Once I run out of jobs to do, I make myself more coffee. Not that I need it because I am alert and on edge the entire time, but it gives me something else to focus on while I clean, even if only briefly.
Distraction keeps me from going insane, but when I finally hear the car pull up, it is twenty past four in the morning. I leap out of my seat and rush to the front door. Unlocking it with my palm, it feels like it takes forever for the door to unlatch, and I hold my breath as I pull it open.
Malik stretches his back as he climbs out of the car, yawning. Andrei is at the back door, leaning in. When he stands up, he has a sleeping Jonah in his arms, and Derrick climbs out of the backseat after him.
I watch as Andrei sniffs his little head gently, holding him close to shield him from the breeze. I want to jump with joy at them being home, but hold myself together as Andrei looks over at me.
His excitement burns just as strongly. My hands are already reaching for him as Andrei approaches me. My hands comb over Jonah before taking him and molding his tiny body around me in my arms.
He has lost a little weight. Not much, but I can tell. I can tell you every little detail of my boy, and I notice it instantly as his body is placed in my arms. I bury my face in his neck, and my breathing is shaking as I bring him inside.
Derrick follows Andrei in and kisses my head, motioning that he is going upstairs to bed in the spare room. I nod and walk into the living room with Jonah.
I don’t want to put him down like he will disappear again if I do. Andrei wraps his arms around us. Jonah pressed between us, sleeping soundly. Only when Andrei cups my face do I notice how terribly I am shaking and that I’m crying.
Sierra is so present and vigilant as we watch him sleep. Also excited, but nervous about our boy.
“Stop crying. He is fine. You should put him down before you wake him,” Andrei tells me, and I look up at him.
I never want to let him go again, but I know he is right, so I tuck him into his makeshift bed.
“He is safe now,” Andrei tells me as I tuck him in.
I quickly pull his shoes off his tiny feet and tuck the blanket up under his chin. “What if Clive comes back for him or Dominic?” I whisper, voicing my worry while wrapping my arms around his middle and pressing my face into his chest.
“Clive is dead, and Dominic knows I have him. He said to bring him home with me.” Andrei tells me and I barely hold back from screaming in surprise.
“Clive is dead?” I ask him, pulling away and looking up at him.
“He won’t touch our son again. You don’t have to worry about him taking him, Sage. I will kill anyone that tries. I won’t make the mistake of letting him go again. That I can swear to you,” Andrei whispers, dipping his face down to mine. He kisses my lips softly and then pulls away. “How are you feeling?” Andrei asks.
“Relieved now you are home.” I breathe out.
“No, I know that, but I wasn’t talking about that. Are you okay? I hated having to rush out on you,” he says, and it takes a few seconds to figure out what he is talking about. With everything, I haven’t even thought about it, too worried about Jonah and Andrei, I didn’t even give it a second thought.
Andrei leads me upstairs, and I hesitate at the top of the step, not liking Jonah being so far away.
“I will put the alarm on,” Andrei says, walking back down the steps and fiddling with the digital panel.
He also checks the door and then wanders off, returning a few seconds later, and climbing the stairs.
“House is secure, windows are locked, no one is getting to him,” Andrei says, and I chew my lip, still hesitant. It feels surreal to have him back. I couldn’t live with losing him again.
Andrei turns me around when I don’t move and nudges me toward the bedroom. I robotically hop in bed, and Andrei strips out of his clothes and puts on some boxer shorts, climbing in beside me. His arms wrap around me as he buries his face in my hair.
“You never answered me,” Andrei whispers into my hair.
“I am fine. I forgot about it until you said something. I was worried about Jonah and you,” I answer him honestly.
“Hmm, not that memorable.” He laughs.
“No, I didn’t mean that. I was just worried.”
“I know, I was teasing, and now that I have mentioned it?”
“I don’t know,” I tell him.
And I truly don’t. I am not scared. I am not anything really, just content. Sierra hasn’t left me all night like she is relieved, and I can hear Donnie without it being forced or through Andrei. Somehow, I feel more connected with my wolf and Andrei. For the first time ever, I feel comfortable in my skin. Free, like the shackles that held me for so long unlocked and released me.
Andrei purrs behind me, and I roll in his arms to face him, his nose brushing mine. Andrei pulls me closer, and I feel safe like I never knew before. My body has never been mine. And I was never given a choice, but Andrei is my safe place.
He is mine, and I am his, and I know I can trust him more than I can trust myself. I know this is where I belong, with him and Jonah. He will never hurt me. No, this man will fight to the death for me, and I will lay my life down in a heartbeat for him and our son.
I sniffle at the realization and how liberating it feels. “Shh, I am right here. You can tell me anything. I won’t get upset, Sage,” Andrei whispers, brushing his nose across my cheek.
“Tell me,” he whispers, kissing the side of my mouth.
Instead, I close my eyes just breathing in his scent, the scent of what’s mine, the scent of the man who loves me despite being broken, the man that put all my broken pieces back together, the man who would continue to love me wholeheartedly and the one person who gave me a choice.