19
Kane
Before the crack of dawn, I left for the pack’s kitchen and whipped up a quick breakfast for Valor and I. I promised him we would wake up in each other's arms and I was intent on keeping that promise. As Valor grumbled in his sleep and rolled on his side, I glanced at him with a smile on my lips. He looked so beautiful when he was asleep, all cuddled up in my protective arms. I was never letting him go, never letting anyone come between us ever again. And if I ever find that bastard Ezekiel. I would rip his throat apart. Valor’s eyes twitched as he stirred awake and he smiled at me. I placed a kiss on his forehead, and he grinned. “Hey, beautiful.”
I teased and brushed my knuckles against his cheeks.
“Hey, you're here.”
“Yeah, I’m not leaving your side ever again,”
I reassured him, placing kisses on his body. He giggled and squirmed in my arms. “Come on, I made breakfast. Let's brush up, ok?”
“Sure.”
He answered, and I rose from the bed, carrying him to the bathroom. I set him down in front of the vanity mirror and we took our time brushing one after the other. After we had finished, Valor sighed and leaned against my chest, taking my hands and putting it on his belly. “Do you feel that, our child?”
he smiled, and I lowered my gaze as despair sneaked up on me. “Is there a problem?”
The smile on his face slowly disappeared.
“No. I just wanted to tell you about the baby you know before everything, and we haven't had the chance to talk about it. If you want to keep it.”
“So that’s the reason for the odd excitement back then. Of course I want to keep it,”
he faced me and held my cheeks. “It’s our child. Come on, we'll talk about it over breakfast.”
I led him back to the room, and sprawled on the couch, held my hand out to him and pulled him onto my lap when he took my hands. I caged my arms around him and began to feed him the contents of breakfast. I started with the scrambled eggs and this time he didn't struggle. He let me treat him because he deserved it. “I’m really concerned about you having a child. It won't be easy. Your entire body will change and even after birth, you might feel different.”
“I know my body will go through a lot of changes, and I want you to be there with me cheering me as I try to find myself again even if I don't feel the same way for some time. I want you to always look at me the same way, hold my hand and get me through every single day.”
“Always, little wolf. I would never stop loving you. I promise,”
he reached out and wiped off the eggs off my lips. “I really missed you, and I want to spend all day long with you.”
“Me too, but we have duties. I need to take care of my dad. He's blind. Zeke attacked him and almost got him killed.”
“Zeke was here. He came after you. Where is that bastard?!”
My chest rose as anger flared through me., and I wrapped my protective arms around him.
“You don't have to worry. I drove a dagger into his throat.”
“Hmm, little wolf, so feisty.”
I rumbled with pride in my eyes.
“He’s gone, and he's never coming back, but sometimes I wish I had treated everything very differently, but he didn't exactly make it easy for me.”
“It isn't your fault, Valor. You tried the best you could. He was just blinded by the paranoia, hate and jealousy.”
I indicated and sighed, letting the few seconds of silence pass us by.
“There’s no need to worry. He's gone now.”
“Leda returned to the pack yesterday to take care of things with Rohan, and that includes some of the mystical objects I used to protect myself when I was alone. Zeke must have found them. That was how his hold on me was so strong I couldn’t resist.”
I uttered with despair and regret coating my voice. “I hope you can forgive me, little wolf. I really messed up.”
“It’s ok. We’re good.”
I told him. We finished through breakfast and hit the showers, stripping and stepping into the steamy water trickling from the showerhead. Kane put the hair shampoo in his hands and washed my hair, smiling at me as the water from the shower trickled down our naked bodies. When he finished, he put my hair under the shower and helped me rinse off the soapsuds. I chuckled at him and carded my hand through my brunette hair, brushing it backward. He pulled me closer and wrapped his hands around my waist, pressing his rigid body against mine. I claimed his lips in a kiss, which turned frantic as each second passed, desperation tugging at us as we kissed and kissed until our lips were swollen. I pulled off, my lips aching, my eyes never leaving him as he brushed his knuckles over my cheeks. “Everything about you is so perfect, little wolf. You’re so beautiful.”
He smiled and wrapped his hands around me. I rested against his chest and the water from the shower rinsed off the rest of the soap foams clinging to our skin. We finished and returned to the room, changing into a new set of clothes.
***
Valor
I went to the room my father was occupying and saw that one of the pack workers had helped him with breakfast and his meds. Now all I had to do was sit with him through the morning before I did anything else. Kane was with me and he was standing close with his hands on my shoulder, bringing me support. I would finally introduce the man, who I had cried my heart out for to my father, and I'm sure he would be so happy to meet him. I sat on the bed and took my father's hands, reassuring him that I was here now. From what I saw, he was getting better, and I had the feeling we were going to have a splendid morning together. “Dad, I'd like you to meet someone. Kane.”
I said and Kane came closer, taking my dad’s hands.
“Hello, sir.”
“Nonsense. Please, just call me Dominic,”
he chuckled and tightened his grip around his arms, a scowl masking his face. “Hurt my little boy and you'll see the other side of me.”
“Dad.”
I cautioned, surprised by my father's words.
“Nice to meet you, Kane,”
he released his grip and let out a hearty chuckle. Looking at Kane, I saw the expression of fear on his face, and I fought so hard to bite back a chuckle. “Now you boys should leave old me alone. Go take a walk or something.”
“Alright, dad. If you need anything. Just mind-link me, ok?”
“Sure.”
We walked out of the room and I took my time to double back at Kane. I let out a hearty laugh and bumped his shoulder, and he rolled his eyes at me. “He didn't exactly make it easy.”
“Well, my dad is being my dad. He’s cool though. You don't have to worry.”
I said to him and we headed down the stairs.
“I want you to show me around your home.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah, of course. I'm sure.”
He murmured, and we continued down to the common room. We left the pack manor, and we moved through the pack dwellings, the lake, the cabin, the school, training grounds, and forest. By the time I was done with the tour, it was almost evening and I had gotten a mind-link from the Alpha to meet up at the pack manor with Kane. It was time to put our plans of the Sentinel Programs into motion and for me to properly introduce the love of my life to my family.
We made our way through the path that led to the pack house, and we arrived at the common room where the Alpha and Luna were already waiting for us. They both offered us a seat, and I started by introducing Kane to them properly since he had caused a scene from yesterday. Kane took over after I had touched the surface of the introductions. “I recently ascended as Alpha in my pack and so far my mate, Valor, has helped me through a lot of things. We are looking to expand our territory and bring other Lycan shifters back to the pack,”
he said, ensuring he had our attention. “I also want to forge alliances with other packs as well, especially with the home of my fated mate.”
He looked at me with a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
“That is very thoughtful of you. We'll put your offer into consideration,”
Logan told him. “If there's anything you need help with, don't hesitate to tell us.”
“Yes. We are also looking to join the Sentinel Training Program of Night Shade Pack. That was actually Valor's idea. He wanted to run it through you first.”
“That is not a problem at all,”
Frey added. “This is really a good thing for both of our packs, and your union helps to solidify it as well.”
“We’ll talk about it and give you the feedback you need before you return to your pack. I also need you to know that you're welcome to stay as long as you want.”
Logan added.
“Thank you so much for your hospitality, Logan.”
The two Alphas rose to their feet and shook each other's hands.
“You’re welcome.”
We finished through the short meeting and parted ways. Kane and I returned to the bedroom, and we spent the evening cuddled up together on the bed. Kane wrapped his hands around me while I fell asleep in the arms of the safest man in this world. Oh, goddess. I can't thank you enough for how everything worked out in the end.