Chapter 103

(Maya POV)

When Tommy came home, I hadn’t expected the reaction of annoyance when his eyes fell on the way the rest of us were surrounded Isaiah. He gave us one look of confusion and stormed off to his office. Noah assured me he and the others would look after the boy as I went after Tommy. I slowly opened his office door to see him pacing and cursing to himself, and I had the thought of maybe leaving him alone, but then his eyes caught mine.

“Hey, you ok?” I ask him stepping in cautiously and closing the door gently behind me.

He grumbled something under his breath and forcefully ran his fingers through his hair. I was so confused with his behavior having no idea what brought it on.

“Tommy?” I try again, taking a seat in the chair across from his office chair.

“I heard that you had one of the orphan pups over and..i guess I wasn’t expecting what I saw when I walked in.” He said with a sigh.

“What do you mean?” I ask him.

“You…you guys looked like that pup was a part of our family.” He said with what looked like a wince of pain.

Why would seeing us dote over a small boy cause him pain?

“Is that so bad?” I ask him.

He groaned and began pacing again.

“Tommy come on tell me why you are so upset about a little boy spending time with us?” I press harder, my mood shifting to annoyance as well.

“Because!” He yells at me slamming his hand onto his desk making me jump a little.

“What? I can’t understand if you don’t explain to me!” I say back, my voice rising as well.

He was having a tantrum and I was not in the mood to deal with it, not after having such a nice day with Isaiah.

“Because that pup is not our family. He is a member of the pack and has our protection and care but that is all.” I gaped at him in disbelief.

“What is this really about Tommy, because this doesn’t sound like you!” I know there is something he isn’t saying.

He sighs and finally takes a seat. “Someone from the pack came by saying that you spoke about adopting the boy. Without asking or telling me at all.”

My brows knitted together as I tried to play back all the people I interacted with today and spoke to about Isaiah.

“Tommy that isn’t true. I never said we would adopt him, but I had considered it. Someone must have overheard me speaking to the caretaker and assumed. I swear I would never make a decision without speaking to all of you first, especially about something like this. You have to know that.” It hurt me knowing he didn’t trust me to come to him.

“But you do want to adopt the boy?” He asks.

I pause and take in a breath. “Yes, I do. He is such a sweet boy and why shouldn’t we offer him a family if we are able to? The others, even Thomas took to him right away.”

“Maya we can’t.” He says firmly.

“Why?” I wasn’t going to give in until I knew exactly what was going through his head.

“Because our first-born son would be next in line to become alpha of this pack.” He says as if I am just supposed to understand him.

“So?” I reply.

“So, if we adopt Isaiah, he would be considered our oldest child and the pack would not look kindly at a boy without the alpha’s blood being given the seat of alpha in our pack. You have seen yourself how traditional they are, and they do not do well with change.” He explains.

“They have learned to accept us, haven’t they?” I countered.

“Some have yes, but there are still those who are not happy with it. They mumble to each other that you having so many mates lowers the chance of producing a pure alpha heir to me.” He adds.

“That makes no sense! Being with you will produce your heir no matter if I have other mates. It’s not like your DNA would mix with theirs or something! That’s ignorance plain and simple.” I throw back.

I was getting so tired of pack members speaking against me and my mates, and enough was enough. I was done hiding and being silent as they tear down everything that our bond is. Too long had I kneeled before others taking their abuse and not fighting back, and this was far enough. This boy needed a family, and I would be damned if I turned him away now.

“Maybe it is, but none of that will change their minds. We need our eldest child to lead our pack, and they expect nothing less.” He says as if the discussion was to end right there.

I saw the exhaustion in his face, the weight of becoming alpha already weighing on him. He was ready to fall into the traditions of the pack when everything about his life was far from traditional. Would he break our bond to fall in line with these traditional beliefs? This thought causing a pit to form in my stomach. Nothing about me was in line with his ideas of a traditional life or would appease the pack. I had been trying to find my place here, but they didn’t want me to belong…they never planned on accepting us.

“You realize that nothing with us will ever appease them? They already hated me for bonding with three of the highest-ranking members of the pack, so in your own words I don’t fit into this traditional mold either. I don’t fit into the idea of normal for these people. So what? Would you turn your back on our bond to make them happy?” I know this was a low blow, but I needed to know.

“That is not what this is about Maya.” He says as if my question was stupid or childish.

“Isn’t it? After everything you still bow to the wants of the pack, even when you claim you would be willing to fight for us. Do you think it’s easy for me knowing your people despise me, and yet I remain here because you are my mate and being Alpha is your role here. I know it hasn’t been easy for you, but if this was really about falling into line with your people then I don’t belong here.” I say, my voice cracking slightly.

“Maya stop being ridiculous, this isn’t about you and our bond.” He says clearly tensing as if to hold back the words he really wants to say.
I nod regretting ever saying anything a popping this dream life I had hoped for. That was the thing, nothing about me or my life fell into the norm. I was an orphan, a mixed breed, and outsider no matter where I went.

“Look I had not planned on doing about Isiah yet, but now I see that we are in no place to offer the boy a stable home. I was dumb thinking things were good between all of us. My mistake.” I stand and walk out of the room ignoring his calls to me.

When I walk down the stairs I walk up to Isaiah and take his hand. “Time for bed little one.” I say leading him up to my room.
I promised he could stay the night and I would not go back on that promise but come tomorrow things would fall apart for all of us. Tommy expected me to fall into line, but I wouldn’t let anyone control my life again. I help Isaiah get ready for bed and he snuggles into me under the covers falling asleep almost instantly. I sigh and hold him close feeling my eyes sting with tears. This boy was just like me, no family of his own and now I was sending him away. It killed me to turn my back on him just when I thought I could change his life for the better.

Not too long later Thomas walks into the room and heads to the bathroom. I hear the shower running and ten minutes later he emerges dressed for bed and slides in on the other side of Isaiah.

“What troubles you?” He asks me softly.

He always knows exactly what I am feeling thanks to the unique bond we shared.

“Had a fight with Tommy. He doesn’t want Isaiah to stay but it’s more than that.” I say brushing the young boy’s hair softly.

Children always look so peaceful and innocent when they slept, and it hurt me more that I would have to say goodbye to him. Even after such a short time with him, I grew attached to him.

“Tommy is pressured now that his ceremony is so close.” Thomas reminds me in a gentle way.

I loved how gentle he spoke to me even in his matter-of-fact words. Things had changed a lot between us over time and more so since we spent that amazing night together during my heat. He had actually taken the initiative to experiment more with ‘bonding through flesh’ as he calls it. I always laughed when he used that phrase, but I loved it none the less, it was him and I loved him like crazy.

“I know, but he was going on about tradition and what the pack expects, and I don’t know…it just reminded me that I don’t fall into anything normal. I have four mates for god’s sake, even in human standards that is frowned upon. I don’t fit anywhere, not here, not in the human world, and not in the Fae world. So where do I belong?” I ask feeling the tears building again.

“You belong wherever we are. We are a part of you thanks to this bond, and we cherish and honor that.” He says as if there is no room for debate.

“But what if Tommy no longer wants to be a part of us?” I ask feeling my heart breaking at the thought.

He sighs. “If Tommy does not wish to be part of our mate bond, then that is his choice. Even if the others also decide to break the bond, I would never. You have lightened up my world and I would never part from you.”

I gulp at his words, because he wasn’t one to say such things and that made them hit even harder.

I had him, even if all others left me…I had my Fae.