Page 103 of Ondine: Vol. 2

“Yeah I think so. I think it’s possible. They haven’t been back since I was a kid. I’m sure it’s costing them a lot to keep it up. It’s on 10 acres. It has a barn, carriage house, pool and pool house, tennis court, and guest house. The main house has eight bedrooms and a nest. I closed off most of it while I lived there, but we could open it all up again. You could see if any of your staff want to come with us. I know you like Emmerson and those guys.”

I can feel Freddie getting excited.

All the men are.

But Jake says, “Baby, I found your parents already.”

“Oh wow, where are they?”

He looks at me with such sadness. “The townhouse in Cash City.”

“Oh they must have moved back.”

He shakes his head but it’s Shadow who says, “They never left. They’ve been there the whole time.”

Oh. The whole time?

“No, they went to Europe first. That’s why I had to move to the big house. So I could be near the private school.”

“There’s private schools in the city, love.”

I close my eyes not wanting to see their faces anymore.

I think I knew they weren’t really traveling. I think I knew.

Ondine

I tell Jake I want to be in the new house for my heat which only gives us days to sort it out. The nest at his house is not big enough for us all and the idea of them all not being with me makes my skin itch. He arranged for me to meet my parents at a cafe nearby the townhouse that afternoon. I don’t ask him what exactly he said to them. He’s laid out my outfit that I’m in now. Black jeans, white shirt, and a blue belted overcoat. I have my portable nest with me. It now has Sebastian’s hat and Freddie’s hair tie. Though I don’t really like the hair tie and keep pocketing it. Jake walks me with Freddie to the cafe. Shadow, Arnie, and Sebastian are with us, too.

The cafe is fairly large and we get a big table in the middle. My parents are 20 minutes late. Shadow has to go call them twice.

My mother, a tall alpha with thick blonde hair comes in first. She doesn’t hang up her coat. My father trails in after her. He’s got a long face, salt and pepper hair, and a prominent nose. Bianca and Cornell Whitehorse.

It takes them a minute to find me at the table even with Shadow gesturing to them to sit. Bianca gives me a smile and a nod.

“You’re late,” Jake points out.

“Yes, well, we are quite busy today,” Cornell says.

They sit down and order dry cappuccinos.

This is one of those cafes with little black white tiled floor, swirly metal cafe chairs, and marble top tables. The wait staff are in black and white suits.

“Ondine, you look very healthy. Are these all your alphas?” Bianca hesitates when she sees Arnie, but doesn’t amend her question.

“This is my pack, yes. This is Freddie. He’s my bonded scent mate. The rest are the Meier Pack, they are courting me. Arnie is my boyfriend. I’ve chosen to bond with them in my next heat.”

My voice trails off because my mom is snapping her fingers at a wait staff to get a new spoon because hers is “cloudy”. She wasn’t listening.

“How strange is it that you are being courted? I remember when you were just a little girl running around seeking attention,” my dad says with such a fatherly tone I find myself accepting it immediately. Jake frowns and Arnie shakes his head, so I can only imagine how it’s probably not a compliment.

“Such a big pack,” is all my mom adds.

The coffees arrive. I’m the only one with something different. They place my teapot in front of me with my sugars and cream. I ordered the dandelion tea that I like. My mom’s nose scrunches up when she smells it. I’ve noticed neither of my parents actuallylook at me. I’m ready to gesture with my arms or talk loud or something, but Jake puts his hand on my leg, stopping me.

“I’m actually here to talk about the country house on the plains.”

Bianca’s mouth makes a yucky noise and I can’t tell if her coffee is bad or it’s her normal reaction to the country house.