Her Royal Ties (Book 2)

Chapter Two ~ We Can Make it a Family Trip!

Caelan POV

            It’s been twenty-five years since I married the love of my life, and I must admit everyday with her has been an amazing adventure. I left early for work this morning because I really want to get caught up so I can surprise Crystal with a couple extra days in Jamaica. She knows we are going away for the weekend, but I’ve been good at keeping our destination a secret from everybody. I called the airport and scheduled our private jet for fueling and I told Wyatt, our pilot, that he should expect us around 5:30 pm this evening.

            “Hey Cae, I’m going to have Cyir and Christopher help me with the Morris case. Cyir is becoming a pretty sharp analyst and he’s been reading the transcripts twice as fast as our trackers. He’s going to make a fine analyst in the future. I think we can use his skill set on a more permanent basis.” Brian said to me as he walked into my office with the Morris file in his hand and I nodded my head with a smile.

            “Yeah, he’s serious about becoming a forensic analyst, I am blessed beyond measure when it comes to my children, B. Christopher is becoming a sharper litigator and his arbitration skills are unmatched, he settled three of our hardest cases last week through arbitration and the boy didn’t break a sweat. I am proud of them.” I said smiling brightly thinking about my children and their accomplishments.

            “So, how long are you and the Luna going to be gone?” Brian asked me looking up from the file he was just reviewing.

            “I want to spend at least a week, so we should be back home by Thursday next week, but you know my wife, she thinks it’s just the weekend and she’s going to have a fit leaving the young twins that long with Christopher. She knows that you and Kendra will be close by, but she has always made it a habit of not leaving our children anybody else responsibility especially the older children. Amir has to beg her sometimes just to take the young twins to school so she can sleep in.” I said with a slight smirk and Brian nodded.

            “I’ll have Kendra talk to her; you know them two can get through to each other better than we ever could. I told Cyir to catch a ride with Crystal this afternoon, here to the office because I don’t trust the bike of his. I swear the older that kid gets the more, the dangerous and reckless, younger Caelan come out.” Brian said shaking his head and I chuckled.

            “Well one of my boys had to take that trait. Christopher and Christian are both very reserved like their mother.” I said to Brian and laughed.

            Brian and I talked for a few more minutes before my phone rung and Alpha Kurt flashed across the screen. We have an Alpha meeting coming up in a few weeks and he and I are in charge of making all the arrangements this year. I showed my phone caller ID to Brian and he nodded before excusing himself out of my office.

            “Hello Alpha Kurt, what’s up?” I asked him as I answered the call on the third ring.

            “Alpha Caelan, I’m not sure if you have spoken with your wife yet but if you have, I want to discuss the Morocco trip with you.” Kurt said bluntly

            “Morocco trip?” I questioned and he sighed on the other end of the phone.

            “So, you haven’t spoken to Crystal yet? Well, I don’t know if I should let her tell you or if it would be okay for me to tell you, but it is a family matter, and I don’t know if our presence will be necessary.” Kurt said with a bit of frustration in his tone.

            “I don’t know but let me call my wife and I will call you back in a few minutes.” I said to him and ended the call.

            I scrolled to ‘My Wife, My Love, My Queen’ as I have her listed in my phone book and pressed call. It took her several rings before she answered the call

            “Hey Gorgeous, how’s your morning going?” I asked her when I heard her take a deep breath.

            “It’s going but I’m managing. I miss you!” She said softly on the other end.

            “I miss you too, can’t wait to have you in my arms this evening. Are you all packed?” I asked her trying to give her some time to figure out if she wants to tell me what’s going on or not.

            “Just about, but I don’t know love, we may need to postpone this trip. Would that be, okay?” She asked me softly with hesitation.

            “Yes, it would be okay but why? Are you not feeling well? I was really looking forward to this time away with you. We don’t take vacation very often and you have been so stressed lately.” I said with a bit of sadness in my tone.

            “I’m fine, love, and it’s okay I will figure something out. I received a call from Mia this morning, just after you left for work. King Duke Mohammed is deathly ill. Mia and I, have both been summoned to Morocco.” She said with a deep sigh.

            “When?” I asked since she didn’t say.

            “Tuesday!” She said sadly

            “Tuesday, huh?” I asked and she blew out the breath she was holding.

            “Yeah, I was really looking forward to our little get away this weekend, but I don’t know how long I will be required in Morocco, and I really don’t want to be away from the kids too long. I’m sorry, love.” She said softly.

            “No, it’s okay. We knew that this day may come one day and now that it is here, we will get through it together. Let’s just go away this evening and talk about this away from the kids and we will come back home tomorrow evening. Okay?” I said to her softly.

            “Okay!” She said before ending the call.

            This information just put all my plans on hold. We knew this day would come one day but I don’t think we really expected it to before the kids were all old enough and doing their own things. I guess we will just have to discuss it tonight in Jamaica. I sent a quick text to Kurt telling him we would discuss it with our wives tomorrow afternoon then I spent the rest of the afternoon trying to figure out different scenarios, that I could present to Crystal to ease her nerves about leaving the kids and me for however long she would need to be in Morocco.

            It was 4:00 pm when Crystal and the kids arrived at the office. Brian offered to drive us to the airport and make sure the kids all got back to the pack house this evening. Brian gave instructions to Cyir, Christopher, and Brandon on what needed to be done while he took me and Crystal to the private air strip, and I told Angel and Christian they could hang out in my office and watch television or work on their mac book while their brothers were helping their Uncle Brian. Crystal and I kissed them all goodbye, and Brian drove us to the airport.

            “Don’t worry about the kids, they will all be just fine, Luna. Go and enjoy your getaway. I’m sure you guys will be back before you know it.” Brian said as we pulled up to the private airstrip.

            “Okay Brian, take care of my babies and my best friend, and your babies also. The Delta’s will be helping around the pack but if you guys need us back for anything, don’t hesitate to call us. We will be home quickly.” Crystal said in a firm tone and Brian nodded while looking behind Crystal at me shaking my head at him.

            “Okay Luna, safe travels. Let me know when you guys land, Cae. Love you guys, see you when you get back.” Brian said to us as we got out the car. Wyatt and Alona were grabbing our bags and carrying them onto the jet.

            Crystal and I got on the jet and as soon as we took our seats Crystal pulled out her phone and called Amir on facetime.

            “Hi mom, are you and dad on your plane already?” Amir’s voice sounded through the call as soon as she answered.

            “Yes, and we are getting ready to take off, but Dad and I wanted to tell you we love you and that we will be home soon. Behave your brother and your aunts and uncles.” Crystal said to her, and I positioned myself into the phone’s view.

            “Hi daddy, where are you taking mom?” Amir asked me as soon as she saw my face.

            “Somewhere beautiful, we will facetime after we arrive so you and your siblings can see it.” I said to Amir with a smirk, and she laughed.

            “He still hasn’t told you where you guys are going mom?” She asked and Crystal smiled.

            “No honey, he keeps telling me it’s a surprise. But it isn’t anywhere to far, Alona said our total flight time is four and a half hours.” Crystal said with a smile.

            “Okay, well have fun and we will see you guys when you get back. Love you mom, Love you daddy. Safe travels. Mwah” Amir said in the phone blowing us a kiss.

            “We love you too.” Crystal and I said in unison before hanging up the call.

            As soon as we ended the call Wyatt’s voice came over the speaker.

            “Alpha, Luna, we are ready for take-off. Please take your seats and buckle up. We will be at cruising altitude in fifteen minutes.” Wyatt said and we did as we were instructed.

            “So, have I been to this surprise destination before?” Crystal asked and I shook my head at her.

            “Is it a destination on my must-go list?” She asked and I smiled then nodded.

            “Is it in the top ten places I want to go to.” She asked and I chuckled shaking my head as her eyes narrowed at me.

            “You will love it gorgeous; I promise we will be there in four hours and ten minutes.” I said to her with a smile looking at my wristwatch.

            “We have reach cruising altitude, you are now free to move about the cabin.” Wyatt announced over the speaker and Alona came over with a glass of whiskey for me and a glass of red wine for Crystal.

            “Alpha, Luna, I prepared Lasagna for your dinner this evening. Would you both like garlic bread and salad to go with it?” Alona said after handing us our drinks.

            “Yes, that would be great Alona. Please make sure Caelan’s salad has extra spinach, cheese and black olives on it.” Crystal said with a smile, and I smiled too.

            “Yes Luna, your meals will be out in about ten minutes. I’m warming the Lasagna now.” Alona said with a smile then walked back into the cabin’s small kitchen.

            “So, what is wrong with King Duke Mohammed?” I asked Crystal once we were alone.

            “A plague swept through the land about four months ago, nobody in the Palace was affected but they lost a lot off servants and from what Mia has explained to me, Queen Duchess Meghan requested ten new servants a month ago and shortly after they arrived one of the servants died. Two weeks later the King was diagnosed, and his symptoms are worsening daily. The Doctor informed Mia that he may not make it beyond ninety days.” She said softly with pain in her tone.

            “If he isn’t already dead or dying immediately, why are they sending for you two now?” I asked her trying not to sound insensitive to the situation.

            “They are sending for Mia because she is his biological heir, and they are sending for me because I hold the power and control. Technically, if we had not done the Familial Blood Oath and King Duke Mohammed had challenged the throne to defeat me, Mia would become the heir to the throne but because we did do it by Familial Blood Oath, I could take rule or allow Mia to rule under the same Oath as her father.” Crystal explained to me, and I nodded.

            “So, what are you going to do if he does die?” I asked her with pure curiosity.

            “Well Christopher does not wish to be King; he wants to be Alpha. Cyir hasn’t made a decision yet regarding the pack or the Kingdom. Christian said he would rather be Alpha but if a King is needed, he would be the King.  Amir wants to be happy with her mate Colton and my sweet Angel wants to be queen, no question. Knowing that we gave them each a choice very early in life and understanding where they each stand in that choice right now, I would do whatever it takes to make my children happy. Angel wants to be queen one-day so I can’t give it to Mia. Christopher is the only heir to the throne at this present time that is old enough to take it, but he desires to be like his father as much as humanly and wolf possible, so he isn’t an option. I wouldn’t force the kingdom on him anymore than I allowed my family to force on me twenty-five years ago.” Crystal said looking at me with sincere eyes.

            “I agree with you but what do we do if King Duke Mohammed dies soon. Are you ready to take the throne?” I asked her with hesitation not really ready to hear her answer.

            “I don’t know.” She said sadly and laid her head on my shoulder.

            A few minutes later, Alona brought out our dinner and we began to eat. I sat thinking about her having to go to Morocco without me and the kids, then the thought crossed my mind.

            “Babe, since there is no way around you going to Morocco on Tuesday and we have no idea how long you will be there, why don’t we put the kids on a home-schooling schedule until the end of the current semester and we can make it a family trip? The young twins go on Spring Break the week after next and our older twins go on Spring break this upcoming week. I can stay home with them and then bring them to Morocco when the young twins spring break starts. We always said we would go as a family one day.” I said to her, and her face lit up but then she frowned.

            “I can’t ask you to be away from the pack for too long. Who would take care of the pack if the entire Alpha family is away? It’s a great idea babe but we can’t abandon the pack for the Kingdom.” She said and sighed.

            “We will figure it out but for now, why don’t you go lie down in the suite and rest a little bit. We should be landing in another two hours or so.” I said looking at her with concerned eyes and she nodded before getting up from her seat and walking into the private bedroom suite.