Aaron Ch. 17-20

"I will look after Emily like she was my own precious girl Aaron. I swear it."

"Your own precious, under-age, very innocent girl."

"Exactly so." Glen nodded solemnly.

"Good."

"Do I get any say in all these extra guardians of virtue, mighty protectors, defenders of innocence, you are assigning to me?

"Nope. But if you don't hurry up and finish your breakfast I'm going to be ready to start on something else and we won't get to talk, so eat."

Emily saw his plate was almost empty, she pushed part of her meal onto Glen's plate and part on to Aaron's, then popped in her last mouthful, she stood and rinsed her plate before placing it in the washer. "Well hurry up then?"

"You haven't eaten anywhere near enough." Aaron growled.

"You need a full breakfast." Glen joined in.

"Okay, listen up, ready? I am only fifteen, I am just over five foot tall, I weigh less than fifty kilos soaking wet. I do not need the sort of meals you two are used to. I have been looking after myself for a long time. If I need more, later, conveniently I will be in the kitchen. I will not starve myself, alright?"

"Fine." Glen grumbled.

"You will need more food than you are used to if you are changing." Aaron argued.

"My wolf seems quite content right now. I am fairly certain she will let me know if she is hungry and my stomach will do the job if my human body requires more food. Let it go."

"Okay, whatever."

"A.J. do not start that crap with me. Trust me on this issue, I'm not some teen on a crazy fad diet, I'm just used to smaller amounts of food."

"Is that why you're so little? Why you look younger than half the teens around here?" Glen was quick to ask.

"Maybe it is genetic, or maybe I was malnourished in my younger years, I don't know. If you have a problem with how I look you wouldn't be the first."

"I have a problem with any child, or shit anyone, suffering. I have a huge problem with one of my pack not being looked after."

"Well I'm not pack yet, and I am fine."

"Yet?"

"I've already spoken to the girls I plan to ask Thorn to join the pack when he and Luna emerge from the bedroom."

"You are very welcome to join the pack." A voice came from the doorway behind them.

"Thorn. Congratulations bro." Aaron stood and gave his brother a hug. "Thorn this is Emily, the young wolf we told you about."

"It is a pleasure to meet you Emily. We will be having Luna's alpha ceremony tomorrow and you may find it the perfect time to join the pack."

"Thank you so much Sir."

"Nope, that is not going to work for me. Thorn, T.D. even Alpha but not Sir."

"T.D?"

"Thorn Donald." Thorn answered quickly, then growled when the other two men interrupted.

"Yeah right." Glen and Aaron laughed, "Top Dog."

"Alpha, I think if I start talking in initials too often people will think I'm weird, so I will call you Alpha now and maybe one day I will be able to call you Thorn, when we know each other more?"

"That sounds perfect. Glen I'm just grabbing a quick snack for myself and Luna and then we'll be resting but will you be okay getting ready for tomorrow without Luc?"

"I may have lost Luc, but I have a team of assistants and I just scored Aaron and Emily here too, so we will easily manage. Don't worry about a thing."

"Brilliant, so what's going on with you and Kate right now Aaron?" Thorn began assembling some items on the bench.

"Yeah that isn't a quick and easy one. Want to try a different question?"

"Nope, that's the one I need answered. Luna and Gem are both fuming, Luc and I are walking a tightrope between being understanding brothers and understanding mates. You sorted anything out since yesterday?"

"Yeah. Not much but we sorted some of it and we had a good, ah, chat, last night and early this morning. Jane had words with me. Emily is going to smack me upside the head after breakfast. I'm hoping to go see Kate this afternoon sometime. She is thinking about it."

"Well that is better than I expected. If you haven't made major progress by tomorrow afternoon do not be surprised if there isn't an intervention."

"Well I don't expect to be making babies or planning my wedding any time soon but I can guarantee I will do whatever needs to be done to sort this out. Jane has also ordered me to do some, homework I guess, so I will be very busy over the next week."

"You could do a lot worse than listening to Jane." He had assembled sandwiches and a plate of fruit and chocolate and crackers and cheese. He placed everything away in the fridge and then a plate in each had said "I'll see you all later, my lady waits."

"She's probably fast asleep." Aaron rolled his eyes.

"Oh no she isn't she reminded me not to forget the chocolate, and now she has just pointed out we need fluids. Glen can you tuck a bottle of juice under my arm?"

"Glasses are probably better than swigging from the bottle Thorn, how about I follow you up?"

"If you're coming up anyway can you bring up a couple of slices of cake too?"

"I made a nice lemon cake this morning it will still be warm but with some cream?"

"Glen, you know the way to your Alpha's heart. Make it a really large piece for me."

"I'll be up shortly."

"Brilliant."

"Aaron and I will go out to the garden. See you soon Glen." Emily moved towards the door, "A.J. are you coming?"

"Yeah I'm coming, but when we get back I'm having a bit of that cake since it's never going to get iced now."

"Ooh goody I can have a piece too, I love lemon cake." Emily grinned, "Besides I need to see if Glen is any good, I may have to take over the café if he isn't up to the job."

"I'm going to blow your mind." Glen declared with a large smile on his face. "I can cook or bake anything you dare me too."

"I'll have to think of something to really challenge you then." She poked her tongue at him as she waltzed out the door.

"Are you flirting with that old man?" Aaron growled at her.

"That is disgusting. He reminds me of Bailey. Actually before we get into the big stuff can I ring Bailey later or is that a problem?"

"Of course you can call him. Don't mention the wolf thing of course but Em he is your family and your friend, of course you call him as often as you want."

"Okay. I am so happy to hear that it was the only downer about this whole thing."

"Squirt, we aren't monsters."

"As Kate would say, 'I am well aware'." Emily laughed. "Now Kate, Aaron seriously how can you be so useless when it comes to her? She is close to cracking you know that right?"

"I'm not useless, I've just never had a relationship before. Cracking? Because of me?"

"A.J. you've hurt her so many times. You rejected her when she claimed you as her mate, I didn't even know a wolf could do that. You then get together and do everything you can to sabotage things, you get grumpy and jealous and accuse her of things she hasn't done. You clearly have anger issues you've damaged multiple walls since I met you. Then we get to the real problems and I'm not even sure you're ready to hear them."

"I didn't really reject her. I was surprised, her mother had taken her scent away, so I couldn't smell her as I should have been able to. I wasn't the only one to get jealous, but I admitted I was wrong, and I apologised profusely. I do have a lack of control when it comes to Katie. It isn't anger at her. I just get so mad at myself because I'm destroying us before we even really begin."

"Alright, breathe and get ready for the truths you haven't faced yet. Kate is the product of rape. She has spent her whole life feeling like she was unwanted, like she needed to be twice as good as everyone else to make up for how she was created..."

"You are bloody kidding me? She told you she was the 'product of rape'?"

"Of course she did, we're sisters. I'm not kidding you Aaron she has major insecurity. She already cares so much about you and then she thinks you have found her wanting, not good enough... you thought she was, er, sleeping around."

"Fuck!"

"Hey what happened to P.G?"

"Screw bloody P.G. How the fuck have you worked all this out when nobody else has? Nobody has ever said she was 'the product of rape' she was an innocent baby. Her mother is crazy but she loves her, we all love her. She isn't to blame. She isn't less because of how she came to be. What makes you say this stuff?"

"Other than most of it was her own words? I've been in foster care since I was three years old. I've seen so many abused or damaged kids go in and out of the homes I was in, and you know the saddest thing about almost all of them? They all think they're to blame on same level, and they all think they are judged by what has happened to them. They are beaten, raped, broken and they think they're damaged, unworthy or worse."

"What could be worse?"

"Suicidal. The ones that think worse, end, or at least attempt to end, their lives."

"There is no way Kate would ever do that."

"No. She wouldn't. Aaron like you said she is extremely strong. Super smart. Loyal and passionate and yet with you..."

"I haven't been good for her." He sounded broken as he whispered the words.

"Not so far, but now you will be, won't you? You will make this part of her life as complete and amazing as the rest of her. You will build her up, be her rock when she needs one. You wouldn't do anything less than what she would willingly do for you, would you?"

"I will be the mate she needs. I will prove to her that we are perfect for each other."

"So I guess this is when I add to your homework?"

"Go easy on me, I'm already thinking sleep is out the window the rest of the week."

"Study these books, look at the websites I've listed, and talk Aaron. Talk more than you have ever talked in your life. To Kate, to the women you love and trust. Guys too I suppose if you need to." Emily pulled a list from her pocket and handed to him. "A.J. you are a good man, stop screwing this up, because I'm worried about both of you."

"I'm fine Squirt, don't worry about me."

"Aaron, I hope the homework Jane gave you has you facing some home truths of your own. You aren't fine. As far as insecurities go A.J. you have a few to work on too."

"Yeah, whatever."

"Glad you didn't lie to me Aaron. We have a deal remember?"

"Yeah, Squirt you're too much like the rest of those women. You'll be in the core in a few years I bet."

"I believe that is the 'Heart of the Pack' you are referring too. I think I'll be busy for a few years yet. In case Jane hasn't recommended any reading to help you, there are a couple of books my friend, Google, suggested on the back of the list."

"Squirt, I think that is more reading than I have done in my whole life."

"You may need to make a plan so you can manage your time or you won't achieve everything. It is amazing how quickly you can lose track of your day if you don't set limits."

"Okay so I set my alarm on my phone for two hours. Two hours at each task until bed time then back into two hours at each thing every day."

"Don't forget to plan food breaks and exercise etc, you can burnout if you only focus on the intellectual stuff."

"Jane has already set rules for that." Aaron smiled.

"Okay it is exactly ten, set your alarm as we head to the kitchen, I'm ready for cake." Emily took his hand and started skipping like a child to the house. "Cake, A.J. I can almost taste it, lemony soft cake, that perfect blend of tart and sweet, with thick rich cream."

"But Squirt you don't eat much, you're little and you just ate breakfast..."

"Oh shhh you." Emily hit him on the arm and ran the rest of the way.

CHAPTER TWENTY

"Luna, oh shit this means you're finally pregnant. I'm so fucking happy for you." Kate saw Luna approaching the cell bars. "Don't touch the bars." She quickly warned.

"Will I be electrocuted?"

"Silver, burns like a bitch."

"Alright then. Say a hormonal pregnant woman wanted to hug her horny friend that looks like she has been crying half the day how would I go about that?"

"Thorn can tell you the code to the control pad over there and I can enter my code in and the door will open."

"Thorn, give me the code please, Kate needs me."

"Hot, can I watch?"

"I am not ready to joke about that. Code now?"

"It's 5,8,6,2"

"You used my name?"

"Yeah, hang out with Kate for a bit but if it gets too much I'll come get you, okay?"

"I'll be fine. Besides I think Gem will be here soon. Lucas doesn't seem to be lacking in anyway so I'm sure she'll be knocked up soon."

"Fuck, I forgot, you need to get this pack bond tomorrow Luna. I keep assuming you know shit. They completed their breeding earlier but Gem, well her mouth got her in trouble so she won't be out today, or tonight."

"Maybe I'll pass on the pack bond if you got all the nitty gritty on that."

"Nah, just as much as you got, minus the squeal of outrage and the roar from Luc."

"I can live with that. See you later love."

"That you will. Love you."

"I know." He grumbled something about it being the wrong answer and she giggled before closing the connection.

"Okay Kate, open up I'm coming in."

"You girls want me to grab you anything? I'm going to pop out for a little while." Jane asked as the door released and Luna stepped in.

"You don't need to leave, nothing kinky is going to be happening in here."

"Oh I know, if there was a chance it would get interesting I'd stay." Jane winked at them and then when the cell door closed behind Luna said, "Luna, you can't have that door and the main door open at the same time so it won't release until the lock activates again after I leave, okay?"

"I'm not going anywhere, my wolf only wants Aaron and I have convinced her to wait till next year for that."

"I'm sure." Jane rolled her eyes. "I'll tell him to drop by later then shall I, since you and your wolf have it all worked out?"

"No. Shit. I want him to come but I don't think he should."

"Why not? You stay in here, he stays out there?"

"Luna, think about it how would you or your wolf have reacted if you could see and smell Thorn but you couldn't touch him, kiss him, fuck him?"

Luna gave Kate the hug they both needed. "Yeah okay so maybe not a good idea for visiting just yet. Unless of course you're thinking you should have a baby growing up with Gem's little one, and my Shannon."

"Honey, I love you to bits, and I would love to have my child grow up with yours, and Gem's, but seriously?"

"Yeah okay, I get it. So what the hell is wrong with you two?"

"Other than I am super brilliant with reading everyone except my mate? Other than the fact I'm a screwed up brain box with issues and he's a moron who has suddenly decided to embrace his feminine side and get all sensitive and insecure? Other than the fact this whole situation blindsided both of us and instead of taking a moment to let it sink in we both started fucking it up right from the second it happened? You mean other than that?"

"Oh that's nothing. You'll get through all of that."

"Oh we will, will we?"

"Of course. I've brought my little magic book with me. Want a glimpse?"

"Keep that thing away from me."

"You don't want to know the name of your eldest or when she is born? What about the number of children you and Aaron save on your next joint mission? Or I don't know, how about the beautiful loving mate you are to Aaron when he needs you more than you can imagine? He suffers so much and you are the only rock he needs Kate."

"Shut. The. Door. On. Your. Way. Out." Kate glared at her friend.

"Well we may have a problem. I'm as you know smaller than the average wolf around here. Therefore my arms just don't stretch as well as yours. Hence I couldn't reach that control panel from in here even if I wanted to. So you are stuck with me until Jane comes back."

"Tell me the code and I'll do it." Kate stomped her foot.

"Oh very mature. You want to lie on the floor and throw a temper tantrum next?"

"Luna, I am not going to sit in here listening to you tell me any more from that bloody book."

"Okay so I won't say another word about the book."

"Good. You need to get rid of that thing before it ruins your life. You can't live by checking the cheat sheets Luna."

"I know I've already told Thorn I'm reading it through and then giving it to Melody. I don't want to get too hung up on all the little details and second guess everything we do. But shit Katie, you're my best friend and I know I don't have your gifts but you're killing me here. I can feel the pain you're in and Aaron is no damn better. I can see in the book how good it can be, but if you two don't get your acts together it will never happen."

"We'll get there. We're mates. Admittedly it is a mess right now, but it is already better than yesterday."

"How so?"

"We've been talking. Some of it was just, I don't know shock or whatever. Most of it was a huge misunderstanding on both sides."

"So you and he are good?"

"We're going to take a step back and do what we would have done if he had found me when he was twenty-one. We'll date."

"Date? Are you kidding me? You've already mated how are you going to be able to slip back into first or second base dating mode?"

"I think it is the best option. It will give us time to get to know each other as adults and to fall in love."

"Fall in love. Don't lie to me Kate. You're already in love with him. Be honest here, how long have you loved him?"

"No. There's the mating pull, the bond, that's all."

"Bullshit, did you love him when you left after your birthday? Were you already falling for him even then Kate and you convinced yourself you couldn't because you could only love your mate?"

"What the fuck? How did... where did... shut up."

"Good, so you've both loved each other for years, maybe it is time you bloody told him. He told you, didn't he? If you don't start being honest with yourself and with him you may as well curl up and die now."

"I can't tell him that. I was just a kid, I didn't know for sure. My mother, mine, almost took his chance at ever being mated from him."

"She almost took it from you too sweetie. You need to stop beating yourself up about that. I know I asked you not to confront her right now but I didn't mean take all the blame on yourself."

"If she hadn't have been raped, forced bred, she wouldn't have gone crazy. It is my fault."

"It may be your father's fault but it sure as fuck isn't yours. Besides how do you know she may not have had a touch of crazy in her path no matter what? You have no idea what her life was meant to be. We do know what your life is meant to be, and we know what Aaron is meant to be, you want to throw that all away because maybe you being born drove your mother batty?"

"Fine. You're right. Is that what you want to hear?"

"It is so far from what I want to hear it isn't even funny. I love you Kate. Aaron loves you. The whole fucking pack love you. Isn't it time you loved your fucking self?"

"I'm not signing up for therapy L.J. I do love myself."

"You say the words but they're as hollow as a chocolate bunny at Easter my friend."

The door opened hitting the wall, "What the hell is going on in here?" Thorn came running into the open area and looked over Luna who apart from a flushed face, clenched fists and the sexiest growl he ever heard looked okay. His eyes then went to Kate. Equally flushed, fists clenched but she didn't have fire in her eyes she had tears. Tears she looked like she couldn't hold back much longer. "Release the door Kate. Luna time to get out."

"I only just got here." Luna fumed. "She needs me."

"I think you've got through. I've called Aaron."

"You did what?" Kate screamed.

"Kate you are about to fucking break. I am your alpha. I know what you need. You need your bloody moron of a mate."