Chapter 12
Farren
When we get home, Hope is still in Damon’s arms, and I run to Brantley and grab my son, smooching his chubby cheeks. “I missed my son.” I breathe in his baby smell.
I carry him over to Damon. He kisses the top of his head, and I smile. He is such a loving father.
“Who is that?” Brantley peeks at Hope, who is still wrapped in the blanket. I look too and see she is awake.
“I will explain.” Jackson motions for Brantley and kisses the shit out of him. I laugh at Brantley’s dazed expression.
Damon sets Hope on the counter, and the blanket falls to the floor. She looks even skinnier now that she is in the light. “She is at least twenty pounds underweight at first glance,” Elizabeth says. “She needs some Ensure, like the human kids drink.”
I turn my head, my heart hurting for this little girl.
I take out my phone and text Alex, a member of the pack who gets stuff for us. I ask him to get Ensure, vitamins, clothes, and other stuff Hope will need, and he agrees. I look out the window and see him driving off the property. “He is on it.”
“I think that is all that is wrong with her. She needs a bath, a good meal, and a warm bed. I will help you bathe her, so I can examine her more closely.”
Damon takes Axel from me, and I smile at Hope. “Let’s go take a bath shall we, honey?” She nods and I lift her into my arms. She lays her head on my shoulder; she is a sweet little girl. Elizabeth follows me upstairs, and I take Hope to a guest room, which will now be her bedroom.
“Ohh, let me go grab some baby wash and shampoo that we use for Axel. We should have some clothes that fit her too, since we got stuff for when he is older.” I hand her to Elizabeth and grab what we need, including some towels.
Hope is standing at the entrance to her room, and Elizabeth is standing behind her. “She wanted to watch you.”
“She might be scared,” I mouth to Elizabeth.
I take Hope’s hand and lead her to the bathroom.
I turn on the water and help her undress and get into the tub.
I hand her some toys to play with. Her little knees are covered in bruises and scratches.
Her feet are the worst because she didn’t have any shoes.
I try not to cry as I wash her hair. Elizabeth puts her hand on my back, trying to comfort me. Hope looks at me. “Why you cryin’?”
I smile at her sweet little voice. “I am just so happy that you are living with me now.” I rinse her hair.
“Foreber?”
I look her straight in the eye. “Forever.”
She smiles for the first time since I met her; she has dimples. “She is so cute.” Elizabeth says.
“She really is.”
I help Hope out of the tub, letting out the water. I lotion her body and put on a shirt and sweatpants; then I brush her hair out.
“Want me to carry you?” I assume her feet are hurting. I put some antibiotic cream and bandages on them. She shakes her head and takes my hand. I help her down the stairs and into the kitchen, where I smell food. Damon has been cooking dinner for everyone.
“Smells good, baby.” I tell him, and he turns around and looks at Hope.
“Well, if someone doesn’t look like a princess.
” She smiles and I let her hand go, and she walks over to Damon.
He picks her up. “You want a bite?” He hands her a bite of potato, and she pops it in her mouth.
Her eyes widen and she reaches out again.
“Here, I will bring your food to you.” He walks her over to the table, where he has set out a booster seat we bought Axel for when he is older.
There is a knock at the door, and I see Alex with bags of stuff. I help him bring in everything, and I pour some Ensure into a cup with a straw. “Thank you for doing this.”
“No problem.” Alex waves off my thanks and is back out the door. He is such a good kid.
I put the drink in front of Hope, and Damon brings her steak chopped up into little bitty pieces and a potato.
“Elizabeth told us she can eat whatever we eat, it just needs to be smaller,” he says.
He is so thoughtful. Hope reaches for a piece of steak and holds it up like she is confused.
“You eat it, sweet girl.” She puts it in her mouth and chews.
I take the cup. “Here, you drink this.” I put the straw to her mouth, and she takes a small sip. She takes it from me and finishes almost all of it in a few seconds.
“I will get her some milk.” Damon laughs and goes into the kitchen.
“Tomorrow we need to fix her room, she needs a toddler bed. You think we should put her in the crib tonight? We can lower the bar for her.”
“That is a good idea, I wouldn’t want her falling out of a regular bed.” Damon comes back with our food and another cup of milk for Hope, with two waters tucked under his arms. I sit down on one side of her, and Damon is on the other. We dig into our food, hungry from the fight earlier.
Hope doesn’t say anything, focused on her meal. She doesn’t know what she wants to do, drink or eat. When she only has a few bites left, she falls asleep against the arm of the chair. “I will take her.” Damon picks her up.
I follow him upstairs. He lays her gently in the crib and pulls the bars most of the way down, so she doesn’t fall out but she can get out by herself if she needs to.
I turn on the light in the bathroom so she can see if she needs to go.
Damon pulls a blanket over her and kisses her forehead. “Goodnight, angel.”
My poor heart.
I hear Axel cry from our room. “I think someone is hungry.” I take him out of the bassinet and feed him. I sit on the edge of the bed until he is finished.
“Goodnight, my son.” I kiss his cheek, my heart filled to the absolute brim.
Damon takes him from me and kisses him. “Good night, future alpha.”
I laugh softly at the title. Damon takes my hand and we shower together—nothing sexual— we want to feel each other, take comfort, and let the horrible day just wash off us.