Page 91 of The Chosen One Universe: Volume One

“Everyone here?”

“Mission accomplished.”

“Good job, kiddo.”

Grandpa used his cane and walked down the stairs extra slow. Ollie walked ahead of him because Grandpa was afraid they’d get tangled up. But he could wait for Grandpa at the bottom.

“We got snacks?” Grandpa asked in a whisper once he’d reached Ollie’s side.

“Yep. Nana’s on it. I put some on the table already. Grandpa, why’s it called a coffee table if you don’t make coffee on it?”

Grandpa stopped walking for a second and stared at him. “I have no idea. Probably because a long time ago, they used to set their coffee on it when they drank it in those fancy cups Nana likes.”

“Hmm. Probably so. Coffee smells gross. But not as gross as asparagus.”

“Asparagus smells disgusting. Please tell me we aren’t having that green monstrosity for dinner.”

Ollie sighed and looked up at him. “Sorry.”

“Man, your Nana’s on a mission to make us all healthy. I’ll eat mine if you eat yours.”

It really wasn’t that much of a bargain, but Grandpa usually found a way to steal some of his asparagus and put it on Papa’s plate when he wasn’t looking so… “Okay.”

“Good. Go sit with your Papa. Grandpa’s gotta stand for this one.”

Everyone who wasn’t already on the couch moved around so they were all piled together. Ollie wiggled his way in between Grammy and Pop-pop since Jack was already sitting with Papa.

Grandpa William cleared his throat. “I received a very important phone call his afternoon I needed to tell you all about.”

Papa’s heartbeat got faster like he was scared so Ollie looked at him. “Papa?”

“I’m okay, Ollie.”

Grandpa cleared his throat again. “Now, your Daddy and Pop-Pop and Uncle Meshaq might know a lot of people, but Grandpa William has a few connections of his own. I spoke to none other than Santa Claus himself today.”

Ollie stiffened and so did his brothers and sisters. Grammy wrapped her arm around Ollie’s shoulders.

“You did?” Grammy asked. She sounded kinda confused. Probably because it was against the rules. Or Santa was a bad guy and Grandpa shouldn’t be talking to him. “What did he have to say?”

Ollie gulped. What if he’d figured out their plans? What if they weren’t good enough to be the alpha’s kids?

“He told me there’d been a bit of a misunderstanding, so he’d decided that instead of bringing presents to the house this year, he was going to make alternate arrangements.”

Ollie scowled. “What’s alternate arrangements mean? Do we have to make a new plan now?”

“Plan?” Papa asked.

“No plan, Ollie. See, Santa heard that you guys were worried about what him coming meant. He seemed to think you’d misunderstood something. Now, he wasn’t really clear on the details, but he said you’d understand what I meant.”

Ollie looked at Ben. Ben always knew how to figure out what confusing adult stuff meant.

“Santa… isn’t coming?” Ben asked.

“Well,” Grandpa said. He seemed a little confused on the details. Ollie was pretty sure that was bad. “He’s still going to bring presents. That’s his actual job. But see, Santa told me that he heard you thought it was his job to decide if you were good enough to be the alpha’s kids. But that’s not his job at all.”

Grandpa moved his cane and looked at Papa in a funny way. Papa was kinda looking funny too.

“Not good enough?” Daddy asked.