CH.28
1164 Words
{Evander}
I am so glad to have Alex and Ember home. I was going crazy without my brother and sis-in-law here. Brie is glad too because I was starting to get on her nerves. I have started getting the hang of being a dad. Brie still has to change the nasty diapers, but for the most part, I am doing good without her help. Faulkner is starting to look more and more like Brie and I am perfectly OK with that. He has my hair but everything else is Brie. We still don't know whose eye color he will have though. His eyes are a light brown with a blue tint at the moment.
After we left the courtyard when we placed Legolas's statue there a few nights ago, Alpha Hardin told Alex and Ember that Legolas's ashes would be ready for them to pick up the next morning. Brie has been next door trying to help Ember pick out an urn for the portion of ashes they were keeping and I have been sitting here with Alex and Faulkner. Alex has been pretty quiet since they came home and I understand he is still grieving. I have been trying to be there for him the best I can but I am not sure what to say other than I am sorry and I can't imagine what he is going through. I was giving Faulkner his bottle when Alex looked up from the floor and said,
"Van."
I said, what's wrong Alex? He looked at me and said,
"What if Ember doesn't want to try for another pup?"
I said Alex I don't know what to say. I mean she has the right to not want to have anymore, but at the same time, brother, you are her mate and you have a right to want them. This is something you and Ember will need to talk about when both of you are ready to bring this subject up.
He asked when would be the right time. I told him I couldn't answer that because I don't know what is going on inside Ember's head. I told him to wait a little while longer and try to ease it into the conversation. I told him when Brie returns, I could ask her if Ember said anything and see if she could tell where Ember's head was just by spending time with her today.
I said Alex, whatever Ember decides, you can't fault her if she doesn't. I mean, I don't know how badly the two of you are hurting, but I do know, as that sweet little man's uncle, it is ripping me apart inside, so I imagine it's way worse for both of you. If Ember doesn't want to try for another pup, maybe the two of you can talk about adoption. I know there are a lot of pups out there whose parents are no longer with them. He stood up and hugged me and told me thank you. He said I was an awesome brother and thanked me for talking to him about it. I told Alex there was no need to thank me. He is my brother and I will be there for him in any way I can be.
Alex asked if he could hold Faulkner and I handed him over to Alex. He smiled when I placed Faulkner in his arms and then I could see the tears building.
I said Alex, don't automatically think that Ember is going to object to the idea. I mean, you only know what she tells you she is feeling and you two haven't talked about it yet, so try not to get discouraged at the idea. Even if she says she doesn't, who knows, maybe she will change her mind or maybe the Moon Goddess has other plans for the two of you.
Alex wiped the tears that were rolling down his cheek and said he didn't know what he would do without me. I said I do. You would be turning to your mate for this support just like you did while the two of you were at Alpha Hardin's cabin. Alex's face scrunched and I asked what was wrong. He looked at me and said,
"Van, I didn't really talk to Ember much about how I felt. I let her do the talking because I felt that was what I was supposed to do. I mentioned some of my feelings but not everything."
I told him that was OK because he was a strong-minded person and that it was natural for his mind to hold back and try to be there for others. I told him he did need to talk to her though because holding it in and not sharing everything with Ember could possibly put a strain on their bond.
He told me he knew and was planning on talking to her but didn't know how to bring it up. I told him to just tell her that he wanted to talk to her about everything. I said, Brother, she is your mate and she will understand you wanting to talk about it. I mean, you are both going through this. You have feelings too and I know Ember would want to know how you feel right now.
Alex told me thank you and said he was going to try to talk to Ember tonight.
I sat there for a while just watching my brother hold Faulkner and it filled my heart to see the love he already has for my son. I know he wishes he was holding his own pup, but I also know that this heartbreaking time in our lives is going to build an even stronger bond between my son and his uncle.
Brie came back to our room a few hours later and after Alex left, I asked Brie how Ember was. She told me Ember was very emotional but she was trying her best to be strong. She asked how Alex was and I told her everything. She told me she felt so bad for both of them and said she hopes Alex does talk to Ember about how he feels because it isn't good for them to keep anything from each other. I told her that's what I told Alex and she said she loved me for doing everything I possibly could to be there for Alex. I told Brie I would do everything in my power if I could for any of our family members. She leaned in and kissed me and said when Faulkner went to sleep she knew of someone in need and I stared at her with my brow raised and she smirked at me. Goddess, I thought it was just her pregnancy hormones, but it seems that my mate has unlocked a side of her that was hidden until she got pregnant. I think Alex and I both have our hands full with our mates.
- Writer
