Chapter 4
1168 Words
~Melissa~
Melissa “Well, if your sister said no, I’m afraid it is no. You will have to find something else. Something reasonable!”
Glinda “Ugh! Fine.”
I roll my eyes when I close Glinda’s door behind me, going back downstairs to find Frank cleaning his guns on the kitchen table.
Melissa “You do realize husband, that you have an office desk to do this and that I don’t want those things on the kitchen table!”
Frank “You do realize wife, that this way I can make sure our girls stay on their toes and pick very carefully when it comes to boyfriends.”
He doesn’t look very happy and growls slightly.
Melissa “Oh Frank, they are going to have to find mates at some point in their lives! You just said you wanted them hitched and out of the house!”
I laugh at him. He shakes his head and has no defense when I kiss him, handing him his second cup of coffee.
Melissa “Besides, I think having the Alpha of the pack as your father is scary enough!”
She whispers.
Isobel “MOOOOOOM!”
Frank “And there it goes again!”
He rolls his eyes.
Frank “They are your daughters. The lot of them.”
Melissa “I remember you being there when they were...”
Isobel interrupts us.
Isobel “Noooo mom, dad eeeuuuwww!”
She shouts from the top of the stairs.
Frank “What?”
He asks looking confused
Melissa “Isobel, what are you dressing up for?”
Isobel “Beltane festival.”
Melissa “And what are you wanting to find there?”
Isobel “A mate hopefully.”
Melissa “Exactly. Husband you were present when they were conceived, that is for sure!”
I say winking at him when another “eeeuuuw” can be heard further down the passage on the top floor.
~Frank~
I decide to put away the guns. My daughters can fend for themselves! They scare the living sh*t out of me, they will put any guy in his place!
Lunchtime finally arrives and Melissa calls everyone to the kitchen. Being one of the few rules that I would not budge on, my family has to sit together for meals. However, on Beltane festival day I sometimes hate my rule.
First, come the excuses, I am busy, I will be there in a couple of minutes, Hang on! Finally, when they are all here, the food has to be reheated! I watch my family excitedly discuss what they are looking forward to. Then there is Willow, I have always been worried about Willow, but Melissa tells me that she is just being herself.
My wife is the kind of person, who believes in giving the children the space to be who they are destined to be...accept with Glinda! My gaze going around the table I notice that Isobel is nervous and not her normal chatty self.
Frank “Isobel, honey, everything okay over there?”
Isobel “Yes dad, kind of, thank you.”
She smiles shyly.
Frank “Remember I am also here to talk to. It’s not just mom.”
The conversation goes completely silent for a moment, only to burst into fits of laughter, even Willow joining in.
Frank “What?”
I ask confused with their reaction.
Melissa “Frank, you usually listen for the first six seconds then ask them if it is a girl problem or in any way related to a girl problem, and if so to come and speak to me.”
Frank “Well, yes... I can still listen... sometimes.”
I try defending myself against this army of women I let into my house.
Melissa “Ah honey, we love you for trying.”
She holds his hand and the girls all happily agree.
After lunch, the madness carries over to the kitchen where the girls help their mother clean up. Then the living room is changed into a beauty parlor! The girls taking turns doing each other’s hair and make-up with Melissa giving a helping hand.
By now, I’m taking a leisurely walk over to my Beta’s house.
Greg “Hey, boss.”
Frank “Hi, Greg.”
Greg “Girls driving you insane?”
Frank “Yeah, you are lucky you have a son.”
Greg “No, take a whiff of the smell coming from the inside of my house. It’s the same even with a son!”
He rolls his eyes.
Frank “Okay well then it must be the amount of them.”
I sighed taking a seat.
Greg “Beer?”
Frank “Whiskey?”
Greg “Better idea, I’ll get us some.”
Greg returns with two glasses of whiskey on the rocks.
Frank “Thanks.”
We sit on his porch in silence when they hear, “DAD!”, the shout is coming from one of the other houses in the pack making both of us burst out laughing.
Greg “Are there any further arrangements you want me to take care of Alpha?”
Frank “I don’t know, these kids have scrambled my brain this morning, but don’t tell anyone!”
I say wide-eyed
Frank “But I do think we covered everything. Are the warriors ready to keep an eye on the young ones?”
Greg “Yes boss, the new warriors have all passed the tests. I was astounded at the power some of them have shown.”
Frank “That is good to know. How is the mood? I know some don’t want to say anything in front of me.”
Greg “It seems to be getting better Frank. It has been a long time and there haven’t been any big issues. I think the pack has settled into accepting the new tradition and some even look forward to the festival.”
Frank “Good, I would hate for the pack to turn against me after all these years. My daughters are more than enough to deal with!”
Finishing our drinks I stand up.
Frank “Well, I guess we better check on the rest.”
Greg following me, we walk through the pack-house that has turned into its own little town, checking in with some of the members to make sure they know when and where to find the transport.
I finally step onto my porch just as Melissa is about to run out in search of me.
Melissa “I should lock you up on Beltane afternoon!”
Frank “Why? Here I am, Greg and I checked that the others were all sorted and would be ready...”
Melissa “Get that sexy butt of yours into your festival clothes. NOW! It won’t look good if the Alpha’s family is late!”
She doesn’t give me half a chance. The pack meets up in the recreational room before leaving, and I walk onto the stage.
- Writer
