Chapter 44

“What’s the matter? Sweetheart” Dad asks Claudia as we head into his office. “I don’t know; it may be pre-ceremonial nerves. This whole situation; we can never be normal” she sighs, sitting down on the sofa. “Nothing was ever normal, the moment Amanda came to you” Dad chuckles, moving from behind his desk and sitting down next to her.
“I know; but now with Chelsea, it’s gone to a new level of abnormal” she tells him. “Has she gone to see Isabella?” Dad asks me. “Yes; Bella had a meeting with her and Gemma. Gemma broke down; confirming what Simon told her” I inform him.
“Chelsea said Bella has helped a lot. Her mum and her are closer than ever and are now both able to move passed what Craig did; all those years ago” Claudia adds to the conversation. “There is something else bothering you” Dad says, putting his arms around her.
Claudia looks at me; her tears start to flow; “I shouldn’t be jealous of Chelsea; but I am” she confesses, looking at me. “Why?” I ask, shocked at her confession. “Ever since you found out she was your cousin; you have been doing all you can to help her. I understand we need to be there for her but you have been going out of your way to spend time with her” she tells me.
**“You have neglected honey cakes, a little bit”** Jesse says to me. **“I didn’t mean to”** I whisper, not knowing what to do to fix it. “Sometimes; situations happen and we get carried away and not realise we are neglecting the people we truly care for the most. Did you tell Danny you felt this way?” Dad asks her.
“How can I? Chelsea needs him, just as much as I do. I can’t let my feelings get in the way of that” she sobs, as I sit on the other side of her. “Snow Blossom; I’m sorry” I whisper to her, giving her a kiss. “I think the two of you need some time together” Dad says to us.
“We have responsibilities. We can’t just leave them because I’m acting all jealous over something I shouldn’t be” Claudia tells us. “Our responsibilities aren’t as important as you are. I agree with Dad; we need some time together. How about we go on another date? The ceremony is tomorrow and we will be busy with finding out what Michael, Callum and James are up to when it’s done. There is no time like the present to take you on one” I smile at her.
“That’s a great idea. Your mother and I will look after Sophia to give you both some time together” Dad chimes in. “Where will we go? We can’t leave the pack grounds” she huffs. “We don’t have to; Dad, can we take Mandy out for a run?” I ask; smiling at him.
Dad told me about the isolated area he had put together for Amanda to go for a run, when she was younger. After she was taken by Alfie and Christopher; he had it pulled down, thinking people could still see her. Dad, Tim, Rick, Jason and myself have been working over the last week, putting it up again. We were going to surprise my new Luna with it after the ceremony.
“I can’t; what if she gets seen” Claudia sighs; falling back into the sofa. **“Just tell her”** Jesse says to me. “Snow Blossom; I need to show you something” I inform her; grabbing her hand.
*“Can you guys come to Claudia’s surprise. We are going to show her a day early”* I mind link Tim, Rick and Jason. “Dad, are you coming?” I ask him, before heading out the door.
We get to the bottom of the stairs; “Sorry Claudia; you need to put this on, before you go any further” Rick says, holding up a blindfold. “Why?” she fumes; looking at me. “Rules are rules. I had to wear one on our first date. You need to wear it on this date” I chuckle at her.
She narrows her eyes at me and snatches the blindfold from Ricks hands, placing it over her eyes.
I pick up her hands and lead her outside and behind the back of the packhouse. “Where are we going?” she asks with annoyance in her voice. “You’ll see” I tell her, still moving her to the isolated running area.
“Ok; you can take off your blindfold” I smile, as Tim, Chelsea, Rick, Denise, Jason, Tracey, Mum and Dad stand in front of the doorway of the area. “Snow Blossom; I haven’t been spending all my time with Chelsea. We used it as an excuse to fix up the isolated running ground for Amanda. We were going to surprise you after the ceremony tomorrow” I smile at her, as tears start to stream down her face.
“You were all in on this?” she sobs, looking at everyone. “Danny said he wanted Mandy and Jesse to go for runs together. They used my predicament to keep it a secret” Chelsea laughs, giving Claudia a hug.
“Are you ready for our date?” I smile, leading her in through the doors. “Can we make it a group date? Does everyone want to join us?” she asks, holding back more tears. “I need to help Joslyn with the babies. Maybe next time” Mum says giving Claudia a hug and heading back into the packhouse.
“We’re in” Rick says, heading over to the compartment we put in for our clothes. “Do you mind if we join you?” Tracey asks me. “Not at all; the more the merrier” I smile back at her. “Then, we’re in too” Jason adds. “Dad, are you joining us?” I ask him; “It’s been ages since Kingsley went for a run with Amanda. Of course, I will join you” he answers, smiling at us.
“Danny; Amanda wants to say something to you, before you shift” Claudia tells me, as Amanda comes forward. “Do you like it, Amanda?” I ask, looking into her gold eyes. She doesn’t say anything, a tear streams down her face and she runs to me, kissing me passionately.
“I take that as a yes” I chuckle, as Claudia comes forward in her mind again. “Shall we go for a run?” I smile, taking off my clothes and placing it in the compartment.
I shift into Jesse and watch as Claudia and Dad undress and shift into Kingsley and Amanda. **“Pappa wolf is huge compared to Mandy”** Jesse says, looking at the black wolf of Kingsley nudging into Amanda’s white neck. “Mandy is really beautiful” Denise says before shifting into her grey wolf. Mandy comes over to us and the nine of us take off into the trees of the area.
We spent the afternoon, frolicking and chasing one another. *“We should get back to the children”* Chelsea mind links me as Tim, Rick, Denise and Chelsea head back to collect their clothes. **“I want to stay out here with Mandy a bit longer”** Jesse tells me as he lies down next to her.
*“We will be heading back too. You two stay here as long as you need”* Dad says as Kingsley nudges Jesse and then Amanda before Parker, Serenity and Kingsley head back to the doorway to shift. They collect their clothes and go into the packhouse.
Mandy watches them all leave, then shifts to Claudia. She sits next to Jesse, patting him on the back of his head. “Thank you for doing this. I shouldn’t have felt the way I did” she says as another tear trickles down her face. I shift back, “I understand why you felt I was neglecting you. I was a bit; I didn’t mean to” I tell her, sitting down next to her and giving her a kiss.
“You weren’t though. You were doing something for Mandy and I” she sobs, looking around her. “I wanted you to have a bit of normality like the rest of us. Be able to go for a run whenever you wanted to. We all agreed it was a great idea” I smile, putting my arms around her.
“It was a great idea. Mandy has already said thank you; now I should” she smirks, pushing me to the ground and kissing me, deeply. “Snow Blossom” I whisper as I kiss her back.