about,” he says to me.

Before I can respond, Seth speaks up. “No, I told you I’m not available until we’re at the palace in a few weeks.”

“I know, Son,” Peter says, looking over to him, “but I think if it’s handled and I can announce it before you both arrive, it will be better received, or at least be blamed solely on me.”

“I can see how that would be,” I tell him, nodding in agreement.

Seth frowns and looks at us. “What are you talking about?”

“You didn’t tell him?” Peter asks me and I shake my head and shrug slightly. “Are you trying to keep it from him?”

“No,” I whisper, unsure of what to say. “I just wasn’t sure it was even worth mentioning.”

“It is, Molly,” Peter tells me. “It’s a wonderful request, and I’m happy to make it happen.” He looks over at Seth, though speaking to everyone. “Molly requested that I form and pass a law that will completely prohibit the murder of wolves before they have their first shift. It’s a wonderful way to make something good come from this mess that I unfortunately created, and I’m happy to help her with it. I think some of the Alphas may take issue with the rule, though, so I’d like to announce it while you are both still here. They can be upset with me about it, and hopefully none of their anger and rebellion will fall on you all once you take the throne.”

Seth looks up at me, but doesn’t say anything audibly.

You asked him to do that?

Yes. Are you upset with me about it?

Absolutely not, Molly. I’m constantly amazed by you.