We're Still Standing...Book 5

Surprises All Around

Julian POV

Don't screw up, don't screw up. I leave in a week and I'm a nervous wreck trying to set up the perfect date for Ian. All the others have been great but now that I'm leaving I have several things going through my head and it physically hurts feeling all their pain and worries about me leaving. It doesn't feel great knowing your family is putting aside their personal feelings just to spare me the heartache.

"Is everything going to plan?" I look to see Connor.

"You can say that..." He glared at me and I smiled.

"Mhm... you know you can talk to me, Julian. Or even daddy. My birth father was in the service so if anyone can give you advice from a mate's perspective it would be him."

"Seriously, I'm fine. It's just, my mates all feel depressed or sad and it's suffocating." He nodded.

"Well, Skylar would happily block that part of the mate bond if you want. I know this wasn't how you thought life would play out and you feel you need to go so don't let them stop you from living your life how you want." That's not the advice I wanted to hear even if it was heartfelt advice.

"Maybe I should talk to Jacob, he left the service to pursue his true passion and became a correction officer at the prison here in town. I just want to make sure I'm doing the right thing and this isn't just a pride thing, ya know?"

"I understand. Trust me I do but not one controls you and the kids may be upset for a while but they'll get over it with time and if they don't then I don't know what to tell ya." He has a sick sense of humor. I'm really conflicted here.

"Well, I'm almost done setting up so I'll see you later Connor." I said speed walking to the alpha suite.

When I got to the suite everyone was on the couch. You know that point in some movies where the family is just frozen staring blankly at the TV. Well, that was them.

"Are you guys ok?" They turned to me and I could tell something was up.

"We're fine, everything is fine." Seth said and I looked at him. He looks so stressed and the bags under his eyes prove that.

"He's having a mental breakdown, don't mind him. We all are really." I look at Kaiden.

"Kids?" They looked at me and they ran to my side and hugged me. I look at my family and we all end up in a group hug.

After spending some time with my family I smiled taking Ian to the cliff nearby and the trees and bushes were all decorated with lights and set up was a romantic dinner for two in the center.

"So, what do you think?"

"It's perfect, I love it." He kissed me and I smiled at him.

As we got closer you could see the final details and how the wires blended in with the trees and the lanterns seemed to be floating. I smiled as he squeezed my hand a bit and I helped him to the ground.

"What did you cook?" Ian asked.

"I made seafood pasta, garlic butter pasta with seasoned lobster to be exact." I removed the covers from the food.

"So... what do you wanna talk about love?" I looked into his eyes.

"I'm not sure really." I could tell he doesn't want to bring up my leaving.

"You don't want me to leave do you?"

"Not really. I always thought once our family started to grow you'd retire or at the very least change your position. You already got shot. Who's to say you won't lose your life next. I'll support you by any means but I don't like the idea. Call me selfish for wanting my family together. How are we supposed to raise thirteen kids ourselves? It's just not fair that you have to abandon your home life. Only the strong survive this and we're not feeling very strong. We feel robbed Julian." I was not expecting that...