Both Allen and Greyson looked at Brad with interest.
"So, you're saying that despite not having a wolf, you still manage to retain leadership of the pack?" Allen asked with a scowl of confusion.
"No, I still have my wolf, he's just not very…cooperative," Brad answered with a sigh as he desperately rocked his son in his arms, his stress levels rising the longer he cried.
"So, ask him to come and meet his baby, instead of sulking like a giant child," Lexi shrugged.
"It's not that simple," Brad snapped in frustration, "What if he hurts the baby? What if…"
"Look, you can throw 'what if's' around all you like, but the fact is that the child in your arms shares the DNA of you AND your wolf." Lexi snapped back, "Would an Alpha wolf really turn his back on his own child?"
Brad grimaced slightly at her words and pursed his lips.
"Maybe not, but…" He answered hesitantly, but Lexi cut him off before he could continue.
"Less of the excuses, Brad. I don't think for a minute that Octavius would hurt a child that had no choice as to whether or not it was born. He's angry with YOU and the choices that YOU made, not a helpless baby." Lexi hissed, "Besides, if he even dared to make a move against the child, I can guarantee that all four of us would have that child to safety in less time than it took you to shift." she continued with a nonchalant shrug.
"Maybe it would put you more at ease if your mother held the child…" Greyson said as he cleared his throat, addressing Brad directly.
Brad seemed torn but Eleanor reached across and patted his arm reassuringly.
"Whatever he thinks of you, Octavius would not turn against your mother as well as your son, Brad. Let's at least try, okay? If it makes you feel better, I can sit between Lexi and her mates." She said softly.
Reluctantly, Brad agreed and as soon as the three of them had finished eating, Eleanor took hold of the baby boy with a smile and took a seat between Lexi and Allen, whilst Brad took his mother's previous place at the table.
"Don't worry, I'm quicker than your wolf no matter how proud he is," Greyson said matter of factly, "Probably one of the few perks of being a Lycan."
Brad nodded wordlessly as he took a deep breath. His eyes glazed over as he reached out to Octavius and waited for a response.
After what seemed like an eternity, Brad stiffened slightly, the lines of tension in his shoulders showing as his eyes flicked to a deep gold and his head turned towards where his mother sat cradling the little boy.
Greyson adjusted his position slightly as he watched Brad carefully, with Lexi and Allen almost mirroring his stance just in case something did go wrong.
"Hello Octavius," Eleanor smiled as her own wolf flashed in her eyes, "My son…it has been a long time since you have graced us with your presence so easily."
A low rumble emanated from Brad's chest as Octavius's keen eyes studied Eleanor's face and he sniffed at the air gently.
"He has disgraced us both and I would not have surfaced today had it not been for the presence of envoys from my Queen," he said before huffing disdainfully, "Well…what should have been my Queen if it wasn't for my human's transgressions," he added with a snarl.
Lexi leaned forward across the table slightly and smiled gently in Brad and Octavius's direction.
"You know exactly how I feel about Brad's transgressions, but know that Ann and her wolf do not blame you, Octavius. It hurt them both deeply at the time, but they only wish you well. I hope that you can accept that." she offered as Octavius locked eyes with her and studied her closely.
"It is not so easy…" he began before Lexi held her hand up and interrupted him.
"Life isn't easy in general Octavius, but it is not worth abandoning your pack and your family. Second chance mates exist for those who deserve them and I'm sure that one day, your goddess will reward your patience, but only if you conduct yourself as an Alpha should."
Octavius studied her for a long time without speaking, and Lexi held his gaze unflinchingly.
Despite not being a werewolf, she was here representing the Royal line and considering she outranked Brad in position, she had to show that she was worthy of her position.
The Queen's Beta should demand respect and conduct herself with confidence, and Lexi knew without a shadow of a doubt that she had more than enough confidence and strength to hold this position. If she didn't challenge him silently in this way, then she ran the risk of Octavius assuming that she was weak and unfit for the posting.
She could see him warring with himself and the low rumble of displeasure at being told what to do by a non werewolf echoed in the dining hall, but after a few tense minutes he slowly inclined his head.
"I will think on your words…" He forced out as Lexi inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.
It would have been a shame to have to put him in his place in front of his infant son and would have no doubt hampered the process of him settling in here. Lexi and her mates were tied up here until they were all happy that the child would be taken care of well, otherwise, they would return to Ann with the baby and it would be raised as a ward of the royal household.
"Octavius…" Eleanor said softly, her voice pained as she threw him an imploring look, "Don't you see what I have here? Do you not recognise him?"
Her plea was punctuated by a grief-filled whine from her own wolf as she spoke, lifting the child in her arms and revealing his drowsy little face as it snuffled at the edge of the blanket.
Octavius's eyes widened as they fell on the baby and he scented the air around them before snorting in disbelief.
"He... is mine?!" Octavius whispered hoarsely, his voice breaking slightly on his last word.
"He is. My grandchild…your son." Eleanor smiled up at him gently as tears shone in her eyes.
Lexi was sure that she would have found this scene almost comical if it weren't for the circumstances surrounding this. A fully grown Alpha looking as though he were terrified of the tiny boy in front of him.
"Do you see why you can't abandon your pack, Octavius?" Lexi asked gently, "Do you really think Brad is capable of raising his son properly without your help?"
Octavius snorted loudly but didn't comment as his intense gaze remained fixed on the child.
"Your son is going to need your strength…you're the only parent that he has left." She persisted as his eyes lifted to hers.
"And what of Ada? What's to stop her from…"
"She's dead, Octavius," Lexi answered bluntly as his gaze returned to his son, "There won't be any interference. This child will be solely your responsibility if you choose to accept him."
Octavius's eyes softened slightly the longer he looked at the baby in Eleanor's arms and after what felt like an eternity he stepped forward towards him and reached down, running a finger clumsily along the soft, chubby cheek of his son.
"There was never a choice in accepting him. He is my son…my blood." he murmured, "I would never turn him away. He is mine."
The tension that had simmered in the room seemed to dissipate almost instantly and Lexi felt like breathing a heavy sigh of relief.
"So you'll play a more active part in this pack now?" She asked shrewdly, narrowing her eyes and folding her arms in front of her.
Octavius turned his head towards her slightly and huffed in her direction.
"For my son, I will tolerate my human's presence." he agreed finally as he bent forward awkwardly and took his son from the arms of Eleanor, holding him tenderly against his chest as he watched his son drift gently off to sleep wrapped in the safety of his arms.