Releasing Edward from the hospital was a whole ordeal. He was so busy climbing and crawling after Mattie, I ended up asking Blake to take the baby with him. All the furniture was arriving and someone had to sign for it. We had ordered a pack’n’play for the office because Blake wanted as much time with him, as he could get. Saying he missed 14 months and he won’t miss another minute. Angel told me Odin has imprinted on Matthew.. making him their pup in every sense of the word.

Finally releasing Edward, he raced off to spend more time with Matthew… and I muttered wondering if Edward’s wolf had imprinted as well.. Helen says “All our wolves have. He is ours.. as sure as Blake is. I sincerely want to apologize to you, Jolene. I honestly have no idea what possessed me to say those awful things to you. That isn’t who I am. I sounded like a bitter old cow. And I truly am very sorry”

I locked my arm through her elbow and patted her forearm.. “I had forgiven you before I left my restaurant. Life is too precious to waste on hateful or hurtful words. My tears weren’t from your words. They were from my fears. You see? I had realized I was developing feelings for Blake and if his mom didn’t like me.. we had no chance!”

She laughed and patted my hand, in turn “Getting to know you, my sweet daughter.. there is no way to feel anything but love!” And we walked into the office. Edward.. on the floor while Matthew used him as a jungle Jim. And Helen laughed! “He was exactly the same with Blake!”

Blake is on the phone and it appears to be the King and Queen because he’s saying “She just walked in.. Baby, Damien and Lynette want to know if we want to go with them.. they think we need to attend your brother’s ascension ceremony. They also believe we should bring Matthew with us. However, his last name will be Landon by then.. and for all intents and purposes.. my son!”

I am nervous. “Please understand. Jacob is a coward. Anything he tries to pull, will be done covertly. He spent two weeks after my birthday, convincing me we would always be together. Even my brother worked on convincing me. He made promises. Pledges. I refused to have sex with him.. I needed to know he was committed to me. I wanted to be marked.. when I was mated. My beliefs.. the doctrines teachings.. all pointed to that being a righteous expectation. I barely remember the night we had sex. We had been laughing.. listening to music..dancing.. next thing I realized was Tyler and Tammy were gone.. I was naked from the waist down on the living room floor..on a blanket.. alone. I ran to my room and showered. I fell asleep.. only to awaken to absolute agony in my neck and chest.. I stumbled from my dad’s house.. to see a bonfire and party at the pack house. And I knew.”

Blake lifted me and sat with me in his lap.. the King asked

“What else can you tell us, Jolene? I realize this is hard.. I also understand why all these details had been left out of your report. But please.. we need the whole story now. You are a part of the Royal Family, now! We always take care of our own”

I leaned into Blake and he wrapped me up in his arms.. kissing my forehead.

“I knew what was happening . The Alpha to be was celebrating taking a mate. My brother saw me..came over to me.. telling me to go home. I wasn’t allowed to be there. About an hour later.. the pain started. It felt like my guts were being ripped out. Every half hour or so.. it would stop for fifteen minutes.. maybe twenty.. then start again. All night. Until dawn. I crawled out of bed and showered. My stomach.. my chest.. all the way down my thighs.. I was bruised. Painful bruising. Angel was trying to keep up with it.. but I didn’t know Matthew had already been planted, and she had to protect our pup first. Every night! This was every night for almost two weeks. I was screaming in agony one night.. and my dad finally realized it wasn’t going to get any better. When I began hemorrhaging.. nearly losing my baby.. was when Dad decided to send me to Grandpa’s. I don’t blame my dad. You can’t fight Alpha Command..and he had been instructed to tell no one. That Jacob had to keep me close.. couldn’t reject me.. because his wolf would not allow it. They tried to Alpha Command me when I was sent to live with Grandpa. I told them to kiss my ass. My brother tried to reason with me.. he called it. That he was under command, as well. But I call bullshit! We are both alpha!”

Lynette says

“Wait? His father knew?”

“That I was Jacob’s true mate.. yes.. that I was pregnant with Matthew.. no! Only my dad and my grandfather knew. And that’s a whole other story. He told me I had to give my baby to Jacob and his whore to raise.. because he is Jacob’s heir. And I said Fuck that and Fuck You.. and left Montana!” Lynette laughed and said

“Welcome to the family! You are a hell of a lot like me!”

And Blake and Damien groan simultaneously “

Oh Goddess!

”

Damien takes a moment.. then says “

Here is what I want y’all to do.. If you aren’t ready to mate.. at least mark each other.. Liam is faxing adoption papers and a new birth certificate to you now. Sign them.. and fax them back. We will send hard copies to you via courier this afternoon. Matthew’s new name is Matthew August Landon. He is.. as of now.. officially your son, Blake. Odin has already let Demon know he has imprinted and no one will take him away..”

And they all laughed.

Hanging up, Blake says “We have to tell the pack about their Luna.. a meeting is scheduled in an hour. Right now, I have to call that bitch’s father and get him here.” I left him to do that while I went home.. needing to talk to Alice.. and pack some clothes.

I walked in to find Alice quilting and washing bedding. She got up and hugged me “ I am so happy for you, my girl! I will start looking for somewhere to go.. so you can sell the house “ and I shook my head “That is not why I’m here, Ma! I came to ask if you wanted to stay here.. I know being back at the pack might be too painful. I also wanted to know if you would like to have Matthew on overnights? On days I have to work!? Nothing really changes for us.. just different.”

She hugged me so tight, I worried a rib would pop. She cried “I was so worried. I was happy for you. But I was worried I was losing my family” and I wiped her tears “Never! Not a chance in hell! You are my mom! The only one I have ever known! The only grandmother Matthew has known. Our lives without you.. is no life, at all!”

She smiled.. then giggled.. and then laughed, loud and long.. She says “You ain’t going to be able to shake me with a big stick!”