For Their Happiness (5 page)

“From what I have heard, and then spending time with you tonight, I would love being in the same pack as the Omegas.”

“Wonderful.”  I smiled at them all.  “Now, I would like to introduce you to my favorite little angel; currently being hogged by my best friend.”

“Well, it’s not like she’s
our
daughter or anything.”  Billy grumbled, good naturedly.

I was sitting with the families, were Becca and Jazzy had made themselves at home, and I noticed the reserve that was shown around Bolton.  Looking at him, I saw his eyes wistfully watching the children play.  From talking to him, I had gathered that he was normally a people person, but being attacked had changed that for him.

With him not being able to control the rages, it was only natural for parents to keep their children away from him as a precaution, but since I was here, I wanted him to be able to maybe feel like his old self for a while.

Becca was sitting beside me with Jazzy, and had just finished feeding her, so she was cooing and smiling at everything.

“Can I hold Jazzy?  I want to introduce her to someone.”  I asked Becca.

I guess that maybe she had already heard warnings about Bolton because she immediately looked to Billy to see what he thought.  After a minute, she smiled and turned; handing me her precious bundle.

“This, Bolton, no matter what those two tell you,” I said pointing to Billy and Becca.  “Is
my
angel.  She is my bundle of sunshine.”

“Come on!  I’m the one who went through ten hours of labor.”  Becca countered.  “I earned the title of mother.”

“You can be her mother, but make no mistakes woman; this child is mine.”  I answered back.  “I earned
it
by listening to your screaming and complaining for those ten hours, which I be
lieve wa
s more torturous than the labor was.”  Everyone laughed.  It had been a standing argument that we’d had since the day Jazzy was born.

“As I was saying,” I turned Jazzy around to where she was facing Bolton.
“This little angel is Jasmine Eleanor Palmer.
  Jazzy for short.
”

She
grabbed Bolton’s finger in her
baby death grip, and smiled
her charm at him.  It was just too precious.  Even the other mothers were awwwing at the sight, and when she giggled all of our hearts melted.  Bolton looked close to tears himself, but the smile on his face made it seem as if he’
d just
won the lottery.

“Would you like to hold her?”  I asked him.  I knew I should have asked Becca first, but I figured she knew me well enough to know what I was doing.
  I kept my hand on Bolton’s
back, projecting the calmness and
the
feeling
of family
that was around us in the yard.  Though everyone would be able to feel it, touch made it stronger, so I knew there was no possibility
of him lo
sing control at that moment.

He nodded, not taking his eyes off of Jazzy, and held her like a father would.  I knew then that this man had been
through a lot more than just a rogue
attack
.  It was a unique and special moment to watch.  Bolton was cooing at her and talking the baby babble that she would soon learn
to speak for herself
.

I looked at the group seated and the other parents were all whispering, and I could feel the regret coming from them for not giving Bolton more of a chance.  I looked back at my two be
s
t friends, a little nervous of what they thought of the scene and me letting him handle Jazzy.

Becca was cradled in Billy’s arms, just watching with a smile on her face.  I knew there was a reason these two people were my best friends.

A little boy ran up to Bolton and started rubbing Jazzy’s hair.
  “She’d pretty.”  He said.
 

“H
ello there, Scott, and yes she is very pretty.
What are
you boys
up to?”  Bolton asked him
.

“We were playing soccer, but Daddy got tired.”  He said, pointing to his father who had just sat down in our little circle with his mate.

“Why don’t you ask Bolton to play?  I think I’ve seen him playing with some of the older kids before.”  Scott’s dad, I think his name was Tony, told him.

A look of shock and delight passed over Bolton’s face as the little boy didn’t bother asking, but just grabbed his hand and started pulling.  He carefully handed Jazzy back to me and then followed Scott to where the kids were playing soccer.

At little while later I started feeling
tired.  My body just felt worn out, and I barely had the energy to get up and head to my room.  I said my goodbyes to both packs and Bolton showed
the guards and me
to my room.
  I had Ryan and Jerry still with me; Billy having gone off to be with Becca.

“Thank you so much for tonight.”  He said as we stopped in front of my door.

“I didn’t do anything but talk to you.”

“Whether you know it or not, you did a lot more than just talk to me; though I think you have an inkling.”  He smiled down at me.  “If it is alright with you, can I please escort you to breakfast in the morning?”

“I would be honored, thank you.” 
Bolton
smiled
like he was happy with my answer.  He s
aid goodnight to Jerry and Ryan, and headed back down to the party.

I opened the door and the three of us headed in, though Ryan held me back so Jerry could check out the different parts of the suite.  When he gave the all clear, I walked in and was awed
by the sight
.  This room was more of an apartment than a suite.  The first place you were in was the sitting room which doubled as the entertainment room, with a TV and a couple of game
consoles
.
  Walking past all of that, I could see two doors to my right, and a kitchenette and third door to my left.  On inspection, the door beside the kitchenette led to a bedroom with a small bathroom attached.  One of the other doors led to a second bedroom, and the last one led to another bathroom.

“Wow.”  I don’t know who said it, but it matched my sentiments exactly.

“Alright, Ms. Lake…”  I stopped Ryan from finishing with a mock glare.  “Sorry, I mean Crystie, I think you should take the master room, and Jerry and I will take turns
between
the other bed and the couch.”

“Are you sure?”  I ask
ed.  I
was
concerned about whoever would be sleeping on the couch.  “I could request another bed be pulled in here.”

“That won’t be necessary, Crystie.  The couch is a pullout.”

“Alright, good.  Now Jerry, Why don’t you go on back to the party, I saw a few females looking your way, and you didn’t get through with the introductions.  I don’t want any possibility of you missing out.  Ryan can stay with me and call to check on Eddie while I call my dad.”

“I’ll lock you two in.  I checked the fridge, and it’s fully stocked.
  Billy has the only key besides Alpha Burgess, so there shouldn’t be any problems.”  He seemed reluctant to leave.  I thought it was probably so he woul
dn’t be disappointed again.  I figured I c
ould talk with him the next day about it.

I knew Ryan was like me and didn’t like parties or crowds, so I figured he would be fine staying in the room.  Looking at him; he did seem relieved.

After Jerry left and I had unpacked my clothes, I was about to call my mom and dad when Ryan asked to speak with me.

“Can I please ask you a personal question?”  He seemed hesitant, and I nodded and tried to calm his nerves.  It seemed to work as his muscles relaxed; the tension that had been in them draining away.  “Why are you doing this?  Why not take your mate?”

I was shocked.  That had been the last thing I expected to come from him.  Had I done something to give myself away?  Who else knew?

“Please don’t panic.  You know I like to watch people, right?”  I nodded, knowing this about him.  “I have been watching out for you and your father for
five years now, unofficially.  I feel like you both, being a part of our pack, saved me when my Hannah died.  You made it possible for me to raise my son in a
semi-
normal household.  I have always been grateful, and asked Alpha Parker for the position of watcher.  It’s not an official title or position, but it’s just me making sure there is nothing either of you need.”

I processed what he’d told me.  I felt good that we’d been able to help him.  I had always tried to send out good feelings to him and Eddie whenever I was around to try to help make their situation easier.  I was touched that for all of this time he had repaid us by watching on the sidelines, not even asking for recognition, but that still didn’t tell me how he knew I had a mate.

I guess he saw the question in my eyes because he continued.  “I saw it when you first learned that Trent was your mate.  Maybe not the exact moment, but I knew.  You could
n’t
hide your true feelings as well back then, and then you all of a sudden withdrew even more from the pack.  Whereas before, you’d at least attend
pack functions
for a few
minutes
, you then started finding reasons not to go at all.  Anytime you saw him and Nikki you’d have a longing coming off of you.  People thought it was because you wanted to find your mate, but I saw.  I knew it was because you felt you couldn’t have him for some reason.
”

I was amazed by this man.  He really did observe everything.  “Do you think anyone else knows?”

“No.  You’ve hidden it well.  Especially after you did learn
your
control.”

I sat and told Ryan the whole story.  It was nice to be able to talk about it; relieve the pressure of keeping something so monumental to myself.

“Don’t you think he deserves the right to choose?”

“There are other factors than just him and I in this.  There is the pack to consider.  Nikki would be the better Alpha
Female
, not me.  And then there is Nikki herself.  She has already lost her mate; no one could save him or save her
from
that pain.  I can’t
take her love away from her again
.”

We talked for a little while longer and he swore not to tell anyone.  I believed him becau
se he hadn’t told anyone to that
point.  It was nice to have another friend I could completely count on, but I didn’t tell him all of it
,
like the side effects.  That I would keep to myself and the ones that already knew.

He called Eddie and I even spoke
to him
on the phone for a minute
, and then I called Dad.  He agreed with me that we should help Bolton, and promised to talk to Alpha Parker that night.  By the time I changed and laid down, I was so exhausted that
as soon as my head hit the pillow, I was out. 

“Well I’ve talked with both Jeff
ery and Bolton this morning.  I
did a conference call with your Alpha, and he has approved of Bolton going with you to join your pack.”
  Alpha Burgess said.

I let out a breath that I didn’t realize I was holding and smiled.  I figured, especially with Daddy being on my side, that Alpha Parker would agree, but there had been no guarantees; at least not with the threat out there for Omegas.

“Are you alright with that,
Damon
?”  I asked.  He seemed hesitant about the situation for some reason.  “I’m sorry that I didn’t come to you first, and Bolton didn’t ask; I offered, so please don’t be angry at him.”

His eyes softened.  “No, you didn’t do anything wrong, and I’m not mad at Bolton.  I am worried because he is still somewhat of an unknown
.  I think we all fear for your
and your father’s safety.”  He turned to my three guards that were standing there against his wall.  Billy, Jerry,
who hadn’t found his mate, and Ryan all wanted to be there to see what was decided.
  Gary was still with his newfound mate.
 

“What do you three think?”
  Alpha Burgess asked them.

“He seems like an ok guy.”  Billy spoke up.  “Hearing his conversation with Crystie last night, and speaking with him a little myself, I didn’t detect any…maliciousness, I guess you’d say.  He seemed genuine.  And he asked me about training to be in the guard when we get back to the pack.
  He wants to guard Crystie and help protect her.
”

“Yeah, he said as much to me.”  Jerry said.  “He said he has never been a fighter, but with what Crystie does for him, he would like to be able to contribute
and give something back to her
.”

“I haven’t done anything for him.”  I interjected.  “I just talked with him and offered a place in our pack to help him learn control.”

“That’s what he’s talking about, Crystie.” 
Damon
said.  “Though there has been more sympathy for him here than open hostility, he’s never
truly
been accepted by the members of this pack.
  Nobody but me and my Beta really includes him in anything, but you accepted straight away.  Last night was the first
real
interaction Bolton has had with the pack outside of the acceptance ceremony we held for him.”

Jerry spoke back up.  “He told me last night that that had been the first time he had really felt at peace with himself since the attack.”

“It’s just you being who you are.”  Ryan said in his quiet manor.  “You help a lot of people without even meaning to most of the time.”  I could tell he was talking about what he’d told me the night before.

My face heated in a blush, and I nodded; letting him know I understood the reference.

“Just be careful around him.
  He’s never been a big problem, but his control is seriously lacking, which I know is what you want to help with, but you won’t have much time until you get home.” 
Damon
warned.

“Is it possible for Bolton to have a mate?”  I asked, wondering if he could search while we were pack hopping.

“I’ve never heard of a changed wolf having a mate besides your father.  Most changed wolves end up as rogues like their attackers.”  He said.  “Since your father found your mother, I guess it’s possible, but again, please be watchful.” 
Damon
took out a legal pad and a pen.  “Now, down to business.  I would love to get those details about the programs you implemented in your pack.”

We spent a couple of hours together with his Beta
, Liam,
going over the different programs to help each group in the pack.  I explained my reasoning behind starting the programs and the results.
  They decided to get several pack members to meet with me and get the advice on what to do.  It was Alpha Burgess’ hope that everything would be set up by the time our little group left
the following week
.

==============================================================

That afternoon I was with a girl named Kelsey, who was about a year older than me, and we were talking about the baking and different crafts that I did with the elders of the
pack back home to help give them
something to do.

“So what is the point of it?”  She asked.  I didn’t pick up any hint of derision in her voice or demeanor; she was just curious.

“Well in our pack, the elders can
’t
go on the hunts because they can no longer keep up, and it expends too much energy for them to shift too often, so they begin to feel useless to the pack.  That’s what normally causes
the depression that leads to an
elders’ death.  They give up; having no
sense of
purpose.  I got the women to start baking for two reasons.  One was for the sick, injured, or those mothers that have just had children and need the help.  The men will whittle or do some other handcraft for the same person, and then they’ll go and visit with those people.  The second reason is that if there are
no
sick or injured to tend to, we
have
set up a store that sales the baked goods and hand crafts to help earn the pack money for our different
needs.  It gives the elders that feeling of contribution to the pack, and the
sense of purpose
,
they need to keep going.”  I explained.  “Young or old, if a member of a pack doesn’t feel like they are able to help in some way, they start to feel worthless and like they are a burden to the pack
.  I just try to eliminate those feelings by finding a way for each person to contribute.”

“I have seen that in our pack, too.  I just never thought about it that way.  I never knew how to help them.”

Over the next several days I did this with several members of the Starlight pack.  They were all very excited about it and willing to do whatever
they could
to help.  I told Alpha Burgess one d
ay that he was very blessed to have
the members he had.

“I know.  We’ve always been a hard pack, but we are all family.  That’s why I never try to expand my pack; I liked the small numbers, but within a few months we will be making the
move to combine with your MoonB
eam pack along with several other small packs.”  He said.  “My main concern is that we will lose the familial atmosphere.”

“You don’t have to worry about that, sir.”  I smiled.  “We may be a big pack, but we are still family to where everyone knows everyone.  I don’t see that changing; even with new additions.”

=================================================================

I had been walking around the community saying goodbye to the new friends I had made over the time I had been in Beaumont since we would be leaving the next day, and I was talking more with Bolton.  We had become good friends over that time.  There would be a run and a bonfire with our two packs as a farewell that night, and I had promised to stay with Bolton to try to help him keep control during his shift.

“I’m kind of nervous.”  He confided.

“Why?  It’s not your first time, and I’ll be there along with Jerry and Ryan.  You know we will all help you.”

“I don’t want to disappoint you.”  He said softly.

I turned to him and smiled.  “Nothing that happens tonight could disappoint me unless you just don’t try, Bolton.  You have said yourself how relaxed you are feeling; just carry that over into the shift.”

“Yeah, but my wolf takes over, and sometimes he’s…overzealous?  I guess that would be the word.”

Ryan came closer to us to speak to him.  They had become friends the past couple of weeks, too, which says a lot because Ryan doesn’t take to just anyone.  “As calm as your wolf is now around her, it will be then too; even though he will
be
in control.”

“You’ll do alright.”  Jerry piped in.

He nodded and we continued on.  I could see that the tension in his shoulders had drained out, letting me know that he had indeed relaxed.

After finishing with the farewells, we were on our way back to the pack house and I decided to ask him about his life before.  I had shied away from that subject because he seemed hesitant to speak about it, but curiosity was getting the better of me.

A look of pain crossed his face before he answered.  “Well, I grew up in the system.  I was orphaned when I was six and spent the years until my eighteenth birthday being bounced around the foster care system.  The family I was with when I turned eighteen I had been with for nine months and they were more like real parents than anyone else had ever tried to be to me.  They even paid for me to go to Indiana State to take some computer and web design courses.  There I met the love of my life; a girl named B
arbara.  We were both nineteen…well,
I was almost twenty.  She was majoring in Business Management to be able to take over the running of her family’s business.” 

He let out a shaky breath and I could tell he was getting upset. 

“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”  I told him softly
.  I touched his arm, trying to share more comforting feelings and help him out of his pain.

“No, that’s alright.  I haven’t really talked about this before.  I really didn’t have the chance.”  He took a couple of seconds to gather himself.  “About ten months ago, Barbara went and had an abortion at some seedy clinic.  I guess she went there so there would be no questions asked.  She didn’t eve
n tell me she was pregnant; only her sister who
went with her.  She didn’t want to have a baby until she was finished with school, so she didn’t bother giving me a choice.”  I could hear the bitterness in his voice at that fact.  “Anyway, the procedure went wrong and she bled out internally.  By the time we knew anything was wrong, she was too far gone.  I went crazy.  I had lost the two most important things in my life, so I figured I would end it so I could be with them, but when I went out into the woods to kill myself, I ended up getting attacked.
  I figured I survived that, God must have plans for me, so here I’ve been; just trying to deal.”

“I know it doesn’t help, but I am so sorry you had to go through that.”  I felt so bad that I couldn’t make it better for him. 

He must have guessed my train of thought because he grabbed my hand and pulled me to a stop.  “You are the one that’s making it easier to be able to deal.  That is more than anyone else can do or has done.”

We continued to walk back, him still holding my hand, but I didn’t feel comfortable doing that, so I gently slid my hand out of his.  He had a second of looking disappointed, but gave a small smile anyway.  I was doing this trip under false pretenses and I felt bad enough for that as it was, I wasn’t going to lead someone on
;
thinking there could be more to our friendship than there was.