Page 28 of The Alpha: Part Three
“Now that that's out of the way,” Mateo raises a brow. “What's this visit about? Desie was just over to check on Amber and it isn't because you missed us.”
Desir'ee rolls her eyes the way only a younger sister can. “We have news and questions. Which do you want first.”
“News!” Amber claps her hands. “I want the news.” Something tells me the news Desir'ee is about to share isn't going to be a surprise.
Desir'ee glances from Amber to Mateo and then to me and the twins.
“Go ahead,” Ben urges, trying to fight back a smile.
She takes a breath and then blurts it out. “I'm pregnant.”
“We know!” Amber squeals. “We've just been waiting for you to tell us. I'm going to be an aunt! And my baby will have someone to grow up with!”
“How did you know?” Desir'ee glares at Ben.
He holds his hands up. “I didn't say anything.”
“Your scent,” Mateo grins. “We knew the first time you came over to check on Amber after your heat. It's been a long few weeks. Why didn't you want to tell us, mija?”
Desir'ee shrugs. “I wanted to wait to make sure everything was alright with the baby. And I wanted to enjoy it by myself for just a little while.”
Tony leans over and gives her a one-armed hug. “And everything is alright with the baby?”
“Everything is wonderful. I'm already feeling less nauseous than I was.” Everyone sees her cheeks heat and no one calls attention to it.
Lucas clears his throat, a small amount of mirth leaving his eyes. “And now for the questions. I assume they're not as happy as the news.”
“That depends on your idea of happy,” Michael smirks. “How are you feeling right now, Mateo?”
Mateo's brows furrow. “I'm beginning to feel annoyed. What is it?”
I take a breath and look straight into his eyes. “I need you on the WCC.”
He just stares at me for a moment while Amber and the rest of his pack stare at him. “I don't think that's how it works, Seth. I haven't been offered a seat. I don't even think there is a seat to offer me. And if there is, I can't just take it. There has to be a vote.”
“I've already spoken with Minos. The vote was cast a few days ago. There is a seat for you.”
Mateo looks each member of his pack in the eye and then smiles sadly at Desir'ee before he takes a breath to answer. “They offered my father a seat and he refused. He didn't want any part of the council. Corruption runs deep, Seth. He didn't want it to touch his family. He was right. I won't let that evil touch my family. It's bad enough that you are mixed up in it.”
I take Desir'ee's hand in mine, smiling. Every time I hold her hand like this she strokes the scar tissue covering the place where my fingers should be. It soothes my choppy anxiety in a way that nothing else can. I'm pretty sure she has no idea that something that small has such a huge effect on me. “I understand how you feel. My father was on the council and he was corrupt. But these councils are not the councils of our fathers. These are new councils with new attitudes and ideals and goals. We can make things right. We can fix the things that the councils of the past broke. We are already accomplishing so much. When my father died, I wasn't ready to take my seat. I was broken from being held with the rogues and everything else, and I was afraid that I would make the same mistakes he made. I didn't want to continue the corruption and wrong-doings. But it was my seat and Corso and Kaleb saw what I could become, what I was capable of, and they knew that I would do right by our people once I was whole again. Corso stood in for me until I was ready, and now I am. I will have a seat on the East Coast Council and one on the WCC. A dual seat. I, we, will need to travel from one territory to the other as needed, but I need someone on the council here who I can trust. I need someone on the WCC who will make the world safe for her,” I bring Desir'ee's fingers to my lips. “And safe for our children. I know the community loved and trusted your father, and they love and trust you. I trust you. Minos trusts you. Will you do it?”
Mateo drags his hands down his face. He looks at Lucas, then Tony, then Amber. “I can't make this decision alone.”
“And that's one of the reasons the WCC needs you,” I nod. “Take your time. But not too much, if you don't mind. We're not leaving for the East Coast for a while, but I'd like to have things settled before we do.”
“How long before you leave?”
I shrug. “We're just waiting on the all clear from Corso. There has been some discussion about where we'll be living, and I'm sure it will sway in one direction after we tell them about the baby.”
“What is the discussion?” Tony asks.
“I was living in an apartment above Corso's garage before I came here. Obviously that won't work now, and I gave Brandon the space. Jasper offered to give us the farmhouse, but Corso wants to renovate the home at the other side of his property for us. The discussion has been about whether we should stay here until the renovations are finished or stay in the farmhouse until they're finished. I think two moves will be too stressful for Desir'ee that far into her pregnancy.”
Mateo interrupts. “Don't you have a family home over there? A big mansion or something? Why wouldn't you live there?”
“I won't raise my children in a place with such bad memories. And I won't have Desir'ee there.” I don't mention that I would rather cut the rest of my fingers off than live between those walls.
Desir'ee pulls me close to kiss my cheek and stands up to help Amber and Tony start clearing the dishes. Ben helps, too, and the warm sounds of a family cleaning up dinner make the next conversation less uncomfortable. I don't begin it, but I'm glad it's come up.
