Kindred Fate

Chapter Two

Ash didn't need distractions if he was to catch Baku. I was a distraction, and so were the twins. He couldn't keep pulling double duty, protect us and also search for Baku. It was taking a toll on him, mentally and emotionally. He barely slept because of the thought of having another family killed. It tormented him, and me- I couldn't lose another family either.

I closed my box of treasured memories and put it under my bed. I moved back to the crib my landlady, Shauna had generously loaned to me when I moved in two days ago. She'd also given me a job in the diner at the ground floor of the building. When I arrived she gave me a once over like she was trying to read me. She probably thought I was a teenage run away who got reckless and then pregnant. It was one of the few times I wished I could still read minds. But I was glad she didn't ask questions, I hated it when people asked too many questions.

Secrecy and privacy was something I'd always preferred since I was five. But after leaving with a pack of wolves and fighting for my life for months, secrecy and privacy became a necessity, a significant part of my family.

I didn't want to live in the big city, so I packed at a small town that I'd never heard of and still couldn't remember its name. The good thing about small towns, everyone knew everyone and strangers would stick out like raw thumbs. I hadn't unpacked the one bag I had lest I needed to make a quick getaway. My plan was to keep to myself. I wasn't going to be chummy with the locals but I also wasn't going to be conspicuous and be easily singled out.

My attention was pulled when my baby girl squealed and laughed. I smiled; her laugh always warmed my heart when I felt depressed. I did find it a little weird at times that a fifteen-day-old baby could laugh, but then again I had no authority on the subject of babies. Mine were the first ones I'd cared to pay attention to and they weren't exactly.... normal. 

I knelt on my bed over the crib and picked her up, "Hi sweet pea." I cooed at my little beauty. She was still tiny and practically weightless, fitting in one arm very easily. I worried about their early birth, and their small sizes scared me even more. And despite countless assurances from Joe that they were fine, I still worried. Probably what a mother should always feel.

I bent down to pick up my son but the pain that shot through my back stopped me mid-way and rendered me breathless. Instead, I put my daughter back into the crib and then carefully stretched out like the rusty tin man in the Wizard of Oz. I breathed through the pain, hoping I would be okay for my shift that morning. Ash's blood had accelerated my healing but the aches were still there reminding me of all the damage the twins had caused and that I was back to being a fragile human.

"Lee!" Shauna knocked on my door. "Are you up? It's time for your shift."

I turned to the door, rubbing my back with my fingertips, "I'm up. See you in a few minutes." I wished I had an ice pack for my back. Or I could just go lay in the snow? Yes, and catch pneumonia.

"Do you want my kid to come watch them again?"

The last time she watched them, I was back up in my apartment like twenty times just to make sure all three of them were still alive.

I looked back at the twins, questioning if I should. Shauna's daughter Tory was twelve and she loved babies. She was being home schooled by her mom and was practically indoors every hour of the day and unlike other kids, she was up before the sun. Shauna wasn't too keen on having her daughter far away from her. Her ex-husband was a little loony and had taken their daughter a few times without her consent sending Shauna to hyper paranoid. She had full custody and intended on keeping a watchful eye on her.

I understood that, the fear of losing a child, I understood it very well.

But her crazy husband wasn't what I was mainly worried about. Yes the twins drank milk and ate baby food and fruits, but I was never sure when their werewolf hunger would hit and it scared the hell out of me. So far they seemed normal, not at all craving for any unusual predatorily natural foods, which made me breathe easy but should I play Russian roulette with another woman's child?

"I don't want to be a bother," I yelled back, still debating the question.

"It's not a bother. She'll keep busy and you could pay more attention to your work."

I chewed on my lower lip, worriedly. I moved closer to the crib and looked down at the twins, "I know you can understand me... which is weird... but anyway, please don't do anything to Tory... and by that I don't mean you're bad... it's just that..." It's a wonder I could speak to adults, I couldn't articulate myself with babies! "The whole time she's here just sleep, okay?"

They gave me a blank stare, like they were watching a crazy woman saying crazy things to them, which they didn't understand. But I knew they understood me, "Please?" I begged, waiting for a response.

My daughter giggled then rolled over on to her belly, my son made a tiny sound and then stopped kicking his feet around. I took that as an answer, it was the best I was going to get. The second I opened the door Tory ran in and headed straight for the crib.

"See, I told you it wasn't a bother," Shauna said with a smile.

Her excitement was however dashed when she got there, "They are asleep," she pouted looking at us.

Thank you! I bit my lips to hide my smile, "It's early. They'll be up in a few hours. Call me if you need anything." I stepped out with the baby monitor in my apron pocket. I wasn't going to leave anything to chance.