The last time someone had made the burden of losing his mother easier was Jude, who sat with him in silence for an entire 24 hours before helping him prepare for her funeral. Now, Sonnet was giving him the exact opposite, which was bringing his mother back to life by talking about her, but he didn’t even know where to begin.
“I don’t know what to say.”
Sonnet put down the sundae and sat crisscrossed on the bench, extending her hands so that she was holding his. “What was her name?”
“Alice. Alissa, technically, but she called herself Alice.”
“Alice is a beautiful name.”
Kai looked down at their interlocked hands. He didn’t think this was where they’d end up on their date, but he wasn’t disappointed by it. In fact, he had almost hoped for this. That he would be able to finally show someone the darkness inside him, and instead of running away, he’d finally be embraced.
“My mother had me when she was young. Sixteen, I think. And she lived in a very strict house, so when they found out she was pregnant, they wanted to send her away to carry me and then put me up for adoption. But my mother didn’t want that, so she ran away with my father and never looked back.”
“She sounds like a strong and ambitious woman. I think I understand why you’re so stubborn and strong-willed.” Shesmiled, lessening the blow of his heavy words and encouraging him to go on.
“She was the strongest woman I knew. I never want anyone to think differently. She fought hard for a good life, and I know how she died says a lot, but no one can speak for her. No one knows her like I did.” Kai pulled his hands away and began to crack his knuckles, looking back out towards the water. “I wish I were as strong as her, because maybe then I could have helped her better and been a better son.”
“I think I understand.” Sonnet choked back a sob and was holding back tears. Kai cupped her face gently, a story of her own woes dancing in the waves of her tears, but she said nothing of her own pity and focused on him. “Addiction is terrible and complicated. But you were just a boy. You still are.”
Kai wanted to ask about her tears and her sadness, but his words couldn’t climb over the lump in the back of his throat. “My father was young, too, and he didn’t know how to take care of his family. I know it’s not his fault, but I blame him. My mother was in pain. She just wanted it to stop. I don’t want you to think—”
“I think she was strong. I think she must have been the strongest, kindest woman on this planet. What she did and sacrificed takes a special kind of person. And she is. Because look at you.” Sonnet cupped Kai’s face and wiped away tearshe didn’t know he was shedding. “You are an embodiment of all the good she was. That’s what I think.”
He didn’t understand. He had been such an ass the last couple of weeks to her and to everyone else. When Sonnet climbed on his lap, carefree about whether anyone else was around, and kissed him, he felt a mixture of pure bliss and utter dread.
Did he really deserve this beautiful omega with a heart of gold?
Yes.
Sonnet pulled back, her hands playing in his hair. “Do you feel that?” She asked, placing one of her hands over his heart. “They’re singing together.”
They?
He frowned and listened closely to the melody of his alpha, which was in tune with her omega. He had never heard a more beautiful sound.
Kai put his ear to her chest and listened closer to the sound of her heartbeat and the faint echo of her omega howling.
With his ear against her, he picked up the sound of her heart skipping a beat and the feeling of her body heating up rapidly. When he pulled away, sweat bullets were rolling down her forehead, her face flushed, and she was holding on to her lower abdomen.
“Sonnet?”
“I’m sorry,” she blurted out quickly, before trying to stand up by stumbling. He gripped her hips tightly. “I think I’m having a heat spike.”
Kai stood up right away and pulled her into him, shielding her from whoever could be around. He saw no one, but it was still light out. An hour until sunset at least, and no car to get home. She was out here exposed with only him to ensure her safety and comfort, and he didn’t know what the fuck to do.
He continued to hold Sonnet in his arms as he rang Zayden. “I need help,” he rushed out. “Sonnet thinks she’s having a heat spike, and I don’t know what to do.”
“Okay, okay. Take a deep breath. I’ll drive to you as quick as I can.”
“She’s heating up and in pain.”
Zayden cursed. “Are you nearing the water?”
“Yes!”
“Get her in it quickly. The cold may stop her heat spike or at least calm the symptoms. Keep her in it until I can get to you.”
“Okay.”
