23. Brody

Chapter 23

Brody

T heo has been working later than usual these days, and it seems his last task has really unsettled him.

Alastor wore his infamous shit-eating grin the moment they returned, and I have tried to get him to spill, but he is sworn to secrecy, apparently.

To whom, I don’t know. The guys aren’t close, so I know Alastor isn’t doing it out of compassion for Theo.

He is just waiting for his moment. It’s his weapon, so to speak, as he sips his morning coffee evilly, and with Eggnog trilling away on his lap, he really does make the textbook villain.

“Go on, spill. What happened exactly? You did find all the kids he bullied right and got him to apologize?”

Alastor smirks behind his mug. “Maybe…”

I gripe, rubbing my eyes.

Damn, this Alpha is hard work, and the more dickish he acts, then the less I feel like shit for using him like a sex toy in Ella’s nest the other night.

Even if he did love every moment.

It was hot watching Ella taking his knot like she owned him, and we will have to do it again sometime.

Maybe I can use it to my advantage as I grip my coffee mug by the handle and match his sip. “That’s just too bad. It’s okay, though. Ella could always use one of those silicone knots next time. You know, the types with the three vibration settings?”

Alastor actually chokes on his coffee, and then he wipes his mouth, getting all flustered. He tries to hide his trepidation behind another smirk.

“Hey, there’s no need for that. You know I am down for being her knot any time, Brody.”

I place my mug down, folding my arms on the table. “Then spill. What happened? Theo has been even broodier than normal if that were even possible…”

Alastor rolls his eyes. “Yeah, he’s fucking insufferable, but… all right, I will tell you.”

I inhale a breath, leaning closer as Alastor recites the tale.

“We only managed to track down four former classmates. Three forgave him, but the last…”

Alastor sucks in air through his teeth, then leans back, picking up his mug. “She wasted no time in telling him what an asshole he was. Still is.”

The Alpha sips again.

I close my eyes, massaging my face. It was what I had kind of hoped for; I wanted Theo to learn his lesson and to learn the consequences of his cruel ways, short-term and long-term, but damn, that must have been brutal.

“And then her six-year-old daughter kicked him in the nuts and it was absolutely magical.”

Alastor snorts, spilling his coffee everywhere, and I stare at him in shock.

“Theo got kicked in the balls by a kid?”

Alastor wipes his eyes. “Yeah… If only you were there.”

I stop, trying to imagine such a scenario, and fuck, maybe I should have tagged along with them after all.

“And you think that’s why he’s retreated? He’s just embarrassed?”

Alastor shakes his head, getting up to clean his spillage. Poor Eggnog scampered off just in time before he got stained by the coffee.

“Who knows with that Alpha, but I’ll admit, she had been one scary little girl.”

Of course. I guess it makes sense now why Theo has barely been home.

He doesn’t even bother with our shooting lessons anymore, but it’s fine. I’ve actually gotten better, and I’m not a complete novice anymore.

Now I can protect Ella.

Before I have a chance to ask for further details, Kellen enters the kitchen, and something is squirming in his shirt.

It whimpers, and I jump to my feet. “Kellen, what have you got—?”

He doesn’t have to tell me because a small puppy pops its head out of his shirt, wiggling restlessly, and the Alpha beams.

“I couldn’t help myself. I just hope she likes her…”

Who wouldn’t? She’s the cutest dog I’ve seen, and now I approach the Alpha, taking the puppy from under his shirt.

Well, what do you know? It’s a little red retriever, just like Kellen.

He did always have a thing for red-headed dogs.

He once promised me he would get me a puppy, but now we have this beautiful little retriever.

Ella will be so pleased.

I’m not jealous. Not at all. It’s everything Ella deserves.

I want the guys to put her first because she means so much to me.

The puppy licks me to death as I hold her in my arms, and God, she smells amazing.

Pure puppy smell.

They need to bottle it up in a perfume.

Even her breath smells amazing as she keeps licking my face, getting slobber all over my glasses.

It’s only when I look up and see the unimpressed expression on Alastor’s face that I realize what this is really about.

The puppy is just Kellen’s way of showing up Alastor, and Ella is right. It’s time they stopped seeing each other as competition and learn to work together.

“Oh, look, a dog. Nice…” Alastor sighs.

Kellen smirks, puffing out his chest. “Much cuter than the clawed demon you brought home.”

“I doubt that,” Alastor remarks.

“Admit it, Alastor. Dogs are better than cats!”

Alastor chuckles. “You know you have to earn a cat's affection and trust first right, Kellen? They take extra work.”

Kellen blinks dumbly. “Yeah, and your point?”

Alastor’s eyes flash. “Well, you prefer a pet that takes less work, less effort. One that just loves you conditionally. Most cat owners are lucky enough if their cat even lets them pet them most days. Yet we love them, regardless. Unconditionally. It’s just one of the many eccentricities of cats. They’re complicated little creatures. Not like a dog. An animal that needs constant attention.”

Shit.

I peer around at Kellen, hoping he doesn’t catch on to what Alastor is really trying to say.

That Kellen is lazy and just expects love and affection as if it’s his God-given right without giving anything in return.

He isn’t lazy. He has made many strides since Ella has come home and he is learning a lot about give and take.

He is making many sacrifices.

Kellen knows how to love unconditionally.

It doesn’t matter to me, though. I love both cats and dogs equally.

Finally, I pass the puppy back to Kellen, cleaning her slobber off my glasses. “Guys, this is getting ridiculous. Just agree to disagree, okay? Ella is watching, trust me…”

Kellen slumps. “She is?”

“Yeah. She sees you both bickering and is losing faith in you.”

Alastor falls quiet by the dishwasher, and I hate to break it to them like this, but it’s time they learned.

Before it’s too late.

The pack bond is getting weaker and weaker as the days go by.

And what’s sad is that I never got to be a part of it.

Same with Ella.

So, if they wish to hold on to us, then they need to learn to work together. Theo included.

I smile, trying to lift their spirits. “Now come on. It’s time to show Ella the newest member of the pack. Kellen, I give you the honor.”

His eyes light up and now he follows me up the stairs toward Ella’s nest.

She’s still sleeping. I don’t like to disturb her in the morning, giving her all the rest she needs, but imagine the surprise on her face when she wakes up to an adorable puppy.

I’m starting to notice the signs. They’re subtle, but they're there…

Ella is approaching her first heat.

And I will be there every step of the way.