4. Trent Phoebe{ManxMan}

BONUS

I couldn't help the scowl on my face as I watched Adriel hum and move around the kitchen.

"This is uncalled for."

"It's adorable."

"He's only 14!"

"Which is why it's adorable." I growled and Adriel shot me a look, his eyes squinted at me in question and I pouted folding my arms over my chest as he arranged the food.

"I don't like it."

"You don't have too," he smirked. "Kids!" The sound of feet pattering the hardwood floor and giggling rang before all five of them lined up by the counter and I fixed my gaze on Bodhi who looked rather sharp for a family dinner. "Set the table, please."

"On it!" Reed yelled already grabbing at dishes, stealing the food as he and his siblings rushed to set the table.

I huffed and shook my head at the sudden excitement of them. Bodhi was being careful not to mess his dress shirt and sleek slacks. He was adorable, looking all put together but I still didn't like it.

"I had my first boyfriend over at 12, so cut him some slack." I growled and gave my mate a scowl to which he only smirked.

"I don't like this." He chuckled and rubbed my arm, the sparks urging me to relax and I shook my head and pulled him into my arms and buried my nose in his neck. "Children shouldn't have boyfriends, they just need video games and television."

"How did school not make it into your list of children's needs?" He was giggling at me, his hand sneaking beneath my shirt.

"That one too."

"Oh, gosh."

"Done!" Reed reported proudly and Adriel pushed at my chest, cooing like they were toddlers and not teens. They loved it.

"Thank you so much!" He gave each of them a kiss on the cheek. Sunny going into kiss Adriel back. Ivy rolled her eyes and got her phone out before settling down on the kitchen floor as if that was a normal place to sit.

I looked at Bodhi who grinned up at me. I folded my arms over my chest and he huffed, we had a stare off. "You shouldn't be dating."

"You've been saying that this whole year."

"You're too young."

"Yes, yes, yes. We know." He rolled his eyes and I grabbed him by the shoulder, he whined at me and buried his face in my chest before looking up at me with his wide blue eyes. "Papa!" I growled not wanting to fall for it. "It's only one night."

There was a ring and I growled in its direction, loudly and boldly in warning. "Papa!" Bodhi whined holding onto my arm then and Adriel grabbed my ear. I winced.

"I swear, give me one excuse and I'll do it." I glared at my mate, the traitor basically giving our child away.

Reed opened the door and Adriel joined. I inched to get a look at the boy whose eyes were wide and he held flowers, his mother behind him.

"Bodhi, you live in the middle of nowhere."

"I know, cool right?" The boy grinned, flashing a single dimple and I narrowed my eyes as they exchanged greetings and introductions.

"I heard a growl, you have a dog?" I felt my family glance at me.

"Sometimes." Bodhi murmured shortly and I narrowed my eyes.

I don't like the boy.

He had blonde hair cut short and wore a black leather jacket like some Grease movie and tight pants, he had piercings in his nose and he was way too comfortable.

His mom's was put together in the sense that she wore a one piece suit of red and gold, her hair tied up in a bun. She looked tired and yet sophisticated and poised.

The boy's name was Mark. Yuke.

"So, Mark, how's school?" I asked cutting into my stake, the boy looked at me, glancing at my son before offering a shy smile.

"Well, it's school." He shrugged. "you can't really hate it or love it, am I right?" He poked Bodhi who made this sound I never wanted to hear for as long as I lived and this face I did not want to see on my child.

"Totally." What was this nonsense?

"D-" Adriel pinched my thigh and I looked at him as he offered a polite smile to our guests.

"So, Mrs Blackwood," he began chuckling. "I hear you run Vanity Inc."

They went on about her job running this big company that deals with fashion. I watched as Bodhi took a dumpling and put it on Mark's plate in affectionate offering and supressed a growl.

The two were making me sick. Dinner did not end soon enough. Watching Mark be sweet and kind and loving to my Bodhi made my skin crawl and it wasn't long before I'd had enough and they were going.

"You're breaking up with him."

"But papa!" He whined as the door closed behind them and everyone else worked to cleaning up.

"Nope, don't wanna hear it. You aren't allowed a boyfriend until your at least 34."

He made a squeak as I entered the kitchen and rolled up my sleeves. Adriel was on his phone and I began washing the dishes with Beatrice.

"34?! What? That's not fair."

"It is in this house."

"Papa," the boy touched my shoulder, and I looked at his suddenly serious gaze and he exhaled deeply, his eyes closing as he brought his hands together. "Listen to me, that is unreasonable for one mere fact, I"m a wolf." He said it in such a way that it sounded business-like, that I was somehow slow. "At 18 I may find my mate then what? Am I supposed to wait until 34 to even be with them?"

"Yes." I said it so simply, so bluntly that his jaw hit the ground. It looked as though all the air left his body.

"Papa!" I went back to washing the dishes, peacefully. "That is so not fair. Dad!"

"Do not involve me, I'm winning."

Bodhi stomped his foot. "I'm not doing it."

I wiped my hands. "You are, if you want to ever leave this house." His eyes were wide and I narrowed my gaze. A growl slipped through his lips and he turned from me, grumbling under his voice. "I heard that!"

The door slammed and I huffed. "You remind me of my nana."

"She was a sensible woman."

"You're attitude is only going to make him want to disobey you even more."

"Then I'll ground him." Soon the dishes were done and the kids were giggling in the living room. Adriel's hand snuck up the back of my shirt.

"Babe," his tone was soft and I curled my hands into fists. "It was just a dream."

"We both know, you don't have dreams." He sighed and kissed my shoulder.

"Keeping him locked up won't stop it from happening. You remember what Danielle said."

I swallowed and turned to him, I put my hands on his waist and hoisted him up onto the counter and buried my face in his neck, his fingers played through my hair.

"I know, I can at least try."

"I have a feeling that's exactly why it's going to happen." I moved so he could see my face as I pouted.

"You're not helping."

"I wasn't trying too." He kissed my nose. "Now, why don't I help you let that frustration out? Hmm?"

A\N
Written: 27 January 2022

Low-key not ready to let this one go, but I got to because there is more to come after all! Woho.