Chapter 20

Adelaide The smell of bacon wafted through her senses, stirring her empty stomach and starting up her brain. Her eyes fluttered open, gradually taking in the Christmas themed living room. The fireplace was dead, but the vague scent of smoke still lingered. She sat up, her hips still aching from the night before. Memory of Geoff ravaging her after getting home from work engraved into her mind. She looked around the room, her eyes landing on her Mate sleeping soundly beside her. He must've been far more exhausted than she realized. "Adelaide ." Nathan's soft voice came to her from the doorway. She gasped, covering herself with a portion of the blanket. He held up a plate with bacon still sizzling on it. Her mouth watered. He walked away as if teasing her with its aroma. She looked around, finding her clothes and quickly got dressed. When she stepped into the kitchen, her eyes widened at the display. There was the plate of bacon, sausage, pancakes, scrambled eggs, waffles, and hash browns. The entire counter was a beautiful display of breakfast food, she didn't know which end to start at. Elias was already awake and sitting at the counter with his plate of food. "Adelaide !" He said with a mouth full of pancake. She smiled, sitting beside him and patted his back gently. "Good morning. Dad, what is all of this?" She asked him. He was at the stove, making more food. "I just wanted to make everyone breakfast this morning, especially if you're letting me stay here until after the wedding." He flipped over the bacon, grease splattering and sizzling. "You made a ton though." She said, picking up a piece of bacon. The grease coated her tongue, the flavor making her tastebuds sing. "Yes well, I had to take a guess that wolves have a bigger stomach than we do." He chuckled. He wasn't wrong. A soft groan came from the doorway as Geoff entered, still looking half asleep. He had managed to put his jeans on, but left his shirt in the other room. Adelaide 's eyes wandered over his tattoos, tracing them with her eyes. "My eyes are up here." He said with a yawn as he sat across from her. She blushed, looking away. He chuckled at her, his eyes looking over the food. "Is it my birthday?" He asked as his body finally started to wake up with the feast in front of him. "Not quite." Nathan said as he brought over more bacon. Geoff's eyes were wide and lit up like the Christmas tree. He reached for everything he could get his hands on. Elias watched him and proceeded to do the same. "Elias." Adelaide said as he spilled some food onto the counter. He stopped, looking up at her. She could picture his wolf ears laid back. She smiled, ruffling his hair. He perked up once more and went back to eating. Nathan brought out milk and orange juice, grabbing a few more glasses for everyone. They all ate in silence, but it was peaceful. "What a lovely sight." Penelope chirped from the doorway. Adelaide glanced over to her soon to be mother in law, then to the man that was towering behind her. Derek. Geoff stopped eating once he saw him. She could see his wolf trying to surface, but before he could, Adelaide hopped off of her seat and walked over to Penelope. "I'm so happy to see you." Adelaide smiled as they hugged. Penelope squeezed her more than she had before. She pulled back, looking Adelaide over quickly. "I hope you're doing well, sweetheart." She winked at her. Adelaide blushed. Does she have that sense to? Penelope stepped aside, and Derek looked down at her. Adelaide swallowed, but she didn't back down. Compared to her large shirt and basketball shorts, Derek was in another business suit. He was trying to intimidate her, but she won't let him. Instead she smiled up at him, stepping aside and gestured to the food. "Hungry?" She asked simply. He cocked a brow at her invite, but he pulled off his jacket. "Famished actually." He responded before walking passed her and took her seat beside Elias. Elias was looking up at Derek with glee, his body bouncing a bit on his stool. "Dad! I shifted!" He shouted. Adelaide walked over to the other side by Geoff who met her gaze. He looked concerned, but she smiled at him as she sat between him and Nathan. It was definitely crowded now. "I'm so proud of you, darling." Penelope said as she sat on the other side of Derek. Derek looked down at the food as if waiting for someone to plate up for him. "Please, help yourself." Adelaide told him as she took her plate away from his side and continued eating. He hesitated before grabbing a plate and quietly joined in. Penelope took smaller portions, keeping her elegant etiquette while she ate. "How are things coming along with the ceremony?" Penelope asked them. "Almost done." Adelaide stated proudly. Geoff paused mid bite of his sausage, casting his eyes over her. "Really?" He asked her. She nodded, smiling up at him. "Yeah, I ran into some mom's yesterday at the central park. Since a ton of places are not taking last minute requests due to the holidays, they insisted on talking to their mom group." She gasped, "I didn't give them my number." She groaned. "What were they offering to help with?" Geoff asked curiously. Adelaide put up her hand as she listed with her fingers. "Food mostly. I still have to find a dress for myself and Erica." She tapped her chin thoughtfully, "I could go to the dress shop again, but everything is so expensive." She pouted. "What about the venue?" Penelope asked her. Adelaide smiled at her. "Central Park is perfect! Right in front of the Christmas tree. Everyone in the city can see us get married. They can be involved, and it's already decorated." She beamed. She looked over to Geoff who was smiling down at her. He reached over, caressing her cheek with his fingers gently. Soft sniffling sounded from the other side of her as she looked over and watched her father start to cry. "Damn, I didn't want to cry yet." He wiped his face. Adelaide felt her own tears come on and she hugged Nathan. He returned her embrace tightly. "What's on the agenda for today?" Penelope asked her after she pulled away from her father. "Oh, well. I'm not sure. To be honest, I've just been winging it so far." She half smiled. She finished her plate and started to add more. "Hungry?" Geoff asked her with an amused cocked brow. She blushed, looking away as she recalled last night's activities. She was starving if she had to be honest. She didn't have the stomach to eat for so long, but today she finally had the appetite. She drank from her juice to avoid answering his question. "With the looks of that second plate, she could almost be eating for two." Penelope joked. Adelaide choked on her juice for a second. Her father patted her back as she recomposed herself. That answers that she knows, but how is it that Geoff doesn't? "Has your stress been making you not eat again?" Geoff asked her concerned. Thank God he was oblivious. "Yeah, but now that most of it is being handled, it feels like I can breathe again." She relaxed her shoulders. Geoff rested his large hand over hers, giving his very rare tender looks as he kissed her fingers. "Then perhaps today you should get your dress." He told her. She looked down at her plate. "I'll call Erica. We can have a girls day." She pulled out her phone and shot her the text. Just as she finished the text, a call came in: