Living Arrangements

The ride back to the pack house was silent at first.

Romeo was still processing that the attackers had a familiar scent to Helena, but she couldn't identify them as one of their allies.

"We need to tighten security," Romeo said as he finally managed to get out of his head.

"Agreed," Raul told Romeo.

"Our border that we share with Stonehill," Romeo began as he glanced at Helena who was seated next to him. "It doesn't need guards, it's never needed a patrol we simply kept one because of tradition."

"Stonehill will never attack Blackmoon," Helena said with a nod.

"If we shift the the patrols to run across both territories they will cover more ground," Romeo suggested.

"You have Red River now too," Helena pointed out.

Romeo had completely forgotten that he'd acquired a second pack the day before.

His entire focus had been on Helena since he woke up.

"They haven't sworn to Black Moon or to me yet," Romeo said.

"That ceremony needs to be done soon," Raul mumbled as the car slowed and the pack house came into view. "It's usually the Luna that works on that."

Both Romeo and Raul turned to Helena at the same time.

"Can't mom do it?" Helena groaned.

Romeo looked at her with a hopeful gaze and frowned.

"Your mom is busy with the move," Raul told Helena.

"What move?" Helena asked as she looked accusingly at the Alpha.

Romeo had forgotten that in a few days, his parents would no longer live in the pack house, that Rae would be moving down a floor to her on set of rooms.

He glanced at Helena.

There were no plans to move her room.

As a matter of fact Romeo had hoped that when she returned they would be sharing a room, as mates.

"When the Alpha steps down he usually hands over the top floor to the new Alpha and his mate and their family," Raul explained. "Your mother and I, with Rebecca, are moving out to a house I had made."

"More like a mansion," Romeo chuckled.

"Look, I know what mates do and I know what wolves love to do, but no way am I listening to my son making the next generation of Blackmoon Alphas," Raul chuckled while Romeo rolled his eyes at his father's comment.

"And where are Rae and I supposed to go?" Helena asked.

"Well," Romeo said as he scratched the back of his head.

"Well, what?" Helena demanded.

"Rae is moving to the floor below," Romeo began. "She's got a whole set of rooms for herself."

"Okay, so I have to stay with Rae," Helena said with a shrug.

"Actually…" Romeo's voice trailed off as he looked away.

"What?" Helena asked in a stern tone.

"I didn't have rooms prepared for you," Romeo mumbled.

"What?" Helena asked, clearly unable to hear what he'd just said.

"You better tell her, son," Raul chuckled as he got out of the car and slammed the door behind him.

"Romeo," Helena said slowly as she glared at Romeo.

The driver of their car was also quick to leave as soon as he saw the Alpha hop out.

"Tell me," Helena sighed.

"I didn't have you moved," Romeo confessed. "I was hoping that by the time the move was done, we'd know."

"Know what?" Helena demanded.

Romeo knew she didn't need to ask, she just wanted him to say it.

"We'd know that we're mates and you'd move in with me," Romeo eventually confessed.

"We're not mates," Helena said.

"We don't know for sure," Romeo pointed out.

"I'm moving," Helena insisted.

"Stay in your room then, at least until we know," Romeo told her. "I need you close. Please."

"And what happens when you bring home a string of one-night stands or when you actually do meet your mate?" Helena had a broken look in her eyes.

Romeo reached out and held her.

"There will be no one-night stands or another mate," he insisted. "I will only want you as my mate and luna."

"Romeo," Helena manged to say, but Romeo shook his head. "You aren't moving, I won't let you."

"I won't even be around," she grumbled. "I'm leaving right after your Alpha Rite."

Romeo didn't answer her.

He knew she didn't have to leave, he knew that it was all a lie that she had to go. He just needed to understand why she was leaving.

She'd already denied going to her friend Alphonse for the Blood Moon, they'd already made up so why was she still running?

"We'll see about that, love," Romeo told her as he pressed a kiss on her lips and got out of the car.