The Alpha's Daughter

Chapter 21: The Alpha’s Mansion

It was a pleasant walk to the Alpha Mansion. Kaleb and I passed the time asking each other questions. It was not very long before I got the first look at the house.

“Sophia was not lying,” I declared.

“About what?” Kaleb asked.

“She said your house and the view were breathtaking,” I said.

“I’m glad you like it,” Kaleb laughed.

“I more than like it,” I yelled excitedly. “It’s the most..." I was at a loss for words. The mansion was situated on a lake with the mountains peaking over in the distance. The three-story colonial-style house before me was so much bigger than I thought it was from the packhouse. I loved all the little windows, which I'm sure made perfect window seats for the bedrooms inside. The wings off both sides of the house were only two-story, and each side had its own veranda with patio sets. "I never thought I would see a house that fit my description as perfectly as this one. It's as if you reached into my mind and pulled it out. It's like you know me better than I know myself." I blushed profusely after I finished, realizing I said all of that out loud. He just looked at me with an amused smile and a twinkle in his eye.

“The right side of the house has a large ballroom for gatherings and pack event,” Kaleb said as he pointed. “The left side is Stone’s residence.” Everything in the middle was built exclusively for my Luna and our family.” He smiled.

I inspected the house and considered what more to say about it to him. I really did not expect anything like this. “You must really like your peace and quiet,” I whispered with a smile.

“What?” Kaleb looked at me, confused.

“Sophia said you built this for peace from the packhouse.” I laughed.

“I built this to have a home for my Luna and our family,” he spoke softly, taking my hand. “It means a lot to me that you appreciate the house. Come, I want to show you inside.”

“After you, Alpha,” I winked. He shook his head but pulled me up the stairs.

Upon entering the house, we were greeted by Sarah and Sasha, who I was informed would help with the twins when needed, but would also keep the house in order and prepare food for meals. I was shown to the largest kitchen I had ever set eyes on and the dining room. It was a little overwhelming, but I knew I could handle it. Kaleb had to excuse himself after being called to the packhouse for an urgent meeting. Sarah and Sasha led me down a hallway where the twins' rooms were.

Sarah spoke up as we came to the first door, “Alpha Kaleb was precise about what he wanted, but if you are unhappy with these rooms, please let me know right away. I will correct anything that you do not like, but something tells me you will like them. Valentine’s room is on the first door, and Valentina’s room is right next door.”

“Two separate rooms?” I asked, unsure if they should be separated as twins.

“Of course, Luna, all children in the Alpha’s house receive their own room,” Sarah commented plainly, like I should know that being an Alpha’s daughter.

Dread flooded through me for a moment. Did the Alpha have other children? Trying not to appear bothered by this, I smiled, “Thank you, Sarah,” I said kindly. I wanted to be left alone. Having been once again reminded I was no longer Alpha’s daughter, and I did not belong in this pack. Then I allowed both of them to go back to work as I went to check on my babies alone.

My hand gripped the first doorknob as I slowly pushed the door open. I could not believe my eyes when I walked into the first room. It was painted white with red accents, including the name Valentine in giant cursive script on the wall behind a white crib. The crib was decorated with striped red and white sheets and a red rug underneath. As I turned, I saw a closet full of extra clothes and blankets. The other wall held a changing table and toy organizer that was already filled with balls, cars, and blocks. There was even a rocking chair near the large window with a black wolf seated on it. The room was more than I could have imagined. He really knew me. Everything was exactly how I would have done it. It was inviting, yet organized and straightforward. It told me a lot about Kaleb. He definitely paid attention to detail. It did have me questioning how he could know so much about my preference. Thinking back, the only person I could remember confiding such things with was Max, and that was when we were children.

I walked over to Valentine. He was sleeping soundly in his crib. I watched his little stomach rise and fall as he breathed. Then I gently reach down, running my fingers through his sweet curls, “Mommy loves you, Valentine.” I smiled as I watched him, so peaceful. I gently closed the curtains and tiptoed to the door. Shutting it as gently as possible, not wanting to wake my little Prince.

Next, I entered my daughter's room, and it was no surprise that this room mirrored the style of Valentine's room, only it used the color pink instead of red. In decorations, it was similar to Valentine's, except that from the ceiling over her crib hung a sheer pink canopy that draped down to the floor. Her room contained a little table and two chairs set up for a tea party with two dolls that were larger than Valentina. It was adorable. She had a large bay window with a window seat decorated with four large pink and white pillows lining the top. She, too, had a rocking chair with a white wolf sitting on it and a foot stool in front.

Valentina was not asleep like her brother; she was awake and cooing in her crib. When she saw me, she held up her little arms, kicking her feet. I picked her up. “Valentina, My Princess, what are you still doing up? It's past your bedtime," I smiled at her and played with her little cheeks. "Have you been waiting for your momma?” she snuggled into me, grasping tightly to my fingers. I walked over to the rocking chair, sat down, and started rocking. “I love you, Valentina, you make my heart so happy, but you, Little One, should be sleeping. You have had a very busy day. Mommy has too. I hope you will like it here. Mommy does very much. I still do miss home.” Looking down at Valentina, her little face was sleepy, and she was rubbing her eyes and yawning. “Perhaps you need a little help to fall asleep, My Princess.” I closed my eyes and brought her close to my chest as I began to sing,

“Close your eyes, go to sleep, dream of what you would be,

Close your eyes, go to sleep, the stars in the sky are waiting for you,

Sleep oh sleep close your eyes now and sleep.

Sleep of sleep close your eyes now and sleep.”

When I opened my eyes, I was startled to see Stone leaning against the door frame. His face seemed more relaxed, almost pleasant.

He whispered to me, “I'm sorry I didn't mean to startle you.”

I stood and walked over to the crib, placing a kiss on Valentina’s forehead before setting her inside. Then I motioned for Stone to follow me out of the room. Once I closed the door, he spoke, “Are the rooms to your liking, Viviana?”

“Please don't call me that, and yes, they are so much more than I could have expected.”

“Viviana is a nice name, and I can see why you don't want people to use it, but I will use it anyway."

I shrugged, disappointed by this, "Why can't you?"

He interrupted me, "People are not doing you any favors by glancing over what happened. As long as you pretend to be someone else, you will never accept what happened and move on. Unlike the other, I will do my best to make sure you stay grounded in reality," he answered honestly, and I could not fault him for what he said. Perhaps he was right, but I was not willing to concede.

"I suppose I should be grateful for that," I replied sarcastically, causing him to relax his stance and smile slightly.

Instead he changed topics when he spoke, "You have a nice voice. My mother used to sing to us when we were kids. It was soothing like yours. Except I've never heard that song,” when he finished speaking, I noticed his voice was a lot kinder than it was the last time we spoke. Perhaps my singing brought a happy memory to him as it did me.

“It was a tune or song I heard somewhere, but I didn’t know all the words, so I began to make my own words to fill in places, and now I guess you could say, I wrote it.”

A large smile formed on his face, which almost seemed out of place given his typical stone-like expression. “Sophia would love it. She's obsessed with the stars. I'm sure Cepheus would love it as well.”

“Oh, Stone, you do have a heart,” I remarked with a smile.

“Don't tell anyone; you wouldn't want to mess up my image,” Stone replied in his usual uncaring tone, which I found pretty amusing considering our present conversation.

“Don't tell anyone what?” Kaleb appeared behind us, questioning.

“Oh, just that Stone likes Valentina’s room better than Valentine's.” I quickly added to avoid suspicion about what we are really talking about.

“Thank you,” Stone mouthed to me, and since Kaleb was standing beside him, he could not see it.

“It's the chair, right?” Kaleb said.

“Indeed, why is there only a foot stool in Valentina’s room?” Stone laughed.

"We can correct that in the morning," Kaleb laughed.

"That's really not necessary," I spoke up. "They have more than enough."

"When Valentine has a footstool, it will be enough," He joked, and I smiled.

"You spoil him," I laughed.

"I plan on spoiling you all, you are my family after all," Kaleb said rather sincerely. His attitude touched my heart in a way I hadn't expected. I never expected an Alpha to be so accepting of strays.

"You put her at a loss for words," Stone teased, "How sickeningly sweet."

“Have you seen your room, Vivian?” Kaleb asked.

“And that's my cue to leave,” Stone saluted his brother mockingly as he started to walk away down the hallway.

“Night, Stone.” Kaleb then turned to me. “I thought you would prefer to be near the children; so, your room is across the hall here for now.”