Turning The Page

Eighty Nine

We had been the last ones to slip into the room, but thankfully today nobody seemed to mind that we were a few minutes behind, everyone still talking amongst themselves. Lukas and Harper had headed here before us... But mostly because my sweet Mama could hardly eat with them and their mates staring at us so intently, and even the two of them barely pause when we walk in, my Sweetheart wrapped around me just like he should always be, and arranged ever so sweetly in my lap after sitting down... 

They had all understood that Addy wasn't necessarily in a social mood... But they also couldn't seem to stop themselves from trying to fuss over him and his cute mannerisms that only tend to come out when he's floating up in his clouds where he so loves to be... They didn't mean to make then

I adore it when he's this clingy... When he can't stop nuzzling my neck and leaving little nibbles and love bites all over my neck... But he also can't quite manage to keep his eyes open because his head is so sweet and fuzzy and the world feels too big... It's not necessarily that he goes nonverbal when flying so high... Jut that he feels a bit more vulnerable... More in need of Daddy's protection so he can enjoy the surge of endorphins swirling around in his stunning, soft, amazing body... So he can just relax and trust that his Daddy will always take care of him... Because I always will... He will always be the center of my universe... And when the kids get here... They will join him in being the reason why I want to be a better man... Why I want to make an effort to improve myself and keep improving myself so I can be the man, mate, and father they deserve. 

"Ashwood. Catch." 

...

Adrian

...

Before I know what's going on I hear our last name being uttered in a way that nearly sends chills down my spine... Not because it's intimidating... Or even who the voice belongs to... It's because Alic's voice shakes when he lets our last name tumble from his lips, and I lift my head out of Daddy's neck just in time to flinch away from the tape measure being thrown our way for one of us to catch. 

Thankfully Daddy is more coordinated than I am, even if I wasn't all tangled up and wrapped around him I still probably would have missed the little bundle... But I don't have time to marvel at the way Daddy seems to snatch it right out the air as if it were the easiest thing in the world... Because when I look back over at Alic I realize that the only reason he's tossed it is because he doesn't seem to want to come any closer, which is an extremely welcome change compared to how he's been behaving this week... 

I should be more worried about being in the same room as him... But I know that there is no way that Daddy would ever let him hurt me... Not that I think he would try anything in a room filled with Alphas... Especially not with the quality way he's refusing to meet my eyes, "Measure... Measure your mate's hair, please. Last chance to get it."

His words make sense... But it involves me leaning away from Daddy so he can measure my hair the right way and I don't want to... 

I know Daddy is warm... I know that I am also warm... And that I'm actually probably making him hot with how close I feel I need to be... But if I lean away... I might float away... And out in public, I'm not sure that I would actually have anywhere safe to land... The world outside of our house seems so big when I feel small that I'm not really sure how I feel about it... That's not true... I know I don't like it... But I also know complaining about it won't make anything any better, and while Daddy doesn't mind it when I'm feeling a bit fussy, I know that if I show that I feel fussy that Daddy will be more worried than he already is that I might start dropping... Which is no fun for either of us.

The last thing we need is for me to start having a meltdown instead of feeling melty. I would hate to be the focus of even more attention than I already have had to be, especially considering if we had to explain why I'm crying or whiny... Not that either of us would have me out and about right now if we had a choice... But still... 

...

Silas

...

I know Addy knows he needs to sit up, but the second after what Alic had said had registered with my sweet Bean he had doubled himself down and camped out under my chin as if he could hide from the request that is not actually a request. Either I measure his hair now, or we have to deal with the council causing a fuss about not getting Adrian's starting measurements as my Luna documented... And as much as I hate having to ask him to do something I know he'd rather not at the moment... If we make things difficult we could end up needing to stay longer than planned in order to wrestle with the council over something that is painless and will only take a moment of my and my beautiful mate uncomfortable. 

In the back of my mind, I'm just glad that Alic has shown no intention of actually getting anywhere near us today, even going so far as to stop nearly six feet short before tossing me the tape measure, taking a step back when I look up from silently pleading with my Sweet Pea to sit forward for just a few seconds so we can measure his pretty curls after hearing the door open... But a glance over my shoulder raises so many questions that I almost drop the tape measure, Alic's face going paler than Aurie's complexion, albinism and all... Guilt written all over him for... Being a few feet away from us? 

But then I catch the man as he turns away from us for a moment... His hand unable to resist the urge to come up and tap his still bruised nose and my confusion only deepen... 

Because Pop isn't the kind of man to actually defend someone else's mate... And he sure as hell hasn't done a damn thing in regards to me long before I ever got kicked out of his house... 

And yet somehow here he is, grabbing one of the spare chairs in the back of the room, his arms crossed over his chest, expression pointed and so focused on Alic that it makes my hackles rise... Until it clicks in my head what happened after I swept Addy off the elevator and away from the two of them...