Chapter 67: A Banana Split Truce
Trishelle
Trishelle stared at her mate and her... baby’s father, and she felt the exact moment when the ’mom look’ was born. It was a primal, instinctual thing, a shift inside her that felt as real as the pup moving in her womb. The protective fierceness surprised her with its intensity, flooding through her veins like liquid fire. Huffing, she crossed her arms over her little baby bump and began tapping her foot in a steady, impatient rhythm on the polished floor.
Bradley released James’s throat, wearing an expression that showed he knew he was in deep, deep trouble. James inhaled, his chest heaving, grateful to have his lungs working again. He would have kissed his savior if she didn’t look so... upset. Maybe disappointed was a better word, and somehow that stung worse than any physical blow. The two grown men, two powerful Alphas, shuffled on their feet like scolded pups, uncertain what to do. Even the laptop fell silent, the faces on the screen staring in stunned disbelief.
"Would someone please explain to me just what the sweet hell is going on?" Trishelle asked, her voice deceptively calm as she arched a perfect brow. The quiet tone was more terrifying than any shout could have been.
The old wolf on the screen, ’Whiskers’, cleared his throat. "Umm, this is Robert Brooks. I am one of the three top leaders in the Council. At the moment, we were discussing the errors of these men’s choices when things got a bit heated."
Trishelle tightened her lips, her jaw setting in a way that made both men beside her shift nervously. "I see. Guess it’s a good thing that I showed up."
Whiskers huffed, puffing out his grey beard with obvious indignation. "Actually, we would prefer to continue without your presence, Ms. Trishelle. So if you would be so kind as to leave."
Cynthia glanced at the young woman, wondering how she would take the blatant dismissal. The older woman had seen many females cower before the Council’s authority. However, she was not disappointed when Trishelle squared her shoulders and took a determined step towards the screen, her chin lifting with quiet defiance.
"No offense, Robert," she said, her voice laced with steel that belied her youth, "but since it is a preference and not a requirement, I have every intention of staying. This concerns me and my unborn child the most, don’t you think?" She placed a protective hand over her belly, the gesture both tender and fierce.
With a glance over her shoulder, James rushed to place a chair directly in front of the laptop, while Bradley was there, helping her into it with gentle hands that trembled slightly. When she was settled, she turned to the faces on the screen and arched one eyebrow, her posture radiating confidence she didn’t entirely feel. "Alright, gentlemen, let’s settle this matter once and for all."
Cynthia smiled as she watched Trishelle sit like a queen on a throne, flanked by her two kings. The dynamic between the three of them had shifted in ways both subtle and profound, and she knew that things were changing more than any of them realized.
***
Trishelle sighed as the screen went blank, the silence in the office feeling deafening after two hours of verbal sparring. Her temples throbbed with the beginning of a headache, and exhaustion settled into her bones like lead. James gently rubbed her shoulders while Bradley, kneeling on the floor, rubbed her feet with careful attention to the arch that always ached. The past two hours had been draining, and she was in desperate need of sleep - or preferably, a large banana split, drizzled with chocolate and coated with sprinkles. She wiped the drool that was forming at the corner of her mouth, too tired to be embarrassed.
"I’m starving," she whined, her voice small and tired, all the commanding authority from moments ago evaporating like morning mist.
Both men looked at each other, matching grins spreading across their faces. Where was the commanding woman who’d basically browbeaten those fuddy old fools into agreeing to show leniency towards the Alphas, serving them with nothing more than a warning and a hefty fine? The transformation was as endearing as it was amusing.
"What would you like?" James asked, his voice soft with affection.
Trishelle lit up like a Christmas tree, her fatigue momentarily forgotten. "I really want a banana split. With the works. Extra cherries." Her eyes sparkled with childlike excitement that made both men’s hearts clench.
James nodded, touching her cheek gently, his thumb stroking her skin in a tender caress. "Sure thing. I know the perfect place. Let’s head into town." He reached out his hand and helped her up, steadying her when she swayed slightly. Heading towards the door, he turned to her, a playful glint in his eyes that softened the tension still lingering in the room. "Aren’t you inviting your mate to join you?"
Trishelle squealed and threw her arms around James’s waist, hugging him tight and thanking him profusely. The genuine joy in her reaction made James’s throat tighten with emotion. She reached for Bradley, ignoring the slight look of confusion on his face, and soon she was flanked by her two men. The thought that this was her new normal flashed through her mind, but she shook it away, unwilling to examine the complexity of her feelings just yet. Right now, all she wanted to think about was the sweet, chilly goodness waiting for her.
James took them to the garage, and soon the three of them were headed into town in his sleek, black SUV. Trishelle bounced on the leather seat, her excitement palpable, infectious even. She rarely left the pack house anymore, a realization that made her chest tighten with an emotion she couldn’t quite name. That thought made her sad, the weight of her isolation settling over her like a heavy blanket, but Bradley’s hand on her shoulder from his seat in the back made her smile. The warmth of his palm seeped through her shirt, grounding her in the present moment. It was the first time in a long while they’d done something so normal, so simple, so beautifully ordinary. The last time she remembered clearly was with Rosie, and the memory brought both joy and a pang of longing. She smiled in memory of that trip and inwardly declared that she was going to enjoy this to the fullest, squeezing every drop of happiness from this unexpected gift.
James sensed her enjoyment, the subtle shift in her scent from melancholy to delight, and he pressed the button that rolled down her window.
Trishelle closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. It was strange that it was the same air that surrounded the pack, but the rushing of it over her face, the wind whipping through her hair, somehow made it different. It felt like freedom, like possibility, like the world was bigger than the walls that had confined her for so long.
She opened her eyes to see both men looking at her with such care and tenderness it made her heart ache in the best possible way. The vulnerability in their expressions took her breath away. "Is this what it’s like to run in your wolf form?" she asked, glancing back and forth between them, genuine curiosity coloring her tone.
"Trust me, love, it’s even better," Bradley laughed, a deep, genuine sound that she hadn’t heard in a while. It made her heart skip a beat, the richness of it vibrating through her chest.
"He’s right. This is nothing compared to running in our wolf form," James chuckled, his eyes on the road but his attention clearly on her. "The power, the speed, the connection to the earth beneath your paws - it’s indescribable."
Trishelle pouted and leaned back, crossing her arms with exaggerated sulkiness. "I bet it is. I’m so jealous," she muttered to herself, knowing full well they could hear every word with their enhanced senses.
Both men laughed, with James going even so far as to pinch her nose playfully, the gesture so unexpectedly tender it made her want to cry and laugh at the same time.
Trishelle sulked for a while, but she couldn’t stay mad for long. The beautiful day and their companionship were too precious to waste on petty jealousy. Soon, they reached the small town, and she perked up once again, pressing her face closer to the window. This was a rare opportunity, and she would not miss it. Her head swiveled back and forth like a revolving door, not wanting to miss anything, but unable to see out of the back of her head no matter how hard she tried.
Bradley chuckled at her enthusiasm, but James felt a touch of sadness pierce through his amusement. He was such an arrogant fool, keeping her confined like a bird in a gilded cage. He was the reason why she was more excited than a pup on their first school outing, and the realization sat heavy in his gut. His grip tightened on the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white, and he decided that he was going to make up for this, too. She deserved so much more than he’d given her.
They pulled up in front of a quaint little ice-cream shop called "The Sweet Scoop" and cut the engine. The cheerful pastel colors of the storefront seemed to glow in the afternoon sun. Bradley hopped out and opened his mate’s door, helping her down from the vehicle with careful attention, his hand lingering at the small of her back. With James and Bradley flanking her sides like protective sentinels, they made their way into the cool, sweet-smelling interior. The scent of waffle cones and fresh cream enveloped them like a welcoming embrace. Thankfully, it wasn’t crowded, just a few parents out with small children whose laughter created a pleasant background melody.
They made their way to the counter and let Trishelle make her order, watching with amusement as she deliberated over toppings with the seriousness of a military strategist. James ordered an iced coffee and Bradley a strawberry smoothie. Sitting by the window so Trishelle could look out and people-watch, they waited for their order, the comfortable silence between them feeling like a small miracle. Soon, it was brought over by one of the local teens, a lanky girl with a bright pink apron and a smile that was a little too friendly, a little too interested.
Trishelle looked up to thank her, but the pleasant smile dropped from her face like a stone into water. There was no way she was happy with the flirty looks this beanpole of a female was giving her men, the way her eyes lingered just a bit too long, the way her voice turned breathy and soft. Her hand tightened on the glass until her knuckles turned white, and a low, possessive growl rumbled from her lips, surprising even herself with its intensity. She could feel her fingers itch with the need to claw that sickly sweet smile off her clown-like face, or was it something else? It was the wolf. Her wolf. Rising up to defend what was hers, claiming her territory with primal certainty.
James and Bradley heard her growl and were surprised, exchanging quick glances that held both amusement and pride. It was obvious that the clueless girl didn’t hear it, judging by the way she continued to fuss over them, tucking her hair behind her ear and leaning way too close, her perfume cloying and excessive.
"Thanks. Our girlfriend would like to enjoy her treat in peace," Bradley said, clearing his throat, his voice low and dangerous in a way that made the temperature in the room seem to drop several degrees.
The teen girl looked from one man to the other, shocked, her mouth forming a small ’o’ of surprise. Her face flushed crimson as understanding dawned. James nodded, his expression hard as stone as he rubbed Trishelle’s back to calm her down, feeling the tension gradually ease from her muscles. Spinning on her heels, the girl practically fled, nearly tripping over her own feet in her haste to escape.
The three of them looked at each other and laughed, the sound genuine and free, releasing all the tension that had built up over the past weeks.
Maybe it was a good thing that they came out after all. Maybe this was exactly what they all needed - a reminder that life could be simple, sweet, and shared.