A/N ; Thanks guys to those of you who reviewed…Keep them coming I love to hear from you…
A question was raised by a non-member /Subb/ as to why I have placed Max and Alec in the category? Well, I don't think it's misleading because I make myself clear in the story title and the summary that this is a story about the next generation…They are placed in the category because the story involves their family and they have a part to play in the story too…It's their nation and their family, after all…
Chapter 9 –
Alec looked at Max with a horrified look adorning his face. 'Maxie, what have you done?'
'What?' Max asked impatiently as she shredded some documents in the paper-shredding machine.
'You just asked Cade to help Zeva have a bath.' Alec leaned forward in his chair, worried.
They were both currently working in their office at Command, sorting out supply lists and other such documents. Alec saw Max pause and bite her lip as she mulled over something.
'Alec, I trust him. He won't take advantage of the situation. His instincts will be telling him to protect her and make her feel better. You should know that better than anyone. I could've gone to do it myself but there's a lot of work here and he needs to learn how to look after family. She's part of his family now.' Max resumed her task.
'I trust him too but this isn't right. She may be our pack and family now but she isn't related to him by blood.' Alec argued. He felt uncomfortable with the thought of his new daughter getting help like that without her own consent.
'Instincts are stronger than blood, Alec. You're the one who told me that once. You know, once someone becomes pack in our species we mean it in every way and forever.' Max gave him a look that dared him to disagree but he couldn't.
'You're right.' Alec let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. He just hoped his son didn't let him down.
Cade panicked when he realised what he had just agreed to. Had his Mom gone mad? She knew he slept around, that he was a horny bastard when it came to pretty girls. Yet, she was willing to trust him to look after a defenceless 15 yr old girl who wouldn't even be able to tell anyone anything if he took advantage of her vulnerability.
Cade was happy that his parents' trust in him was absolute but it also scared him. He never wanted to lose it. He was determined to not let his parents down. They were right, she was pack now. It was his duty to look after her.
He went to the bathroom and filled the tub with warm water as his Mom had instructed. After the tub was full, he added his sisters' bubble bath shampoo to the water. He then went to her and motioned for her to follow him. She followed him robotically into the bathroom and stood, waiting for further instructions.
'Zeva, take your clothes off and get in the bath.' She didn't move. He gave up on the easy solution and resigned himself to the task his mother had set him.
Cade tried to stay detached from what he was doing, it wasn't easy. However, somehow he managed to undress her without staring at her body. He didn't want to take advantage of the situation and get a free-view of her body. He left her underwear on. Carrying her bridal-style, he gently lowered her down in the soapy scented warm water. Immersing her in the water from shoulders to toes, he knelt by the tub and quickly got rid of her underwear. He silently thanked the person who had invented the formula for bubble baths because he couldn't see any part of her body through all the bubbles. He grabbed his sisters' wash-cloth and gently moved it across her body in fast strokes. He kept his eyes trained on her face. He quickly washed her body with the cloth, making sure he didn't touch her. Washing the hair was easier because he didn't have to think about his actions. She hardly moved in all that time. Finally, he was satisfied that she was clean enough. So, he got up and grabbed a clean spare towel from the storage cupboard. Keeping his eyes above her shoulders, he pulled her up in a standing position andwrapped the towel around her. He was relieved to see it at least was big enough to cover her ass. Then, he carried her to her room and sat her down on her bed.
'Right, what do you want to wear?' The silence was killing him. He wanted to use talking as a diversion. His feelings towards her were all confused. He didn't know why but he kept thinking that this hadn't been like him looking after a pack member but something more, something intimate. The way he was feeling now, he had never felt like this before. This girl made him feel different and he didn't understand why that was the case. He didn't even know her.
He got a set of matching black girl boxers and bra and handed it to her to wear. When she didn't respond, he snatched back the underwear from her hands and then performed the excruciating task himself. He bunched her towel and held it in place with a knot before reaching under her towel to pull her boxers up and her bra down. He couldn't get over that fact that he had just given a girl, same age as him, a bath and was now dressing her up without anything sexual happening between them. He had never thought he had it in him to resist a gorgeous legit girl. 'Okay, now I'll check your injuries. You don't mind, do you? I might need to touch you on your body. If you don't like me feeling you up, then you'll just have to kick my ass.' He tried to use humour to diffuse the tension in the air.
Cade got rid of the towel and made quick work of checking her for injuries. When he was satisfied that she was clean with just bruises adorning her body and no cuts, he opened the clothes box and took out the first top and pants that came in his hands. He quickly dressed her up in the black vest top and tight black jeans and decided to leave the shoes and socks because she wasn't going anywhere. 'Come on, let's go and eat something.' She followed him in the kitchen and he motioned for her to sit on a stool at the kitchen counter. He then started preparing lunch for them to eat.
After lunch, he moved to the living room and decided to play on his games console. Ryan had called him to tell him that he couldn't hang out because he was going with his Dad to get painting things for Joshua from the nearest Australian town. Cade didn't want to hang-out with anyone else and his Mom had told him to stay with her. So, he decided it was time to get on the next level in his latest game, 'Need for Speed'. He was grateful of the fact that Dalton took his job of providing their entertainment seriously otherwise he would've been bored out of his mind.
Zeva had followed him after lunch and sat beside him, staring blankly at the images on the tele. He got into his game and totally forgot about the silent presence beside him. He was only brought back out of his euphoric trance-like state of playing the game, when his family came home.
Alec walked in his home to find a sleeping Zeva curled up beside an excited Cade. Cade was oblivious to everything around him as he continued to play on his games console. A brilliant idea formed in his head. He sneaked up behind Cade and smacked him on his head.
'What the hell?' Cade jumped, startled. He subconciously gave Zeva a once-over to see if she was alright.
'Where are your instincts, Cade? You should've known we're here.' Alec scoffed.
'You're pack, Dad.' Cade was angry. His Dad had scared the hell out of him.
'I could've been a shapeshifter. Seriously, Cade, Dean would be disappointed in your lack of instincts.' Alec beamed at his son.
Max came into the living room, looking happy for a change. 'Alec, leave my baby alone. Otherwise, I will kick your sorry ass so bad it'll hurt for a month.'
'You already kill me softly every night.' Alec put his hand on his heart and winked seductively at Max.
'Oh, please.' Cade made an annoyed bitch-face. It was great that his parents loved each other but he didn't want to hear them flirting about spanking or other such stuff.
Max's lips twitched at Alec's behaviour. She did find it sexy when he said things like that but now wasn't the time or place. 'Cade?'
'Yes, Mom?'
'I've been into Zeva's room and I've seen the things you bought her. You have great taste just like me. Everything's perfect. I see you've helped her have a bath too. I'll change her sheets so they won't smell of those dirty clothes she slept in last night. She needs to be surrounded with our scents now.' She looked pointedly at the sleeping beauty on the couch beside her son.
'I think she already recognises my scent. She doesn't tense up when I touch her anymore. I didn't smell fear or anger when I helped her in the bath. I did everything you said, Mom. I also made her lunch when I made my own food. I've been here with her, all day.' Cade saved his game status and switched the console off. 'I feel tired. I'm gonna go and take a nap. Wake me for Dinner.' Before he left, Max gave him a hug and kiss, telling him how much she loved him and how he was such a good boy. He lapped up the praise because he loved having his ego massaged. On the way to his room, he received two more hugs from his little sisters who decided they were feeling generous.
Alec followed Max into the kitchen and sat down on a stool. Max started preparing for dinner after handing Alec his bottle of scotch and a glass. Alec levelled a thoughtful look her way, making her ask. 'What's on your mind?'
Alec looked over his shoulder to make sure Zeva was still asleep. 'I think Cade's instincts have become involved with Zeva.' He saw Max shrug and realised she didn't understand his meaning.
'Well, that's good, isn't it? She's his pack.' Max started chopping the onions, rather aggressively.
Alec loved watching his Maxie cook because she wasn't so good at it and she worked the ingredients as if she was murdering them. That was why Cade or Alec himself did most of the cooking in their house. He saw her butchering the onions and stifled a laugh. He cleared his throat and concentrated on their conversation. 'Yeah, it's good. But it's more than that.'
'What are you trying to say, Alec? Just spit it out.' Max stopped her chopping and gave him a serious look.
'You mean you can't tell?' Alec prolonged the conversation, wanting to piss her off.
'What?' Max asked, exasperated.
'I should've figured.' Alec grinned when he heard her angry growl and look like she was about to explode.
'Alec, if you don't tell me right now, I swear you won't be able to sit on your ass for a year.' Max looked furious.
'What I mean when I say that it's more than that, is, I believe Cade is attracted to her.' Alec confessed.
'Well, that's not a surprise. He's attracted to every good-looking girl in Deania.' Max sneered and rolled her eyes.
'No, the way he feels for her is different. I'm an Alpha. I can tell. All the other girls are meaningless to him but she isn't. He cares about her. He was reacting to her differently even before we made her our pack member. She brings out the Alpha in him. I've snuck up on him countless times before and he's never reacted the way he did today. He was instinctively protecting her whilst she slept and he didn't even know about it himself.' Alec took a long swig of his drink.
'Do you think he's aware?' Max asked as she stirred the chopped vegetables after adding them to the rice.
'If you're asking about the attraction, then no he isn't aware. I think he's confused.' Alec replied, honestly. He knew only too well how Cade might be feeling. Many years ago, he had felt different towards a female too when she had treated him differently than other females did. She had been his assigned breeding partner then and now was his mate, Max.
'You know Alec, I was thinking about Zeva. Who are we gonna leave her with tomorrow? We can't send her to school yet and we can't leave her at home alone. She won't be comfortable with Joshua or anyone else, for that matter.' Max took the plates and glasses out of the cupboard.
'I guess we'll have to take her to Command with us until she's better. We'll send her school when she starts showing signs of her human side being awake. Cade is right, you know. She is probably functioning on her basic instincts.' Alec helped Max carry the dishes and glasses to the dining table.
'Yeah, I agree.' Max said in an annoyed tone as if the very thought of agreeing with Alec was insane.
Alec laughed at her. 'Maxie, it isn't a bad thing that you agree with me sometimes.' He moved close to her and put his arms around her waist. He started trailing passionate kisses from her temple to her shoulder, making her moan in pleasure.
'You ass.' She breathed out between moans.
'I know you love it.' He bit her earlobe.
'The only thing I love.' Max smiled, leaning her back against her mate.
'Sure.' Alec scoffed and was about to prove his point when Mila skipped into the room. The little kid saw her parents in a compromising position and formed a 'O' and started to back-track. Alec stopped her. 'Mila, where are you going, princess?'
'Daddy, you and Mommy are all kissey-kissey so I'll go.' Mila played with the hem of her skirt.
'No, princess. Mommy and I are finished here. We were just gonna call you all for dinner. Wash your hands and sit down.' Alec smiled at his daughter and ruffled her hair as she came within his reach. 'I'll go and call the others and wake Zeva.' Alec said to Max and before she could reply, he gave her a quick kiss which made Mila giggle, and left.
Reviews are love...i don't even mind if someone tells me the story sucks ;)
