The Black Hills: Patience and Endurance

Lisa POV I fell asleep with the image of his face and deep penetrating eyes at the forefront of my mind, and have slept pleasantly until another face forces itself into my mind. “Lisa... oh dear wife of mine. Do you think that I don’t know what you’re up to? Regardless of our separation, you are still marked as mine, and I know and feel every emotion, every sensual touch. Enough with the games, it’s time for you to return to my side where you belong.” Charles sneers to me. I sit up wide awake in a panic, and look around the room. Yes, he often invades my mind, but never before has his presence ever felt so real. I shudder before readjusting my pillows and pulling the comforter of the bed up high over my shoulders before I try to drift back to sleep. The next time I awake, the sun is filtering in through the curtains covering the window, and I hear the voices of my children, Auntie and Uncle as they let themselves into the guest suite. I stretch in the luxurious king-size bed, as my door thrusts open and little Kason runs in, leaping onto my bed. “Mommy!” He shrieks happily as he rapidly crawls into my embrace, always so excited to be in my arms. I plant kisses all over his sweet face. “Good morning baby.” I greet him brightly. “We thought we’d invite you to join us for the late brunch which is being served down in the main dining room.” Auntie Diane informs me. “I’d love to. How about you boys head on down with your great Aunt and Uncle and I’ll get dressed quickly and come meet you.” I reply grinning to my boys. “Perfect, we will see you downstairs.” Auntie tells me as she and Uncle Terrence usher my three sons out of the suite, dragging Kason from my lap. I crawl from the comfort of the bed, and change from my pajamas to a pair of gray leggings, sports bra, white crop-top style t-shirt, and slip on my socks and a pair of Roxy shoes. I braid my hair to the side (a signature look my sisters and I often share), before brushing my teeth and head downstairs. I feel his eyes upon me when I enter the dining room, and I look up to smile gently at Bradley, before I join my family at the table, just a few seats down and on the opposite side of the table from where he is seated. Brad abruptly stands, and lifts his plate and drinking glass from the table, before moving down the table to take the seat directly across from me. I give him a strange look as he smirks at me. “Good morning, Lisa.” He grins. “Good morning, Alpha.” I reply politely. “Mama, who is he?” Kason asks curiously, his head c*cked to the side as he looks to me for an answer. Bradley answers instead, “I’m a friend of your mom’s, my name is Alpha Bradley Roland, but you can call me ‘Brad’.” He informs my youngster with a polite smile. “Oh. Well I’m Kason.” My son says with a mouthful of pancakes he decided to shove in before responding. I can’t help the internal eye roll and exasperated sigh I release. “It’s nice to meet you Kason, and I admire a young man with such a healthy appetite.” Brad says grinning to me. “Kason, how about we show the Alpha our manners, hmm?” I gently scold my son. “Sorry mama.” He says sweetly, pecking a sticky kiss to my cheek. Oh this boy knows just how to warm my heart. The sound of my sister Sarah’s voice from the head of the table catches my attention, “You can’t be serious.” She exclaims to the guard hovering over the Alpha and Luna of Black Hills. I look from her to the dark expression on Travis’ face as he stands from the table and follows the guard out into the hall. Sarah abruptly stands as well and comes to me before she leans down to whisper into my ear. “We have an uninvited guest.” She says urgently, just before Kason’s voice chimes out. “Daddy!” My toddler shrieks in glee, as he leaps from his seat at the table, and I turn quickly to see him run into the arms of none-other than my ex-husband, Charles. “I’m so sorry, Lisa. I don’t know why the guard let him in. Heads will roll for this.” Sarah growls quietly while glaring at Charles. “No, I should have expected this. It’s fine. I’ll deal with it.” I assure my sister. “Darling, do not forget that you are here with family, you’ll handle nothing alone ever again.” Auntie leans over and touches my hand gently as she speaks to me, and I give her a look full of gratitude before turning my attention back to Charles, who is holding our son in his arms as he approaches me. “Hello, my beautiful wife. Happy to see me?” He greets me charismatically, pulling the full narcissistic charm of which I know of him well. “Hello, Charles. Not particularly, to be honest.” I reply with simple politeness, receiving a hearty chuckle from my husband. Before he assumes the seat beside me, perching Kason on his lap. “Daddy, this is Mommy’s friend Brad, he’s an Alpha.” Kason proclaims proudly as I inwardly cringe, while maintaining a pleasant smile on the outside. “Ah, so you must be the one who has been entertaining my wife in my absence.” Charles remarks smugly to Brad.