The Wife's Resolve

Chapter 4: The Conformation

Damon did not look pleased as he walked into Valerie's office. It was no surprise he was not welcome in the building, but from time to time, Mr. Dark would permit it, as he was a client after all. He strolled across the room and stood behind Valerie before relaxing and placing his hand on the top of her shoulders. To the untrained eye, it might look like a loving gesture, but Valerie recognized this as his way of calming down. He used his thumbs to massage her shoulders, which were tenser in this position.

"There can only be a few reasons you would call me away from work, and request that I meet my brother here in your office," Damon spoke purposefully and with authority, "This is not a good day for interruptions, so Darius, is this a personal or business matter?"

Valerie did not wait for Darius to respond. " Darius came here to talk about Elena."

Darius removed his hands and stepped away, coming to the side of the desk, and almost in Darius's face, "What about her?" he asked, clearly irritated. "Why am I here to discuss Elena?"

Valerie chuckled; she knew that Damon would not see this coming. He did not pay attention to the personal lives of people around him unless it bothered him.

"I intend to marry her," Darius choked out, and the glare he received from Damon almost had him backing down. " I know that you..."

"I suggest you not even finish whatever it is you think you know," Damon snarled. "As I have told my wife and you numerous times, there is not nor have their ever been anything between Elena and me, and you would be wise not to speak such lies outside of my company, or ever better at all. As to the matter of marrying her, that is about soon, don't you think?" he asked.

"Well, time is of the essence, I am afraid; I do not have the luxury of getting to know her better at this point." Darius simply stated.

Damon was not stupid or impressed by the news as he grabbed his brother's collar and shoved him into the wall, "Of all stupid, irresponsible things you have done. She's pregnant, isn't she?" There was no room for anything but conformation. "You know your position in the pack and the business. You have a responsibility to more than just who is good in bed. She is not a member of the four families. She brings nothing to the table. She is, for all practical purposes, completely expendable, as she is the one you choose to knock up.

"Yes," was all Darius needed to say, and Damon punched him square in the face, and Darius reacted and swung in return. In less than a minute, they were at it.

Valerie jumped from her desk and yelled, "Both of you knock it off, back up, or I will call for security!"

"Would you have your husband removed from this office?" Damon laughed while wiping blood from his lip and considering his next move.

"If it means no holes in my walls, broken furniture, or a lecture from my father of bringing trouble here without question, without remorse, and without apology," Valerie stated smugly with her hand on the receiver. "Just test me, Damon!"

"You're no fun when you are in lawyer mode," Damon joked, but took one of the chairs in front of her desk, while Darius cautiously took the other.

"Perhaps not, but I am not your mother, and I don't have time to deal with your family drama today. I am due in court in an hour as it is." Valerie stated.

"For the Imari twins," Damon laughed.

"Of course it's for the twins. They could stand to be a little more discreet," she complained as she shook her head, "Perhaps as the boss, you should consider the liability they are becoming."

"They are just young," Damon retorted, "Like this fool."

"They will not survive to be old at this rate," Valerie commented.

"You can tell them that at the next family dinner, Luna." Darius joked, knowing full well they would not be present; only the heads of the family are invited to the family dinner.

"I'm pretty sure they will never live to earn a spot at the table," Valerie said sadly.

"They will be fine," Damon insisted, "I will speak to the Imari family personally."

"Of course," was all Valerie replied before pulling the stack of papers from a folder marked Darius and Elena.

Damon's eye shone with pride as he saw her work, "You were prepared for this," he praised.

"Don't I always?" Valerie smiled at his remark.

"That's why I count on you so much, My Love, to protect the family, pack, and business," Damon said sweetly.

"Ewe, don't get all lovey, it's intolerable." Darius turned away.

The first piece of paper she pulled, and pushed it towards Darius. He eyed the paper, then turned to Darius, "Is paternity an issue?"

"I believe her that it is mine," Darius said confidently.

"Then I don't believe we need this form," Damon concluded, "She is truthful at least, I for what I know of her."

Valerie cleared her throat, "Excuse me, Damon, I know you don't want to hear this because you believe whatever she says."

"Let's not bring up old grudges, My Love," Damon said, "If Darius says the child is his, I am certain that we can believe him."

"That is not the issue," Valerie was more insistent.

"Then what is, because from where I stand, you don't like the girl and are making issues where there are none," Damon said, quite irritated.

Valerie, though, was apologetic and held her ground, "The pack has laws for a reason, Damon."

"I am the law," he yelled, "I am the Alpha, and I decide what is best for the pack."

Darius risked his own brother's anger and jumped into the argument to help Valerie. "You are not thinking clearly right now because this concerns Elena and you have known her for a long time, but Valerie is right. We have these rules for a reason, and I am not the only associate to have to sign these papers for paternity. It is not a new thing. It is Valerie doing her job to protect us and protect the pack. You must see that. You can't see her as the enemy for doing what is right by our law and keeping us accountable."

"Perhaps you are right, but I don't like it." Damon relented.

"And you don't have to, but this is not about your paternity, it is about mine, and I have no trouble signing it and recognizing the legal ground for it," Darius concluded.

"Very well, if you both think it is necessary," Damon added.

"It is necessary, because every member of the pack needs to be held to the same rules," Valerie explained, "or I guarantee it will cause you more problems later on."

"I will trust you on this," Damon replied, still irritated, "but if you think Elena will just follow this, mark my words, Darius, she will fight you."

"It will be a fight she will lose," Darius stated. "I am Beta of this pack. I can't expect to weaken my position of authority. She will sign it, or I will refuse to claim the child, or marry her."

"That's pretty cold," Damon smirked.

"Perhaps, but I know the place, and she must learn hers. After all, I have every reason to believe she wanted this to happen. She wanted to be part of the family, she mise well learn early on what is expected of family women."

Damon threw his head back and laughed hard, "Really, do tell, Darius, how family women act, not sure my wife has learned that yet."

Darius laughed, "That's your cross to bear, brother."

"Indeed, it is." He answered.

The other two documents were so standard that they brought no discussion. The real drama would unfold when dealing with Elena herself.