Unclaimed

Chapter Forty-Two - The Quiet Type

Judas

"We made it!"

I turn to see Zion walking across the street to me. Val coming up beside him, looking at everything around her. Iris and Zack also here, looking at everything in silent bewilderment.

"I'm shocked you got here so fast." I say as Zion claps me on the back.

"I'm shocked to see you so dressed down." Val says eyeing me up and down. "You look sexy."

"Can you not say that with your mate standing right next to you?" Zion asks earning a playful smile from Val.

"I kid, I kid." She says rolling her eyes.

"This is her pack?" Zack asks looking around with a skeptical eye. "Why is everyone so happy? We could literally go to war any day."

"You get used to it." Zion says.

"Zion dearie!" We turn at the sound of a little old lady hobbling up the sidewalk. Zion calls her Madam Del.

"Madam Del! It's so good to see you!" Zion says smiling widely, running over to the old woman.

"Ah, your highness you're looking well, and you have such beautiful friends!" She beams at the three behind me and I smile back.

"It's nice to see you too Madam Del." I say offering my arm to her. She holds on to both me and Zion as she walks towards the rest of the group.

"I'd thought you'd gone away for good!" She says.

"You know nothing can keep me away from you Madam Del." Zion say with a wink making her blush and giggle. Val eyeing her mate who sticks his tongue out at her playfully.

"Oh but this one looks so upset." She says frowning at Zack who looks confused at the lady's accusation. "You must go down to the beach and get some sun, you're so pale. And your frown is so deep, you haven't eaten yet have you?"

Zack stutters, unsure of what to say until his stomach lets out an angry growl. All of us breaking into a fit of laughter as Zack turns red in the face with embarrassment.

"Don't be embarrassed honey, come let's have lunch at my home." She says removing her arm from mine and taking Zack's instead, who awkwardly accommodates himself to properly support her. "I made some chicken soup, I used to make it for my husband all the time. You'll love it and it'll bring some color back into those pale cheeks."

Iris couldn't help but giggle as she and Val followed behind. We all walk to Madam Del's home. She lets us into her little cottage and we all find a way to fit ourselves as she shuffles into the kitchen. All of us taking a seat at the dining table the conveniently had five seats. Ducking my head down to avoid the low ceiling, I sit down at the dining table.

All around us were pictures hanging on the walls. Much different to the snooty self portraits of old kings. But birthdays, celebrations, family gatherings, faces smiling, joy caught forever in a four by six frame.

I could feel the happy memories that seeped through this house. Zack could feel it too, his eyes wandering over the pictures and the furniture.

"Madam Del, please let us help you." Iris standing from the table and heading towards the kitchen.

"You're a gem sweetheart, thank you!" Madam Del says from the kitchen as Val and Iris rush to help her. Soon we are all sitting around her dining table eating chicken soup with garlic bread. The soup was hot and savory, the flavorful broth rolling down my throat into my stomach, filling it with nothing but warmth.

This is a mothers love.

"Madam Del this is delicious!" Val says.

Madam Del smiles as she leans against her clasped hands on the table.