Ferdinand's Point Of View
It was so nerve-wracking trying to keep secrets from Tristan. Especially since he was so happy about how things had turned out with Kaleb's Birthday Party. Thankfully the party had kept him distracted for hours so that I could compile a portfolio of Alpha men with good hearts and even better reputations.
I hadn't expected that Kaleb would want a male partner, given his history with life in the facility. But he had shocked me with his innocent request, thoroughly. I had finished with preparations and made a few phone calls just in case, then headed back to the yard as the kids were playing Lazer Tag.
I was glad that Kaleb was finally able to relax and enjoy his party. We started off rocky in the morning, but it seemed like things would work out in the end. Especially when Annette and the nannies brought Joobehlee and the babies down to play as well.
When it came time to open his presents, Kaleb seemed a bit more tired than the rest of the kids. They had also played around much longer than expected in the back yard as well. So it was to be expected that the kids would be tired.
I didn't really think too much about it. That is, until Kaleb began to fidget when someone mentioned that they could smell apple pie. I didn't smell it, and if I couldn't smell anything then that could only mean one thing, it was someone's pheromones.
Then I remembered what those assholes at the amusement park had said, and realized that it was probably Kaleb. He had long since finished opening his presents and was currently playing with his remote controlled motorcycle, when I gave him a nod.
I knew it would be awkward for him to discuss it in front of other people, and the main people for the party had already begun to disburse.
"Hey kids, what do you say to going back outside to play some more?" I asked.
"Can we really, Uncle Ferdi?" Arrisa and Joobehlee asked, full of excitement.
"Of course. Play as long as you want." I replied.
"What about Kaleb? It's his birthday after all..." Arrisa asked, worried.
"Don't worry about me. I'm going to take my presents up to my room and lay down... I'm really tired Ari..." Kaleb said, defensively.
"Alright. Only if it's okay with you..." Arrisa agreed, then slowly began to walk away.
Tristan seemed a bit more suspicious, but didn't push it, once Kaleb curled up in the chair he was sitting in.
"Would you like a suppressant, Kaleb? They were tailor-made for you, by me. But since it's a heat cycle, it will only take the edge off... it won't stop it all together... sorry buddy." Bellamy said.
"It's fine. I'll take it. Whatever works, right?" Kaleb sighed.
"Yeah. Happy Birthday little brother." Bellamy said ruffling his hair.
"Brother? Not nephew?" Kaleb asked, confused.
Bellamy chuckled as he injected Kaleb with the suppressant in his thigh.
"You turned 16 today. You're an adult now. We mated your big brother, you guys were like his children. But children grow up, and when you do you become our siblings too. So yeah..." Bellamy shrugged as he chuckled more.
"None of that makes any sense..." Kaleb sighed.
"It's fine. Don't worry about it so much. Instead, you should consider not spending the night alone. The more I thought about what Tristan, Ezekihel, and Synnahmen said... the more worried for you that I am." Bellamy said, taking me and Kaleb unawares.
"I'll handle it. I'll figure something out." Kaleb said, nervously.
"Oho? Big brother Ferdi is already going to assist, is that it? Ha ha ha! Don't worry, I won't tell your brothers. They would most certainly disagree and throw a fit. But here, I made more contraceptives for Tristan, so they should work for you too. They work for 6 hours. So keep that in mind." Bellamy said, handing over the injection and walking away.
"You asked me if I had anyone in mind... I don't... and that's because none of the guys here could provide to protect me and my sister... they all have a boss that they answer to... if I'm going to do this, I want it to be with someone who has the potential to properly take care of me..." Kaleb said.
"You would leave Tristan?" I asked, confused.
I never thought any of Tristan's siblings would willingly leave his side. It was the reason I wanted to build a house for them.
"Tristan won't miss me. Our bond isn't like the one he shares with everyone else. If anything, he feels guilty and trys to make up for it all the time. I'm just a burden to him..." He replied.
"I don't think that's true. He was worried sick about you when they took you. Not only that, but when he saw the cameras, he became enraged. Almost uncontrollably so, at the fact that that bastard put his hands on you..." I said.
"Yeah, or he was mad that they were doing that shit in front of Arrisa. Look I know Tristan, better than I know myself. He'll worry about me because he'll feel responsible if I get captured, but let's face it... I'm safer if I'm not with the Golden Goose, right?" He said sternly.
I couldn't deny anything he was saying because I honestly didn't know. The one thing I did know was that Kaleb wouldn't make his first partner choice based off looks, but off whether or not they could protect, provide, and prove themselves.
I wasn't even sure he was looking at it from the physically demanding aspect of it either. This was spiraling in a direction I didn't plan on. Tristan would no doubt blame me if Kaleb chose to leave to be with an Alpha of his choosing.
"Are you sure about this, Kaleb? This isn't exactly something that will stay a secret from Tristan if you go this route..." I asked, concerned.
"It's fine. We can't take it back once we've started right? What can he do but throw a tantrum?" Was his snarky reply.
"Haaah.... Well if you're sure..." I said, laying out some photos on the table in front of him.
Since he had insisted he wanted a provider and not just some one time fling, I had to take photos out of the equation.
"Why are you taking some of the pictures out?" Kaleb asked, looking disappointed.
"You wanted a provider, these guys probably wouldn't make the cut..." I shrugged.
I laid down the last two photos and Kaleb's face immediately lit up. It was kind of concerning due to the last two photos I had placed down.
"This man!? Who is this man? He was there that day to rescue us wasn't he?" Kaleb asked, excited.
Meanwhile, I was regretting putting his picture in the pile at all. Tristan would kill me for sure.
"Ah... well that was an accident. I meant to take that picture out of there. His brother was the one who kidnapped Tristan and gave him to Danhiel's mother.... So, no." I said ripping up Waihlynn's picture.
"Okay... what about this guy...? What does he do?" Kaleb asked.
"He's a Mafia King in the Duhtchy next to this one. He's a good guy, if not a little aloof at times..." I said.
"What's his name?" Kaleb asked.
"It's Gaibe..." I replied.
"Would he actually agree to something like this? Does he even know?" He asked, looking worried.
"Well... I did talk to him briefly about the possibilities... he was more concerned with your health than the act itself... he also doesn't want to make an enemy of your brother, so he happily complied." I said.
Though happily complied might have been a stretch. He was actually scared out of his mind. Gaibe didn't want to blow it and mess things up with Kaleb, then have him run to Tristan complaining about how terrible he was. Apparently Tristan made a lasting impression when punishing Rahzden and Naithynn.
"This guy came to our house in Sayenrio right?" Kaleb asked, pulling me from my thoughts.
"Yeah... I'm not sure he's the kind of guy you want though... while he can definitely provide for you and your sister, he is the Mafia King of Delgaide...." I replied.
Kaleb stiffened up at the mention of Delgaide, and who could blame him. He'd basically go right back to where it all began.
"And what about these two?" Kaleb asked, pushing Xander and Xavier's pictures towards me.
"Wait...? Both of them... together?" I asked concerned.
"While I don't need to have more than one mate to survive, it's not like I can't have more than one. But they both look ridiculously similar, there's no way I'd be able to tell them apart. I'd probably end up sleeping with both of them anyway..." He said so casually.
I was beginning to get concerned about this whole situation... What should have been a simple hook up, was turning into a match maker session.
'I'm sorry Tristan... I might have bit off more than I could chew... Much like you, your brother is a frikkin tiny force of nature, too...'