On The Run

3064 Words
    Mariette winced as she placed her feet onto the floor. She let out a brief sigh when the floor didn't creak. She got her duffle bag from under her bed once she saw that her husband was still asleep. He was still snoring. She looked around the room one more time before she decided she had everything she needed. She tiptoed out the room and towards her daughter's, Arabella.      As soon as she closed her bedroom door she got her a diaper bag and packed it to the brim. She wasn't paying attention to what she was putting the bag, that's how shot her nerves where. She just had to get out before he woke up. She put her duffle and the diaper bag on her right shoulder and Arabella's wrap around her left shoulder and midsection, this was the only way she was going to be able to travel easily.      Arabelle stirred and let out a whimper. "Shh, baby, it's Momma. Please don't cry. Please," Mariette whispered, her eyes traveling to the door frantically. She puckered her lips but settled down.  Mariette sighed and put her into her sling. Once she was secure to her she pushed open the window, hoping the old hinges wouldn't make a noise. The moon goddess was looking down on her despite her sins.  She shifted in mid-jump and landed on her paws. As soon as she felt the ground beneath her she took off running. She didn't know where as long as it was far away from that monster. **** Salem tried his best to mimic his dad's posture as they did their nightly patrol. His dad, Everett, Alpha of The Jaded Moon pack was everything Salem strived to be. Anything less was unacceptable in Salem's eyes. Salem felt the familiar buzz of his Dad's link in his mind.  'I hope you're paying attention son,"  'Course Dad, I'm taking this seriously because I'll be where you are soon enough," Salem said proudly, puffing out his pup chest.  Everett chuckled, which in his wolf form sounded more like a muffled growl.  'Watch it, son, anyways. Let's wrap it up. We'll send out the second patrol in another thirty minutes.'  They were about to turn around when they heard a loud whimpering.    'Salem, stay here,' Everett's hulking form leaped into the forest before Salem could protest being treated like a baby. Salem's ears perked up, listening if his father needed help. His dad appeared about five minutes later with a grey wolf on his back. It was in an odd position due to their curling into itself. 'She needs medical attention and she has a pup,' Salem's honey-brown eyes shifted from the she-wolf to his dad. He didn't think he ever heard his dad sound so...serious.  Salem just nodded his tongue heavy with nerves. Everett signaled for Salem to run ahead of him back to their house. Salem did it without hesitation; he didn't think it was time for him to be mouthing off to his dad at the moment.      They reached the community hospital in no time flat. Everett told Salem to shift back into human form and open the door for him. He did and finally caught a glimpse of the she-wolf's face; underneath her was a bundle wrapped up in a pink wrap. Salem rubbed at his nose. He was smelling something funny. It didn't stink but it was making his head feel weird.      Salem snapped out of it when his dad sent him a growl. Salem didn't even realize the nurse was leading his dad to a room. Salem quickly scurried behind them, mad at himself he was letting his thoughts get the best of him.      Once the nurse helped the she-wolf, who now was in human form due to exhaustion, in the bed Everett shifted back into his human form. Salem passed him a pair of shorts from the pack he carried. "So, Alpha, who do we have here?"     Salem looked at his dad when he didn't answer immediately. His dad had a weird dopey look on his face. Salem poked his dad in his side. The Alpha's eyes finally pulled away from the she-wolf to look at Salem in confusion. Salem jabbed his thumb in the direction of the nurse.  "Oh, um, Salem and I were um, we were patrolling the forest line when we heard a whimper. I went to check it out and found her. Her hind leg looks as if it was mauled or something. I'm not quite sure. I brought her as quickly as I could." Once he finished his eyes traveled back up the she-wolf's body.      "I see. Well, I'm pretty sure when can look for infection; stitch her back up, then give her some antibiotics and she can be on her way. We'll also look over her pup"  Everett looked at the nurse and pressed his lips together until they were a thin white line. "No, they stay with Salem and me," his tone was final. The nurse gave Everett and Salem and a smile then turned on her heels out the door.  Everett leaned into the she-wolf and took a deep breath. He ran his hand down her ebony locks. "Finally," Everett whispered.  Salem was confused now. What was up with his dad? The nurse came back with a bassinet. "Here, we can put the little one in here." She gently unwrapped the baby, who was still asleep during all the commotion.  Salem perked up slightly once he was able to get a good look at the baby. His heart was racing fast, like when he was playing football with his friends and scored the winning touchdown.  He rubbed at his chest, scared at what he was feeling. The baby stirred once she was settled in the bassinet. Salem moved from his father's side who was still stroking the she-wolf's hair to the baby's. She had her eyes open taking in her new surroundings. Her eyes were a deep, ocean blue. "Cool," Salem whispered in amazement.  The baby shot her chubby arm's in the air and started to giggle. Salem's chest felt all warm and fuzzy, it was like he was eating his Nana's chili in the wintertime. Salem poked a finger into the baby's cheek, curious about what she would do. " Salem, she's a baby, not a toy," Everett said, coming to his son's side. "She's making me feel weird. I don't think I like it," Salem said, pulling his finger back from the baby, who now had a firm grip on it. "Feel weird? Weird how?" Salem rubbed his chest. "I don't know. She makes me feel all warm and yucky. I feel like I wanna be by her all the time. That's yucky dad. Girls are yucky." Everett chuckled. "Well, I'll be damn. Two in one day huh? You're lucky son." Salem looked at his dad. "What do you mean?" Everett ruffled Salem's dark hair.  "I'll explain it to you when we get to know who they are, eh?" Salem looked down back at the baby. "Sure, I suppose so." **** Marissa awoke with a startle. She looked around wildly, not knowing where she was.  She nearly let out a wail when she couldn't find Arabella.  A small sigh drew her attention from the corner of the room. Arabella was asleep, on a naked man's chest. Marissa bared her teeth and growled. That awoke the man who supported Arabella as he sat up. "You're finally awake. I was worried." "Give me my baby," she hissed. He gave her Arabella with no hesitation.  "Who the f**k are you?" "I am Alpha Everett, of the Jaded Moon pack," Arabella gave him a cold expression.  "I know who you are. Why am I here?" She gestured wildly around the room. Everett gave her a sheepish smile. "My son and I rescued you and your daughter. We found you wounded in the forest. Your leg was in pretty bad shape." Marissa's eyes traveled down to her bandaged up leg. Her legs quickly found her "savior's" again. "So, you want something in return right? My body or something else?" Everett's eyebrows nearly shot through his hairline. "What no. Nothing like that. I couldn't leave you out there like that. Especially with a pup." Marissa sat back in the bed with Arabella snug in her side. "So, you want me as a prisoner or ransom?" "No, goddess, what has happened to you? I don't want you in any of those two ways?" Marissa raised her eyebrow. "I mean, I want you but I mean, s**t. I want you but in your own time. I've been looking for you forever. I'm sure you can feel it too?" Marissa wanted to laugh at him fumbling over his words, but now that he mentioned it she did feel the warm buzzing feeling in her chest. A feeling she thought she would never have the privilege to feel. "You mean you're?" "I'm your mate and you're my oh so beautiful goddess." Everett wrapped his large tan hand in Marissa's slender pale one. She quickly snatched it away. "Hold it, Romeo. I didn't run away from one possessive psycho f**k to hook up with another. I have myself and my baby to think about." Everett swallowed the boulder he felt in his throat.  "I understand snowflake, you must realize that I would never hurt you. I would kill myself before that thought crossed my mind. I can see myself with you and your pup." Marissa clenched her jaw. "I don't know you from a domesticated mutt. You are gonna give me space to think before I make any rash decisions." "Your wish is my command, my goddess." Marissa kissed her teeth and rolled her eyes. "We'll see Romeo." "I'm Everett by the way." "Marissa and this is Arabella." Everett broke into a wide grin. "Those are two beautiful names. My son had grown quite smitten with your daughter. He comes by every day after school. " "You have a son and he likes Arabella?" Everett nodded and took his seat once she knew Marissa wouldn't cut his throat. "Yes. His name is Salem. I believe he and Arabella are mates." "No way. This can't be a coincidence," Everett shrugged his shoulders. "Faith I say. You two coming into our lives." "So, if you have a son, I'm guessing you have a wife?" Everett laughed. "I had one. Until her and my Beta ran off on me they were mates and were having an affair for the longest. My father matched her and I together when we both reached 18 and hadn't found our mates. So, we had Salem and stayed together for appearances. We even stayed in separate bedrooms. Then enough was enough and she ran out. They left and never came back. I wouldn't say it bothered me. Salem took it pretty rough because he felt he wasn't good enough for her as a son. It was hard to explain to a five-year-old why his Momma ran off without so much as a goodbye kiss." "Oh, poor thing. Yup, it's been me and him for five years. Now your turn Snowflake, why were you and the babe on the run?" Marissa blushed as she pushed back a strain of hair.  "Well, I too, was put into an arranged marriage by my father. I never loved Marissa's father. He was a cold bastard who was next in line to our pack since we don't recognize female Alpha's," "Oh, you're pack is in the dark ages?" "Yup, so we were wedded. My father didn't care that I didn't find my mate. He said women were just used as incubators anyway so it didn't matter who they were with. As long as the said person had a functioning d**k. The men, however, could have harems and f**k whoever in the pack they wanted. It was a very barbaric way of living." "God, no wonder you thought I was a monster. You haven't had any good experiences with men." "Yeah, and it only gets worse. So, not only did my husband cheat on me. He beat me for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The beatings started after Arabella was born. It was because she wasn't a boy." Marissa met Everett's eyes. She was on the verge of tears. "He told me once she was old enough he was going to show her what a woman's place was. He said he would invite all the men in the pack to do...things...even my father," Marissa broke down then. Shedding all the tears she held back for years. It felt so good to just let it out. Everett enveloped her in a warm embrace. "I knew I had to leave. Go anywhere. I couldn't allow my baby to feel the horrors that the place held. I couldn't." "Shh, Snowflake, it's gonna be okay." Marissa pulled back and sniffled. "Could you put her in the bassinet?" Everett nodded and scooped Arabella up. "There you go, sweet girl." "So, why do you call me Snowflake?" Everett stuffed his hands in his cargo pockets. Marissa had to admit that he was very handsome. He was a natural redhead from the looks of it. He had a sharp, oddly tan face and a scar that ran from the corner of his eye to the corner of his full lips. His muscles tensed and flexed every time he moved.  "Seeing you lying in all that snow, then I felt the pull. I knew you were my one of the kind snowflake. Also, when you shifted back you resemble Snow White a lot so that just solidified the name for you." Marissa smiled in what must have been forever. A pure, genuine smile.  She just told herself she wouldn't fall head over heels for this Irish inspired Adonis, but here she was fast but surely.  Arabella smiled. "So, when do I meet your boy?" ***** Salem zoomed up to his room as soon as his Nana opened the door for him. "What's the rush boy-o?"  Salem zoomed right back down the stairs into the kitchen. "I'm going to see my mate, Nana." "Mate? Oh, the baby you and your pa found?" Everett nodded as he snatched some fresh baked cookies off the plate. "Yup, Dad told me all about the birds and the bees and mates and I got my very own mate!!" Franny chuckled as she swatted her grandson with the dishtowel she had over her shoulder. "Well, mates are a rare thing. So, you have to treat them special." "I will Nana, I will. When she gets older I'll share all my toys with her and teach her everything she needs to know and punch whoever messes with her." Franny shook her head. From what her son who only came home once told her they had both found their mates. Turned out the mother was Everett's. Franny waved after her grandson. She was happy. She thought the wounds left by Janet would never heal, but maybe these two are what her boys need. ***** Salem could hardly contain his excitement as he waved at the nurses behind the nurse's desk. He couldn't wait to see the baby and show her what he drew for her in class. Salem stopped at the door as he heard laughter. That was weird. It's normally quiet. Salem slowly pushed the door open to see what was going on. The she-wolf was awake and she and his dad were cooing over Arabella who was wildly kicking around. Everett must have sensed his son's presence because he waved him in. "Snowflake, this is my son, Salem. Salem, this is my mate, Marissa." "Nice to meet you Salem. I've heard nothing but good things about you and I heard you've taken a liking to my daughter, Marabella." Salem resisted the urge to hide behind his dad's leg. Instead, he opted for blushing. He didn't understand why he was so nervous. Maybe because she was Marbella's mom and he wanted her to like him. Or, the fact that she was his dad's mate and that meant she might be his new mom; either way he wanted her to like him.  Salem nodded. "She's my mate like you're Dad's, and I want you to like me because you're Arabella's mom and it's possible you could be mine's too" Salem blurted out. Both Everett and Marissa laughed. "Calm down buddy, no need to be nervous," Everett said. "Yeah Salem, and from what you're Dad's told me I like you already," "Really?" "Yup, and I'm pretty sure my girl is gonna like you too." Salem smiled, she didn't know how much her words meant to him. ****** Marissa and Arabella were discharged a couple of days later. Her and Everett agreed she and Arabelle would stay in a room by themselves until they ironed out all the kinks and gotten to know one another.  Today, they were going home it was gonna take Marissa a little bit of time to get used to that. Home. She hoped this could be their forever home, with two men that she was coming to adore. Arabella also needed men like this in her life. Marissa got sick of the thought of her father or Arabella's finding them.  She felt a pang of guilt. She hopes she wasn't dragging Everett and Salem into a storm. They didn't deserve that. There was also a selfish part of her telling her it was about time she found some sort of peace and happiness.  "All ready, Snowflake?" Everett asked as he strapped Arabella into her car seat. "Yup, just waiting on you," Marissa was sitting in the spacious front seat with her cast leg propped up on the dashboard. Everett said since she was healing up he didn't want her pushing herself too much. She liked being dotted on for a change. It made her feel special. It was a step up from being a doormat whose only purpose was to cook and get f****d every which way. Everett made sure Salem listened to him and buckled up. He had to get some lip in return. Marissa could tell the two of them would keep her on her toes and laughing out her mind. "Alright Snowflake and friends, next stop home," Everett said putting the care in reverse. Home. Marissa couldn't wait.
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