Chapter 17 - Dealing with the Damage

Dimitri’s POV

After dinner the other night, when Teresa was glaring at Abigail during the entire meal.  I mind linked Gamma Gabe, “no offense but Teresa needs a good old fashion spanking, that might help her,”  Gamma Gabe almost choked on the beer he was drinking and I couldn’t help but laugh as I reached over and patted his back, “you okay.”

The expression on his face was priceless, “no, I’m good, thanks for your concern though,” he arched his brow.

I’ve been invited to eat at the Westfield pack house, I’ve been eating there for years on Sunday unless it was the full moon.  I knock on the door and it swings open, Tyler and Lynx stand there smiling at me, Lynx speaks “come on in Gamma Dimitri, I guess you’re old enough to go inside the dining room right now, we were all just kicked out by Dad.”

Tyler chuckles, “seems our sister’s aren’t playing nice today,” he shrugs, closes the door and heads for the family room.

I look at the doors to the dining room and shrug, fuck it, I’ll sit and listen.  I open the doors and hear Braddock, “really Teresa there are more important things going on then who is doing what in the fucking pack house, you’re a Gamma get your priorities straight and, deal with it.”

My eyes go wide at him, this isn’t the fun natured, even tempered and phenomenal dad that I’ve grown to admire.  Something is going south here, and I don’t think it has anything to do with Abigail and Teresa.  I sit down and mind link Christov, “what is really going on here.”

Christov doesn’t look at me and keeps his hand on Abigail’s shoulder, “not sure, Teresa brought our pack house business in here, but I can tell his mood isn’t about this.”

Christov clears his throat and looks at Teresa, “Gamma Teresa, this is pack business that you’re bringing into your father’s home, it has no place here, you will be in my office tomorrow morning after you complete your morning training, do you understand.”

Christov, impatiently waited for her response, “yes Alpha Christov.”

He turns to Braddock, “I apologize Braddock, it will not happen again, I assure you.”  Abi blows out a breath and Braddock nods as he holds Luna Charlie’s hand and looks at her.

I clear my throat, “Luna Charlie are you doing good today?”

She looks at me and smiles, “I’m fine Gamma Dimitri, thank you for asking.”

I smile and ask, “should I tell the pups they are allowed to come eat now, I don’t’ mind helping you with anything you need.”

Braddock gives me a look and I hold up my hands, “nothing nefarious, just being respectful to our Luna, I assure you Mr. Westfield.”

He chuckles, “go Gamma Dimitri, get the rest of our family in here, so we can eat,” I stand, and he continues talking, “we will talk about Brooklyn after dinner with Abi and Christov, okay Charlie.”

After dinner I was leaving as Sofia hit the foyer from the stairs, “Gamma Dimitri, aren’t you staying for movie night?” she smiles.

“I’ve got work to do,” I look around and ask, “where is Brooklyn, the two of you are normally together?”

She shakes her head, “she’s not feeling good, you know she gets sick sometimes and,” she shrugs, “she’s in the garden laying on the swing, she says she’s hot.”

My eyes go wide as I look at her, “well, I think I should say goodbye to her, I’d hate for her to think I didn’t want to,” I give her a lopsided smile and she giggles as she walks to the family room. 

I walk to the double french doors and look outside, Brooklyn is sitting on the swing, her legs too short to touch the ground and looking up, with a frown on her face.  I can’t help but feel sorry for the young girl, she’s so tiny for her age and trying to deal with her wolf.  I open the door, “hey Brooklyn, why are you out here by yourself, are you not feeling well?”

A smile forms on her face and her hand lifts, her finger points up into a tree, “that bird is trying to get her baby bird back in the nest, but the baby keeps falling out of it.”  She swings her legs and her frown forms again, “do you think Momma’s ever get too tired to help their babies.” 

Her face now turns to me, expecting an answer and I smile at her, “I know my Momma, and she will never be too tired to help any of her babies.”  Her face falls a bit so I add, “and your Momma will never be too tired, she has the same love in her heart for her pups as my Momma does.”  She scoots over in the swing and pats the spot next to her, so I sit and look up at the tree to find the bird she was talking about.

Her voice is soft, “do you miss her?”

I look at the tree she pointed out, “yes, but I call my Momma once a week, to make sure she doesn’t forget me, since I am so far away.”

“I meant Ava, I miss her being here, I know you spent lots of time with her so I just thought you might miss her too.”

I smile, “yea, I do miss her being around, but I know she is very happy where she is, she is with her fated mate, she has to be happy now, so I don’t think she would want either of us to feel bad about it.”

She nods and looks back over at the tree, “I’m really sorry for the other day, sometimes I just can’t control my own thoughts or actions.” She sighs, “It’s hard to be my age and look like this,” she frowns.

I stare at the tree still not seeing the bird, “I remember being your age, it wasn’t that long ago,” I chuckle, “your still a pup, I think you look fine.” 

“You’re nice Gamma Dimitri, but a terrible liar.’

She jumps off the swing and walks towards the doors, “are you coming to movie night?”

I look at her, “I’m not a liar, why would you say that?”

She arches a brow, “I’m 16 and being told you think I'm a pup and I look fine, is not a compliment when you look like I do."  She turns and walks into the house without saying another word.

I mind link Christov, “I’m leaving unless you need me.”

He responds, “come to our office and take Alexander to join the others for movie night, we need privacy for a discussion about Brooklyn.”

I reply, “on my way.”  I hope whatever they talk about, they’ll let me know so I can focus on helping her along with them.  I shake my head, Ava really did damage to me, that's the only explanation I can think of why my heart hurts and feels so empty.