The Black Hills: Patience and Endurance

Reluctance

Lisa POV

I find Kaleb standing outside on the front steps of the packhouse, he’s staring off into the distance as he ignites and extinguishes a flame within the palm of his hand. I watch him for a moment as he opens his hand and a flame erupts, then he closes his fist as the flame goes out, over and over.

With a final close of his fist, I step forward and place my hand upon his, Kaleb’s eyes immediately look down to my hand before he raises them to meet my own.

“Talk.” I command him.

Kaleb shakes me off before turning away from me. I side-step in front of him once again, cupping his chin in my hands, I bring his eyes back to mine. “We aren’t doing this whole shutting down thing anymore. Talk to me.” I say to my son before adding, “Please.”

“What do you want me to say?” Kaleb asks in exasperation.

“Whatever is on your heart.” I plead, my eyes searching his for clues.

“Look, I’m happy that you seem to be happy, everyone seems to be happy, well except for dad.” Kaleb responds.

“And you?” I press.

Kaleb shrugs, “I don’t know, I guess I just kept hoping that he would change.” My middle son admits to me.

I nod my understanding, “You know, I have hoped for the same, for so long.” I confide in Kaleb.

“Alpha Bradley is great,” Kaleb begins, “but he’s just not...” His voice trails off.

“He’s not your father.” I finish for him, gently.

Kaleb nods.

“Do you believe your father is capable of changing?” I ask my son, truly needing to know if he’s still holding onto hope for his father.

Kaleb sighs before answering me, “Yeah, but I also don’t believe that he wants to.” He finally says.

I wrap my arm around my son’s shoulders. “So what should we do?” I ask him.

“I don’t know.” He confesses.

I pull Kaleb into a hug, and feel his arms wrap around my waist as he hugs me back. “I will give you all the time you need.” I whisper to my son.

Bradley POV

As the kitchen omegas begin working around us, I help Sarah clean up our mess before Kyler and I take Kason to their guest suite. I strip down the young boy and help him into his mom’s bath tub, adding extra bubbles to his excitement, while Kyler showers off in the boys’ bathroom. Once Kason is settled, I wash off my hands, arms and face in the sink, before taking a moist cloth to wipe off the excess flour from my clothes.

“Let me know if you need anything.” I tell Kason as he splashes around in the bath, before I exit the room, leaving the door open so I can hear him if he calls for me.

Lisa enters the guest suite with Kaleb, the latter who goes directly to his room. I can feel a shift in the energy from my mate as she looks to me. I offer a smile and inform her, “I’ve got Kason in the tub.”

“Thank you.” She says politely before she walks past me to go check on her son.

I take a breath, before I follow her into her room. I watch as Lisa peeks in on her son before she closes the bathroom door part-way, then turns to face me.

“We need to talk.” She says, and I feel my mouth go dry as I nod.

“Ok, I’m listening.” I tell her, bracing myself.

“I really appreciate everything you’ve done for us.” Lisa says softly.

“But?” I pry, as I feel my heart racing.

She nods to me before continuing, “But our connection is proving distressing to Kaleb.” She admits. “He’s really struggling with the choices of his father, and our separation. Now with the option for us to move on into a new life, it’s just too much.” Lisa confides and while the truth is devastating, I understand her reservations. Her children must always come first after all.

“I get it.” I reply to my mate. “I don’t like it, and it hurts like hell, but I understand.” I tell her.

I see my own pain reflected in her eyes. “I’m sorry.” Lisa whispers to me.

I take a careful step towards my mate, who doesn’t back away, so I continue gently forward, holding out my hands. Lisa places her hands into my own and I pull her gently forward into my embrace, which she accepts, wrapping her arms around my waist.

“I will give you and your sons all the time you need to accept me.” I murmur to her, holding her tight to my chest.

“My heart has already accepted you.” Lisa replies quietly, and I kiss the top of her head.

“Ok, so let’s slow things down, and allow your sons time to accept me too.” I advise.

“Hey Alpha Brad! Look at this!” Kason calls from the bathroom.

Lisa releases a small laugh, “I think you’ve already won over two of them.” She tilts her head back and grins up at me.

I grin back before kissing the tip of her nose, and release her from my embrace before entering the bathroom.

“What’s up, little buddy?” I ask the excited toddler who has perfected a long white bubbly beard from his chin.

“I look like Santa Clause!” He giggles.

“Yep, you sure do!” I laugh with him, kneeling beside the tub. “How about you make one for me too?” I ask as Kason’s eyes gleam with happiness.

“Ok, Alpha Brad!” He exclaims, as his little hands begin piling bubbles on my face.

Lisa POV

I stand in the doorway as I watch my mate and my youngest son playing in the extreme amount of suds practically overflowing from the tub, a smile upon my face. I feel a presence beside me and I glance over to Kaleb, who is also watching the encounter. I nudge him gently, and he looks to me, giving me a half smile.

“He’s good for Kason.” Kaleb whispers to me, and I smile to my middle child, as I drape my arm around his shoulders.

“I think he’ll be good for all of us, if you are willing to give him a chance.” I whisper back as Kaleb nods and leans against me, watching his baby brother squealing in delight as he and Bradley flood the bathroom floor with their play.

“Alright you two,” I loudly proclaim as I watch the rug beside the tub become saturated with a massive splash of water. “I think it’s time to get ready for lunch.”

“Do we have to go to the big dining room?” Kason asks me.

“Why don’t we try going out for lunch today?” Bradley asks me.

“Hmm, I guess we could.” I reply.

“There’s an awesome pizzeria downtown.” Brad informs me.

“Here? In the werewolf community?” Kyler asks as he approaches from behind me.

“Yep, it’s one of the best.” Brad grins.

“Yay! Pizza! I love pizza.” Kason shouts.

I laugh before announcing, “Ok, pizza it is.”

Bradley POV

I left my mate and her sons to get ready for our afternoon outing, to go to my own guest suite down the hall. I quickly shower before donning a clean pair of track pants, t-shirt and hooded sweatshirt, as the winter weather is really rolling into the Black Hills with a calling for snow tonight. After brushing my teeth and trimming my facial hair, I decide to pack my necessary items into a small overnight bag, along with a change of clothes as I hope to spend the rest of the evening with my potential new family.

When I return to their guest suite, Lisa has her own sweatshirt on, with her hair braided down the side of her neck, concealing the mark of her former mate, and I silently vow to replace that mark as soon as I get her home to my own pack.

As I set my back down by the door, I note that the boys are all clean and groomed. Kason runs to me with his arms extended, and I lean down, swooping him up in a tight hug, as he squeals in excitement.

“Hey buddy!” I greet him, mirroring his happiness. “You all ready for some bomb pizza?” I ask the boys.

“Definitely.” Kyler answers as he walks past me, out the door. Kaleb shrugs and follows his brother.

I switch Kason to my right hip, as I hold my left hand out to my mate. Lisa takes my hand as we head out of the suite, down the stairs and out to my White Toyota Tundra which I called down to have parked in the driveway. The boys pile into the back seat of the crew cab, before I open the passenger front door for Lisa, who takes my hand as she steps up into my truck. I close her door gently before jogging around to my seat. After starting the truck, and shifting into drive, I reach over and take Lisa’s hand in mine as I navigate downtown to the shopping center.

A short while later we arrive outside “Mia’s Pizzeria”. I park the truck before walking around to Kason’s door, and I lift him into my arms. I then open Lisa’s door, assisting her in stepping down. Kyler holds the door to the pizzeria open for us as I guide my mate into the restaurant, still holding her toddler in my arms, proudly showing off my entire world and new meaning for existence as we step into the crowded atmosphere. The hostess greets us before leading us to a large booth.

“I want to sit by Alpha Brad.” Kason demands.

“Sure thing, buddy.” I tell the tot, as I set him down on the booth, and he slides over to make room for me. Lisa sits on my other side, as Kyler and Kaleb move into the booth across from us. We give our drink orders, along with 4 large pizzas and two large cheese sticks. I hold Lisa’s hand secretly under the table, while Kason debates with his brothers which toppings are the best on a pizza, as I settle into blissful contentment.

Lisa POV

The whole scenario almost seems normal, as my three sons bicker over their favorite toppings while Bradley caresses my hand in his. I glance to the Alpha who is watching my sons with a satisfied and happy expression. How I long for this moment to last forever. No doubts or questions, no threats or hindrances, just normalcy in bickering brotherhood and the connection I share with my mate.

After the pizzas and cheese sticks are devoured, Bradley pays the tab before we return to his truck, headed back to the packhouse. Auntie Diane greets us upon our arrival and asks the boys to join her in a scheduled activity time with the other younglings of the pack, allowing Bradley and I some time to ourselves.

“Now that the little ones are entertained, what shall we do?” Bradley asks me with a grin.