Chapter 493
0493
ZADE
Dinner isn’t too bad, although I had an unexpected person sitting on my left. The Menace himself. He seems to get bored easily and I’m his latest interest. He was adarnant that he had to sit next to me. Although, to everyone’s surprise, Sia had also wanted to sit beside me. Of course, the Menace won that round.
Adriana is sitting down at the table beside Atticus’s beta’s mate. She hadn’t wanted to join, but the women, mainly Valerie and Zaia, were adamant she did. And I know she only agreed to avoid causing more of a scene.
We’re almost through the main course whilst Atticus’s beta tells Hugh about something Shelby did many years ago. An act of bravery, it seems.
Hugh smiles at her as he takes her hand and gives it a squeeze. “Shelby has always been brave,” he says.
“It’s just a shame we didn’t meet for so many years,” she replies softly, resting her head against his shoulder. I look away, gazing down at my mate instead, giving them their privacy. But that remark makes me think about life in general.
I always felt that Valerie returned to my life at just the right time… but it also meant we had lost time. But would things have been different or the same if we met earlier? Would we have the understanding that we
have now?
That thought leaves my mind the moment my gaze dips to my Little Mate’s tits.
Well fuck time, I’ll make up for lost time every single day by spreading those legs and fucking her into oblivion.
She looks up at me, catching exactly where I’m looking, and a small smile crosses her lips. ‘Caught you in the act, and here I was thinking you were smooth and slick when committing a sin.”
I smirk, doing my best not to yank her back by the hair and kiss her how I fucking want to, and instead grip the back of her neck and kiss her as I hold back from doing what I want to do to her.
The sound of something toppling over and coughing makes us spring apart.
“Shelby!” Valerie is on her feet in a flash, she’s by Shelby’s side in an instant as Atticus also rushes from his seat.
“Darling, Shelby, careful…” Hugh murmurs as he holds her hand as she continues to cough. Blood.
Several of the other adults are up, but Atticus motions them to stay back.
That’s a lot of blood…
I stare at her as the blood trickles through her fingers and instantly lean forward, blocking the Menace’s view of what’s happening. Atticus grabs a napkin, placing it under his mother’s hands as he kneels beside her in an attempt to save her dress.
The kids are silent as Linette begins crying.
“Her pulse is irregular, she needs to rest,” Valerie says quietly as she checks the older woman’s vitals.
Atticus nods, “I’ll get her to bed.” He’s about to lift his mother when Hugh stands.
“May I, son?”
“Oh… of course,” Atticus says as he gives Hugh a smile. Although he’s trying to act normal, I can tell he’s not in a good state.
“Carry on eating, my dears. I’m alright, just a little tired. Linette, dear, would you be a darling and bring Hugh some food upstairs?” Shelby asks, her speech a little slurred, something that makes
Valerie’s face drop.
She’s deteriorating…
Linette pales as she nods at her mother, who smiles at her.
“Mommy, is Grandma dying?” the Menace asks. Silence follows, and 1 glance at the woman in Hugh’s arms as she mouths ‘I’m so sorry’ to Hugh, who turns as Valerie ushers them out.
I know they won’t even be marking one another, as her body would probably not be able to heal from it.
I glance at Zaia who hasn’t answered the question. I can tell she’s struggling, the silence in the room loud aside from Linette’s tears as Atticus hugs her.
“She’s not dying…” I begin. I’m not good at this shit, but no one else is answering. “Her body is changing, so she’s just getting ready to move to heaven… that’s where good people go.”