Honestly, that is a part of my life I would rather forget. Sure, the struggle and challenges made me the man I am today, but those dark times shouldn’t dictate how I view life now.
I can’t complain, I know she had it worse, but that doesn’t mean I’m particularly happy to discuss that part of my past. I would rather discuss our future.
“Ok, so your dad abandoned you, then came back,” Sage whispers and nods, probably to emphasize how much she has understood so far. “But what about Kat?” she asks, and I sigh.
“Kat’s father is my biological father, but he isn’t my dad,” I explain, but those words don’t feel right anymore.
Derrick has been good since he came back into my life. And I hate to admit it, but I have slipped a few times and called him dad. I believe that most, if not all, of those happened because I could remember the man that was around briefly but was a good father before he left.
Sometimes, I still see that man in him, and I love seeing him be the man he once was for me with Kat. But the damage is done, and I don’t think it can be repaired. Plus, the thought of calling Derrick, dad, makes me feel guilty.
Calling Derrick dad, while I was raised by another man, who showed me what being a man is and loved me like his own, makes me feel like I am being disrespectful to the man who raised me. Of course, I know deep down he wouldn’t mind because he was the sort of man that forgave easily and understood me, but that doesn’t make the guilt any less real and present.
“Derrick is Kat’s and my father. He left when I was young and never returned. When he found his mate, he had Kat with Katherine. Same father, different mothers,” I tell her, and she nods, as the understanding of the entire picture finally dawns on her.
“So why do you hate some rogues then?” Sage presses on the same question again, but this time, it’s intentional, not another slip-up.
“Because rogues helped the man whose pack slaughtered mine,” I sigh and close my eyes. “He is dead and long gone now, but the rogues are still alive. But that isn’t why I have been hunting them entirely, it is part of it, but not all.” I add a little more information than I want to share, unsure if it’s the right decision.
I want to be as open and honest with Sage as I can be. Sometimes, such things come at a high cost, but things tend to get worse if people get the information from third persons, rather than the main source.
“What’s all of it, then? I want to understand,” she insists, reaching for her water.
“My pack isn’t even a quarter of the size it once was. We used to be the second-biggest pack in the country, but now we are the smallest. A pack of rogues has realized our pack is smaller than their pack. So, obviously they see it as an opportunity to kill and take the land, along with everything we own.” I don’t want to scare her, but maybe this bit of information will help Sage to understand the situation better. If she wants to, of course.
“They want to take over your pack,” she whispers, repeating my words, but this time, she does it like she really understands. I part my lips to agree, but she beats me to it and sits up in the bed with yet another question spilling over her lips. “What will you do when you find this rogue pack?”
“Not sure, but from what information I have received, they outnumber us, and they have been getting closer and closer to the border. Some have slipped through.” I confess, hoping she doesn’t think I can’t keep her safe here.
“I don’t like you torturing them. In a way, I can understand, but no one’s life is worth a little bit of information, Andrei,” she scolds, chewing her thumb like she thought I would become mad at her for voicing her opinion.
“Sometimes it is necessary, Sage,” I answer calmly, not to worry her even more.
“Is it, though? Making someone suffer for gain, is it really necessary, or just a quick way to get what you want? A way to make you feel in control?” Words spill out of Sage in an aggressive, accusatory tone.
I don’t bother answering because we both know that she is right.
Once she realizes she won’t get an answer to her last questions, Sage lays back down and rubs her eyes. “You should sleep. We have a big day tomorrow, well today,” I tell her as she struggles to stay awake. She looks like a stubborn child that refuses to take a nap.
“Doing what?” She asks, yawning as she snuggles under the comforter.
“Going to see my sister, and you can finally meet our niece and nephew. Kat invited us over for lunch,” I whisper as Sage smiles and nods before she closes her eyes. I watch her sleep, and when I am sure she is fully asleep, I climb out of bed and head to my office.
Ezra
It is early morning when I finally walk in the door after patrol duty. So ungodly early, it’s too soon for the first cup of coffee and too late to try to catch up on some sleep. The sun is literally just coming up.
I close the door as quietly as possible and scan my surroundings, just to make sure my arrival doesn’t wake anyone. The last thing I want to do is set Kat off again, there’s been an underlying river of tension with her lately. It’s almost like her first time in heat where she’d constantly bite my head off for any little thing.
As slowly as ever, probably only a tad bit faster than a sloth, I reach down to tug my shoes off and place them by the door. I head for the showers on the bottom floor, desperate for a chance to wash away the intense exhaustion and soreness of my muscles.
It has been a few weeks since the twins were born, and we are all dead on our feet, functioning on autopilot. Our days are blurring into one long, never-ending one. Mateo barely leaves the house, and Kat is suffering from baby blues.
I don’t know what we all thought parenthood would be like while Kat was wobbling around like a cute penguin and growing bigger by the day. We all had ideas, but didn’t expect it to be this tiring.
The twins don’t sleep. Ever. Or if by some miracle one of them does, the other is awake, screaming the place down.
I step farther into the house to head toward the bathroom downstairs, but stop when I see a figure on the couch and Mateo’s scent hits me, making me wander into the living room. Peeking over the back of the couch, I find him asleep with Marabella and Eziah nestled on his chest.
I run my fingers through his hair, but he doesn’t stir, he is completely out. I am about to go and shower, but I stop dead in my tracks.