Chapter Thirteen
1164 Words
The sight of the pack house as I pulled up made my heart sing. I’m home. Fenris was yipping and jumping excitedly in my head at the sight of our home. I parked haphazardly in front of the pack house and grabbed the file folder, running inside like my life depended on.
“Magnus you sexy beast, come give the best beta in the world a big kiss!” I shouted as I stood in the hall, my arms held out wide.
“Why would you want to kiss the Alpha? He’s taken already.” I looked over to the doorway that led to the kitchen to see a little girl with beautiful red hair and stunning green eyes. Her green Ariel dress covered in flour, along with her cheeks and nose. I chuckled at the serious expression on her face and her choice of words.
“It just a private joke between the Alpha and I little one. What’s your name?” I knelt on the floor as she approached me, her serious expression making me smile.
“My name is Mia. Princess Mia.” She dipped into a little curtsy and I returned it with a bow from where I knelt.
“Well, your majesty, Lucian Greystone at your service.” Her little giggle filled my heart with joy, and I smiled warmly at her.
“You’re funny. Mummy would like you; she likes funny people.” My reply froze in my throat as a smell consumed me. Strawberries and chocolate. My eyes snapped up to the door at the back of the hall that led to the forest behind the pack house. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Distractedly walking towards us, her head bent looking at a camera was Elaina. My heart leapt into my throat at her beauty. The years had been kind to her and her voluptuous body.
“Mia, my Princess. Who are you talking to baby?” Her eyes lifted from the camera, a welcoming smile adorning her soft face before it fell when her eyes landed on me. I saw a myriad of emotions flit across her face before it settled on shock. And then she was gone. Sprinting down the hall and out the back door. I was frozen in place by shock myself before I sprang into action and chased after her. I was not losing her again and I would chase her to the ends of the earth if it meant she would be mine again.
Elaina POV
“Magnus, just drop your hand a little… there you go.” I snapped the photo and then stared at the screen as it popped up. “Beautiful.” Magnus pulled Emma into a soft kiss before falling to his knees and kissing her swollen belly. I quickly snapped the photo and smiled fondly down at the moment I just caught. They were excitedly welcoming their third baby into the world in less than two weeks and wanted to do a maternity shoot like they had with the other two Seth and Danny. I of course eagerly volunteered, wanting to help them capture the beautiful time that is pregnancy.
“If you guys just want to rest for minute, I have to run inside and grab my other lens, then we’ll change locations.”
“Aye, aye captain.” Magnus joked with his usual cheeky grin. Rolling my eyes, I left them to each other while heading into the back door, heading towards the kitchen where I left my bag with Mia and Mrs Johnson cooking cupcakes. I could hear Mia’s little voice at the end of the hall as I flicked through the photos I’d taken today.
“You’re funny. Mummy would like you, she like funny people.” I smiled softly. She always was the welcoming host, eagerly greeting new people at the door since she could walk.
“Mia, my Princess. Who are you talking to baby?” I looked up ready to welcome our new guest and froze. The smell hit me a second to late and memories came flooding back. Peppermint. Kisses. Waking up alone.
Lucian. He was kneeling in front of Mia, his intense gaze stuck on me. And I just reacted. I didn’t know why I chose to run, but something in me told me flight was my best option right now. I was out the door and sprinting past a confirmed looking Magnus and Emma into the trees. I’d shoved my camera at Magnus in my haste hoping it wouldn’t get damaged. My feet were flying across grass and twigs as I ran, leaping over logs and fox holes. Thanks to years of training with wolves my endurance was much better, and I was a lot faster, and I silently thanked Magnus as a glance behind me showed no one chasing after me. I slowed to a jog as I came to a clearing in the trees and risked one last glance behind me. That was my mistake as I collided head on with a hard chest and hands grabbed my forearms. I looked up in shock and there he was again. With his deep ocean blue eyes that I’d spent many a night pining after, wishing that he would find me again. And yet all I could feel right now is anger.
“Elaina. Please let me explain.” His voice gave my body chills as memories of that night came flooding back. But with the good memory came the bad and I remembered how empty I’d felt waking without him that day and every day since; the pain of birthing my two babies; the pain of having to explain to them why they didn’t have a daddy like Seth and Danny.
“Explain this.” I hissed as I pulled off an unarming move Colin had taught me. I grabbed his arm and flipped him over my bent back. He hit the ground with a loud burst of air and seemed to be dazed at my action as my knee landed on his chest and a foot on his arm. His eyes held an apology I wasn’t ready to listen to, but his face was filled with shock that I’d disarmed him. My glory was short lived when I was distracted by approaching feet. His hand grabbed at my ankle on his arm and flipped me to my back, his legs straddling my hips and his hands pinning my arms. I struggled but gave in when I knew I couldn’t break free.
“What the hell? Elaina are you alright? I stared at the upside-down Magnus from where I laid a scowl on my face.
“Please just let me explain everything and after that you can decide what to do.” Lucian whispered, pulling my attention back to him. He was close enough to just press my lips on his. But I was still pissed and instead I head butt him. He rolled off of me grunting in pain and clutching his now broken nose. I jumped to my feet and stormed past a shocked yet amused looking Magnus.
“You deal with him, Magnus. I can’t even look at him.” An incredulous laugh followed me as I stormed off home, anger fuelling my steps.
- Writer
