章 12: Choices
*Dean's POV*
I stare at my phone and hesitate before answering the phone and putting it on speaker. I keep my voice calm and steady and keep my eyes trained on Alpha Xavier.
"Hello, Dad?" I say.
"Dean, are you somewhere you can talk without being heard?" he says quickly.
"Yes, dad what's going on? Are you okay?" I question. Xavier motions to me to calm myself, so I take a few deep breaths.
"Listen son, I need to see you. I need you to meet me outside of the Red Fang Pack's territory."
"Father you know I can't really do that. Once you are no longer part of the pack and leave the territory, you can't find your way back." I say in confusion. Xavier furrows his brow.
"Son, I just need to see you. Besides it's not like I'm a threat to the entire pack by myself." I watch Xavier as he begins to realize what's going on. He shakes his head no at me.
"I'm sorry, Adam. But I can't. You made your decision. You put yourself before the pack. Do not contact me again." As I begin to hang up, I hear him begin to curse me.
"You're a disgrace. An ungrateful bastard. I chose your sister and family over that conniving slut you call Luna."
"No. You chose revenge against the Alpha and Luna. Even though Lacy needed to be punished. And how did you choose family when Mother is crying in bed every night because her husband and daughter are gone. Did you choose family when you left us?" I hang the phone up as soon as I finish speaking.
"Are you okay, man?" Xavier asks quietly.
"I'm fine. Could I just go home and be with my mom for the day, sir?" I look down, embarrassed. Xavier places his hand on my shoulder.
"Dean look. You don't have to be so formal all the time. You're one of my best friends. Just because we have the titles Alpha and Beta, doesn't change the fact you are my friend. Yes you can be with your mother. Let me know if there's anything I can do."
I look at him in gratitude before turning and leaving. The walk home is quiet and foggy. I look up and my childhood home. It used to be cheery and beautiful. With flower beds lining the pathway leading up to the porch. Now the plants are dead and weeds have overgrown the flowerbeds. The windows are no longer brightly lit. They're dark and cold. I walk up the steps and enter the house. It's as uninviting on the inside as it is from the outside. Mom barely gets out of bed now. The fireplace is empty so I pile logs inside with some kindling. I begin working on lighting it and before long have a warm fire growing. The furniture is dusty from lack of use and there are dirty dishes piled up in the sink. I survey the house and roll my sleeves up to my elbows. I grab a bucket and mop from the utility closet, and grab cleaning supplies and the broom. I carry everything to the kitchen and begin getting the mop bucket ready. I begin dusting everything I can reach. Next I do all the dishes and then begin sweeping. I put dirty clothes in the washing machine and put away anything clean. I clean the bathroom until its spotless, and even scrub my room and clean my comforter and bed sheets. My dad had turned Lacy's room into an office space so I just tidy up and close the door behind me once I'm done. Pretty soon all I have left is mopping. Once I finish, I look around proudly. The house smells fresh and amazing. The fireplace has warmed the house nicely, and I turned on some lights. The house feels like home again. I look down the hall towards the only room I didn't clean. I decide to try and cook or something she may eat.
I get all the ingredients for grandma's homemade spicy chicken avocado and rice soup. Grandma always said, "No matter what's going on, if Melody is sick or upset, you just make this soup and it'll help get her back on her feet." Once I've finished the soup, I fill a bowl of it and place it on a tray. I also fill a glass with water, and a mug with coffee and cream.
I knock softly on my mom's bedroom door. I hear her move around and get out of bed she comes to the door and opens it slightly.
"Is that grandma's chicken soup?" she asks hoarsely.
I smile at her and nod. She opens her door fully and I have her sit in her reading chair in the corner before placing her food on a small table in front of her. She gives me a weak smile before picking up her spoon and taking small sips of the broth. She closes her eyes and begins smiling in bliss before looking at me.
"You are such a good son, Dean. I love you so much. Thank you." Tears well in her eyes as she smiles at me and squeezes my hand. I smile at her and kiss her on the top of her head.
"I love you too, mom. Eat up before it gets cold, okay?" she begins eating again and I begin tidying her room. I clean up all the trash and dust. Then I take off her bedsheets and begin washing them. I go ahead and put fresh sheets on the bed and finish making it. I then sweep and mop and finish up. Once I take the cleaning stuff out, I come back to check and see if mom is done eating.
"You know, I believe that's the first time you've cooked and cleaned for me without me having to tell you too." she begins laughing and smiles at me. "Thank you. I'm going to go take a shower and then I want to go out and clear the weeds from the flower beds. It's about time to plant the winter flowers." she touches my cheek and then goes to the bathroom and closes the door.
I decide to get her gardening supplies ready and get her small flowers that have been growing in the greenhouse out. After about 20 minutes, she comes out in her overalls and boots. She puts her gardening gloves on and throws me mine. We work in silence pulling out all of the weeds. It takes time but once we finally clear them out we stop for a water break.
"I forgot how hard this really is." I say as I suck in air. I gulp my water and wipe the sweat from my forehead. Mom laughs at me and slaps my back.
"We aren't done yet, honey." she says. I groan inwardly before getting back to work planting the flowers.
As the sun begins setting we finish planting the last of the flowers. We sit down on the porch swing and sip on sweet iced tea.
"Thank you for today, Dean. I mean that. The house looks great, these flowers really needed to be planted. I needed that soup." We both chuckle and watch the sun fully set and the sky darkens. The air begins to become more chilly and we shiver and decide to go on inside and to bed. I place more logs on the fire and stoke it before going to bed.
Once I lay down I begin relaxing. I feel good and accomplished. I was able to help my mother, even though it's too late for my dad. I drift off the sleep, wanting nothing more than to protect this pack and my family and friends. Even if that meant protecting them against my father.
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