“Can we go now?” Emmett tugged on Caspiens's hand after he rushed back down the steps.
“Yes.” Caspien ruffled his hair. “Let me show you my home.”
“This is your home,” Emmett pointed out.
“Let me show you the rest of the packhouse; we can go back down the elevator.” Emmett bounced up and down.
“Mama, let's go! You have to see it.” I followed them out, feeling wholly content and overwhelmingly happy.
“We can start from the bottom up. Do you want to press the button?” Emmett's eyes lit up.
A low fog settled over the city, and we descended back from my personal haven through the clouds themselves.
“Wow.” Emmett pressed his nose to the glass elevator.
“Don’t get fingerprints on it.” I looked down at him.
“It’s okay.” Caspien put a hand on my lower back.
“That’s because you don’t have to clean it." I crossed my arms, raising an eyebrow at him.
“Okay, well, yeah, you got me there.” He tugged me against him, and we watched the fog give way to stark buildings.
“It’s magic,” Emmett breathed, his breath fogging up the glass.
“It is,” I agreed, and Caspien tightened his grip on me, sending warmth and sparks through me.
We left the elevator to a bustle of activity, and I could fully take it in this time. This was like no packhouse I had ever seen before. I honestly assumed it was a private apartment complex or some fancy a.ss hotel.
“How do random people not wander in?” I asked.
“Fake front, there's a front desk area that the public sees, similar to the Dracos group, actually. It's for a company that no one takes meetings at, of course." He raised his eyebrows as if he was telling me a great secret. "Holden probably brought you in the main entrance that only pack members use. The elevator we just came from is only for me and Griffen, Holden, and my parents. No one sees my living area; they think it's behind my office, a floor below.”
“But your lawyer..”
“The first time he came up there, Holden had to escort him up; I thought you would be more comfortable not leaving the apartment. I’ll get your credentials and fingerprints added.”
I nodded. I didn’t realize how much he thought about me. Well, I knew he did, but all these other things he did to make me feel comfortable, I didn’t deserve him.
We do - Iris chimed in.
You’re right. It's just..
No justs, he was made for us.
He led us into the main area. This was definitely bigger than any hotel I had ever seen, but I had limited experience.
The building was somehow circular on the inside despite the sharp corners of the outside building. It opened up for stories, so much so that I could barely make out the ceiling above. There were rows of open hallways with doors lining them in different colors stacked on each other.
It looked like a deconstructed hotel, with every door and hallway looking down to the area we were about to walk into. It was surprisingly bright, but I couldn't tell where the seemingly natural light came from. Vines reached up the levels, twisting and climbing towards the sky.
The space felt intimate and almost cozy despite its size. Pack members were milling about the upper floor hallways, and chatter filled the space. It felt warm and inviting, nothing like I was expecting after seeing the starkness of his apartment above all of this.
“Those are apartments up there. Some are larger two stories, others one bedroom. It depends on the size of the family.” He pointed up to the floors above. “All soundproofed, of course, for privacy.”
I studied the open upper floors. I couldn’t imagine living in practically a hotel with other pack members; all I knew was traditional houses that had grass and space in between them.
“It’s not for everyone.” He looked at me as if he could read my mind, and sometimes I believed he could. “I’ll show you the older part of the pack another time out past city limits. It looks more like what you would be used to. If you don’t like it here, we could move there,” he suggested.
He would be willing to give up his penthouse city apartment because of my preferences? The thought of us all living together didn’t make me nervous like it did yesterday; I was excited about the life he promised me. I could actually see it.
“I like it,” I whispered; I did. “What’s down here?” I brought my attention back to the first floor, a huge space filled with greenery and warmth.
“Pack common area, and over there.” He pointed to a long hallway across the open space. “Is shopping, food, everything you could ever need without having to leave.”
“A modern Utopia,” I gave him a wry smile.
“Pretty much,” he agreed, “But of course, most pack members spend a lot of time elsewhere in the city. There are a gym and warrior training areas below this floor, and above this, the more formal areas, meeting rooms, offices, all that fun stuff.”
It was impressive, a packhouse hidden amongst the sprawling city buildings. It was full of life and activity; there was something to be said about most of the pack living under one roof.
“It feels good.” Emmett grabbed my hand and pointed at all the plants, and tried to count the floors that I even lost track of.
“Let's get some food and some clothes for you.” He turned to me. “As much as I love seeing you in mine,” he added lower.
I took his hand and let him lead me through the packhouse. People stiffened whenever we walked past them. I guess he had that same effect on everyone, even in his own pack. When they saw us, confusion plastered their faces, and whispers followed in our wake. Their confusion was replaced by wide smiles when they saw me holding Caspien's hand, though. I tried to return their smiles, but I felt nervous.
To me, I was being shown Caspien's home with my son by my side. To them, I was their future Luna, a title I didn’t accept yet and might never would. But everyone's friendly demeanor made it easier, they seemed genuinely happy, waving and greeting me as Emmett and I walked by.
The hallway opened up to what looked like a mini-mall. Emmett got ice cream, and Caspien insisted I pick out clothes, but I only let him drag me to one shop, and he seemed appeased by that- for now.
“Want to see the offices? We have a theater too. I can have it reserved if Emmett would like that,” he whispered the last part.
“That sounds good. I do have work tomorrow, though." I chewed on my lip, not wanting to face the real world, wishing I could stay here forever.
“Stay tonight?” His eyes were pleading. “Please,” he added.
“Just because you said please."
- - - - -
He showed us a floor of people working in darker rooms, apparently in charge of security for most of the territory. There were small cameras everywhere and people coding things on black screens. At Blue Ridge, we had warriors, and that was it; there was no secret service pack security that was tended to, I was sure, twenty-four hours.
But again, Crescent Moon owned most of the city and a lot of land beyond; they were one of the most prominent packs in the states for a reason. I loved hearing Caspien explain things to me and then explain them in further detail to Emmett and answer his million questions patiently. Caspien didn’t just take the pack as it was from his father but was actively working on building it and changing it to be sustainable for the future.
There was no complacency with him. Even though he was part of one of the last lines of pure royal blood, even though he was destined to lead a prominent pack from infancy, he accepted his roles but didn’t rely on his title or power. He was constantly working for his pack, even if they didn’t see everything he did behind the scenes. I was so incredibly proud of him and honored to be his mate.
We went to the meeting and conference rooms that reminded me of the ones he had at his office in the Dracos Group Main Building.
“How many offices do you have?” I asked him.
He shrugged. “Eight, for now.” My eyes bulged, waiting for him to say he was joking, but he just kept going on.
“But how? I mean, the business, the pack-” I trailed off.
“I delegate.” He looked back at me. “I trust the people I have in charge; I oversee them and have regular check-ins. I like to know what's going on in all aspects of my pack, but I trust the people I put in charge. There is no way I could do any of this by myself.”
“Being Alpha sounds cool.” Emmett looked at Caspien with such adoration, he understood the concept a bit, but since he didn’t grow up in a pack, I don’t think he really grasped how important Caspien was.
When he said that, Caspien squeezed my hand. A flicker of sadness came through me, and I think he sensed it.
Emmett was supposed to be an Alpha; I knew he would be a good one. Not one that was led by fear and dominance, not one that craved power, but one that ruled fairly and made sure his pack was taken care of. An Alpha like Caspien. But Emmett would never get the chance.
Even though Caspien had his reputation, I saw just how much he cared and did for his pack. While Emmett was distracted, I asked him more about that. How hard it was for even his pack to not truly see him or understand the lengths he went for them. He told me it was a burden to shoulder. His reputation protected him and, therefore, the pack. Even though people wouldn’t see this other side of him, he didn’t mind because he was working for his people. Part of me thought he might mind, and I told him that.
“As long as you two see me for who I trust am, I don’t need the entire pack to sit down and have a heart-to-heart with me.” He smiled, but his gaze was intense. “And then there are the Beta and Gamma offices, their apartments are a floor above that, and then my office and personal meeting rooms, most business is conducted up there.”
“This place is massive.” I couldn’t imagine the meetings that were held in those huge rooms. They would fit a hundred people.
“I’ll show you my office. Do you want to see it?” He kneeled to Emmett's level. “It has the best view of the city.”
"Yes yes yes." Emmett nodded vigorously.
- - - - -
Caspien tensed when we got to his office floor.
“F.uck,” Caspien muttered, “Sorry,” He apologized to Emmett, who looked at him with wide eyes and giggled.
Caspien's eyes clouded over, and he stopped walking. The elevator opened a moment later, and Holden appeared.
“Let's go do something fun,” he said to Emmett, “I heard a rumor that there are pancakes on my floor.”
Caspien eyed him, and I eyed Caspien; what was going on?
“Nora, Griffen's mate,” Holden explained, “She making pancakes. Don’t worry. I’m not.”
“Mama, can I?” Emmett asked me.
“Sure?” It came out more of a question, but I trusted Caspien.
Emmett waved to us as he was ushered back into the elevator. Holden smiled down at Emmett. They got along well.
I turned to him when the doors closed. I didn’t think I should be worried, but I had no idea what he was thinking, what he was doing.
“My parents are here.” He looked at me apologetically.
“Your parents?”
“I didn’t just poof into thin air, even though most people think that’s the case.” His face was set, his jaw hard. “I can take you back to my apartment; I just thought that might be a lot, especially with Emmett.” He looked worried.
I studied him, waiting for him to go on.
“I just got you here - by accident,” he admitted, “But I don’t want to scare you off; I don’t want to force you into anything that you’re not ready for. Things are really good. They’re good, right?”
“They are,” I admitted, “Let's go meet your parents,”
He visibly relaxed, smiling at me, but I could tell he wasn’t sure. He opened his mouth to say something, but his office door opened. A tall thin woman in a cream, perfectly pressed dress walked out. Her black hair, the same as Caspien's, was pulled back into some intricate bun I didn’t have a word for, with a long clip holding it in place.
She looked like a d.amned first lady, no, a president.
She walked towards us with dancer-like grace, tilting her head, raising a thin eyebrow.
Well, f.uck me. I almost looked down at myself; my makeshift suit dress felt very childish in this woman's presence.
“Caspien darling.” She reached out to him, and he lowered his head so she could place a kiss on his cheek.
She pulled back her face stern, and I swallowed. “Do you want to explain why you kept your mate from us?”