(Willa)
“Hi,” Holden gave me a two-finger wave as soon as he opened the car door. I thanked the driver and got out.
“Hi, thanks for meeting me,” I knew I sounded anxious.
“He’s okay. The doctor has already come.”
“Good, and?” I let the question hang.
“Caspien and he haven’t burnt anything down so..” Holden shrugged. "He said he will fill you in once you get up there."
Well, that was something.
We walked into a large building. A bustle of activity hummed as soon as I walked in the door; it seemed like a shopping center of some sort. I was too nervous to really pay much attention.
Holden led me to an elevator that was almost hidden and swiped a card and his finger.
“Pretty important.” He adjusted his suit and smiled, gesturing for me to go first.
I watched the city go by in a daze, but it still took my breath away. The city didn’t seem so big, being on the street, but watching the buildings sprawl below us, showed its sheer vastness.
Holden pressed another button, and we finally stopped at what had to be the top of this massive building.
“After you.” Holden let me go first; I liked that he didn’t push me to talk, even though he seemed like a talker.
I didn't know why I was so anxious. I knew it was a mix of him being sick and worried he would be upset that I didn’t pick him up, guilty that I didn’t, and fearful that they wouldn’t like each other.
Caspien and Emmett were so different, and I wasn’t sure who I was worried more for. Maybe neither of them would like the other.
Holden opened the door to a huge apartment with two-story windows. His open sitting room was larger than the entirety of my apartment.
I heard Emmett's giggle, and it sent relief through me. Caspien and Emmett were sitting on the couch. Caspien looked back at me, and my heart lurched. He was wearing a plain white shirt that hugged his muscles. I had never seen him so casual.
“Hi.” He gave me a genuine smile, one of his broadest. “Emmett hasn’t seen Pokemon, so we’re starting from the beginning.”
“It’s great, Mama! There are so many different pets.” He bounced up and down. I rushed toward him, cupping his flushed cheeks in my hands.
“How are you feeling?” I already felt better seeing that he was in good spirits and not upset that I wasn’t there.
“Good.” He frowned. “I think. I feel hot sometimes.” He gave me a lopsided smile, and I ruffled his hair.
“What did the doctor say?” I asked Caspien.
“He wasn’t sure.” His mouth was set in a thin line. “He suggested a bad cold and gave him some antibiotics. Those will be here soon, by the way.”
“A cold?” I mused.
I’d heard of some pups getting sick, but not anything like this. More of our injuries were physical, a broken bone or something, not a common cold.
“He’s coming back tomorrow if that’s okay.” He suddenly looked a bit worried.
A flash of lightning lit up the room, followed by a crack of thunder that made me jump. Emmett let out a little squeal and cuddled into Caspien's side. Caspien hesitated for a second in surprise before he wrapped his arm around Emmett.
“Do you want your water?” Caspien asked when Emmett sat up a bit.
Emmett nodded, and Caspien reached to the table to give him a cup with some cartoon on it I didn’t recognize.
“Holden’s choice,” he explained.
“Hey, I was given little instruction,” Holden called out. I had completely forgotten he was there.
“Thank you.” I looked at him.“Why are you still standing there?” He hadn’t moved from the front entrance.
“Waiting to be dismissed by his highness,”
Caspien rolled his eyes. “You may leave.”
“Your groceries are about to be here.” Holden crossed his arms. “Do you want me to unload those for you, as well?”
“That would be great, thanks.” Caspien ignored the sarcasm dripping from Holden’s question.
Another flash of lightning lit up the sky, and Emmett hid his face in Caspien's side, bracing for the thunder. Caspien tightened his arm around him, and I swallowed. At least they both seemed comfortable enough with each other.
“I was going to make some dinner if you were hungry.” He turned his gaze to me.“How did your exam go?”
“Pretty well, all things considered.” I smiled. “I hope, at least.”
“Good,”
“I didn’t know you cooked,”
“I have a few talents.”
“That was the most modest I’ve ever heard him say,” Holden called from another room that must be the kitchen.
“You’re right. It wouldn’t be like me to downplay my accomplishments. I’m good at most things, and the things I’m not good at, I practice until I am.” There was no playfulness in his voice, his eyes held a level of sincerity, but I couldn’t quite figure out what it was about.
“Well, that is very modest of you,” I joked.
“Modesty isn’t something I’m used to.” He paused. “But I’m learning. Learning a lot of things, actually.” His eyes didn’t leave mine.
Emmett poked his chest. “Can we keep watching now?”
“Yes.” Caspien smiled, a real one. “I’m going to talk to your mama for a minute. Are you going to be okay here?”
Emmett looked at Caspien and paused before shaking his head. “The thunder,” he murmured, looking embarrassed.
“Oh, I almost forgot. Well then, I can wait to talk to her. How about we see if she wants to watch Pokemon with us?”
Emmett's eyes lit up, and he turned to me. “Do you want to? It's really good. I’ll show you my favorites.”
“Of course, baby.” I took a seat on the other side of them, taking one of Emmett's hands in mine.
Warmth coursed through me. Sitting in Caspien’s apartment with Emmett between us and having both of them seemed to accept each other.
This felt normal. Watching cartoons with them. It felt natural, even in this sprawling penthouse apartment that felt very. I wasn’t sure of the word I was looking for. Clean, maybe?
Very clean. Huge. Massive. Spacious - Iris suggested.
“Okay, guess that’s my cue,” Holden called from behind us.
“I forgot he was here,” Caspien muttered.
“I heard that,” Holden said, “And I’ve heard from a few people that I was very unforgettable.”
“Your mom doesn’t count,” I called over my shoulder, and he had the decency to look offended. I gave him a sweet smile.
“Boo,” was all he said, turning on his heel. “You’re welcome,” he muttered.
“You’re supposed to say thank you,” Emmett whispered to Caspien, and he barked a laugh.
“Thank you, Holden,” Caspien called to his back.
“Wait a second.” Holden walked back in, checking for something. “Sorry, just had to look out the window that pigs weren’t flying because you used some manners.”
“Get out.” Caspien pointed toward the door, and Holden flashed us a smile before finally leaving.
We settled in comfortably. Emmett asked Caspien a lot of questions about the show. Caspien reached around Emmett to place his hand on my shoulder, and it steadied me. I reached up to put my hand on top of his and squeezed it.
Emmett dozed off after the thunder died down, and Caspien and I moved to the kitchen. He made me a cup of tea and placed it on the kitchen island between us.
“I want you to stay tonight.” He leaned over the island.
“But-”
“The doctor is coming back, and Emmett already picked out a room.” He paused for a second as if he said something wrong. “I told him he could choose a room for the day,” he added.
“It's so soon.”
“Is it?” He raised an eyebrow, “You were destined to me, and I was created for you.”
I sighed. “I-”
“Yes, you were destined to another.” His gaze pierced through me. “But I think that was a fluke. I felt something the first time I saw you, even though you were mated to him. I don’t know if that was because your bond was about to break, who knows, but I don’t think you were ever meant to be with him for long.”
I agreed. The more I was with Caspien, the more I saw the parallels between both of my mates. I saw what being an equal was and having someone take care of me without possessing me. I knew for a while that Nolan and I weren’t meant to be, although I don’t think I would have ever realized it if I was still with him. I would have gotten used to the feeling of emptiness, of never feeling seen or heard. Never attaining accomplishments of my own. H.ell, I was already getting used to it the year I was with him.
I was drunk on infatuation and what I thought was love, blinded completely to what our relationship really was.
“I don’t know why you were fated to him, Willa, I really don’t, but I’m glad you were.”
My eyes snapped to him in complete confusion. We rarely talked about Nolan. Well, he rarely did. Whenever he was mentioned, Caspien went stiff for a split second, but I noticed it. He seemed to always get upset, and I knew it was because of what I went through and not out of some possessive Alpha b.ullshit.
“Emmett wouldn’t have been here if you weren’t with him.” Caspien seemed to soften, and my brows tugged together. He was right.
“It was the only thing worth it all,” I admitted, and he nodded. He already knew that.
“Emmett is special; he’s different. I know I don’t have many children to compare him to, but I know he’s destined for something. I can feel it.”
I studied Caspien; his jaw was set. He was completely serious, not saying it to appease me. I always thought he was destined for something, but I was his mother. Parents always think their kids are special.
“He was meant to be, Willa. The Moon Goddess wanted him on this earth for whatever reason. It sucks what you had to go through to get him, but he was worth it. You were never destined to end up with Nolan. You were destined for me. But I wouldn’t have been able to give you Emmett.”
I thought about it.
“Those are pretty words,” I said.
“They are, and they’re even prettier because they’re true.” He gave me a genuine smile, one of my favorites of his that had a hint of playfulness beneath it.
“You might be right.”
“I am right.” There was no room for argument. “So stay here for the night, you can put Emmett to bed here, and I’ll get anything else he needs. I put the toys and clothes Holden got him in his room for you to go through. He wasn’t interested in playing today.”
I nodded and chewed my lip.
“Say yes, Willa. Just one night, plus it's storming.”
“Okay, I said and his eyes widened slightly. “Just because it's storming.” I raised my eyebrows, and he shook his head. “But I can’t sleep in your room.”
“I understand. You can choose any room besides the one that Emmett called dibs on, or you can sleep with him.”
“Thanks.” I tugged at a loose strand of hair. “For everything.”
“That’s what mates are for, right?” He shrugged. “To be partners, to help each other, pick up any slack.”
“I think you might be right.”
“I told you I usually am.” He flashed me another one of those smiles, and it made my stomach tighten.
Goddess, I wanted this man.