Chapter 283: 3. Memory.
The dining hall of the Kentucky mansion was beautiful. It had a light blue color that gradually transitioned into a soft violet, resembling a night sky or sunrise. The floor was made of dark mahogany hardwood, but I had added large, plush rugs with long tufts to make it more comfortable to walk on.
The dining room table was rectangular, and Damon sat at one end by himself. I sat on his right side, with Mariella on his left. Next to Mariella was number two, followed by Mimosa as number three, Shadow as number four, Elena as number five, Katherine as number six, Tim, Leopard, Damon, Adam, and Charles at the other end of the table.
Next to Charles were numbers seven, eight, nine, and ten, Dresden, Constantine, Alaric, Murdock, Dexter, Taylor, Magnum, and lastly, Wulfe, who sat closest to me. There were a few empty seats. Damon never allowed anyone to sit next to me if there was any possible way to avoid it.
This had been the case ever since he became the leader of the pack, and I never questioned why. It seemed like he just wanted me in that position. I had always interpreted it as a sign that I was meant to be alone, but I wasn't sure if it was due to his possessiveness or for some other reason.
The table was covered with a white tablecloth adorned with pictures of fruits and berries. The chairs were high-backed and comfortable to sit on, providing an ideal height for eating. The kitchen was spacious and well-equipped, but it still had a warm and homey feel to it. The cabinets were made of warm-colored wood, and the countertops were either quartz or marble.
It wasn't a modern, steel and glass house like Mariella's, but it still felt cozy despite its size. We also had a huge living room with fireplaces, paintings, books, and board games. I hadn't had a chance to explore it fully yet since it was time to eat.
After all, this four-week gestation period would take a lot out of me, even though the litter size would only be around 100-200 or slightly more, not too big. And once we give birth to the first litter, we would begin our pregnancy with vampire babies. It would be an intense eight weeks, giving birth to a litter of cubs each week before finally having the babies. This demanding time required a lot from all of us.
As the alpha, I would have to go through a few more litters, always according to my own schedule. This meant I would be more pregnant than the others, just by a few days, but those few days would result in 1-2 extra litters before finally giving birth to the babies.
I was prepared for it. However, as Damon and the other protectors, all ten of them, were responsible for ensuring the well-being of pregnant females, it meant that the females would be well-fed and taken care of, and the stress levels of the cubs would be monitored, prioritizing their needs.
It seemed like it would be quite a journey for Elena, Katherine, and me. I suspected that those two might have to take it easy, receiving extra care and sedatives from Damon during their pregnancy. Usually, Shadow was the one who received most of the attention, as she was even more stubborn than me, but now, I had no idea how these two would manage.
As for me, our relationship had been unpredictable. Damon hadn't always been there for me, but sometimes I did receive his attention. However, I hoped that those two would occupy his time, so he wouldn't constantly be buzzing around me. I had a few plans of my own to lead this group of caretakers in a different direction. I wanted some time to myself, but I would have to be careful about it.
There was chatter all around me as my pack discussed the hidden secrets of this house. The Salvatores were already planning where to start their investigation, but I had already found my own space - the special attic floor. It wasn't officially designated as such, but there were rooms, windows, and a marvelous view.
Since this house had one wing, the special attic floor was located there, and it was the perfect place for me to set up my study. Not a nest, but an office where I could go through everything that old Anders had managed, and then I could decide if Leo was the right choice.
However, first, I needed to distract them or give them a reason to look elsewhere. Wulfe looked at me intently, and I wasn't sure if he had discovered my recent hiding spots in my mind. I had made a few new ones, but only time would tell. Alright, let's see if I can make this work.
I said to Damon, "Have you noticed that this house appears to be about 30% larger on the outside than on the inside? There must be hidden pathways. I was planning to start exploring the first floor, as it's likely there are hidden stairs leading to other floors."
Damon grunted, and Adam sharply replied, "No, honey, remember not to wander into any hidden corridors while pregnant. We don't know what could be there, like mold or something. We'll take care of checking those areas, and you can explore the normal rooms."
Damon nodded and turned to Adam, saying, "Nice catch, Hauptman. Once we finish this meal, we'll start exploring those hidden corridors with our energies while you girls check the rooms."
I rolled my eyes and replied, "Fine, I'll take the top floor to see what's up there and check the attic."
Damon nodded in agreement and added, "Well, this house isn't as terrible as Halifax, but go ahead and let us know what you find."
Mariella wanted the first floor, and the wolves and girls would take the next floors. I kept my expression controlled as Damon gave instructions to each male about their tasks and where to find what they needed.
Damon assigned numbers four, seven, nine, and ten to prepare the medbay. Numbers three, five, six, and eight were to continue making food and ensuring the shelves were well-stocked. The rest of us would start exploring the hidden passages, including Wulfe, who was less than pleased. He had a keen instinct when it came to me, and he could sense that I had my own plan, but he hadn't found my hiding spot yet.
After dessert, I was stuffed, but knew some movement would do me good. Magnum, Alaric, Tim, and Taylor had gone to check out the gym. It was important for the females to be in good physical shape, and numbers four and one had discussed it extensively during dinner.
We would have some exercise or at least a few trial sessions to ensure our bodies could handle pregnancies and childcare. The method of birth, whether natural or C-section, was still undecided, as were the cubs and babies. But we would see when the time came.
I calmly walked to the elevator, took it to the top floor, and headed towards the east side. I noticed the doorway to the special attic, tucked away in the corner and barely visible in the shadows. It was just a small door, but it served as my secret hiding place since the actual entrance to the attic was elsewhere.
As I opened the door, walked up to seven steps to reach the special attic. This was just perfect for me. Now, I could even put curtains on the windows, as very few people would know about this spot. I peeked into a few rooms and discovered that they were spacious and had a rustic charm. Oh my god, they were perfect.
It felt almost like a sign when I entered the farthest room, where I discovered a large, old desk—possibly oak. I ran my fingers over its elegant carvings; it resembled a presidential table, and I envisioned this becoming my office.
The room was spacious, featuring a fireplace, and the large open windows provided a breathtaking view of my lands, including the lake and forest. It truly seemed perfect. The dark wood floor had a rustic charm, but I plan to add some rugs.
The walls could use some rejuvenation, whether with sticker wallpaper, paint, or perhaps some animal skins for decoration. This could be the ideal office, requiring only a little effort to make it feel right—maybe just a few bookcases.
It was time to take action. Initially, I went to the actual attic, which turned out to be spacious and well-constructed. We could convert it into a feline room or simply add it to another floor. Uncertain if the cellar floor had enough suitable space for felines, I sold my brief excursion and hoped it would serve as a sufficient distraction.
As I walked in, I called out to Damon, "Come on, if you're free. I want to hear your opinion on this."
Through our bond, I could sense his surprise, but this was all part of my plan. I wanted to show them the actual attic and prove that I wasn't hiding anything, even though I was.
Damon replied, "Fine, I'm coming."
He teleported next to me, whistled softly, and remarked, "Now, this has potential... a lot of it."
I nodded and asked, "What do you think of the cellar floor? We could turn it into a feline room, or perhaps have multiple rooms with all these windows and sturdy ceilings. It wouldn't be difficult to build walls here."
Damon grunted, walked around, touched the walls, and observed that the high ceiling prevented the area from feeling cramped.
He muttered, "There's enough space for felines in the cellar. This will be turned into rooms. Good find. However, we need to map out those hidden areas and open them up, so it'll take a while before we can proceed. Good job, baby. But we also need to discuss the flea problem."
I reassured him, "No need, that's not your responsibility, it's mine."
He frowned and exclaimed, "What do you mean? I'm part of the management, too."
I sighed and explained, "You see, managing fleas is a more complex task than you think. It falls under my jurisdiction to oversee everything. You and the pack handle the mission side, planning and executing missions. Then we have the intel side, the ones who gather information for our missions. We also have the supplies team, like Magnum, who provides us with gear. Sure, he does missions too, but he's primarily in charge of supplies. Then there's the finance team, ensuring that our accounts are used properly and compensations are paid without leaving a trace. We also have the security team, making sure everything is as secure as possible, along with the medical and personnel departments. There are many aspects to manage, and I have to monitor each one, offering help whenever someone needs it. It's difficult for me to suddenly teach all of you to be perfect leaders. Heck, I'm not even one myself. But this is my responsibility, my original ideology. Millions of people are following me, and I have to ensure their well-being."
Damon grunted, lost in deep thoughts. He nodded and said, "Yeah, of course, there are other jobs too. But listen to me closely. I'm a telepath. I can gather a lot of information from your mind if you let me. My guess is that not even Wulfe or Alaric know everything."
I nodded and replied, "Not even Adam. It's easier for me to compartmentalize information rather than share everything. My memory allows me to remember what is necessary in each situation, but not everyone with a normal memory can retain that much information."
Damon insisted, "I have almost the same memory as you. We are biological halves. I can help, and I will help. We'll make sure others know and can assist too. I've said this before, but I'll say it again. You're not supposed to be alone in this, I understand that."
I sighed tiredly, raising my hands and saying, "Fine, have it your way. Although I'm not sure when you'll have time to listen to my lessons. We're pregnant, and I'm not the only one carrying cubs."
Damon sharply responded, "I know, but baby, there are nine versions of me. We are all protectors of pregnancies, not just me. Each of us is ready to support you and others. So I have time."
I chuckled and said, "Just look at us. We're having an almost real argument. It's scary. Do we really have a relationship here? Can I trust this?"
His expression softened, and he said, "You can, and yeah, you're one stubborn little creature. But baby, you have a secret. What have you found?"
I kept my expression under control, trying to recall what I had discovered.
He intertwined his arm with mine and said, "Come on, show me your secret. What have you actually found?"
He could sense that I had found something. Damn it. But fine.
I said to him, "Just another part of the attic. You know there's a separate wing in this house with its own attic. Nice rooms in there, empty but good. It doesn't bother me."
He smiled and commanded, "Show me."
I really had no choice but to teleport us to my attic.
He looked around the rooms, whistled softly, and said, "You're right. It doesn't bother me either. But baby, there's one big flaw here."
He looked at me, and I had no idea what he was referring to, so I asked, "What flaw?"
His voice was dark, amused, and seductive. "There's very little sanctity here. No beds." I blushed.
I wasn't prepared for him to be so wild. As he noticed my cheeks turning red, he said, "Oh baby, you're blushing. What's the matter, sex beast? Or do you feel like a virgin? I can arrange that too."
Stuttering, I tried to respond, "I... I was... not ready for that."
His warm, amused voice filled the silence. "Not ready for that?"
I nodded, feeling off balance and unsure of what to do. Finally finding my voice, I desperately tried to regain my composure. "Fine, let's get this over with."
I took his hand and led him to the last room, opening the door to reveal a desk. He knew how to throw me off balance once again as he remarked, "Nice desk, baby. Good idea. This stuffy desk could use some proper sanctification. You bend over this table... all helpless, spread, open, waiting for me to plunge in..."
I looked at him, surprised and unsure of what was expected of me.
He walked towards the desk and hopped on it, saying, "Oh, this is sturdy. This will do just fine. No sticks, baby. Look at your expression. You're standing there, all red and flushed, unable to say anything."
He hopped down and walked towards me, and I instinctively took a few steps backward until my back hit the wall. He leaned in and kissed me passionately, possessively, with an intensity bordering on brutality. I responded, just starting to warm up when suddenly, he pulled away, frowning.
"Sorry, gotta go. Mariella has some problem."
And just like that, he teleported away, saying nothing more. I leaned against the wall, taking several deep breaths. It was fine. Everything was fine. Mariella was just being hormonal. I could feel through the hive that she was okay. Her cubs were okay.
She had noticed us and became possessive and jealous, pretending to have a problem. This was nothing new to me. After regaining control, I walked up to the desk. No relationship, nothing that Mariella wouldn't tolerate. No passion. This was good. I could handle this.
I sat by the desk, noticing a few old chairs nearby, as I ran my fingers along its surface. There were fine grooves etched into it, remnants of a time when someone had written something on this very desk. I had no clue about the contents or the previous owner of these markings.
This was my life, and I was determined to make the most of it. Perhaps Wulfe and others would eventually be free, or maybe my alpha side would prevail.
No, Damon's weakness offended me. He had mentioned that there were nine others, yet he had chosen to go to her. It spoke volumes and provided all the information I needed.
I had decided that this would be my own personal space. I would require multiple rooms, and my five, even Adam and Charles, my boys, would join me in transforming this place into our sanctuary for my cubs.
I had no issues with other females, except for Mariella. I knew she had a way of attracting wolves with her pheromones, stirring up possessiveness and jealousy. But soon, it would be my time to secure my guys for myself. As the alpha female, it was time to see if I could truly have them or not.