The Triplet Alphas's Christmas Gift

Chapter 21 - Now what?

Teira's POV

"Come on, please? I need to move around." I begged Ryan for the fifteenth time today.

He shook his head, "The doctor said you need to rest so you can put on weight. If you overdo it, you'll relapse." he stated, and I huffed. I was tired of laying in this bed, I had been here for a few days now. The triplets had taken to watching over me so Kyle could head to school for review as well as pick up my notes for finals next week while I rested. Right now, Ryan was keeping me company while Tyler met with their Dad about who knows what, and Matt taught the early training session.

They told me what had happened with Dad but not much more than that. Currently, David Harris was locked up in the cells beneath the packhouse with Mrs. Harris and was awaiting sentencing. Alpha Christian was supposed to come and talk to me later today since I was strong enough to move. But the triplets weren't having any of it.

I rolled my eyes, "Come on, Ryan, I'm not gonna break. The doctor said I could move around a bit. A walk isn't going to kill me." I retorted. Ryan flinched at my last words, and I winced. Poor choice of words since the silver infection nearly did kill me. My fever broke a couple of days ago, but I was so weak afterward it was like I didn't have any energy to even breathe, let alone move.

If it hadn't been for the triplets laying next to me in bed, spoon-feeding me food even when I didn't want to eat, I probably would have been laid up for a lot longer. According to the doctor, I was so underweight for my age that my body was having a difficult time resisting the infection, let alone fighting it. The beatings I had taken from Dad and Whitley before that hadn't helped, but I didn't tell anyone that Dad wasn't the only one who had beaten me in the past.

Kyle knew she had been bullying me but he didn't know that sometimes her squad would jump me in the hallway on the way to class, give me a beating in the bathroom or locker room in the gym 'to teach me my place' then leave me to crawl or limp my way to my next class. The triplets and Kyle walking me to class the few days before had discouraged them so far, but it probably wouldn't last long.

I sighed and laid back, "I'm just tired of being in bed so long. Can I please go for a walk outside?" I asked again. Ryan hesitated, and I could see him wavering when the door opened and Tyler walked in, followed by the Alpha.

"You aren't going anywhere at the moment, princess." Tyler stated as he pulled another chair over to the side of the bed for his father. I sighed and laid back, watching the man sit in the chair quietly. Alpha Christian looked older since the last time I saw him, I had been five and had gotten caught reading a book on the back porch when he was over for dinner. His dark hair was tinged with gray at the temples and looked like he had run his fingers through it a few times. His blue eyes were clear and gentle but tired, and I wondered if he had talked to my father yet.

"Now Tyler, there's no reason to agitate the young lady. Teira, was it? I'm certain you can go for a walk in a bit after we talk about what happened to you. Would that be alright?" The Alpha asked gently. I nodded quietly, I didn't like to speak to people I didn't know very well, and Kyle wouldn't be here for a bit. Ryan sat on the bed and squeezed my leg gently, "Angel, if you're uncomfortable, we can wait until Kyle gets back." he said gently, and Tyler nodded.

I took a deep breath and shook my head, Kyle couldn't protect me forever, and the Alpha needed to hear my side before talking to my parents. "No, go ahead, Alpha. Ask away." I said quietly. The Alpha smiled proudly at me and it sent a warm feeling through my chest, "Alright," he said getting comfortable in the chair as Tyler took the chair Ryan had vacated and took my hand gently.

"This might be difficult to talk about, Teira. I truly apologize for making you go through this again, but I need to hear both sides before bringing judgment down on the Harris's for their actions. If you need to stop or take a break, please tell me." The Alpha stated gently, and I nodded my understanding.

"First of all, I recognize you as the little girl I met on David's back porch years ago. We talked briefly before he sent you away. How long have you been living at Harris's home?" he asked. I looked at him confused. What did he mean? "My whole life, sir." I murmured. The Alpha looked astonished, "You've been squatting in David's home your entire life?" he repeated stunned.

I looked at him very confused, and Tyler squeezed my hand gently in reassurance, "Sir, I don't understand what you mean by squatting? That's my home. I've lived there with my parents since I was a baby." I said a bit louder. Christian looked at me stunned, "Your parents? Who are your parents?" he asked gently. "David and Isabelle Harris. I'm Teira Harris, their youngest daughter." I replied.

Alpha Christian stood, his fists were clenched, and his eyes darkened to black, then gold signifying his rage. "You mean to tell me that David Harris my legal advisor as well as my assistant in running the pack. That man beat his OWN DAUGHTER WITH a WHIP LACED WITH SILVER?!?!" he asked, his voice growing louder until his roar filled the room. I flinched and covered my ears in fear, and Ryan and Tyler stood placing their hands on their father's chest.

Christian stood still for a bit, breathing hard. The chair he had been sitting in had flown across the room in his rage, "Dad, calm down. You're scaring her." Tyler said calmly, and the Alpha turned to look at my face in the bed. His eyes softened, and he walked carefully back over to the bed, grabbing my hand gently, "I apologize, Teira. I didn't mean to frighten you. I just, I can't believe David would be capable of such things. He doted on his son. I never even knew he had a daughter, I was under the impression that he took you in after I told him to set aside funds to send any rogue children in the area to school if they wished to go. Most rogues are adults, children don't survive on their own for long so I wanted him to find you and take you in or bring you to the packhouse if you had shown up again. Never in my wildest dreams did I think you were his own daughter." he explained gently.

I smiled sadly at him, "It's not your fault, Alpha," I whispered quietly. "Dad didn't want you or anyone to know. He believes that daughters are only good for cooking and taking care of the home until they can be married off. Unfortunately, I was even good enough for that since I didn't get my wolf." The Alpha looked at me in shock again, "You're....no... you aren't wolfless. I can sense your wolf spirit, Teira. It's subtle, but it's there. If David made you think that way, he's the one in the wrong. Not you." he replied firmly. I looked at him skeptically but chose not to argue with the Alpha on that particular issue.

It took a while but we were able to talk about what had happened that night, I explained how I had lived at the house, what my duties were and why the Alpha hadn't seen me when he did come over to the house. The Alpha's eyes darkened again, but he didn't explode, just listened to my story.

Ryan chimed in a bit, telling his father about seeing my room and the state of my living conditions. The Alpha nodded, "I did take a tour of the house after you and Matt left. That's partly why I thought she had been squatting. That was not a livable room to dwell in." he growled.

I glared a bit. It may not have been ideal, but it was the best I could do given the situation. The Alpha smiled at my look, "That's not a remark on you, dear. Just the way David treated you. I will take all of this in account when it comes to sentencing. For now, rest and recover. If needed, we'll have you take your finals for the semester online if you aren't discharged by then." he said, patting my hand.

I nodded and then asked the question that was on my mind since I had started getting stronger, "Alpha, speaking of my discharge. What happens to me now? I can't go back home." The Alpha smiled, "Nor would I or the boys allow you to. You are a pack member and deserve to be treated with respect. Plus, you are a very good friend to the boys, so when you are discharged, we would be honored if you came and lived with us at the packhouse." he said gently.

I froze, me? Live in the packhouse? With the triplets? Before I could even think or give a reply, the door opened, and a woman walked in, nearly dropping her bag in shock at the Alpha's words. I thought I knew who she was, but I definitely recognized the girl behind her.

Whitley had come to visit me in the hospital, and she had just heard I was going to live in the packhouse.