Chapter 8

I woke up the next morning in a haze. My head was pounding, I looked around the dark room slightly confused. I tried to replay the events from the day before. I felt like I had been sleeping for days. The realization hit me that I was not in my room in the house but the new room that my husband had built for me to share with my new-old man. I began to sit up and was weighed down by a heavy arm. I turned over to stare as he slept, he was so peaceful without the weight of the world on his shoulders.

          I gently snuck out of the bed and headed for the shower. Today felt different, so many events occurred yesterday, but I was glad we were all on the same page and open with each other. After I turned on the shower, I walked over to the linen closet and grabbed a towel. I let the water run over my body washing while I thought about the blessings the gods had given me in this life. For the first time I had a great family to support us. Something inside me knew that this would be our final chance to complete our destiny.

          The shower curtain opened quickly, and I jumped as I spun around. When I saw it was Lex, I smiled wide as I started tossing water in his direction. He stepped into the shower grabbing my arms and keeping them at my sides. I giggled when I noticed he still had his boxers on. He pulled me close to him as the water ran down our bodies. He reached over and grabbed the shampoo and took his time washing my hair before rinsing it then applying the conditioner. I slid his boxers down and pushed them to the side before reaching over to pick up the sponge and lather it up before washing him slowly while I took in his various scars. I worked my way from his chest to his back, then back around the other side before setting the sponge down and grabbing his manhood.

          He pulled me closer to him, one hand cupping my face, pulling my lips to his.

          “You got out of the bed before you paid me back.” He said breaking the kiss. I giggled and slowly started rubbing my hands over his body.

          “I guess it’s a good thing you wandered in here so I could keep my word than huh?” I replied before starting to plant kisses all over his chest.

We were in the shower until the water ran cold, but it didn’t seem to bother either of us. He wrapped me in the towel before grabbing the other he had set down nearby.

          “Do you need me to grab you clothes or anything? I am not sure if we have anything big enough to fit you…” I trailed off feeling bad.

          “Princess, you always worry to much. Kilian warned me, remember? I came prepared.” He winked as he pulled out a button-down shirt and a pair of jeans from the “his” side of the closet. I couldn’t help but wonder when he had the time to unpack.

          “Well I am glad one of us is… All of my clothes are in the house still.” I said as I picked up my clothes from the night before.

          “We both are.” He said as he handed me a dark green sweater dress from the other side of the closet. “And don’t look at me, I was going to suggest he bring some clothes up for you, just in case, but he had already done so.” Lex seemed to really appreciate how easy Kilian was making all of this.

          “Man crush much?” I said as I pulled the dress over my head.

          “If we are being honest, you chose well, but let’s face it, no one is as good as me.” He said with a huge grin on his face.

          “Whatever you say Casanova.” I finished sliding my boots on and we headed down the stairs.

          “Mama! You are up!” Ingrid was the first to notice I was entering the kitchen. “We made breakfast for everyone; you guys were out there really late last night. I know you are worried about us, but we want you to know we are okay with everything.” She turned to rummage through the refrigerator. I was always shocked at how mature and accepting my little women are.

          “What she said,” Freya nodded her head towards Ingrid, “We have always been weird, it was getting boring being to normal. How is this whole protection thing going to work when we go back to school tomorrow though? Don’t you think that the “humans” at the school will notice we have some big dude bodyguards?” She was onto something.

          “Jesus Freya, why don’t you let them get some breakfast before you start with your million daily questions?!” Helga was walking back into the kitchen and she approached me first kissing me on my cheek, “Good morning Mama, I am glad you liked one of the dresses I put upstairs for you. To be honest, Dad didn’t give me much to work with. ‘grumble… get some of your mother’s clothes she likes, grumble… that way if she decides to move rooms tonight, she has clean clothes for the morning, grumble grumble.’ Morning Grumpy pants!” She noticed Kilian walking into the kitchen as she finished her story.

          “To be honest I didn’t pick it out, Lex handed it to me, I was going to just come walking down her in my birthday suit and scar you girls for life…” I was giggling, unable to keep a straight face, but the thought had crossed my mind.

          “Exactly why I had her take some clothes up there for you, see girls, she is your favorite, but I am the one that looks out for your sanity.” He smiled at me.

          Lex was sitting at the bar in the kitchen eating the plate that Freya had set in front of him loaded with bacon, sausage, French toast, eggs, and hash browns. Ingrid then set the bowl of fruit onto the counter and grabbed a large spoon to set inside it.

          “Well we are going to see her naked all the time if she is going to start running around as a wolf…” Ingrid was proud of her quick thinking.

          “There are trees and ways to do it so you’re not always walking around naked Ingrid.” Helga was quick to point out the obvious.

          “Okay, okay, retract your claws girls.” It was time for me to step in, “We haven’t discussed any protocol for school just yet, I have thought about keeping you girls home for the first 2 days of the week until this man leaves down. However, there is a chance he is not going anywhere and just telling us he will be gone so we drop our guard…” I was more thinking out loud at that point. “Do either of you have any suggestions?” My question was directed at the two men stuffing their faces with food.

          “Don’t ask me, I am new to all of this stuff,” he said to me then turned to Lex, “Looks like I dodge the first round, this is all up to you matey boo-boo.” He shoved a few more pieces of bacon in his mouth then left the kitchen with a huge grin on his face.

          “He is enjoying this way too much.” I said it low, but the girls gave themselves away when they giggled. “Okay, Matey boo-boo,” I wiggled my eyebrows, “What are we going to do?”

          He finished the last bite from his plate and smiled at me. “Princess, you doubt my abilities.” He paused for a moment and I urged him to continue with my eyes. “There are 3 personal bodyguards on their way here now, they should be arriving by dinner time.” He looks over to the girls who began to groan with annoyance, “Have faith in me princesses.”

          “Great, now I have more questions. Will they be staying here at the house too? We can probably accommodate a few more. What time is dinner? What am I making for this dinner? Are Shane and Tristan coming to this dinner? Should I just start cooking for 20-30 people daily?” I ran out of breath and took a minuet to gather my thoughts when Lex raised his hand up.

          “Princess, breath, you are not cooking dinner tonight. Sylvi and Luke will be here to train in an hour then they will take care of the cooking. Yes, the 3 ‘bodyguards’ will be staying here with us, we are going to tell the school they are cousins of the family and just in town for a few weeks. This way they can do the buddy system and no questions will be raised. They are slightly older than the girls but not by much, the youngest is 16, this will be his first charge, but we needed the ages to be believable. Instead of going on the real ages of 18, 17, and 16 we are going to tell the school they are 16, 15 and 13.” He gave me a moment to process the information and I nodded that I approved of the plan. “As far as cooking is concerned, don’t stress to much about it right now. We will all pitch in and the guys at the camp have everything they will need. If you would like me to invite Tristan and Shane tonight so everyone can get to know each other better, that would be acceptable.”

          “Damn straight it is acceptable!” I said not sure why I was being defensive. “Sorry, just a little on edge from being hungover I think…” Rubbing my temples I continued, “Everything is fine, it has just been a rough 24 hours. Training in an hour huh? Freya pass me that plate please, if I don’t eat now I will for sure be sick after the first 5 minutes. Oh, and girls, as of today you start training daily. I know it will be more on you, but I need you all to be ready no matter what. You said normal was boring, well there is no turning back now.”

          “Why do they have to be ‘boy’ cousins, you don’t have any girl warriors?” Helga asked slightly bothered. She was not your typical 15-year-old girl, she wanted nothing to do with boys or dating.

          “Sorry sweety,” Lex’s voice was so kind and gentle, “these 3 have been training for this their whole lives. They are not average teenagers; they will respect your wishes. You can choose to be friends, or you can just tell them no speaking. The ball is in your court so to speak.”

          “Fine, I will make the best of it. Can I go call Lizzy for a little bit before training?” Helga seemed to be overwhelmed with the news from the conversation. I wanted to let her go but we really hadn’t told the girls they can’t go blabbing to everyone they see about this.

          “Of course, babe, but you know…” I was starting to tell her, and she interrupted me.

          “I know Ma, no talking about any of this craziness, can I at least tell her you are a slut and have a boyfriend living with us now?” She grinned at the statement.

          “Fine, tell her your mother is a slut and that makes her the luckiest woman in the world. I have your father who is still my husband, who loves me and understands none of this was done to hurt him, then I have a man who looked for me for 8 years to be able to remind me of our 3000 year old love. Go ahead, make sure she knows how ‘horrible’ it is to be me.” I said laughing, I had not really broken it down like that until then but once I had everyone had laughed.

          “You know your mother raised you girls better than to shame other women like that.” Kilian said as he was walking back into the room with basketball shorts and no shirt on. Damn, he may not be my mate, but he is still damn sexy and he smells good too. “So, who is ready for this training, I know I am not a wolf, but if my daughters are doing it, I am in. After I will get the basement ready for the 3 teenage boys that are going to be staying here. I hope they do not mind cameras; they will get nowhere near the bedrooms. Clear?” We all replied with a general yes sir except Lex and I who saluted him with 2 fingers giggling, I left to get dressed for training.