The Alpha and His Childhood Sweetheart

            Haley Cambridge Conners watched her oldest son EJ pop to Chelsea Hanes. I was surprised. He didn’t often pop to people outside the family. Chelsea was pregnant though. I wasn’t positive, but this could mean that Chelsea and Peter’s child was EJ’s mate. If he already felt drawn to her….I’d have to just wait and see. I wasn’t one hundred percent positive yet. I popped EJ and myself home. His face had a stubborn set. He didn’t want to leave her. When we got home Eric asked, “What’s going on? You feel like you’re trying to figure something out, but you’re also excited.” I sighed, “Well, I’m not certain yet.” Eric laughed, “I don’t care, Angel. What’s going on in that beautiful mind?” I smiled, “I think…..it’s possible that Chelsea Hanes and Peter Kyle’s child is EJ’s mate.” Eric’s hand froze on my face. He looked into my eyes, “You’re serious. You think he can already tell even before the child is born?” I nodded, “Fairies can always tell. He popped right to Chelsea. I’ll know for sure if he does it again.” Eric smiled, “That’s amazing. They will have each other their whole lives.”             I smiled, “I could be wrong.” Eric smiled, “I seriously doubt it. You can be uncertain all you want; I’ll have all the faith in you.” I laughed, “He’s already f*****g pouting about it. He didn’t want to leave.” Eric laughed, “Of course he was. He’s an Alpha Male even if he is a baby. If I’d known you when you were a child I would’ve loved every second of it. I would’ve protected you from everything. EJ will protect his mate. We will protect his mate as well. They will have a unique journey. I am very happy for our son. Fairies certainly are entering a different phase into life.” Jackson, Harold, Darrin, Nathan, Cassandra, Molly, Jessica, and Shana walked in. Nathan asked, “What phase would that be? We only heard the tail end of the conversation. I stiffened. I quickly said, “We aren’t for sure about anything yet.” Eric squeezed me. Cassandra said, “You know we have no secrets in this family.” I snorted, “Unless they are yours, right?” Molly bit her lip. Everyone else looked uncomfortable.              Jackson asked, “What aren’t you sure about?” Eric said nothing. He linked me, “You can decide if you want to tell them or not.” Marcus and Bjourn walked in. Bjourn smiled at me. Cassandra asked, “What’s going on?” I said, “We don’t f*****g know. It’s just a possibility.” Marcus smiled, “What is little one?” If anyone else had asked I wouldn’t have said anything. I sighed, “Chelsea Hanes and Peter Kyle’s child could be EJ’s mate.” Bjourn smiled, “That would be great. They live close by….they could know each other their whole lives as I knew Astrid.” Cassandra sighed, “Chelsea Hanes isn’t even that far along right now. How could you possibly know that?” I said, “You evidentially missed the words where I said it’s just a f*****g possibility Cassandra.” I was not in the mood for her today. Cassandra frowned, “There’s no need to be hostile.” I rolled my eyes, “When you throw out the no secrets bullshit in my face then tell me I can’t be right….I have every right to be hostile. EJ popped to Chelsea. He was comfortable with her. There’s a very good chance that she’s pregnant with his mate.” Cassandra sighed, “We just don’t know that at this point. You can’t be saying things like that. Mates are a big deal.” I looked at Eric and said nothing. I was done with this.              Eric smiled, “I think she’s right.” Cassandra said, “I just don’t think we should get our hopes up. He’s just a baby.” Marcus said, “Who would be upset if this theory didn’t turn out to be right? As you said, EJ is just a baby. It’s not as if she told him.” Cassandra put her hands together, “I just don’t think when he’s old enough to understand you should tell him such things when we won’t know for sure until both of them are eighteen.” I asked, “Are you f*****g serious? EJ will know. He’s part fairy.” Cassandra shrugged, “His wolf is very strong. We all know that. We can sense it. He could take after us. I’m just cautioning you to be careful. We wouldn’t want to break two little kids' hearts.” Fury filled me. I stood, “EJ is MY son. You will NOT tell me how to f*****g raise my son. He will know if their child is his mate. I will not lie to him. I can’t even if I wanted to. That would be….what’s it called? Oh yeah, keeping a f*****g secret. I will raise MY son how I want. Not how you want. I will not lie to my kids or hide things from them. I will not tell EJ he doesn’t know who his mate is because you want to forget that he does have a fairy side.” I walked off.             I was so sick of her s**t. EJ popped to me. Even now his little quizzical eyes showed his concern for me. I sighed, “If mommy is right EJ, no one will keep you two apart. Your daddy wouldn’t let that happen. Your uncle Aiden and I won’t let that happen. None of your uncles would. We know what it is to keep mates apart that have met. We would not be cruel to you like that. We can make sure you see their child. Chelsea is friends with your cousin Emmaline. She’s a good person.  Your grandma….just doesn't understand fairy ways. She loves you EJ.” I knew she did. Bjourn cleared his throat, “You don’t often show the short fuse you have with your mother-in-law, little sister.” I frowned, “She can’t tell me how to raise my f*****g kids. They are mine. She can say her little comments to me. Fine. I don’t care. She will not question me on how I raise my f*****g son.” Bjourn nodded, “Oh I think that was made perfectly clear.” Marcus joined him, “More than brother.” I shrugged, “So?” Bjourn laughed, “You wouldn’t say that to mom.” I frowned, “Mom would never say those things to me the way she did. She trusts me to do what's f*****g right.” Mentally I added that mom didn’t dislike my fairy side.              Bjourn studied me, “Are you ok?” I smiled, “Yes. Like I said, I’m not sure that's the case.” Marcus snorted, “What’s the chance that you’re wrong?” I sighed, “Maybe one percent.” Marcus laughed, “EJ will know though.” I looked at my son, “I think he already does, brother. I won’t keep this from him. To keep them apart would be cruel.” Bjourn said, “As it’s been stated, little one. EJ is your child. Yours and Eric’s. Eric seemed excited about the whole thing.” Eric came into the room, “Eric is excited about it. My mom is just worried we could be wrong, and that little EJ would get his heart crushed.” No, she was worried I was wrong. Not Eric. She doubted me. Not him. Marcus was studying me closely. I told Eric, “If I’m right….I don’t want them kept apart. He already has his wolf. It would hurt all sides of him, especially his fairy side. I know I don’t have a f*****g wolf….but I think it would hurt his wolf. I know they are the first of their kind, but if his fairy side knows….then his wolf will know.” Eric kissed me. He pulled back, “I will never let something like that happen to our kids. EJ will make his own choices. If he wants to be around their child. He will. I’d imagine he will as he already gravitates towards Chelsea. You are likely right. If any part of EJ knows his wolf will know. There would be no keeping a wolf from their mate. I do not plan to try to hurt our child that way.”             I nodded. At least he wasn’t going to listen to Cassandra. Aiden popped in. He smiled, “What are we talking about?” I smiled, “EJ may have found his mate. He didn’t want to leave Chelsea Hanes' arms. She’s pregnant.” Aiden sighed, “It was too much to hope he’d have a fairy as a mate.” I laughed. Eric growled. Eric sighed, “I have a meeting to get to. I’d prefer if Marcus and Bjourn joined me.” I smiled and hugged my brothers then kissed Eric’s cheek. I said, “Have a good meeting.” They all left. Aiden tilted his head, “Why do you feel sorrow sister? It calls to me. I can’t imagine you are sad about EJ and this unborn mate of his…..No….hmmm….what has your wolf’s mom done now?” I sighed, “She doesn’t believe me. She said we shouldn’t tell EJ my suspicions.” Aiden laughed, “She is foolish. You are right, and EJ will know. You couldn't keep them apart. It would be cruel, and you are not cruel. That is not the reason for your sorrow.” I sighed, “I worry that Cassandra will discount my children’s fairy side. I worry that she will make them feel bad about it. I worry that I won’t be able to hold my temper if she does that.” Aiden frowned, “I think you should tell your wolf how you feel. I’m surprised your other brothers deal with how she speaks to you.” I sighed, “They do it for me. I want peace here in this house.” Aiden snorted, “You do not have peace. Everyone else has an illusion of peace with slight tension. Whereas you suffer for it in silence.” I smiled, “I told you.” Aiden nodded, “You did. I have half a mind to tell them all myself, but you trusted me, and I cannot betray that.” I sighed, “She’s Eric’s mom. They don’t see it.” Aiden said, “As someone who knows what that is like….it’s better to know.” I frowned. I looked at EJ. I said, “I fear a day is coming where I’ll kick her ass. If she hurts my children…..I cannot...I will not deal with that. I know she loves them. I do. That’s….that’s what makes it so hard.”              Aiden nodded, “You are too pure for this world sister. Everyone else’s peace is not more important than yours. She should be proud of you. I am.” My heart warmed. There was a time I’d never thought I’d hear him say those words to me. I sighed, “She’s a walking f*****g contradiction brother. They all just want me to do something I cannot. She could’ve cost me people that mean the world to me. I don’t know how to get over that.” Aiden looked away, “I do not believe you can.” I snorted, “Great.” Aiden looked back at me smiling, “You are twice light bound to your wolf. Anyone harming him….your light will never forgive such transgressions. Especially when one is not even repentant or sorry. It wasn’t just him either. It was your Hackura family. The family who protected you.” Pain hit me. I grabbed Aiden’s hand, “It….we are different now Aiden. You have protected me a lot lately.” Aiden looked at me, “I will always regret your childhood sister. I buried myself in my own grief and traveled. I unintentionally abandoned you and left you to be hurt in ways I could not have imagined. I am so sorry.” I shrugged, “You didn’t know. We have what we have now. That’s what counts.” Aiden snorted and kissed my cheek, “I love you little sister.” I smiled, “I love you too.”              Aiden stayed and talked for a little while. When he popped away I started to get the triplets ready for their nap. I looked at all three of them, “I will always be on your side. I will always be your advocate. I will make sure you know if you’ve done something wrong, but I will always listen to your side of things. I will not tell you who to love or when to love them. If you find your mate….I will believe you. Not because you can’t lie, but because I know you. You three are so special. No one has ever seen anything like you three. You’ll always have me, your dad, but you’ll also have each other. Nothing can break the bond you all share. EJ, if I’m right about Chelsea’s baby…..then you will have a sweet love story. No one will keep you two apart. I will make sure of it.” Not even your grandmother if she tries. I kissed all their foreheads as I put them into their cribs. I turned off the light. My children’s happiness was what mattered, and I would protect that.