Finding Love With Her Triplet Princes

Numb

Alaia’s POV

Take some breaths for me, girl. It will be okay. I’m here for you and with you, always. It is always such a relief to hear my wolf Iris speak to me. Despite the relief, though, I can’t stop the numbness I feel in my heart. I had a feeling that at some point my mother would be granted a second chance mate. I guess I just never thought it would hit me this hard. I miss my dad so much. I have never stopped missing him. My heart aches every day when I think about how he isn’t here with me. With us.

What do I do, Iris? I don’t know what to do. I don’t know how to handle this.

I hear Iris sigh deeply, and see her step forward in my mind, nudging me gently through our bond. I feel her strength flowing through to me, providing me with the comfort I so desperately need at this moment. I honestly don’t know what you should do, Alaia. I can feel your emotions though, and I know you don’t want to hurt mom. You and I both know this isn’t something she chose. This is something the Moon Goddess chose for her.

I get that, but why now? Why do this now when I’m nowhere near ready.

I think she did it now because mom is ready. I immediately suck in a breath, but soon hear Iris again. I know what you’re thinking, and I don’t think this means she has forgotten dad. She still loves him so much. I think she is just ready to love and to be loved again.

I sit there for a few minutes just thinking about the call from mom and all that Iris has said. My wolf is a smart one, and she makes so much sense, but it doesn’t make the situation any easier. I let out the breath that I feel like I have been holding for hours and look at my phone. s**t! I jump up, grab my stuff, and book it to class so I can get there on time. I’ll have to deal with this later today. Right now, I need to remain focused on my classes. I’m here for a reason. I don’t want to put all my hard work to waste. A few minutes later, I suck in a deep breath and slowly exhale, trying to calm my nerves so I can focus the way I need to.

Maria’s POV (Alaia’s mom)

I still remember that day clearly as if it had just happened yesterday. I remember the unrelenting pain I felt in my chest when my beloved mate Jonathan took his last breath. So much of what has happened I blame on myself because I didn’t see how he was feeling. I didn’t know he was depressed. I never knew he was feeling so much sadness. He always had a smile on around Alaia and I. He put on a good show in front of the pack.

Jonathan and I had known each other since we were pups. We grew up together as best friends and with even bigger dreams. I didn’t think I would survive his loss. Walking into our room and finding my baby girl draped over his body, though, was something else entirely. Her tears were flowing like a river down her face. Seeing the pain in her eyes, hearing her cries telling me that he’s gone, was in some ways, worse than losing Jonathan. Tommy was an entirely different story, however. I doubt if I would ever know for sure how he was feeling about anything. He reminds me so much of Jonathan in that aspect. Strong and steadfast, not wanting to bother anyone or put anyone out. My sweet boy quickly became a man that terrible day.

After we lost him, I didn’t think my baby girl would ever be the same. She was his princess that he gifted all the best parts of himself to from conception. I saw something change in her, though, as the days went on after Jonathan’s death. She was always serious about things when she needed to be, but now it was on a whole other level. Alaia decided not long after her father died that she wanted to work in mental health. I think she felt then what I felt that someone should have known he was in so much pain.

I wish I could take those thoughts away from her. She was a child, our child, and that wasn’t her responsibility. She is our pup through and through, my wolf Ashina said wistfully. This is how she has always been. She has always looked to help people anyway she can. Losing Jonathan just pushed that even further.

I can’t help the sigh that comes out. I don’t want to bother her, Ashina. I know she has class this morning. I just need to know that she’s okay though. I look at my phone, debating back and forth on whether I should text her. She will talk to you when she’s ready, Maria. It’s a bit of an emotional thing for her. Just because you are ready for this doesn’t mean she is. It means something different for her. She probably thinks Connor and Zeus are going to try to replace Jonathan and Jax. She needs time to accept that this is happening and to understand that they aren’t trying to replace her dad. Just be patient with her, my friend. That is what our pup needs most from us.

I subconsciously nod my head in agreement. I felt myself drifting off to thoughts of that day when I was pulled out by a ding on my phone. I looked at it and saw I had a text from Alaia.

“I’m sorry I hung up mom. This is just a lot for me. I need some time. I want to be there for you, but I don’t think doing this while I’m still in school is the best thing for me. Just let me get through this last term, please? After that we can figure things out, I promise. I have worked so hard. I don’t want my emotions getting the best of me to the point where I can’t focus anymore, especially when I'm so close to being done.”

I sighed, unsure of how I should respond to her. I knew she needed time, and time I would give certainly give her. Suddenly, I heard another ding. “I love you, Mom.” I couldn’t help but smile widely. “I love you too, baby girl,” I said in a text message reply to her. “Take all the time you need. I will be here waiting for you when you are ready.”

I set down my phone and was deep in thought when something loud interrupted me. “Mom! Are you home?” I couldn’t help but chuckle at Tommy. He certainly always makes himself known. Snickering, I walk out into the living room. “Right here, Tommy. You know, you could have just walked into the other room..” I smile at him as he blushes, probably embarrassed by what I said to him. He walks over to me, wraps me in a hug, and kisses my forehead. This kid is going to be a basketball player, I swear. He is so damned tall. I suspect he just came back from training, as he is a sweaty, disgusting mess. I will still accept any hug he is willing to give me though without complaint.

We sit down on the couch together and I can’t help the sigh that falls out of my mouth. I look beside me, and my boy is looking at me with such concern in his eyes. “What’s wrong, mom?” I look at him with a small smile and reach over to take his hand in mine.

“I have some news, Tommy,” I said softly. “I am hoping that you respond a little better than your sister just did, but it is a difficult topic, so I understand any reaction you have.”

He looks at me curiously. “Okay… well, just spit it out,” he says.

I suck in a deep breath, preparing for the worst. “I met someone,” I said, and briefly paused. “It’s a man..”

Tommy cut me off by taking both my hands in his. He looks at me with a soft, somewhat sad smile. “You met your second chance mate, didn’t you?”

I’m slightly shocked, but honestly I shouldn’t be. Both of my pups have always been very intuitive, seeming to know things before I can even tell them. My youngest pup, my Tommy, then does something I wasn’t expecting even though I should have. He reaches over and pulls me into a big hug. I stiffened at first, but quickly relaxed into his hold and wrapped my arms around him tightly.

“I’m happy for you, mom,” he murmurs in my ear. I can’t help the tears that start to trickle down my cheeks.

“Thank you so much, Tommy. You don’t know how much I needed this.” He chuckles softly, holds onto me for a few more minutes, then pulls away, sitting up in front of me.

“So, based on your reaction I’m sure I can guess how Alaia reacted,” he says with a sad look on his face.

“Yeah, that didn’t go very well. I expected it to be harder telling her than you. I just didn’t know it would be as hard as it was. I thought her going away to school and focusing on something had been helping her find some peace with your fathers’ death. I guess I was wrong,” I said, wiping the tears from my cheeks.

Tommy gets up and kneels in front of me, taking my hands in his once again. “Mom, I wasn’t here that day, but you must remember something. Alaia found Dad. She found him right after he took his last breath. She was in here by herself. Although it was brief, she was in your room dealing with that on her own. Her reaction to anything having to do with Dad is always going to be different and stronger than mine. We deal with things differently, but her experience with his death was far different from mine.” He pauses for a moment then continues. “Just give her some time, mom. She will come around. All we can do right now have some patience.”

I can’t help but smile. I reach out and cup his cheek in my hand. Ashina comes forward, one of my eyes turning black, signifying she is also in control. “You are so wise, Tommy. So wise and so kind. We are so proud of you.”

Ashina and I look in our pups’ eyes and see one of his eyes turn black. Ted has come forward. It is impressive to see because Tommy is new to having Ted. “Thanks, Mom. We think we get it from you.” Both our wolves recede, I lean down and wrap my arms around my sons’ neck. I am so grateful for both my pups.

Tommy is right, Maria. Alaia will come around. Iris will help her as I help you and Ted will help Tommy. We just need to be patient with her.

I nod internally in agreement. I will give my girl all the time she needs. I just hope she comes around at some point. I can’t lose my pup over something the Goddess decided I was ready for.