Page 15 of Abundant Moon
“Yep. Are we going for breakfast?”
Funny; while normally ravenous, the idea of food seemed rather unappealing.
“How about we skip it and go back to sleep? That’s why they call it a holiday.”
“Mmmm...I like the way you think, but if I don’t get to the bathroom in the next thirty seconds, we’re going to be doing laundry instead!”
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BEN’S CHRISTMAS GIFTto the hard-working kitchen staff included a hefty bonus and a truncated meal schedule with a full breakfast, light lunch, and no supper. Both Cody and Lance were also given the day off, leaving Ben, Evan, and Jonah to care for the pups until reinforcements arrived. By request, Perdy served up her famous biscuits and gravy and the Alpha’s family settled around one of the large tables to eat. Others arrived in fits and starts - cheerful, festively clothed, and armed with gifts for Michelle, Perdy, and their helpers. It pleased Ben to see it, as no one wanted their meals at the mercy of a disgruntled, underappreciated staff.
Eating together in public took extra effort, and in to order to divide and conquer, Ben sat on one side of the table with their gray wolf triplets, Marco, Max, and Mitchell. The Delta boys loved to people-watch as they ate, scenting the air for clues to identify those they didn’t know well and what they’d been up to. This distraction enabled wholesale thievery from any plate within reach, including Daddy’s. A warning growl stopped Max in mid-pinch with Ben’s last biscuit.
“Max! Mind your own plate, son. If you want more, you need to ask.”
Caught in the act, Max returned the biscuit with an apology.
“Sorry, Dada. More please?”
Max wore an orange t-shirt emblazoned with ‘Got Meat?’ and an opened-jawed T-Rex. Ben smiled at the little blue-eyed bandit, ruffling his dark hair.
“Thank you for asking so nicely, Maxy. Do Marco and Mitchell want more?”
They did, and Ben refilled plates as Evan and Jonah took care of his other offspring across the table. As at home, it worked best to keep the arctic wolves separate - given their natural inclination for fast and vigorously defended meals. Evie sat at one end next to Jonah, followed by Derek, Evan, and Dawson. The lone female of the family sported a pony tail this morning, tied with a glittery pink ribbon. Looks could be deceiving, however, as her arctic wolf nature made itself especially known at meal times - packing it away with the best of them. The sweet little Omega proved to be fastandneat, unlike her brothers.
Derek and Dawson, as arctic Alphas, attacked their food as if it were a fresh kill still trying to get away from them. For Ben, Evan, and Lance, it meant a constant struggle to throttle their aggressive nature and innate need to defend their plate at all costs. As long as someone in authority sat between them, the growling and snarling rarely got out of hand - leaving the floor and their clothing as the main victims. If necessary, a short burst of Alpha power from Ben settled them down quickly.
Jonah concentrated on helping Evie so Evan could keep tabs on Derek and Dawson. With practiced grace he refilled their plates with nary a word being said. Ben found their unique eating habits amusing, keeping one eye on them throughout breakfast. A power wholly unlike an Alpha’s thrummed through the mind-link, reminding him again of his good fortune in having a True Elder as a mate. Evan was a fascinating man, undeniably unique, and the sexiest thing on two (or four) legs.
Evan looked up as the scent of desire wafted across the table, cock plumping and pucker twitching in anticipation. He paused eating long enough to wink at his aroused mate, eliciting a low rumble of appreciation from across the way. Message received – a bit of bone dancing at the first opportunity. Ben dialed it back before the children took much notice, even if they were used to the scent of arousal between their Dada and Papa. At this age, it meant kissing, snuggling, and private time in the bedroom - without all the glorious details. Those, too, would be taught in the right time and place, and at a much younger age than human children.
The breakfast hour waned and no new people entered the packhouse. Evan noticed, his scent souring with mild concern and Ben raised an eyebrow.
“I don’t see Katrine and Mandy, and they never miss a meal. I hope nothing’s wrong.”
“I’m sure they’re fine, babe. They promised to call when the time comes.”
According to Doctor Follett they could literally deliver any time now, though no one honestly expected it today. The girls had been actively nesting for the last two weeks, preparing their spare bedroom for the in-home delivery with Doctor Follett’s help. In the absence of a mate or Ryan, they asked Ben and Evan to witness the births instead. The men readily agreed, knowing their presence would help the pups off to a good start.
When the meal ended, the adults set about cleaning kids’ sticky hands and faces before returning home. As they slipped through the connecting door, Ben’s cell phone chimed with an expected text;your family is here. The kids began jumping up and down with excitement while Ben slipped on coat and boots to hurry out and meet them.
The original plan was to gather together later in the month, but with even more to celebrate this year, Ben’s parents wanted to be there on Christmas day itself. When the rest of the family agreed to join them, it promised to be a special holiday.
The first car contained his parents, Doug and Anita, along with loads of extra food and all the gifts. Next came the van carrying Meredith, Drew and their four children. Bringing up the rear were Connor and Avery with their new mates – fresh off the mating bond. In a strange twist of events, the two ended up with a pair of sisters whose car broke down right outside the Newberry packlands main gate.
He’d been wondering if Luna had forgotten about mates for his brothers, and just like that the family added both at the same time - leaving only Jonah. Ben hoped it happened soon for him, too. The talks with Lilly produced a marked change in his youngest brother’s attitude recently, restoring Jonah’s smile and cheerful demeanor. Hopefully, it was enough to offset his soon-to-arrive winter heats, and the heavy emotional toll they exacted from the sensitive Omega.
He and Evan had met with Jack regarding Hezekiah’s intriguing journal entry, agreeing not to reveal it before Jonah finished his heats for the year. Originally, Jack thought the young Omega might find the information helpful and encouraging. Once Ben filled him in on Jonah’s struggles, Jack, too, thought it best to wait. Alpha Sheppard also preferred to keep a lid on the startling revelation, content to announce it in the spring.
The vehicles parked, disgorging their occupants in a flurry of hugs and warm welcomes. Anita began issuing instructions, turning confusion into a steady stream of transfers from the cars into the house. With older cousins to play with, the kids took off for the children’s wing, promising to keep the noise down. The adults settled in the large living room to talk, share all the pack news, and get to know the newest family members - Lisa and Cheryl.
After lunch, the entire group assembled in the living room to open gifts. Colored bits of wrapping flew everywhere amid shrieks, growls, and shouted thanks. Evan filmed the whole thing to send to his parents; their presents having been shipped earlier in the month. After clearing away the mess the family settled down for conversation, games, and story time.
Similar scenes played out in apartments and homes all across packlands; warm welcoming oases in the midst of a cold and overcast winter day. Few noticed when wet heavy flakes began to fall, transforming Gladstone into a peaceful, real-life snow globe. Fewer still expected theirSilent Nightto end with a desperate call for help.
