BENEATH HER DARKNESS: The Alpha’s Little Demon
Chapter 148 – Family
ADAN STONE…
The days went by so swiftly.
My days following the retrieval of the Silver Crest Pack from Ethan were spent a*s*sisting Blade as he slowly built his pack again, but after a week, I left him on his own and began preparing for Lucy’s 2lst birthday.
She told me she didn’t want a big celebration on her birthday, and although I promised her I would not give her a big one, I wanted her first birthday with me to be memorable. So, I invited people who were important to her to celebrate with us. Nothing big. Just a private family dinner at the first restaurant where I took her.
I opened the double door without taking my eyes off her. I wanted to be the first one to see if it would make her happy or disappointed that I didn’t keep my promise. But it’s not yet her birthday, so technically I wasn’t breaching any promises, right?
Lucy’s eyes widened as her mouth opened the moment she saw the people waiting inside the big dining hall.
Mom and Dad with Aiden.
Our Beta couple, Collin and Laira, with Nathaniel.
Our Gamma couple, Kingston and Lena, with Carlston. Patrea. Althea.
Stella, took Adessa with her, as she mentioned Adessa was the one closest to Lucy at the orphanage.
And then Aeon and Alexa with their two pups.
I felt a surge of different emotions arise from Lucy, and I was 100 percent sure happiness was one of them.
I took her hand, snapping her out of her shock. She tilted her head in my direction before she mumbled, “I told you…”
“Are you mad?” I asked.
She shook her head before wrapping her arms around my body and hugging me tightly. “Thank you! I didn’t know I needed this, but thank you! Everyone is here, and the place is so beautiful.”
My hand smoothed over her hair as I threw a thumbs-up sign to my Beta and Gamma females who helped me out with the venue. Lucy was right in her appreciation. The dining hall looked majestic and cozy at the same time, with candles and dimmed lights all over the place.
Soon, Mom approached us with Aiden in her arms before everyone came to us and began greeting her, but my eyes were looking for someone. Where the f*uc*k was Lucius? Did something come up from the underworld that he needs to attend to today? Or did he lose track of time?
I was hoping Lucy wouldn’t notice until he showed up.
After all the flowers and gifts were handed to her, we all decided to go to dinner.
I pulled the chair over and let her sit down at the head of the table beside me.
The pups had their own table in the other corner with the omegas that were looking after them.
Aeon and Alexa sat at the other end of the table, facing Lucy and me.
My Betas and Gammas were on their sides.
Mom and Dad were on my right, with Momma and Pops beside them, while Stella and Adessa were on their front. Adessa was sitting next to Althea.
Lucius was supposed to be on Lucy’s left, followed by Patrea. Which now kept me thinking that he might have seen Patrea and backed out.
f*uc*king coward.
The moment I sat down, Lucy held my forearm. ” Where is Lucius? Did you invite him?”
I nodded my head. “The empty space on your right is his seat.”
“Maybe he just attended to an important matter,” Dad answered.
“He would have informed you like he did last time,” Lucy added.
She was referring to Aiden’s ceremony, which Lucius missed. He informed us at the exact moment he had things to deal with, and only appeared after all the guests had gone home. But this time, I didn’t have any messages from him.
‘Lucius?’ I tried. If he was in the underworld, I would not be able to connect unless he connected with me first.
Only demon kings had the ability to use mindlinks between realms. But this time, I could feel his mind was open, although he wasn’t responding. He’s in the human realm.
‘Can you f*uc*king answer me? Losing your balls again because Patrea is here?’ I mocked him.
“Lucius doesn’t eat. So maybe he will show up after we have eaten dinner.” Patrea said, and all eyes shifted to her.
Lucius had eaten dinner with us several times, and the rest of my family had no idea that he never ate. My brother-in-law might be a demon, but he sure played it well to pretend around my family.
“But Lucius had eaten dinner and lunch with us several times.” Mom’s eyes were rounding.
Patrea smiled, a red tint creeping up her cheeks. “I’ m sorry…” “So he doesn’t usually eat?” Momma asked, her eyes shifting between Lucy and Patrea, both shaking their heads.
“He doesn’t have a palate,” I told them.
“And you, Lucy? You don’t have a sense of taste either? Are you just pretending my food tastes good?” Mom asked her, and I could tell she felt a little hurt by this realization because both Lucy and Lucius had told her they liked her cooking.
Lucy chuckled softly, pressing a napkin on her mouth before she responded. “I have a palate, Mom. I am half shifter. “And I do love your food!” “I knew it, Lucius is really special. That’s why I liked him.” Momma explained.
Pops cleared his throat, and his eyes darted to his side where Momma sat without actually turning his head.
“Oh, honey! You’re not jealous of a young man!” Momma teased him as she winked at us.
“Hmmm…” Pops responded with a hum and continued eating.
“Lucius is older than Pops, Momma.” Aeon chuckled.
“Oh, I forgot! Isn’t it exciting?” Momma giggled, acting like a teenager, but we all knew she just loved to tease Pops, who would never admit his jealousy in front of his grandpups.
“Eat, Crystal. Your food is getting warm.” Pops told her in a cold tone. O
We all shared a little laugh before we moved on to another topic.
All this time, I was watching Patrea’s face. She kept her gaze on her plate most of the time, and I wondered if she ever thought of Lucius as much as the demon king thought of her.
‘Lucius?’ I tried again. ‘I know you can hear me. Just f*uc*king answer me.’
‘I’m here. I’m just suppressing my aura.’ He finally replied.
‘Show up. You f*uc*king coward.’
‘I’m still having fun where I am. But maybe later, when I can give my gift to Lucy alone.’
‘You know this is Lucy’s first birthday with me, and I want it to be special. If you blow this because of your absence, I swear to the Goddess and Hades, I will remove Luther from Aiden’s name, and he will never set foot in your kingdom.’
‘Are you threatening me?’ He laughed.
‘I don’t think anyone can threaten a demon king, but yes, I am. Show your f*uc*king face here and greet your sister. Or I can also inform Patrea that the devil ’s tail is waging in her presence.” This time my tone was teasing him.
I was not even done with my words when I felt his aura around the room.
“Lucius is here!” Mom exclaimed happily, and all eyes followed her line of sight.
Lucius was at the kids’ table, sitting on one of the little chairs, engaging Alonzo, Carlston, and Nathaniel in a deep conversation while Amara placed an empty tea cup in front of him before he took it and pretended to sip on it, which made my niece very happy.
It looked like he had been there with the pup for a long time, and he just wouldn’t let us feel or see him at all until he decided to show up after I threatened him.
“Well, he’s enjoying Amara’s tea party more than the presidential table here.” Aeon chuckled.
“Come here, Lucius. It’s my birthday.” Lucy called for him as a wide smile graced her lips. She was happy Lucius showed up.
“The kids’ food tastes better and is more colorful. Besides, you adults are boring. Conversations here are more fun.” Lucius chuckled as he leaned his back on the chair, but his eyes were now on us.
“How come you didn’t tell me you don’t eat?” Mom asked him, not hiding the disappointment in her voice.
“I eat, Helena. And regardless of whether I can’t taste it, I appreciate the work you put into preparing those foods.”
“Isn’t he the sweetest?” Momma blurted it out, much to Pops’ chagrin, and everyone around her started laughing and giggling.
Lucius winked at Momma before he stood up and walked toward our side of the table, slipping a hand into his pocket and pulling out something before handing it out to Lucy.
It was funny how he was standing just beside his chair, facing Lucy with stiff shoulders, with Patrea behind him, who continued to eat without tilting her head to the sides.
They’re too f*uc*king old for this game, and I wanted to laugh out loud already, but I guessed I was the only one who knew about these two.
“Happy Birthday, dear sister.” He greeted Lucy.
“You bought me a gift?” Lucy’s voice sounded as if she would cry and laugh at the same time.
“I didn’t buy it. It’s a family heirloom.”
“Sit, Lucius. So, we can see too.” Alexa asked him, and he obliged by sitting down, resting one arm on the table as his gaze remained fixed on Lucy.
“Open it.”
A gasp escaped Lucy’s throat as she looked at the small, glistening stone on the box. Her eyes went to me, but I had no idea what the stone was.
“Why are you giving me this black stone? This rightfully belongs to your future queen.”
“I don’t have one, and I don’t think I will ever have one.” Lucius’ chuckled, as his hand played with the fork in front of him.
“Well, Lucius, when my time on earth is over. We can talk again.” Momma blurted out, and almost everyone ch*oked at her words as Pops’ head snapped in her direction before Momma began giggling softly.
Lucius chuckled as he raised his palm and spoke. “I swear to your goddess, Aurelius, I didn’t charm your mate.”
“Admit you’re jealous, honey. Then I’ll stop teasing you.” Momma cupped his cheeks as they both stared into each other’s eyes.
I knew Momma was just teasing, as I never saw her look at anyone the way she looked at Pops.
“I am, Crystal. Don’t test my patience.” Pops answered in a firm voice, but I could sense defeat in his aura.
“Good. Then I’ll stop.” Momma gave him a warm smile before pecking his lips, and I could see the females marvel at their small display of affection. “I apologize, Lucius. Sometimes a female needs a guarantee that her mate still likes her.”
“No offense taken, Crystal,” Lucius replied.
“I will take care of it, and I will give it back to you once you find a queen.”
“Then you’ll be taking care of it for a long time. Maybe until the next King finds his queen.”
“I have many single friends, Lucius. I can introduce them to you.”
“Mom, stop.” It was Dad, and he couldn’t stop laughing. So could the rest of us.
“Okay, okay. Just suggesting.” She grinned before putting more food on Pop’s plate, and everyone else continued eating.
Lucy reached for his brother’s hand on the table and tapped it twice. “Eat, Lucius. Or pretend to eat.”
I signaled for a server to bring a plate of food for him.
“I might as well do that as the food looks wonderfully placed on those plates.” He answered as he watched food being placed on his front.
I saw Patrea’s hold on her fork tighten, and Lucius
noticed it too, but he didn’t say a word.
The table began to have more than one conversation as Lucy spoke with the females while I just observed, but my ears didn’t miss it when finally the witch broke her silence.
“How are you doing, Lucius?”