Chapter 14: The Gift
688words
Mia poked her head into the kitchen. "Sorry to interrupt, but there's someone here insisting on speaking with both of you."
Before either of us could respond, Elder North swept past Mia into the kitchen, her imperious presence filling the small space. Unlike her previous visit, however, she came alone—and carrying a large, elegantly wrapped package.
"Grandmother," Aiden acknowledged, his tone carefully neutral. "We weren't expecting you."
"Clearly," she sniffed, eyeing the flour dusting his shirt with disapproval. "The Alpha of the Northern Territories, playing baker's assistant."
I tensed, preparing for battle, but Aiden merely smiled. "I'm learning valuable skills. Luna's quite the teacher."
Elder North's gaze shifted to me, then to my prominent belly. Something flickered in her eyes—not quite warmth, but perhaps a reluctant acceptance.
"I came to deliver this personally," she said, placing the package on a clean countertop. "It's tradition for the pack Elder to present this to expectant mothers carrying Alpha bloodline."
Curiosity overcoming caution, I unwrapped the package to reveal a blanket—impossibly soft, woven with intricate patterns in silver and blue threads. Even to my untrained eye, it was clearly an heirloom, ancient and valuable.
"This has wrapped every North Alpha at their naming ceremony for ten generations," Elder North explained. "Including Aiden."
I ran my fingers over the delicate fabric, surprised by the gesture. "Thank you. It's beautiful."
"It's not a gift," she corrected. "It's heritage. Your daughter's heritage, regardless of... current circumstances."
By "current circumstances," I knew she meant our unconventional living arrangement—neither fully together nor formally separated.
"About the baby shower," she continued briskly. "I've taken the liberty of scheduling it for next Saturday. The pack expects certain traditions to be observed, particularly for an Alpha heir."
I opened my mouth to object to her presumption, but Aiden spoke first.
"Grandmother, we appreciate the offer, but as I told you on the phone, this is Luna's decision. If she wants a shower, she'll let you know when and where."
Elder North's lips thinned with displeasure. "You continue to indulge her independence at the expense of pack tradition."
"I continue to respect my mate's wishes," he countered. "Something I should have done years ago."
The old woman studied him for a long moment, then surprised us both by nodding. "Perhaps you've learned something after all." Her gaze shifted to me. "He was always stubborn, even as a pup. Took him longer than most to recognize what was right in front of him."
Was that... understanding in her voice? Not quite approval, but something approaching respect?
"The invitation stands," she said, straightening her already perfect posture. "At your convenience, of course."
After she left, Aiden and I exchanged bewildered glances.
"Did your grandmother just... compromise?" I asked.
"I think she did," he replied, looking as shocked as I felt. "Though I wouldn't trust it completely."
I traced the patterns on the ancient blanket, thinking of the generations of North wolves it had touched. My daughter would be part of that lineage, regardless of what happened between Aiden and me.
"Maybe we should accept," I said slowly. "The shower, I mean. Not for her, but for our daughter. She deserves to know her heritage, all of it."
Aiden's expression softened. "Are you sure? You don't have to do this for me."
"I'm not," I assured him. "I'm doing it for our family—whatever form that ultimately takes."
He nodded, understanding the distinction. We were finding our way toward something new—not the fairy tale I'd imagined as a lovesick teenager, nor the cold political alliance his grandmother had envisioned, but something real. Something built on mutual respect and shared purpose, if not yet fully rekindled love.
As he helped me clean up the kitchen, moving around me with careful attention to my needs without smothering, I allowed myself to acknowledge a simple truth: I was falling for Aiden North all over again.
