After leaving my office we all strolled down the hallway to the main dining room were mine and Skyler's family was already waiting for us.
When I opened the door everyone at the table peered over my shoulder at Skyler and Chloe. Leaving no doubt that they already know about the big surprise I had planned.
Then without warning Skyler's mom Mrs. Blair a woman who has always been one of the most proper and refined people I know. Springs from her set squealing excitedly " Oh my goddess she's so beautiful."
Everyone else laughed with mummers of agreement going around the room as Mrs. Blair made her way over to where Skyler and Chloe where standing. She hugged her son and grabbed Chloe's hand giddily encouraging her to follow.
"Come, come darling." Mrs. Blair said, in her Southern upper class accent as she ushered Chloe to the chair she once occupied herself.
" So I guess everyone already knows?" I ask as I glanced around the table at our families.
" Of course we do,it wasn't hard to guess after reading the newspaper this morning. Neither one of you have ever admitted even taking a girl out on a date much less telling a reporter that a young lady was your fiancé." My mom was the one to explain how the cat was let out of the bag. With a big smile and a nonchalant way of her delicate hand.
Then my dad noticed the non family member in the room " Alpha Damien," My dad called out in a cheerful voice reflecting the mood in the room. "I see you found Zack and Skyler, if you're done with your business come have a seat." jotting his chin towards the empty chair beside my grandfather.
" We have,and I would love to join in the Celebration. When I was here for Zack's Alpha ceremony I didn't get the chance to meet your family." Damien said smoothly, Keeping his new found Alpha face intact as he set down beside my grandpa Frank and introduced himself.
Forgoing his title he just stuck out his hand and smiled "Damien Ross"
"Frank Randolph,You Nate's grandson?" Grandpa Frank ask grabbing Damien's hand in a firm grip a classic Alpha hand shake.
" Yes sir" Damien replied not elaborating on his grandfather's status. He just waited to see what grandma Frank was going to say.
" Well next time you come bring that old rascal with you. Tell him I got a new still I'll send him a jar of my last batch back with you" After saying this Grandpa clicked tongue and winked, lightly elbowing Damien in the side he added " last batch was cherry lemonade. Good stuff "
" I'll make sure to tell him next time I come. That might just be the thing to get him out of the house."Damien laughed wholeheartedly and chatted with all the elders around the table so much that it didn't go unnoticed by my dad.
Who mind linked me about the time that dessert was being served ' I'm just curious here Zack, why is it that a twenty eight year old Alpha seems more interested in talking to a bunch of old people then you and Skyler?'
' It's not my story to tell but I can let you know that we need to build another house out in the retirement subdivision.' I sent back not sure if Damien even wanted my dad to know right now. Which seems silly to me it's not like he can't figure it out since I'm one hundred present certain that little Xavier carries Damien's last name. Because If he didn't there's no way he would be registered as the next Alpha of the Ten Oaks Pack and besides my dad can spot another Alpha from a mile away,even a baby Alpha.
' Why? Does Damien want to move out there with his new friends?'My dad joked with his damn Alpha face firmly intact.
Me on the other hand had to turn my head and cover my face with my hand not to break down in a full blown fit of laughter. Fucking Dad and his jokes.
' No Skyler and Chloe will be moving out there.'
' Why the hell would they do that?'
' Again not my story to tell. But I'm sure you will figure it out shortly and in the meantime I have a question for you?'
' Anything Zack you know I'm here to help you.' My dad sent sincerely. While he ate his turtle cheese cake and nodded about something my mom was saying about Andie's Luna ceremony.
' Tell me what you know about that rumor that was going around when I was about two years old. The one about the little Alpha female getting kidnapped back when mom had the fence put around the park.' I sent back and watched as my dad's fork stopped midair and his eyes locked on mine.
' What was that you told me. Oh yeah, not my story to tell.' His smart ass sent back and he even had the nerve to smirked when he sent it.
But I didn't let that phase me, bring my own bit of cheese cake up to my mouth I nonchalantly sent back.' I already know the story. I was just wondering if you have actual records from the hospital.'
'No you have them now, there in the safe in your office.'
' Who else knows about them?'
' Just Thomas and the human girl at the hospital that I payed to make me a copy. Why do you ask?'
' Because I found a newspaper clipping about Andie's kidnapping among one of the guys things that kidnapped Chase. And I was just wondering who else might have known.'
' That could be a long list of people,everyone knows that theirs only two pure blooded Alpha families here in the U.S. And the way I found out was simple. I just waited until I got a copy of Peyton's registry papers from the council and after reading over them it was obvious that something wasn't right. The first thing that I noticed was that Clayton had filled out all the information and signed the paperwork. I knew right then and there that Lucius had either lost his damn mind or he was out on a killing spree. Then the rest of the information I needed was right there in black and white. The time, date, Doctors name,and location of birth is all part of the registry form . So any Alpha or council members could get the same information I did if they were willing to pay for it.' My dad concluded his long explanation as everyone started to get up from their chairs and move towards the door.
Not really sure where we were going I stood up also and placed my hand on the small of Andie's back. We then followed the crowd to the open entertainment room down the hallway. It's just a big room with scattered conversations areas that's used for entertaining smaller numbers of guests. My mom uses it when she has garden parties because the glass panels open up to the patio in the garden behind the pack house.
When we entered the room through the heavy wooden doors I noticed the glass panels had already been opened. There was also snacks set up on a big table in the corner of the room beside the bar.
My grandparents and Skyler's grandparents didn't waste any time shuffling on over to the main conversation area in front of the fireplace.Making themselves comfortable on the long sofas that faced each other with Damien trailing right behind them. He plopped himself down in one of the big armchairs seamlessly joining in their conversation.
My dad headed straight to the bar with Skyler's dad (AkA Beta Thomas) the only other person in the room that has seen Andie's real birth records. Dad poured them a drink as his eyes scanned the room. And I have no doubt that he was also listening to everything Damien was saying to our grandparents as he talked casually with Beta Thomas.
My mom and Skyler's mom flittered around the room playing hostess as usual making sure everything was going smoothly and everyone was comfortable.
Andie and I set down with Chloe and Skyler at a small round table close to the main conversation area so that Skyler and I could also hear what Damien was saying to our grandparents.
Then it wasn't to long into their conversation that I heard grandma Clara asked Damien if he had found his mate yet.
" No ma'am I haven't but when I do I'm sure she will be a truly amazing woman."
" I'm sure she will be. And while you're here you should get Zack to show you around the pack. You never know dear ,the girl you have been waiting on could be right here in our pack working in one of the shops uptown.Maybe you should even take a walk in our park this afternoon. There's lots of beautiful young ladies out there in the evening."Grandma Clara suggested smiling warmly at Damien.
" Clara, taking a walk in the park won't do the boy any good.Those girls are mated their out there watching their Cubs play." Grandpa Frank shook his head like it was the silliest idea in the world.
Grandma Clara twisted her head around glaring at grandpa Frank " Frank you need to get your head out of the sand. Just because their with a cub doesn't mean they're mated.They could be babysitting for a friend or they could simply have a cub. Things aren't like they were when we were young.Girls are aloud out of the house the same as boys now days. And it's about damn time." Fuck! That's the first time I have ever heard Grandma Clara cruised.
" You know Mrs. Clara you may be on to something. I might just take a walk through the park this evening. It's totally possible that my mate could be a young mother since I already have a cub of my own. " Damien dropped the bomb and everyone's mouth hung open. Even my dad blinked a couple times as he slowly lowered his glass on the bar.
Grandma Clara however gushed over Damien's confession " Oh that's wonderful dear, you should have brought him with you. I would love to meet him."
" Oh you will Mrs.Clara, actually that's the reason I came here to talk to Zack and Skyler. You see my sons mother is Chloe." Damien smiled turning in his seat locking his gaze on Chloe.
Who smiled nervously at everyone in the room. That was now staring dumbfounded at her waiting for more information.
Then suddenly Mrs. Blair squealed excitedly .
" Oh my goddess a baby ,it's been so long since we had a baby in the family?" As she hurried across the room towards Chloe and Skyler with my mom right behind her.
" I know you have a picture of him on your phone let's us see him." My mom insisted with all the grandmothers in the room cheering her own.
"Yes, yes bring it over here Blair I want to see him too." Skyler's grandma Hattie shouted while waving Mrs. Blair over towards the sofa.
" Oh my goddess Chloe he's so gorgeous. Just look at those eyes, he looks a lot like Damien. But I can definitely see some of you in him too." Grandma Clara praised looking back and forth between Damien, Chloe and the picture of Xavier on Chloe's phone.
I'm beginning to think Grandma Clara has the hots for Damien. The reason I say this is because I got a glimpse at the picture of Xavier before Mrs. Blair snatched it from Chloe's hand. He is a little cutie, but I couldn't tell if he looks like Chloe or Damien. They both have the same color blonde hair, now Xavier does have Damien aqua blue eye color instead of corn flour blue eyes like Chloe and Andie. But other than that. I don't really see how someone can say a toddler old looks like a six foot three Alpha with stubble on his face.