Ezra knows Sage and I wouldn’t have an issue with it, but Dominic is just proving he is indeed a father first and Alpha second. Mateo watches the clip over Ezra’s shoulder, and Katya sits back down, but I notice she didn’t put on Marabella’s mittens, letting her hands remain free.
“She won’t hurt Jonah, and the other two boys appear to be immune to her,” Dominic says.
“Yes, I’m starting to see that,” Kat says, nodding at him.
“Do you need me to come with you three, or can I stay here with Kat and Sage?” Mateo asks Dominic and me.
“No, stay. I would feel better knowing one of us is here while we go,” I tell him, and Dominic also nods when he gets a text message.
“My men are here,” he says just as Zane and Malik walk around the back.
“We are ready when you are. I also just got word that Dominic’s men are parked by the road,” Malik says, and I nod, getting up out of my seat.
I peck Sage’s lips softly. “We will be back soon,” I tell her, and Ezra and Dominic also get up.
“Kyan, stay with Sage and Kat, I will be back in a few hours and listen to them, they have permission to put you in a naughty corner if needed,” Dominic tells him, and Kyan smiles, nodding his head when Dominic bends down, kissing his forehead. “I will be back soon,” he says, following Ezra and me.
Malik and Zane head toward the bus with a few of our men, and Ezra and I walk over when Dominic calls out to us. “Come on, we can follow them in my car,” Dominic tells us, unlocking it.
“You take the front, you’re taller than me,” Ezra says, patting my arm on the way past me. He opens the back door and hops in. Dominic gets into the driver’s side, and I hop into the passenger side.
We wait for the bus to start, and we drive out, the bus following behind us. When we get to the end of the road leading into my pack, I see three cars parked on the grass that pull onto the road in front of us. We make small talk, following Dominic’s men in three SUVs. It isn’t until about twenty minutes later that nausea rolls over me harshly.
“Are you car sick?” Dominic asks just as another brutal wave rushes over me, making me clutch the dash, the same violent nausea I get when intruders are crossing into my territory, and by the feel, there were a lot of them.
“Andrei?” Ezra says, leaning forward, alarmed.
“Turn around, we need to head back, rogues,” I growl, and Dominic suddenly rips the handbrake up and spins the wheel just as Sage screams my name through the link.
The car spins around and into the oncoming lane. I am thrown into my door before being thrown back in my seat as Dominic floors it, heading back to the pack. The bus comes to a screeching stop when Malik and Zane jump out, shifting instantly and cutting through the forest toward home. Dominic’s men also turn around and chase after us.
Sage
After everyone leaves and I make more coffee, we sit out in the back talking. Nora comes over feeling lonely without Zane, and her siblings are too busy playing their video games.
We watch the kids play, and Marabella eventually falls asleep on the picnic rug, so Kat goes and lays her down inside. In contrast, we watch Kyan and Jonah sword fight with some twigs they found while running around the backyard and along the treeline before Mateo calls them over, not liking them that close to the forest edge.
“We can always go out the front, the kids can climb the willow tree, and it is shadier for them to play,” I tell Mateo, and he nods, scooping up Eziah, who is ripping out handfuls of grass.
“Come on, boys,” Mateo calls out to them, waving them over. They stop what they are doing and race over to us, skidding to a stop on the grass in front of me.
“Where has Ella gone?” Kyan asks, looking around.
“Ella?” I ask.
“Marabella,” he says.
“She is sleeping,” Mateo tells him.
“Come on, you both should get a drink. Your little faces are so red,” I tell them, walking inside with them. I make them a drink of juice each, washing their faces with a wet cloth to cool them down.
“Want to climb the willow tree?” I ask them, and they rush toward the front of the house.
Following them, I can’t see them. I am looking up the stairs when I hear hushed voices making me look into the living room to find Kat watching Marabella sleep in her fold-out bed. Jonah and Kyan, staring down at her.
“Why does she make that face?” Jonah asks as Marabella quivers her lip in her sleep.
“She can hear them?” Kyan says, reaching his hand out toward her.
“Boys, come on. Let her sleep,” I whisper to them when Kyan touches her cheek.
Black mist rushes up his arm, and his eyes turn black. The sight sends goosebumps up my arms, and the room feels electrified when he suddenly pulls his hand back.
“There, all better now,” Kyan says. He then leans in and kisses her cheek.
“What did you do?” Kat asks him.
“Took it from her. They were scaring her.” He announces with a grin.
“What were?” Kat asks, looking at me.
“The shadows. Come on, I want to climb this tree,” Kyan says before pecking Marabella’s head once more.
“Sweet dreams, Ella,” he whispers and grabs Jonah’s arm to tug him past me to the front door.
“What was that about?” Mateo asks, watching the boys run out the front door.
“Marabella must have been having a nightmare, Kyan took it from her,” I tell him.
“Yeah, that kid does some spooky things.” Mateo mutters under his breath.
“So does our daughter,” Kat says with a soft laugh.
“I think he is sweet,” I tell them, and they both nod.
“Yes, he seems like a good kid,” Mateo says, following them outside.
“Are you coming out with us?” I ask Kat.
“I will wait for a bit to make sure she is alright,” Kat says, looking down at Marabella.
“Is everything alright? You seem distracted?” I ask her when Mateo and Nora walk out the front door.
“Yeah, I am. I have a lot going on with the Moon Goddess dying and the Packs. My kids, everything feels like it is becoming too much.” She sighs and runs a hand through her hair.