The Rejected Luna’s Prince By Aurora Archer
Chapter 21 – Penthouse Sick Beds
(Willa)
Despite being on edge, I found that being anxious about something besides the exam helped me. I was worried for Emmett instead of myself and found that even though it distracted me, it took the pressure off, and I realized that I did know this.
Cali’s words and jokes about these terms came rushing back to me, and I think I did an okay job. If I could make it through the summer term, I knew the next one would be easier and not at such a rapid pace.
Cali was leaning on the wall outside my exam room she fell into step with me as soon as I came out.
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“I already know; I talked to the sitter; what can I do?” She asked, chewing on her lip.
I grabbed my phone; I saw a text from the sitter saying that Emmett was okay and another saying that Caspien had come to take him.
Caspien texted me once, saying that he had it under control and not to worry. I sighed, slipping my phone back into my pocket.
“I’m going to get him,” I headed toward the door, “Sorry about our lunch.”
“Stop; your kid is sick; lunch can wait.” She shrugged, “Do you want me to get you a taxi?”
“Caspien sent a car,”
“Of course he did,” She smiled at me.
A black SUV was waiting on the curb, and as soon as we walked out, the air felt charged.
“Looks like a storm,” Cali sighed, “Maybe best we didn’t get lunch. Fate, destiny, whatever you want to call it,” She nudged me.
“Let me give you a ride,” She started to protest, “It’s on the way.” I grabbed her hand and pulled her to the car.
Vicious dark clouds dotted the horizon; it was the least I could do for her.
“How did it go?” I asked.
“Good, I think, you?”
“Not as bad as I thought.”
“I don’t want to say I told you so..”
“But you do want to say that.”
“I do,” She gave me her wry smile as we slid into the car.
I let Caspien know we were on the way, and he told me that Holden would meet me and show me up. Up, of course, because he probably lived in a penthouse in the clouds. I felt guilty leaving Emmett with a stranger. I had no idea how Caspien and he would get along.
Caspien didn’t seem like the kid type, but we had to breach this somehow. I just wish I could have been there when they met.
(Caspien)
“Get some child things; I’m going to get him,” I stood up, passing Holden, who was sitting across from my desk at my office.
“What do children even?”
I shrugged, “I’m not sure,”
“How old is it?”
“He,”
“How old is he?”
“Four, she said, almost five.”
“He talks, right?”
“I think?”
“Does he walk?”
“He’s not a f*uc*king infant; Google it, I don’t know,”
“Okay, on it, boss man.” He saluted me and leaned back in his chair.
“Out of my office,” He frowned, “Now.”
I didn’t wait to see if he followed I had a few calls to make to get everything ready.
I buzzed the door to Cali’s apartment, and it opened. I wish Willa had something like this; anyone could just walk in. I would have to get one installed immediately.
I knocked, and a slightly older woman opened the door; she took s step back when she saw me and looked me over incredulously.
“Hi, I’m Mr- I’m Caspien,” I held out a hand, and she stared at it for a moment before taking it, “Willa sent me to pick up Emmett.”
“One moment,” The door closed at the lock clicked.
I pinched my brow. Was I even at the right house?
The door opened again, and she took a step back, “Come in,”
I raised my eyebrows, “Everything okay?”
“I had to double-check with Cali,” She wore a smile now but still looked a bit nervous, “Just to confirm.”
“What did Cali say?”
“She said if you were tall, brooding, and looked like you should lead some special forces then you’re the right person.” She gave me a genuine smile, “Her words,”
“Sounds about right.” I tried to smile at her.
“I’ll go get Emmett,” She went down a small hallway, and nerves coursed through me.
Before, I was focused on getting things ready; now, I was going to meet my mate’s child. I didn’t know what to do with kids. If he didn’t like me, then that would surely ruin things with Willa; he was her world, the reason she did everything.
A child with rosy cheeks came out holding the sitter’s hand; he had tousled brown hair and eyes that were almost the same green as Willa’s.
“This nice man is going to take you to a doctor, okay?”
Emmett looked up at me.
“Hi,” I said after a few moments.
“Hi,” He tilted his head, studying me.
“Hi,”
“You said that.”
“Sorry, hi.” I’m a i.diot. I shook my head.
I knelt on the ground, so we were closer to eye level.
“Your mom, mother, mommy?“
“Mama?”
“That one,” I pointed at him, “She sent me to come to pick you up. I’m going to take you to a doctor that can help make your head feel better, okay?”
“Okay,”
“And then your mom, Mama, will come and meet us. Is that okay?”
“Sure,” He shrugged. He seemed a bit tired, maybe dazed. He did seem sick, and it worried me.
I stood back up.
“You’re tall,” He noted.
“Yes,” I replied.
Emmett nodded and walked toward me, reaching out his hand. I took it in mine; it was so small and warm. He definitely had a fever. I’ve heard of some minor illnesses, especially with pups, but this seemed like it could actually be something.
He had to show me how to buckle him into the booster seat, and once we were off, he settled in, leaning back into the seat.
“So,” I started, even Willa didn’t make me this nervous, “What do you like?”
“Dinosaurs, coloring, pasta, blue.”
I nodded, making a note of that a*s*sortment, “How are you feeling?”
He shrugged again, “Fuzzy.”
I smiled at that, “Well, the doctor will make you feel less fuzzy.”
“Where are we going?”
“To my pack house, my house. It’s at the top of a building.”
“Like one of those,” He pointed out of the window at a small skyscraper, his eyes lit up.
“Even bigger,” I leaned towards him.
“Wow,”
“I know,” I agreed.
He started to doze off in the car, he was actually adorable, and that word wasn’t something really in my vocabulary.
Emmett was still asleep when we parked outside of the pack building, so I picked him up and carried him to my private elevator. He popped his head up, rubbing his eyes as soon as the doors closed.
“Wow,” He looked at the buildings outside the elevator, “We’re going over them.” He reached for the window, and I took a step closer so he could touch it.
“It’s one of the tallest buildings in the city,” I explained, “And guess what?”
His green eyes turned to me, “What?” He whispered as if it was a secret.
“We’re going to the very top,” I whispered.
His eyes went wide, and he did a little squirm, possibly a dance. He looked back toward the window as we crept closer to the top, leaning forward, both of his hands splayed on the glass.
The elevator stopped, and he looked at me as if he couldn’t believe it. I liked how easily entertained he was and how he was intrigued by simple things. I couldn’t remember the last time I really looked at the cityscape, except on my first date with Willa.
I set him down when we reached my floor. He seemed to feel better as he barreled out of the elevator, looking around.
“This way,”
I lead him to the door and opened it for him. He walked in confidently and spun in a slow circle studying the place. I waited nervously for a kid’s opinion on my interior decor.
“It’s clean,” He noted, and I looked around.
Two stories of windows overlooked my sitting area around a tall steel fireplace. It was clean, modern, and minimal, with primarily black furniture and white walls. I hired an interior decorator and didn’t really have much input. I lived here, sure, but I had so much work to do and multiple offices that this didn’t really feel like home.
“What’s up there,” He pointed to the second-floor landing above the sitting area.
“Bedrooms,” He nodded, “Do you want to choose one?” I asked hesitantly, “For today?” I added I didn’t want to overstep bounds with Willa.
“I just got me own room; it’s blue,”
“Your favorite color,”
“How did you know?” His eyes went wide.
“Lucky guess,” I smiled, “Also, you told me.”
“Oh,”
Emmett bounded up the stairs peeking into the open doors of the guest rooms.
“This one,” He ran into one that faced the tallest buildings, “Can I keep it?” He asked and turned back, frowning.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s white,” I looked around the room, white walls and matching sheets.
“There’s that painting,” I pointed at a wall, the painting cost me thousands, and he frowned at it, “How about we make a deal?”
“Okay,” He walked back toward me; his steps were slower now, his energy gone.
“We ask your mom,”
“Fine,” He shrugged, “But she’s going to say yes,” He gave me a knowing smile.
“Wait here for one moment, okay?” He nodded, and I went to grab some stuff from a closet.
Emmett was fading again and slumped against the bed when I returned.
“Let’s go back downstairs.” I motioned towards the door and he walked towards me.
He reached his arms up, and it took me by surprise. I lifted him into my arms, and he nuzzled into me. It made me feel really nice, actually.
I sat him on a chair and put the sheets and pillow I grabbed on the couch. My mom used to make me a couch bed when I was sick, which basically consisted of my favorite sheets and cartoons all day.
“There,” I lifted him onto to couch, “This is your bed for the day, and we can watch whatever you want. The doctor will be here too. Are you hungry?”
“I don’t know,” He settled into the pillow, and I covered him with a blanket.
I put my palm on his head, and he felt hot, I needed to check in with the doctor to make sure he was on his way.
His eyes were closed before I even turned on the TV.
The door opened, and I knew who it was immediately. Only Holden would feel comfortable enough to barge in here.
I walked to the front door, “Be quiet; he’s sleeping,”
Holden dropped the bags he was carrying on the floor, “How about a thank you, nice to see you?”
“That too,” I raised an eyebrow looking at the bags he had.
“Toys mostly, plastic kid plates and cups, and clothes.”
“Okay then,”
“Was that not right?” He looked frustrated.
“I don’t know,” I shook my head, “Did you Google it?”
“Yes, and Google said kids need clothes and food, so I bought clothes and things to eat from.” He shrugged.
“Thanks,” I carried the bags toward the kitchen and went to make some chicken and rice, something my mom made for me every time my stomach was upset.
“I never thought I would see you like this,” Holden followed me, leaning against the kitchen counter.
“Out,” I pointed toward the door.
“So pushy; I’ll send you the bill for today.”
“Do,” I ignored him, trying to find the chicken broth; when was the last time I even cooked for myself?
“Wait,” I turned toward Holden’s back.
“Finally, you’re going to fall on your knees in appreciation for me,” He gave me a smile running his hand through his hair.
“I need you to get some groceries, have them ordered, whatever,”
“You have someone for that,” He scoffed.
“But you’re here,” I studied him, “Please,” I added.
“Well, just because you finally found manners, I will. Text me what you want,”
The rice was almost done when the doctor finally arrived. I led him to Emmett on the couch and gently placed my hand on his arm and wake him up. He rubbed his eyes, blinking at me.
“The doctor is here; he just wants to look you over,” I gave him a smile, trying to soothe any worries.
I sat next to him on the couch as the head pack doctor asked him questions and examined him.
“Well done, Emmett, was it?” The doctor asked, and Emmett nodded proudly.
I led the doctor to the kitchen that opened on the other side of the open area.
“What’s wrong?”
“Seems to be a cold, a bad one.” The doctor shook his head, “But I haven’t seen any kid with a fever like that, not a full werewolf at least. You said he’s from Alpha blood?”
“His dad,” I replied dryly.
“It doesn’t make sense. I want to come back tomorrow. I’ll give him some antibiotics, but they won’t do much but might ease some discomfort. Lots of liquids and sleep; try to see if he will eat.” I nodded I could do that all.
“I appreciate your care; I’ll see you tomorrow,” I ushered him out.
Emmett was sitting up on the couch when I got back.
“Hungry? I made some rice,” Saying that out loud sounded so boring, so dull, “My mom used to make it for me when I was sick.” I added.
“Yes, please,” He smiled at me, going to get off the couch.
“I’ll bring it to you,”
“Mama doesn’t let me each anywhere besides the table.”
“It’s a special occasion. Do you want cheese?”
His eyes lit up, “Yes, lots and lots of cheese.” I laughed, going to bring him some food from one of the plates Holden bought.
“What do you want to watch?” He shrugged.
“I don’t really watch TV,”
“Okay then, I have a few suggestions,”