Chapter 51

Just a Few Adjustments

My mother was fanning herself while looking about the cave. She kept shaking her head at the assortment of werewolf walking around in their three different forms. We all sat around her on rocks covered in furs.

"You knew about this," she stated plainly. "I know, you knew about this Quint."

My dad squeezed her hand. "I'll explain what my real job is to you later."

Pursing her lips, my mom's head snapped toward her husband. "Real job? Oh, good lord," She started to unbutton her coat. "I think it's getting hotter in here."

"Do you want something to drink, Karen?" asked Xavier.

"Water," she glanced around. "Not for a river or stream preferably."

The alpha chuckled. "How about from a bottle?"

"Oh yes, please," she breathed.

He sent a werewolf off to bring her one.

My dad leaned over to me. "You and Titus can go. Once she calms down a bit, I'll explain things to her."

"'kay." I grabbed my boyfriend's hand and slipped away.

We went to Titus's room and collapsed in the pit.

Groaning, I rolled into his chest. "She didn't take it well, Titus."

He laughed in my ear and rubbed my back. "She didn't faint at least. I was worried there for a moment when the color drained out of her face."

"I don't considered that to be positive," I muttered.

"There's been far worse reactions." He unzipped my coat. "Take some of this off."

"It's cold, though." I pressed into him. There were piles of snow in the hallway from the sky holes, so the cave really wasn't all that warm. "I don't understand how you can be half naked."

"It's a little cold." He put a fur over our legs. "But I run hot."

I nodded and wiggled out of my coat. Titus tossed it out of the way. He rolled onto his back, and I placed my head on his chest. He started to play with my hair. I was still cold and tugged the blankets around my shoulder. Titus's started to move around, and slide off his shorts. I felt his fur pressed against my cheek soon after.

"Better."

"Yes." I nodded, letting my eyes closed. "Much."  

***

"Well I say, this is different?"

I flinched and opened my eyes. My mother standing above us staring at Titus. My boyfriend sat up with his ear splayed to the side. He smiled, but his fangs didn't look very friendly.

Titus shrugged. "This is the real me."

"Real you?" My mother glanced back at her husband.

"They're born as werewolf, Karen. The pups you saw early are too young to know how to shift."

"Oh," she said, trying to sound positive. "Yes, makes sense then." She wandered about the room.

Titus shifted back to human right when my mother looked his way.

Jumping, she clutched her chest. She gave him a precarious look. Her mouth opened, but quickly closed. Shaking her head, she went back to examining the interior of the room.

Titus slipped back into his shorts.

"Not exactly homey." She picked up a lid to a plastic bin that was cracked. A large section was missing.

Grabbing my coat, I put it on and sat on the ledge of the bed. "It's not that bad."

"Hmmm..." She picked up a shredded shirt with some rust colored stains. "Yes, not bad at all." She took a deep breath and faced us. "I think I'll be having a word with Xavier."

My heart dropped. This was it. She was going to end us. The weight landed on my shoulder. Bowing my head, I quickly covered my face. I knew it won't work. She never let it happen.

"Aden," she said softly, hurrying over to my side. "Sweetheart, what on earth is the matter?" Putting her arms around me, she hugged me tightly.

"You don't approve," I whispered. "We can't be together. That's what you're going to tell the alpha."

She grabbed my chin and gave me a stern look. "Aden Perri, I have always like Titus. He treats you right and makes you happy. This wolf thing is a little out there, but the boy has always had a few quirks." Leaning in, she kissed my cheek. "I was just going to tell Xavier that Titus could use some proper furniture." She waved her hand in the air. "A dresser. A book case even." She glanced at the pile of book, haphazardly stack. "Maybe I can even convince him to get a proper bed."

Titus laugh. "Oh no, Mrs. Perri. You can't get rid of my bed." He flopped down in the furs. "I like it even more than Aden's."

She raised an eyebrows. "I prefer my son not to be sleeping in dead animal skins. Doesn't seem very sanitary to me."

My father started to chuckle as Titus's mouth dropped open.

"We clean them, I swear. We send them away to be professionally done."

"Well then you can send away from a proper comforter and a few more blankets. Maybe a decent pillow or two." She reached over and patted his leg. "If you want my son to ever live here, a few adjustments will have to be made, or you could always come live in Harper's Creek. We can find you some land close to our house to build."

Titus's should dropped. "What kind of adjustments?"

She rose to her feet and put her hands on her hips. "We'll start here, and then we'll take on the rest of this cave."

I fell over my knees and ran my hands down my face. "Xavier is going to wish he never invited us."

My mother looped arms with me. "Just suggestions, Aden. I sure Rose would agree with me that this place needs a couple upgrades." She led me to the doorway. "Come along, boys. I need a proper tour."

***

My head hurt, and now I was facing having dinner with the alpha, and it was only going to get worse. My mother had a list of suggestions ready for him.

They had ordered in a table that sat low to the ground for us to use in the alpha's living courter. His room was in an attached cave that had bear hides dangling from the door.

"Curtains," I heard my mother whispered as she scribbled down on a notepad she had found in her purse.

"I'm ready for today to be over." I rubbed my forehead.

She patted my back. "Don't be dramatic, sweetheart. I'll wait until later to give it to him." She flipped the cover over her list and put it away.

I didn't know what exactly to expect for the food. Titus was plenty fond of his extra rare meat, and I'm sure the other werewolves were the same. So I couldn't help but smile when they carried in takeout from a chinese place in town as well as pizzas.

"Hopefully, everything is still good," said Xavier. "We had to reheat it."

"I'm sure it'll be fine." My mom passed around the paper plates, and we started to eat.

Darius and Titus had taken a container of sweet and sour chicken to themselves and ate very little else. I grabbed a couple slices of pizza.

"Is it warm enough," asked Rose. "We have a microwave in the back. I can put it in for a couple minutes."

"It's fine," I replied. "I prefer it cold over being microwaved anyways. Thanks though."

She gave me smile, before reaching into the cooler behind her to get out the bottle water. It was strangely a simple dinner. We ate quietly and everyone was rather relaxed. I was still slightly on edge, though. I would be until it was over.

My mother took a sip of her drink and rubbed her lips together. "I've been meaning to ask."

I braced myself.

"If Aden chooses to be with Titus, how will all of this work."

Darius smirked at his brother. "Why don't you tell her?" He slapped his brother on the back.

Storm gave her mate a stern glare. He was content with not say anything else. The damaged was done.

Titus cleared his throat and set the chinese food container down. "Well... if Aden decided he want to be with me, it'll be a pretty big commitment."

I swallowed hard and kept my head down. I could feel my mother's eyes on me.

"Such as?" she asked.

"I'll take him as a mate." He reached for one of the bottles of water.

"So it's like your version of marriage?"

Titus shrugged. "Sort of, there's just no divorce option."

Her eyes grew wide. "Wow, good to know." She squeezed my knee. "Hopefully, you already know all about this, because that is a serious commitment."

I nodded. "We've talked about it."

"There's more you should know," added my father.

My breath caught, and I shook my head.

"No more secrets, boys." He took a drink. "And Titus time to let her know about your age as well."

My mother grew very still at that comment. "Please tell me my son didn't lose his innocent to someone in their 30's?"

"Oh my god." I toppled onto the table. "Why did you have to put it like that? God, mom. You're so embarrassing."

"Titus is 23," said Xavier.

My mother seemed torned whether to accept it or not. "Six years is a pretty big gap."

"It's only a little over five," I muttered.

"If Aden does mate with Titus, he will be part of my pack," said Xavier. "He'll have to abide by our rules."

"Excellent," exclaimed my mother, putting her arm around my shoulder. "I won't have to worry about anything with Xavier watching over you."

The alpha was taken back and cleared his throat. "Yes, anyways. The point of the matter is, when Titus and Aden mate your son will no longer be human."

She stopped rocking me back and forth. "What are you saying?" She looked at me. "You'll be a werewolf." Grabbing my chin, she clasped her mouth with the other hand. "Oh, good lord, my baby covered in fur."

"I'll still be able to look human," I said lowly. "But yeah, I'll be like Titus. I'll be able to change forms."

She snatched me and squeezed me to her chest. "I'm trying to be the supportive mother here, Aden. But my baby boy becoming a werewolf?"

I pulled back, and our eyes met. "It's what I want though."

She blinked back the tears. "Don't look at me like that. I can't take it when you show me those sad eyes." Taking a deep breath, she nodded. "We'll figure it out." Clasping my hand, she gave it a squeeze. "So how does this werewolf transformation thing work?"

I closed my eyes and gritted my teeth. This was the question I hoped she'd never asked.

"To put it bluntly, sex," said Darius. "That's how a mating works."

"But you," she glanced from me to Titus. "And you..." She gave me a suspicious look. "Are you already a werewolf?"

"No, mom," I groaned. "We didn't mate. Not... not all the way." My hand went to my shoulder. "He didn't mark me." I nodded to Storm who's scar was showing along the neck of her shirt.

My mother turned me around and ripped my shirt to the side. "You told me it was a dog bite."

"It's just an engagement bite, I swear. I'm not a werewolf." I held up my hands.

She sucked in her cheek. "You're engaged? My son is engaged, and no one bothered to tell me. That's happened a few months ago, and never once did you think to let your mother know."

"It wasn't planned," I said softly. "When I ran away, I came here and in order to leave, Titus had to mark me. If he didn't, other werewolves might have tried to attack me. It was for my safety really."

"Still," said my mother sounding a little hurt. "You're engaged and now we're sitting around talking about mating. I just wish you had told me sooner. Is all this a bit of a shock, yes, but I would have been okay with it."

I draped my arms over my mom shoulder and put my head on her shoulder. "I'm sorry. I would have told you, but we had to make sure this was going to work first. No one's supposed to know about werewolves. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner." I kissed her cheek.

Nodded, she grabbed my hand. "You will have a wedding," she said firmly. "A human wedding, for the family. Am I understood?"

Smiling, I started to laugh softly. "Yes ma'am."

"Good," she wiped her eyes. "Because after you came out as gay, I was really excited  about getting to plan one. Only thing I miss about not having a daughter and now, I'll be able use all my ideas. It's going to be so beautiful, so don't worry at all. I'll plan the whole thing." She waved her hand in the air. "So you go do your werewolf thing, but we will have a proper human ceremony as well."

"Whatever you want." I kissed her cheek again.

"And you," she pointed to everyone in the room. "You will be attending. It'll be a black tie affair, don't think I'll let you out of it either."

Darius scanned everyone's faces. "What's a black tie affair?"