Becoming a Leader

Chapter Eleven - Shopping and Friends

I wake up the next morning to Merricks alarm and he turns over to shut it off. He kisses my forehead and gets out of bed. “Go back to sleep angel.” He says as he walks to the bathroom to get ready for the day. I turn over and close my eyes, soon I’m asleep to the sound of the shower running. I wake up again to find an empty bed with a note on the pillow next me. 

Have fun shopping angel. Get whatever you want with my card I left for you. My mother is giving you the pack credit card for our new members. Make sure to get all the items for them using that card. 

Merrick

On the pillow there is also Merricks bank card and a cell phone waiting for me. I pick up the phone and press the home screen to a text message from Merrick telling me to call him whenever I wake up. After the second ring I hear Merricks voice on the other end.

“Good morning angel.” 

“When did you have time to get me a phone?” I ask.

“Oh I had Emma run and get it last night. I wanted you to have it while you’re out shopping.” 

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Now I have to head into some meetings but have fun shopping.”

“I will, I love you.” I blurt out without thinking. “I’ll see you tonight.” I hang up the phone before I hear Merricks response. Does he feel the same way? Do I really feel that way? Now that we are marked our feelings are so much stronger for each other and I feel like I may love him. Would I love him if it weren’t for the mate bond? I get out of bed so I don’t sit there all day worrying about what I said and what he might think. I get in the shower and get ready for the full day of shopping ahead of me. After I dry off I go to the closet and put on a dark blue shirt with some jean shorts and the shoes Valencia gave me. I go back to the bathroom and brush my teeth and hair, putting my hair up in a messy bun so it stays out of the way. I admire my fresh mark and I can't help but smile. I grab the phone and bank card and head downstairs. I find Emma, Valencia, and Sydney in the dining hall. “Hey guys, sorry I didn’t mean to sleep until 9 A.M. We didn’t get in until after one this morning.” I say while taking my usual seat.

“You two have a good time?” Emma asks while wiggling her eyebrows.

I feel my face turn pink and the girls laugh. I’ve never had this, other girls to hang out and joke with. I had some friends but never close enough like I feel I will be with these three. 

“Don’t be embarrassed sweety,” I hear Lucy say from behind me. “You guys are working on grandbabies for me.” 

“Could you imagine a little Skyla and Merrick running around? That will make one gorgeous kid.” Valencia says. 

Kids? I haven’t even thought about having kids yet. Does Merrick want any? I’ve always wanted children, maybe two or more so they don’t get lonely. I really need to talk to him about all these questions I have. “Lucy?” I mindlink, “Could you do me a favor?”

“Of course my dear what is it?” She answers.

“I want to plan something romantic for Merrick tonight. Will you have the cooks make something and set it up in the kitchen on our floor please?”

“Yes ma’am. Any requests for the meal?”

“Whatever Merricks favorites are.”

I see Lucy nod and I try to focus on the food in front of me but I’m not hungry. “Ladies are you ready to go?” I ask.

“Yeah just let me get the people who want to go shopping with us. Where exactly are we going?” Sydney says while standing from her chair.

“Oh there’s a few places, first the mall of course and then we can go to Target or something. I know there’s a few women who need baby items and some kids who are in diapers.” Emma tells us. “We’ll meet you outside Syd, I’ll make sure the cars and guards are ready to go.

“Before I forget here is the pack credit card Skylla.” Lucy says while handing me the card. 

“Thank you Lucy.” I put the card in the opposite pocket as the other one so I don’t mix them up.

“Let me get you a wallet and a purse so you don’t lose those” Valencia says and rushes to go upstairs. 

“Enjoy yourself today Skylla, you deserve to be happy.” Lucy says and gives me a big motherly hug. 

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We finally make it to the mall and we all stay together so it’s easier to make sure we get everything that's needed. Valencia has amazing taste and helped me pick out some cute outfits. I got everything I needed and more for myself. Thankfully Sydney got sizes for all the kids and the few adults who didn’t come so were able to get them clothes too. By the time we are done it’s already one in the afternoon so we stop at the food court and get lunch before leaving for the next place.

“I do want to stop at one more place before we leave here and I’ll need your help ladies.” I say as I sit at the table with Valencia, Syd, and Emma. “I’ll need another female's opinion.”

“Where are we going?” Emma asks with a sly smile on her face.

“Somewhere that sells lingerie. I’m planning a romantic evening for Merrick.” I reply with my cheeks heating up.

“I’ve got just the place for you.” Valencia says. “Let’s finish eating so we can go.”

“Sydney how’s everything going with Shane?” I ask as we eat.

“It’s going great Luna. He’s so kind and loving.” Sydney answers with a big smile on her face.

“That's great, I'm glad you’re happy. You don’t have to call me Luna Syd, you’re one of my closest friends.” I take a bite of my food before I say, “Emma, Valencia I have a kind of awkward question to ask. When did you first tell your mates you loved them? Like how long after you found each other?”

“I think it was in the first couple of days for Zane and I.” Emma says through a mouth full of food. “I know it wasn’t that long after we found one another.”

“Same with Griffin and I. The mate bond is strong and once you’re marked -which I see you have been - it only gets stronger. Feelings for one another and being able to tell how the other one feels. Has Alpha said it to you?” Valencia says.

“Not yet, I kind of accidentally said it when we were on the phone this morning. Not that I didn’t mean it because I do feel love for him but I don’t know how he feels. He found me at my lowest and I’m healing from my loss, so I guess my main worry is can he love me if I’m broken?”

“You aren’t broken Sky,” Emma says while she takes my hand. “You went through something horrible, you’re heartbroken yes but not broken.”

“I didn’t lose my parents like you guys so I don’t understand the pain you are going through but you are some of the strongest people I’ve ever met. I don’t think anyone else could be holding up as well as you two are. It’s only been two days, you can allow yourself to love and be loved even while you’re grieving.” Valencia speaks to me and Sydney. “And as for him loving you it sure as hell would be tough not to considering he’s your mate. You can’t run from a mate bond or the feelings it brings.”

“Thank you guys, that makes me feel a little better.” 

We finish eating and tell the rest of our people to head out to the van. Some of the pregnant women are ready to go home for a nap and give us their lists for the next store. I have a couple of guards take them back and help the rest of the people out to the vehicles with the bags as Sydney, Emma, Val, and I go to our last stop before leaving. The store Valencia picked out is astonishing, there’s so many choices, not only for me but for men as well. Valencia picks a few things out for me and then I get a few I think will make Merrick happy. All four of us end up getting stuff and leave, but while we are heading out we pass a jewelry store. I stop and see a handsome looking watch that would look great on Merrick so I buy it and have it wrapped up for him. We finally leave the mall and head to Target where almost everyone gets their own shopping cart so we can stock up on diapers and other baby needs. I put Valencia and Sydney in charge of the lists from the pregnant women and anything else our new members need, and Emma said she needed to go get a few things for her and Zane.

I make my way to the toiletries aisle and get the shampoo and soaps I like, I grab a few makeup items and then go to the feminime care section. I grab the usual tampons I like and as I’m leaving I walk past the pregnancy tests and stop. It wouldn’t hurt to have some on hand, just in case. As I’m grabbing some to put in my cart Emma walks down the aisle. We both freeze and stare awkwardly at each other.

“Ummm, it’s just in case. We haven’t been too careful.” I say and lightly chuckle. 

“Toss me a couple.” She says.

“Wait are you?”

“It’s a possibility. I haven’t said anything to anyone so please keep this between us.” Her usual joking manner is gone and I can tell she is nervous.

“Of course not, I won’t tell a soul I promise.”  I hide a couple boxes beneath some of her stuff that’s already in her cart and we go our separate ways. I grab some other things that I couldn’t get at the mall and make my way to the check out when my phone starts ringing. I grab it from my back pocket and answer it, “Hello?”

“Hey,” I hear Merricks voice.”I’m just calling to see how everything is going?”

“Oh it’s going pretty well. We’re getting everything we need. The girls have been a blast.” I say into the phone. 

“That’s great, well I have a couple more meetings to attend to but I’ll be home as soon as I can.”

“Alright see you then.” I end the call again before I can hear anything he has to say.