The Crescent War

Chapter Seven

“You know mummy would feed uncle Alex to the sharks if he ever tried to feed you to the fishes,” I told my little girl as I carried her out into the beach house kitchen.

“Is your daughter telling you lies again?” Was Alex’s greeting from where he was busy cutting vegetables on one of the counters.

“Mummy says that she’ll feed you to the sharks if you fed me to the fishisis!” Dakota declared proudly.

“Fishes, baby,” I corrected her.

“That’s what I said! Fishisis!”

“Right,” I drew out the word but humored her as I set her down on the floor and offered Alex a helping hand.

“Here,” Alex handed me a potato. “I would give you some carrots or something but who knows what kind of ideas you’d get.”

“Alex, that’s disgusting!” My jaw dropped open at the mere thought. “Carrots are too small for that kind of thing!”

Alex cursed at the knife he was using when it accidentally sliced into his palm from the shock of my words. “You d**k, look what you made me do!” He held up his bleeding hand in anger but I just rolled my eyes as the wound healed within seconds.

“If you didn’t bring up s*x and vegetables then this wouldn’t have happened.”

“Shut up, veggie girl,” Alex grumbled and did a quick clean up before continuing his preparations. “God, I miss Shawn’s cooking skills.”

“Me too…” I agreed. “Why aren’t we ordering take out again?”

“Roseanne said it’s because the kids need nutrients,” Alex used a high and squeaky voice as he imitated Roseanne’s exact words. “I mean it’s not as if they would be malnourished! Fries are made from potatoes and there’s tomato sauce on pizzas. Sometimes burgers have a side salad too! That woman is no fun.”

I laughed as Roseanne appeared out of nowhere and slapped the back of Alex’s head, smiling sweetly at me as she busied herself preparing meat and setting it all to cook. I didn’t know much about cooking anymore thanks to the pack never allowing me to but I tried to help as much as possible until Roseanne threw both me and Alex out of the kitchen for being useless. It’s not our fault that playing with the food is much more fun than cooking it. Alex was right, Roseanne is no fun.

*

I couldn’t sleep. I had tried and failed for hours. We didn’t have anything to be up early for so I decided it wouldn’t matter if I got up for a while. I padded downstairs and was surprised to find Gale curled up on the couch and watching a crappy late night TV show.

Gale turned his head when he heard me approach but didn’t make much in the way of conversation and instead he offered me a warm smile and a yawn. I smiled back and sat on the other end of the couch, lifting Gale’s legs so that I could also curl up before dropping them back down and allowing them to keep me snuggled tightly up against the couch. It wasn’t the same as Daniel’s protective body but it provided a sense of safety that I could work with.

“What are you doing up?” Gale mumbled, accidentally kicking me in the stomach as he shifted his position slightly.

“Couldn’t sleep,” I shrugged sadly but was unable to keep from laughing as Gale poked a toe in my face. “Gross, man.”

“Your daughter seems to like feet,” He replied innocently. “I thought it was maybe an inherited trait.”

“Asshole,” I smiled softly before sighing heavily, the weight of the world was on my chest and I had no way of relieving it.

“Come on, Jia,” Gale switched the TV off and allowed the room to fall into darkness. “Tell me all about it.”

I hadn’t known Gale for very long and so I knew I shouldn’t really trust him as much as another pack member but I couldn’t help it. There was just something about the guy that I couldn’t help opening up to. The darkness of the room helped me open up in ways that I couldn’t even explain, it allowed me to be truthful.

“I hate this…” I admitted softly. “My kids are in danger and there’s nothing I can do about it.”

“You’re in danger, too.” Gale added. “The cougars want to save Grace and Dakota but they want you dead, Jia. We’re here to save all three of you.”

“Remember what you said about mates being able to separate? About it not being fatal?” I not so swiftly changed the subject.

“Yeah?”

“If… if something happened. What would happen to Daniel?” I wasn’t sure I wanted the answer but I knew I needed it. “Would he die?”

“No.” Gale whispered, his hand finding my ankle and squeezing reassuringly. “It’d be excruciating to lose you but I think the kids would give him motivation to live. If they weren’t here then he’d die too but he wouldn’t leave them as orphans. I know I don’t exactly know him too well but he would never leave them. I know that much.”

“Could he mate again?”

“I don’t think he’d ever want to after being mated to you for so long but it would be possible, yes.” Gale was stiff next to me and I knew it was a touchy subject, I appreciated the information. “Jia, why are you asking me all this?”

“I just… I need to know is all.” I couldn’t explain it to myself and so I wasn’t even going to attempt to explain it to Gale.

“Okay.”

“Do you think the cougars would let the kids stay with Daniel if…” I couldn’t finish that sentence.

“Tell me you’re not going to do something stupid.”

“I’m not.” I told him what he wanted to hear. I wasn’t sure what my actions were going to be but not even I believed the words I told Gale.

“Jia, please don’t.”

“Can I ask you to promise me something?” I needed to get it off my chest, unsure I would be able to at any other time.

“Of course.”

“If something happens to me. Tell Daniel he has to go on. For me and for the kids. Give him reasons to be strong and if…” my heart hurt at even thinking about it but I forced myself to continue. “If something happens to both of us… then I want you and Alex to take the kids and disappear off the face of the Earth. Raise them in some slum of an African village if you have to. I don’t care as long as you keep them safe.”

Gale sat up, turning fully to face me as I curled in on myself even tighter. “Jia?”

“Just promise me you’ll keep them safe… please…” I sobbed, finally allowing my emotions to overpower me.

“Hey, hey,” Gale shushed me and wrapped his body around my shaking form. “I promise you that I will do anything you ask of me. I’ll keep the kids safe or die trying and I’ll even move away with Alex if that’s what it takes,” we both laughed at that despite the tears. “I’ll help Daniel if it comes to it. I’ll do whatever I can to make sure you both survive.”

“No.” I wiped at my tears but didn’t pull out of the man’s embrace.

“No?” Gale questioned.

“Just Daniel.”