Peace Be With Us

Alden and Gabriel returned to the Inn tired and happy from their run and now newly formed bond. Alden dressed in a sundress pulling her hair into a pony tail, and then she went off to wake the children. She found them playing doggy pile with poor Egan the one on the bottom of the pile. “Got off your brother,” she had calmly to her children that they stood giggling among themselves then they attacked knocking Alden down piling on her. “Ah,” was the only word she got out before she was laughing against tickling hands, she returned the favor tickling each of the kids till they couldn’t anymore stomachs aching. Gabriel came up to the room and sighed, he would most definitely need to work on the way things would be working around here. “Come on. Let’s go make breakfast,” he said lifting Alden to her feet following three children running ahead to claim a good seat at the table.

“I think that I can make some pancakes,” Gabriel said 20 minutes later as he watched Alden mix the batter and tend to the bacon sizzling in the pan. Alden turned eyeing him fully before saying, “If you must,” with a smile spreading across her features. Gabriel stood enthusiastically and quickly made up a stack of big pancakes warm and ready to eat as soon as Alden’s eggs and bacon were done. They sat down and began to eat when Alden suddenly asked, “Do the others come to eat with us?” Gabriel shook his head answering with a pancake in his mouth, “No. They use too be the mate before you didn’t like the huge group here.” Alden looked around it was a big kitchen why would no one want the pack here was odd and it seemed lonely without her family and their morning mess. She looked back at Gabriel saying, “I would like them to join again at all meal times. It feels to empty when I’m use to nearly crashing into someone else every morning.” Gabriel raised an eyebrow asking silently who was she talking about, Benjamin answered, “We cook breakfast together at home…I mean at Grandma’s house. It was a family ritual that our grandpa set when they moved into the house. It was really fun… right Cari.”

Cari looked up from her plate and smiled sheepishly before saying, “Yeah. It was very funny to watch Caleb and mommy dance around each other and how Jake was always stealing bits of food for us to eat will everything was getting ready.” Egan looked at his father and could imagine the scene it sounded like fun and yet he couldn’t really remember a family gathering, it had happened before his time. Gabriel kind of liked the sound of it and he did missing have the pack there at meals they were so loud and roguishly around the place. Plus it was an easy way to get business and tasks out instead of meeting and assignments before anyone had the chance to escape from their duties. “I’ll tell them,” he said simply stuffing another pancake in his mouth. As they eat they began to talk about the duties that Alden would tend to and the children’s schedules because she would not let her children run wild in a big environment without knowing the ins and outs.

Finally at about 9 am a group from the pack entered all males; they instantly stopped in their tracks as Alden came into view. Alden smiled lifting a coffee pot saying, “Morning boys want some coffee?” They all nodded respectfully and joylessly into further into the kitchen settling down in the vast seats as the children watched silently. “Children why don’t you go find a good spot for me to plant my garden and soften the ground,” Alden said pouring hot coffee into cups before passing around a tray. The children left as if they were on fire happy to have some freedom not really sure what rules would be in place at this home.

“Now gentlemen before I leave you with Gabriel to tend to your business. I have something to say,” Alden stated leaning against Gabriel’s arm catching everyone’s attention. “My children have to be watched, by every member of this pack I am handing over responsibility to you and your mates to teach them what you know and how to behave. I in turn will watch over your pups. To me once I entered this pack your children became as much as mine as they are yours. I expect no harm to come to any of our young and please keep it that way.” The men nodded clearly agreeing with the alpha female. Alden nodded kissing Gabriel’s cheek and smiled softly at the others saying, “Have a pleasant meeting.” Once she was out of ear shot, Bucky said, “Wow she is a fighter. Reminds me of Vivian when Egan was born.” The other males agreed and Gabriel just stared out the door watching as Alden and the children began to walk towards the garden’s that belonged to Persia. The meeting continued in the kitchen and Alden went searching for herbs that grew.

It shocked her to find Persia standing over her after being on her knees, she hadn’t heard anything and to smell Persia would have been impossible the whole garden carried her scent. “Is there something you need Alpha Alden?” she asked leaning on her staff. ‘Persia was a beautiful woman who carried her time wisely’ Alden thought before saying, “I’m looking for plants that I use but most are not here.” Persia raised her eyebrows in a graceful manner before saying, “What herbs do you need?” Alden shook her head saying, “I did not mean to offend you. I’m the Keeper at home and many of herbs we use and the ones we use as potions and healing creams are not here.” Persia looked at her closely before Alden so they were face to face saying respectfully, “Some herbs I do not keep in the open.” Alden nodded her head feeling stupid, Persia might not keep them in the open because of the children and the other mates could use them for harm if agreement was not in the pack. “I’m sorry,” Alden whispered respectfully back to Persia who was surprised.

“You are wise beyond your years. You show me an elder respect even when you have the right to beat me for treating you so scornfully,” Persia was now on her knees facing Alden as an equal. Alden gave her a sad smile touching her face and whispering, “My father taught me well. He was a good man and I have learned lots but I’m young and that extends that I know little. You are the Keeper and I trust your judgment. I believe Elder Persia you and I shall become friends.” They spent the rest of the morning in the garden laughing and weeding it to beauty.

Gabriel came to the edge of the garden and listened to the laughter before he spoke, “Everyone is inside waiting to eat lunch.” Alden looked up and he saw she had smudge marks on her cheeks and face as she said, “I forgot about lunch!” Gabriel watched as she leaped to her feet helping up Persia before making her way to him. Then she stopped looking at him, “Everyone is waiting inside? Does that mean that the others are in there? They made lunch,” she responded as a smile played on her features. He nodded holding out a hand for Persia to take as they walked toward the inn. They entered to find every member of the pack sitting next to mates and children; food cooked and ready for eating waited at along its center.

“Hello,” was all she could get out past her lips and let Gabriel guided her to her seat beside his at the head of the table. Everyone waited silently and soon Drake’s booming voice echoed in the kitchen, “Bless Mother Moon. For the meal we are about to eat and the family ties that have formed. Also to new traditions and to old ones, peace be with us.” Once that was out everyone passed around the food, telling jokes and laughter filled the afternoon air. Alden sat compatibly next to Gabriel and chatted with other females along with males; Gabriel watched the happenings before him and a swell of pride coursed through his body, the pack was coming together again.

A/N: Am trying to get the others in! Am also working on my other story this one just comes easier!