Two weeks later

I carefully pulled the thread, making sure my ladder stitch was properly done and not visible between the seams of the two pieces I was stitching. I was working on Maeve's quilt because Lisa and I had finished with the blocks and pieces of that one. It was a simpler pattern and we were going for just flat forward facing daffodils in each block. Which was vastly simpler than the one we had designed for Brochan. I lifted the half completed block with a smile. It was looking nice! I had already finished three blocks of Maeve's blanket and I was rather proud of myself.

Brochan had dropped me off a bit earlier than he normally would have but he said he wanted to get more running in with his wolf and I had accepted. He was getting better, not that there was anything wrong with how he was currently. He was still hurting, still aching from the loss of his female, but he was working through it. I was happy to help him as well. I wanted to help him remember the good times with his female, the fun bits and the parts that were happy. I was doing for him what I had wished someone had done for me.

Maeve let out a giggle as one of the toys she had grabbed made a frog sound at her. I turned my head to look at her with a smile. She was such a happy baby. I truly did adore her. I had been with Brochan for nearly a month and a half and Maeve truly made my days bright. It wasn't often I got to handle babies anymore and I truly had missed it, so being around Maeve from sun up to sun down was a treat for me. Even when she fussed a little, I didn't mind it.

"Menza!" At my name my head snapped up and I grinned as I spotted Ellie.

"Ellie!" I waved at her and she skipped towards me, smiling happily. I was so happy when Ellie came with Lisa to the craft hall. She had rarely wanted to do that before I had been given to Brochan. So I knew she was doing it just so she could see me and that made my chest feel a warm happiness that radiated out to my bones and fingers.

She came around the large table and kissed my cheek, hugging me tightly before I could even hold out my arms for her. "I missed you!" She gave me a heavy squeeze and I reached up, patting her arm with the hand I was holding the unfinished block in.

"I missed you too!" I turned my head and kissed her cheek. She nuzzled her nose into my cheek, exhaling as her form seemed to slump slightly with relief. I didn't know why but it made me want to tear up slightly. There was such a relief to her taking in my scent, like I was a comfort for her. I hadn't expected that, being away from the house we had grown up in.

"Please please, no applause. I have arrived." At the words I perked up and beamed when I saw Simon. He was walking in, his arms out stretched. Ellie chuckled as I squeaked and practically threw my things on the table. She let me go so I could bolt around to throw myself at him. He caught me with a laugh, spinning me around right before he bent down and wrapped one arm around my thighs and lifted me off the ground fully, giving me an even bigger squeeze. "Ooooooh big squeeze. Gotta hug it out." He held my tightly and I wrapped my arms around his neck, holding him just as tight as he was holding me.

He rocked me back and forth and I fought back the burn in my eyes. I had missed him. I hadn't seen him in so long and I found myself sniffling. "I missed you." My voice cracked and he scoffed slightly but didn't release me, just gave me a tighter hug, it was enough to make my ribs ache but I didn't care.

"Of course you did, you have fluff for brains." He turned his head and kissed my cheek, nuzzling my skin with a heavy dose of affection. "Smart females wouldn't miss such a rakish figure like me." There was an edge of teasing to his voice and I shook my head.

"Most of them don't have you for a brother." I whispered it and pressed my forehead to his neck, letting out a shuddering breath. "And I missed my brother."

He made a small noise in the back of his throat. "Jeez, Ennie-Ennie-Enza, I have a reputation to uphold here." His voice wavered slightly and he cleared his throat. "Enough of that. You won't make me cry." He set me down, pulling my arms from around me. I found my bottom lip sticking out slightly, I hadn't had enough of the hug but he grabbed my shoulders and gave me that wide and easy grin before he tapped my nose. "I'm too much of a supreme Alpha male to cry." He winked at me and I shook my head, wiping at my burning eyes.

"Besides, I came for a little visit and some hair care." He bent down and grabbed a plastic bag from the floor and my heart melted. He bent forward and kissed my cheek. "Now scoot. Go sit down." He waved me off and I beamed at him again and he simply winked again and waved me off.

I moved back to the quilting table and Lisa seemed to be diligently ignoring Simon and I as she continued to roughly lay out the blocks on the large daffodils for the quilt. Ellie was entertaining Maeve so I sat back down on my stool, once again picking up my unfinished block and my needle and thread. I grabbed another already cut out and structured piece and fitted it to center of the daffodil on the block.

I glanced over and Simon was coming around the table, looking at the large quilt that Lisa was working on. "So this is what you have been working on at night. Nice." There was something in his voice that had Lisa throwing him a rather dark scowl and having him lift his hands in defense. "I'm just saying. It looks nice."

"This is Minnie's project. I am simply helping her with the more difficult colour blocks on the large quilt." Lisa's voice seemed to be edged and Simon shrugged.

"All I said was it looks nice." He bent down and kissed her cheek as he moved by before grinning at me and coming over. "I'm hoping you are keeping to the same hair care schedule." His voice was light and happy and I nodded.

I had been very careful with keeping the schedule and Brochan had been so nice in getting me some products that I was low on. Different brands but the same products. I had been blown away at how thoughtful he had been. He didn't have to do it but he had, even with the slightly too small bonnet. I had my own and had been keeping them on only in my room. I didn't know how he would react with seeing them on me. I knew father snapped at me many times about looking trashy and ghetto wearing them so it was easier to just default to keeping them in my room.

Out of sight, out of mind.

"Okay, good to know." Simon set the bag on the table and pulled out the curl refresher and a new detangling brush before he started to quickly take out my french braid. The feeling of him working on my hair was achingly familiar and it made me realize there was a huge hole in my life without him. I had missed him terribly.

"Simon." Lisa's voice was sharp with warning and Simon gave a small hum of questioning. "People will ask questions." There was a bit of a panicked edge to her voice as he carefully pulled the rest of my french braid out, my curls hanging in a massive black cloud as he fluffed them with his fingers.

"My wolf can't groom Menza's wolf, mum, so I do it in his stead. If they have a problem with that, that's their problem. They can ask all they want." There was an edge of forced lightness to his voice that said not to push it any further. I focused on making sure the edges of my pieces lined up so I could start my stitch. I didn't want to get dragged into a public confrontation.

"Minnie, I didn't know your hair was like that!" At the slightly unfamiliar voice I looked up quickly and spotted one of the dark haired females, I believed it was Dana. She was staring at me with wide eyes and I felt a bit self-conscious as she came over, her eyes intent on me. "You always keep it braided. I didn't realize it was like that, like a little black cloud. It's adorable!" She appeared to be sincere and I was shocked and a little bit apprehensive at it. "It looks like those antique porcelain dolls with their ringlets. So cute!" She rested her elbows on the table and seemed to study my mass of hair and I felt even more self-conscious.

"What are you doing, Dana?" At the newer voice I glanced over and one of the older females was coming over, a frown on her face. My face heated up and I wanted to bury my face in the quilting pieces but I knew Simon would just tug on my curls to get me to stop.

"Looking at Minnie's hair, Edith! It's so adorable! She's more hair than person right now. You would have never known because she always keeps it braided." She was practically studying me as Simon gave a small chuckle and grabbed some product.

The Edith's face relaxed from the frown as she looked over at Dana and I. "Well I'll be. She looks like one of Inez's porcelain dolls! So dainty with the big hair. You're right, it is rather adorable." She came to stand beside Dana and study my hair and what Simon was doing with a rather intently interested expression. "Lisa, why did you ever keep those curls braided away? She's right adorable like that. You could have dressed her up like a little dolly."

"She keeps it braided to keep it out of the way and to protect it from getting damaged." Lisa's response was a tad reluctant and I flicked my gaze over to her. There was a little touch of red to her cheeks and she was intent on the pieces of fabric she was trying to arrange. I was surprised by the response she had to them talking about it. I hadn't realized she knew that we kept it braided and put up to protect it from damage.

"So what are you doing with her?" Dana asked the question and I was aware it was clearly aimed at Simon.

"It's a curl refresher day. We need to put the product in her hair to help keep it healthy and protect it before I will put it in a protective style to keep it from getting damaged." Simon started to work the product through my hair. I shivered slightly at the feeling of him rubbing my scalp. I had missed this, a lot.

"You know, there is something very attractive about a male who is willing to play around with hair." There was a hint of flirting to Dana's tone and Simon shifted uncomfortably behind me and I fought back a slight smile I got from it.

"Dana! He almost half your age and you're mated." Lisa sounded almost scandalized and the other female laughed.

"I'm just saying, Lisa. Your eldest is putting forth a very big effort of being seen as attractive by the females." She pushed herself up from the table and gave me a surprisingly friendly smile. "You should let you hair down sometimes. It really is gorgeous and makes you look down right adorable." The smile was still there as she looked at me, making sure to catch eye contact with me, even as my cheeks heated up at the unexpected compliment.

"I might have to tell Inez about it. She will be down here getting you to try on some of her old dresses to try and make you look like one of her dolls." Edith gave a bit of a laugh and I gave her and Dana a tentative smile. They both smiled back and Dana waved at me before they both turned and headed to the other end of the craft hall. I felt a warmth of welcoming spread through me at the friendly behaviour. That was the first time a female from the craft hall had ever interacted with me before. It felt nice, like they were welcoming me just a little bit.

"Do not walk around with your hair down, Minnie." Lisa's voice was low and sharp and I glanced at her. Her expression was slightly dark and her mouth was pinched into a thin line and the warm feelings I got from the other two females faded under her expression.

"Mum, don't be a grump." Simon hissed it out before he tugged my hair, making me lean my head back. He looked down at me. "As much as I agree with them that your curls make you look cute, because they do. Don't wear them down while walking around the territory." His tone was low and I frowned slightly in confusion. His expression twitched, his mouth pulling downwards and his eyebrows twitching down into a dark frown. "The Delta has made it rather vocally known that he wants you and the less of his attention you have, the better." The words were like ice into my veins and I swallowed hard.

"I don't want to scare you but he has been hanging around the areas you are in." Simon gave me a rather apologetic look and I nodded as best as I could with my head leaning back. He nodded in return and let me lean my head back into the normal position.

"It's for your own protection, Minnie. You don't want male eyes on you, especially not his. Not after last time." Lisa tsked, her voice a bit sour, "And use the machines to sew the pieces together, not hand stitch them! It will take you years to complete it at that rate." There was censure in her voice and I let out a small sigh and nodded.

"I'm just doing a basic ladder stitch to hold the block together before I machine stitch them in long lines rather than running back and forth." I glanced at her from the corner of my eyes as Simon started to use the detangling brush. She sniffed but nodded her acceptance of my process as she went back to sorting out the pieces. Simon continued with my hair, working the product through my hair, right to the ends before he started to section it.

"What style are you gunna do?" Ellie came over, Maeve cradled in her arms and I reached out and tugged on Maeve's little foot. She giggled as she gave me a gummy smile, wiggling in Ellie's arms.

"Three braids to a bun." Simon pushed two thirds of my hair over to the left side of my head and started to braid.

"Should look nice." Ellie bent down and kissed my cheek. "I'm just going to walk around with the little miss." I nodded at her with a small smile and watched as she carried Maeve away. I turned back to the block I was working on, doing a quick ladder stitch, making sure it wasn't too tight and causing wrinkles in the fabric.

"Things are pretty quiet at home right now." Simon started the braid on the right side of my head. "Pretty boring actually, makes me miss your boisterous presence even more." At the teasing words I rolled my eyes.

"There is very little I am boisterous about." That was the last thing anyone would use to describe me. It was better to be quiet and unseen, it made my life a lot better.

"Oh come on! You're a raging party animal!" Simon chuckled as he bent down and gave my cheek a kiss. "Seriously. I can barely keep up!" I giggled slightly at his words and found myself smiling as I grabbed another piece and adjusted it to it's proper place on the block. "In all seriousness though, the house isn't the same without you. I should just take you home."

"Don't start, Simon." Lisa's tone was sharp and Simon let out a low growl. "I mean it. There is only so much I can handle at once and you getting tossed in the pack jail again is a step too far." Her voice was brittle and I could tell Simon was making a face.

"Well maybe dad should fix this then." There was a heavy snarky-ness from Simon as he continued my braid down to behind my ear.

"He does what he believes is best for this family." Her voice was stiff and for a moment I wondered if she was trying to convince herself because that was the same tone I used when I said she and father had always done their best with me.

"Keep telling yourself that, mum." Simon muttered it out before exhaling sharply with a rather irritated sound. "Anyway, I miss having you at home." He spoke loudly as he quickly tied off the end of the french braid and sectioned off the hair at the top part of my head. "Nothing much else is going on. It's all boring." He gave what sounded like an exasperated sigh.

"Boring is okay." At least boring was predictable and some what comforting. I would have chosen boring over what had happened to me. Sure Brochan was being nice to me now but I could still remember how hostile he had been towards me. I found it very difficult that those feelings had simply disappeared. Simon made a small sound of acknowledgement and started braiding the top section of my head.

I continued to work as Simon braided my hair, giving me little bits of information about what some of his friends had been up to and who was upset with who in the pack. He also spoke about who was thinking about getting mated and what he thought of the match and it wasn't long before he finished my hair. He twisted my hair into a bun at the base of my skull and tied it off.

"There we are. Gorgeous!" He grabbed my head and tilted it back so he could look down at me. "Now I need to go work out before my friends drag me out of here kicking and screaming." He grinned at me before kissing my forehead. He let me go and I nodded, watching as he gathered the hair care supplies up and walked towards Lisa. Neither of them said anything but he kissed her cheek as he moved by before he headed for the door, kissing the top of Ellie's head on the way out.

I braced myself, waiting for Lisa to give her usual snarky comment about Simon doing my hair and him being so disrespectful but she said nothing, her entire focus was on the block she was attempting to mark out on Chrissie's fabric. It was almost surprising but I figured perhaps her little olive branch of the bun recipe was actually holding.

I swallowed hard and felt my cheeks heat up but bolstered myself regardless. "I made that recipe you gave me." I shifted the block around in my hands, trying hard to keep them from shaking even though my insides were knotting up. "It worked well and the buns were delicious. Thank you." I glanced over at her as her shoulders tightened and she seemed overly stiff and my stomach sank. I had over stepped.

"Every female should have a basic understanding of making bread if she is to take care of a male and his household." The words came out clipped and I nodded, turning back to my block, my face red. I only had a few more pieces to quickly sew together before that one would be completed. I swallowed hard, I shouldn't have said anything to her. I was a testament to my father's sins, a continual reminder that he had wronged her and their mate bond. I hunched forward slightly, focusing intently to make sure every stitch was done properly and perfectly.

"He-" Lisa cut herself off and I glanced over at her and she was scowling. "Is he treating you well?" The question seemed almost forced and she looked like she had bit into a lemon as she glanced over at me but I nodded slowly. "Good." She gave a firm nod and turned back to the pieces of fabric.

I blinked a bit in shock before turning back to my own block. I finished it up and then started a new one right before Ellie came over. "I hate to bother you, Menza, but she's got a bit of a fever." Maeve was fussing in her arms and I immediately set the block and needle down as I reached over and pressed my inner wrist to Maeve's forehead. She did seem to have a fever.

"Oh poor baby." I sighed it out as I stood up. Maeve reached for me, I took her carefully, holding her to my chest and letting her bury her tiny face into my neck. "I should call Brochan." I moved over to the diaper bag, fishing out the phone from the mesh pocket. I brought up the phone screen and clicked on his contact. I felt bad about calling him at all but little Maeve was fussing a bit worse and she did have a fever. It was probably best for her to be at home.

The phone rang and rang but there was no answer. I winced slightly as I shushed the little girl, kissing her pudgy cheeks as she fussed a bit more. She wasn't quite crying yet but she would get there. I tried again and then again and then again. Finally on the fifth time he answered.

"What is it?" His voice was clipped and I flinched slightly at how agitated he sounded.

"I'm sorry to bother you." I swallowed hard and he gave a rather frustrated sigh. I found myself hunching slightly under it. I didn't want him mad or upset at me.

"I'm trying to run my drills. What is it?" There was that agitated tone growing in his voice and I winced, looking at the floor of the craft hall as I gently bounced Maeve as she gave a small and upset cry, rubbing her face on my neck as if seeking out comfort to fix the problem.

"It's just Maeve... she has a bit of a fever and she's fussing really badly." I adjusted the phone in my hand before adjusting my arm around the baby. "I think its better for her to be at home rather than here." I kept my tone soft, trying not to agitate him more.

He let out a rather heavy breath. "Okay. Yah I agree. I'll come and get you guys." He hung up the phone and I slid it back in its pocket before focusing back on Maeve. She gave a few small cries and I shushed her, rubbing her back as I slowly walked around with her, bouncing her slightly. She kept rubbing her face into my shoulder and neck and giving small little half cries that made my chest ache slightly.

"It's alright, little one. Your daddy is going to come get us so we can take you home." I shushed her softly, rubbing her back in small circular motions and she just fussed in response, grabbing at my shirt and skin. I ignored the slight pain I got from her little nails as she scratched me. She didn't know any better and she was just trying to let me know she wasn't feeling well.

The front door to the craft hall opened and I turned my head, expecting Brochan but it was Simon who walked in. "Hey, fluff for brains! Let's get the little creature home." He smiled at me and I frowned slightly, feeling unsure. "Don't give me that look. That male looked agitated and I offered to take you back so he could continue his drills." Simon winked at me as he moved past me and grabbed the diaper bag from its usual spot beside the bounce chair. "Let's get you back." He threw the diaper bag over his shoulder and moved back towards me. I wanted to phone Brochan for clarification but I also didn't want to make him more upset with me than he already was for interrupting him once. So when Simon came over and pressed his hand to my lower back and pushed, urging me to walk with him. I did.