Her Triplet Alphas by Joanna J

Chapter 24: Dolls That Look Like Chasity Felby 

Ma marched me into the living room. Pa was sitting on the couch drinking whisky on ice. Dad and Mom sat next to him. Alex and Calix were sitting on the floor with wrapped presents in their laps like children. 

“Sit with your brothers,” instructed Ma. “Get the camcorder, Victor,” she said to Pa. “Camcorder? In this day and age?” Asked Alex, grinning. Pa pulled out his iPhone. *I got a camcorder on this here cellular phone,” Pa informed us. “Where’s Chasity?” Asked Calix. “Where’s the little one?” Demanded Ma. “Go get her, Munch-munch! There’s scorpions in the hay. She could get bitten,” said Pa. “We don’t have a barn, Dad,” said my Dad to Pa. “Well, why the hell not?! You grew up with one,” argued Pa. “CLAUDIA!” Yelled Ma, meaning Chasity. “Veronica, be a dear and go fetch Claudia.” “It’s Ronnie,” said Dad in unison with me saying, “It’s Chasity.” “LITTLE ONE! Where are ya?” Shouted Pa. Chasity came scurrying into the living room. 

“You stay away from that barn, Claudia!” Scolded Pa. “There’s scorpions in the hay. That’s how I spent a Christmas in the hospital when I was a young-un.” 

“Dad, we don’t have a barn,” repeated Dad. “That’s not the point!” Argued Pa. Dad sighed exasperatedly. “The kids need to be safe, Sonny-boy,” cooed Ma. “Claudia, sit on the floor with your big brothers. 

“That one is not our gran,” Pa reminded Ma. “Oh, who is she then?” Asked Ma. “You’re not Claudia?” “No one is named Claudia,” I said through gritted teeth, losing my patience. “Munch-munch, relax,” said Ma sternly. “‘Yeah, Munch-munch, pipe down,” said Pa. “You go first. You’re the eldest.” “Mayor is the eldest,” corrected Ma. “That’s why he’s the Mayor.” “Then why does Munch-munch eat so damn much if he ain’t the eldest?” complained Pa. Calix was beside himself in a fit of stifled laughter. “Hand out the presents to Munch-munch and this little one,” said Pa. 

Ma gave me a present and handed another present to Chasity. I smiled. I was happy they got her something 

“Mayor, open your gift,” said Ma. 

Alex took his time taking the tape off and unfolding the wrapping paper carefully so that it could be preserved. 

“Lord have mercy, I’m old boy. You want me to croak before I see you open your present, Mayor,” complained Pa, despite the fact that werewolves were immortal. 

We were not indestructible though. We could succumb to injuries, a small list of ailments and poisoning with wolfsbane or silver. Other than that, we would go on living indefinitely. 

“Relax, Mayor likes things orderly,” said Ma. “Why aren’t you filming?” “S**t, I forgot,” swore Pa. “Wrap it back and start over.” “You just complained it was taking too long!” Alex reminded Pa. 

I snorted with laughter. I felt Alex’s frustration. Ma took the gift and put the wrapping paper back on with some more tape. Pa started filming Alex opening the gift again. Alex looked at the box he had unwrapped. It was floral print. The label said Meet Henrietta Your New Best Friend peered at the transparent plastic front. It was a doll. 

“Thank you,” said Alex, grinning. He was a pretty good actor. I’d give him that. 

“That’s for the little one. They’re not labelled,” said Ma with a smile. 

“You play with dolls, Boy?” Said Pa. “You sure this is the eldest? This is youngest.” 

“Mayor is the eldest. Claudia is the youngest,” said Ma. “Calix is my youngest,” hissed Mom “You like the doll, Claudia?” Asked Pa. Chasity took the gift. She smiled. “Thank you so much, former Alpha and Luna,” she said politely: 

“Are you presenting at parliament? Girl, call me Pa,” said Pa. 

“It’s a collector’s doll,” gushed Ma. The doll did look expensive. Ma took it out of the box and smoothed its hair. “It looks like you, see, Claudia?” Said Ma. 

The doll was redheaded with her straight hair in pigtails. It had pale, freckled skin and green eyes, and was clad in pink overalls. Chasity had dark blonde curls, golden skin and brown eyes. 

“Claudia,” said Pa. “Next year, no more dolls! You’re getting to be a big girl!” “I swear I don’t even remember this one as a baby. It’s like she just shot up.” said Ma. “She’s not your gran, Ma and Pa. She came here at aged nine,” said Mom. 

“Don’t be rude, Veronica,” said Ma, narrowing her eyes. “We know Claudia is adopted,” hissed Ma in hushed tones. 

“Don’t rub it in,” said Pa. “Edit that part out of the home movie,” instructed Ma. “Ronnie, stop ruining the home movie,” complained Pa. “Chasity is not adopted,” quarrelled Dad, getting defensive over Mom. 

“Sonny-boy, go get me some more whisky. Where’s this man’s whisky?” Said Pa, pointing at Mom’s Dad. 

“No thanks,” chuckled Grandfather. “I’ll have a glass of white wine,” said our super young step-grandmother. “Nothing for her. She’s not the drinking age yet,” said Pa. “Don’t be ridiculous, Pa,” laughed our prepubescent step-grandmother. “I’m thirty-two.” “You told me you were forty,” said Grandfather under his breath. 

Dad went to fetch the whisky with a sigh. Chasity actually seemed quite pleased with her doll. i opened my present next. It was a spider-like contraption that walked all over your body to massage 

you. 

exclaimed in earnest.

Mayor. He’s the eldest and most stressed out,” explained Ma, taking my gift and giving

Felix,” offered Alex. “Thanks, Big Bro,” I said. “Felix is a stupid name,” said

named Alexander,” said Ma, pointing at Alex. “He’s not. He’s named Alex. Like my name, it’s not short for anything,” explained Mom patiently. “Snookers, it’s your turn.” cooed Ma. Calix ripped open the gift in a

gift,” said Ma, giving it to me. I did not need a weapon to ice people but it could come in handy. “Thanks,” I said, flashing them a grin. “Where’s my gun?” Joked Alex. “I feel left out.” Pa pulled another gift out of the sack he had brought. “It’s here,” he said, grinning, handing Alex another gift. “Alex gets two gifts,” complained Calix. Alex painstakingly unwrapped his gun. “You’ll get two gifts when you’re the eldest, Snookers,” cooed Ma. “I’ll never be the eldest,” said Calix, wearing a bemused expression. “Stop complaining and go outside to play with your gun,” said

regular. Their skin will just push the regular out if

real bullets in when you’re playing ok,” cautioned Ma. Ma and Pa were literally insane. “I won’t,” promised Calix.

on the cellular phone camcorder,” confirmed Pa. “Should we watch it over dessert?” Said

me to film the kids opening your gifts with my camcorder or did you

Calix 

made sure that Chasity slept in the same bed with us. She sometimes slept alone downstairs in

I want to wake up with you on Christmas morning,” specified, leading her up

did you think of Ma and Pa?” I

though I was really close to Mom, I was not that close with her

colourful,” said Chasity as she

with laughter and shut the door, locking it. Alex was sitting at his work desk, typing away on his laptop. How was

Alex’s laptop screen. “Pack stuff,” mumbled Alex. “Urgent pack stuff?” she asked, sitting on his lap. “I guess it could wait,”

to sleep in here the vast majority of the time. It was the neatest room by far, I knew she was afraid of all the eyes in Felix’s paintings and i felt

grandparents all sleeping over?” Asked Chasity.

would sharing the top spot in Alex’s love life

presents tonight,” said Felix, stretching out

sleep, in heat for Chasity, repeat. “What are you looking at?” Snapped Felix at me for staring at him. “Nothing

I had been anticipating that. I ducked out from under him and put my fists up. Felix jumped to his feet

I could sense he was one carpet wrinkle away from using his eldest Alpha voice on us. “Don’t fight,” cried Chasity, pouting. She came and stood between us. “Baby, we’re playing.” said Felix, scooping her up into a hug. I hugged her from behind. “We’re not serious, Chasity.”

watch a human movie with her. “I love movies from the Human Realm!

or acting like you were. Tonight was a night for

the doll she had gotten. She was

I’m too old for dolls but it’s a nice one,” she said

I knew she had missed out on playing with dolls and just being a normal little girl since the day she had come here. Alex was looking at Chasity, his expression pensive. She slid the

glum?” I asked. Chasity was quiet “Wait till you see all your presents tomorrow! We went all out!” I exclaimed, grinning. “Thanks,” she said softly. “I got you three presents too.” “Thank you, Baby,” murmured Felix, pulling her onto his lap. “But you didn’t have to.” “The last time I got you something was my first Christmas here,” she said. “Do you

sadly. “Luna, I’m sorry. I hope you know that,” added Alex, caressing her cheek.

“I made you paper dolls,” she whispered, a single tear sliding down her cheek. “Hey, hey,” said Felix. “Shh, Baby,” he cooed, kissing her cheek and wiping the

pressed his forehead against Chasity’s. I remembered what she was talking about all

on Christmas Eve

was crazy about it. Mom and I both were actually We would decorate the house together. Felix liked helping with the lights and Alex liked going around straightening ‘crookedly hung’ decorations. This would be our first Christmas with the new girl. Chasity. She had come to live with us all of a sudden. It was weird.

was cute. She had pretty hair. I was peeking in on her. She was in her tiny room, cutting up some paper. She was making paper dolls. She was colouring them in. They were us: Me, Felix and Alex. There was a lourth one. A little paper doll

Wer 

all headed downstairs to open presents. Chasity was helping the

ever need to hire a cook, sald Dad while he and Mom

and the cook served breakfast. Pancakes, bacon, eggs, Christmas ham, a pitcher maple syrup, a stick of salted butter, toast, bagels with cream cheese, chocolate chip muffins. The list went on and on. I

every toy we had asked for. Calix was ripping open his gifts in record time. I unwrapped mine carefully, preserving the paper. Felix tore open his gifts but not with the speed of

homemade envelope. She had made paper

with dolls,” he

them together,” suggested Chasity. “See this one is mine,” she said, showing him the paper doll

up high so she couldn’t get it. She

I don’t want to play with you,” she said, frowning. Felix scowled. He threw the paper doll version of him into the

yours unless you like playing with dolls,

in the fire. Chasity was upset. She ran up the stairs. I quickly put my