When Matt dropped Leah off after the meeting with his father, they were once again remiss to leave each other. It took Leah’s phone ringing for them to pull apart. Seeing that it was her Beta calling, Leah took her leave from Matt, heading to her room to reassure her Beta that all was well and that she was allowed to stay on pack territory. After her conversation with Lethe, Leah called Kade once more, berating him for the phone call he had made to the Timberfalls Alpha, again trying to convince him that she was safe in her new home.
Leah spent the afternoon helping her mom unpack all their boxes, bags, and trunks; it was a ritual they had at every new house they lived at, in order to make it feel like a home, no matter how long or short their stay would be. Alex had been set the task of finding where everything was in town and picking the essentials from the grocery store. Harlow and Leah knew that his sense of organization was non-existent and sent him away so they could get everything done faster than having to reorganize multiple times if he stayed.
When they finished all the living and shared areas, including the bathrooms, all that was left was the bedrooms. As they were retrieving all the bed linens from a half-sorted-through box, they heard the slamming of the door as Alex made a boisterous entrance. Shaking her head, Harlow headed downstairs, leaving Leah to start the bedrooms by herself while she made desserts for the upcoming dinner at the Alpha’s home. Seeing her son unloading the groceries, Harlow quickly stepped in saying, “Why don’t you go help your sister making the beds and putting up the curtains. That way I can make a dessert without you trying to steal the ingredients before it's all made.” Giving Alex a mock scowl, Harlow sent her son on his way before getting started.
As he passed her, Alex threw his mom a smirk before trudging up the stairs to help Leah. He could hear her music playing in their mom’s room so he headed to her without stopping to check for her in the other three bedrooms or the bathroom. Leah was shaking out the bedsheets, looking for one that would fit her mom’s bed when Alex walked in and threw himself on the unmade bed, disturbing the pile of linens neatly stacked on it.
Leah kicked Alex off the bed, glaring at him for messing up her piles. “Aw, come on, Lee! I hate making beds! Why you gotta ruin all my fun?”
“Just be thankful we don’t have to make the beds! Mom’s a genius always renting places that are furnished. Imagine, Alex, if we had to put all the bed frames together and carry mattresses to each new place we move to!”
Alex’s look of horror sent Leah in a fit of laughter. Getting herself together, she set her brother the task of putting up curtains in each room as well as the shower curtains in each bathroom, while she put the sheets and pillowcases in each room. An hour later they were putting away everyone’s clothes while Harlow finished in the kitchen.
The entire time they were working, Alex bombarded Leah with questions about becoming a wolf and what life would be like when he could change forms. The few times, Harlow went to check on her children, they were in deep discussion and she was loath to disturb them, returning downstairs each time without them seeing her. What she didn’t see was Leah’s slight tilt of her head, each time she heard Harlow hit the creak in the stairs, or as she scented her mother just outside the door.
When they were finally finished with the bedrooms and bathrooms upstairs, the siblings made their way to the kitchen to help their mother pack up all the desserts she had made for the pack dinner. The family made their way to the packhouse with Leah giving directions and reminding them about pack etiquette as her brother and mom didn’t spend much time in the shifter world.
Emery was waiting for them outside with his three sons by his side, while his Beta and Head Enforcer stood just behind them. “Welcome to Timberfalls. I am Emery Mercia, Alpha of Timberfalls Pack and these are my sons, Matthew, Markus, and Mason. We are glad you could join us tonight.”
Harlow shook each of their hands stating, “Thank you for having us. I’m Harlow Kearney, and these are my children, Leah and Alexander.” Each of the three was holding containers full of brownies and mini cakes.
Leading his guests into the mansion they called home, Emery said, “My Beta’s wife, Jeanie, will be pleased you brought dessert. As much as she loves cooking for the pack, she hates having to make dessert and dealing with everyone’s preferences.”
Harlow’s easy and sincere response eased any tensions the wolves felt having loners on their territory, “It’s my pleasure. Baking a couple of desserts is the least I could do as a thank you for allowing us on your territory. I know wolves aren’t very big on sharing things, especially their space.”
A knowing chuckle spread through all the wolves present; Leah included. Emery led the Kearney’s towards the middle of the house, pointing out each room as they passed. Rather than multiple rooms taking up the center of the mansion, an extravagant banquet hall took its place, allowing the entirety of the Timberfalls Pack to dine together.
Five rows of long tables took up the width of the room, one on the far side of the room was full of children ranging from the ages of six to eighteen while the other side held all the elders. The three middle tables were taken up by the rest of the pack. Just inside the doorway, a buffet of home-cooked food and drinks were spread out, spanning the entire width of the room in two rows. At the head of the room on the opposite side, was another long table that was perpendicular to the other five. This is where Emery told his visitors they would be seated. “This is my head table where my sons, Beta, Head Enforcer, and a few of my other more dominant wolves sit. As you are my guests for the night, this is where you shall be sitting.”
As the Alpha, Beta, pack heirs, and guests moved across the room, the pack quieted except for a small child crying. Emery held out the chair next to his in the middle, allowing Harlow to have the honor of sitting beside him. Leah sat on his other side with her mate right next to her, while their brothers were on the other side of Harlow, Alex between the other triplets.
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