Chapter 20 - Nicolas

Last night, I couldn't wait to cuddle with my mate and sleep, but the nightmares didn't care about that and I woke up twice screaming.

Since I was drugged at the time, I couldn't react. But now, as I'm reliving what happened, I am reacting and Kayla is getting the backlash. I feel so bad about it but she just takes it in stride and holds me while I let it out. She's been here too.

It didn't take long to pack up the kids' rooms and toys. My room and the living areas were also pretty easy until we entered the kitchen.

"Do our rooms have a kitchen?" I had never thought to ask before.

"They do. It's about this size too. I can tell them to remove any cookware that's already there if you want to take everything. I'm sure one of the other pack families could use it." She answered.

I looked around and some of the things were mine, while some were from the children's parents. Cooking is my happy place and with the stress of a new place and learning to be in a pack, I'm going to need that outlet.

"If you don't mind," I said. "I love to cook. It calms me. Having our old things in a new place will also help all of us with the transition. I've never been in a pack before."

"I wonder how the tribes are different from packs. Do you know about pack wolves?" she asked.

"We deal with pack wolf politics all the time. I should be fine with knowing when and how to speak to someone. The children will have to learn the difference in speaking to the different ranks but they will catch on. My only real question is about schooling. Debra can go to the regular school but Will will have to be home-schooled. We will know in a few months with Sydney." I said.

"Why does Will have to be home-schooled?"

"He's a prodigy, so it's assumed he's an Elemental." To us, this is not a big deal but I just now realized this could be a very big deal to the Sinclair pack. Oh, no.

"Oh, my Goddess!" Kayla exclaimed.

"It's not even a thing here as we even have classrooms for them. I didn't think how the pack would react." My worry just increased tenfold. I can't let anything happen to Will. "He can homeschool via computer to the classroom he's in now so nothing will change for him. Debra will get Mahani classes the same way, twice a month. We are used to our people joining packs. How do you think the pack will react?"

"I have no clue and honestly, now that the shock is over, I'm concerned. Maybe we should talk to Alex and get his opinion? Oh, and maybe Blood Alpha Cooper too." It still amazes me how she can be almost panicking and still think clearly.

"Let's have a seat here and do that before the worry grows too big," I suggested.

After sitting down, I took Kayla into my lap and linked our minds before contacting my Blood Alpha.

"Gamma One to Blood Alpha Cooper."

"Go ahead Gamma One."

"Sir, Kayla is listening and we have a question. How should we present Will to the Sinclair pack? Should we announce him as a prodigy and a possible Elemental or hide this information somehow? We want him to be safe."

"In the past, it would depend on the pack. However, we have found it's best to keep the Elemental part of it quiet. The Blood Alpha would be told, of course. The rest of the pack would find out when he comes of age, but he would come to live with the Mahani Blood Alpha at that time anyway. Revealing it sooner is not a good idea. We usually just state they are very smart as a child and then bring him through a portal after he shifts." He answered. "You can have Blood Alpha Sinclair call me with any questions or concerns."

"Thank you, sir. We will do that." Kayla said.

"Good luck. Let me know if you need anything," and he let the link fade out.

"Ready?" I asked Kayla, but I could feel her already reaching out.

"Alex, do you have a moment?" she asked.

"Yes. Why do I feel Nicolas? He marked you already?" Blood Alpha Sinclair said with a hint of malice.

"No, it's one of their powers. The matebond only needs us to accept each other to mindlink. We have a question."

"Go ahead." His tone was better. While I like that he's protective of my mate, I don't want him mad at me.

"It seems that Will is a prodigy and will be home-schooled via computer to a Mahani classroom. It is assumed that he is an Elemental." I felt her pause to let him absorb that before continuing. "Blood Alpha Cooper suggested not revealing that assumption, just stating he's smart. When he comes of age, he would go live with Blood Alpha Cooper anyway, so it doesn't matter who sees his first shift."

"I can see why it should be hidden. The other children and adults will treat him differently. It could also make him a target."

"That was our worry. Debra is fine to go to the pack school, but she will have Mahani classes also via computer, a couple times a month. We don't know about Sydney yet."

"I agree with Sam. I would prefer no one was told, Kayla. Not your parents or brothers, either. I mean NO ONE. His safety is the most important thing."

"Okay, Alex. We agree. Thank you for being so understanding. We should be home in two days."

"Wonderful. See you then." The Blood Alpha let the link go as I held my mate, breathing in her scent.

"Thank you for being so understanding with all of this. A ready-made family is hard to accept." I said as I kissed her cheek.

Kayla giggled as she turned her head to face me.

"For some people. But not me. You and the pups are a dream I refused to acknowledge as it was too painful."

I felt her brace herself, before she continued.

"I love you, Nicolas."