Claribelle's Mate

Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Claribelle's POV

I successfully managed to get Michael back in bed that night with my parents none the wiser to the fact that he'd been up past his bedtime. I gave him a kiss goodnight and tucked him in before moving down the hallway to check on Mariella. She was sleeping soundly in her bed and I tucked her blankets around her, kissing her forehead as well before heading to my own room to go to sleep.

I slept soundly, easily waking in the morning, feeling happy and refreshed. I headed downstairs for some breakfast and found that I was one of the first ones awake, only Aunt Alice and my mom in the kitchen cooking breakfast.

The both smiled happily at me when I walked in and kissed me on the cheek when I walked up to them. "Do you guys need help with anything?" I asked, looking over the spread of food they had on the stove and counters: scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, fried potatoes and fresh fruit.

"You could make up some toast," Aunt Alice suggested and I moved over to the toaster grabbing some bread along the way.

"And tell us all about Damien while you're at it," my mom added with a devious grin.

Aunt Alice chuckled softly, but agreed.

I rolled my eyes. "Everything is fine between us now. He said he was going to tell his parents last night though. I'm a little worried about how they took it," I admitted.

My mom rolled her eyes. "I got this pack to coexist with vampires and I'll definitely do it again if I have to," she told me, her voice determined and fierce.

I smiled over at her thankfully. "Thanks, Mom," I told her, walking over and hugging her tightly.

She kissed the top of my head as she hugged me back. "Anything for you, sweetheart," she told me. "It won't be easy, but we can do it."

I pulled away, kissing her cheek again before heading back to the toaster, right when the first batch of toast popped up. I started slathering them with butter as I told them all about my conversation with Damien and how sweet he was. They squealed like teenagers at all the details and by the time everyone started trickling into the kitchen, we were laughing like a pack of teenage girls. Well, I'm still a teenager, but they're not.

My dad grinned at the three of us before coming over, kissing my forehead and pulling me into a hug. "I'm glad to see you happy again. Does this mean I don't have to kick Damien's ass?"

I laughed loudly, pulling back to look up at his face. "No, daddy," I assured him. "Not yet."

He laughed as well, ruffling my hair before continuing past me to say good morning to my mom. Max came up to me next, grabbing another butter knife and helping me butter the toast that once again popped from the toaster.

"You do look happy," Max commented.

I glanced up at him with a smile. "I am," I assured him, sliding more toast in the toaster and resting against the counter with him while we waited for it.

He tossed his arm casually around my shoulder and tugged me against his side. "I'm happy for you, Clari," he told me quietly.

I rested my head against his shoulder, smiling in happiness. "Thanks, Max. The right girl for you will come around."

He grinned. "I know she will. I'm just waiting for her to show up."

My mom's friend, Mason came moping into the kitchen next. His mate, Jax, had gone on a short trip to another pack with a couple other warriors and Mason was just pathetic while he's gone. My mom noticed as well and threw a potato chunk at him, hitting him in the forehead with it.