Page 116 of Broken Souls

“Aww.” Axe pouts playfully, pushing his bottom lip out.

I look down at Cash, watching how satisfied he is. I can feel a little suction where his mouth connects to my body. I smile at how cute he is. After I finishing feeding him, Axe holds him until he goes to sleep. We make light chatter before Axe tells me to sleep.

***

The last couple days it's just been Axe and me alone with Cash. Lizzy visited again but Dash ran with her back to her home. I'm getting released today from the infirmary, which I'm excited about. Axe brought me some clothes, sweatpants and a loose shirt. Why do I feel like I'll be wearing clothes like this for the next few months?

Axe is holding the baby carrier basket with Cash in it. Axe is patient while I slowly walk around the infirmary for a bit just to get my blood pumping. Dash comes and picks us up in a car. Even though our house is close, Axe doesn't want me walking for long and neither do I. Axe spends some time trying to fit the carrier in the car properly.

“You excited to bring Cash home?” Dash asks.

Oh, Axe was right. When we told Dash and Carson the baby's name, they both shed a few tears.

“Yes, we're going to start our comfortable life when we walk through the door,” I say.

“I'm happy for you guys.” Dash smiles.

When we get home, Axe first carries the baby upstairs and puts him in the cot, telling me to wait downstairs. Then he comes back down and lifts me into his arms and carries me upstairs. I smile at how concerned he is. He places me in our bed, pulling the blanket over me. He has pushed the cot right up beside the bed so I can just lean over and grab Cash if I need to.

I notice a few added necessities to the room that we didn't have before I went to the infirmary. There's a bin in the corner, a mini fridge against the wall and my laptop on the bedside table.

“While you're healing I put stuff in here so you wouldn't have to move much,” Axe answers my unasked question.

“Thank you, Axe.” I look up at him with so much appreciation. He smiles and presses a kiss to my lips.

Chapter Seventy-Three

It's been a week since we left the infirmary. I would say we're trying to plan how to take care of the baby efficiently but we really can't plan when Cash cries. Our sleeping schedules are completely out of whack. Carson went home because she needed to be with her baby. Mandy and Manson visited a few days ago but I was so tired, Axe let them see the baby while I slept. Dash, Ryleigh, Brian and Olly came over the other day and were gushing over how cute the future alpha is. It brings tears to my eyes thinking of all the love Cash will grow up with. Happy tears.

“Axe, I'm going to get some groceries,” I tell him as I walk into the living room. Axe is sitting on the couch with Cash in his arms.

“Elora.” Axe looks up with a frown. “You need to rest.”

“I feel well enough to go. My body is healing quick.”

“I can go for you.”

“Axe, I have to leave the house every now and then. I promise I'll call if anything happens.”

“Okay, I love you.”

I go over and give him a kiss on the cheek and lean down to give Cash a kiss too. When I get in my car I realise how long I haven't driven for. The closest grocery shop is the one I go to. I decide to get any food I want now that I'm not pregnant. The trolley gets full of junk food, diapers, pads, and some wine for cosy nights with Axe. A range of flowers for sale catches my eyes, so I go over. My eyes are drawn to the fake white roses. Alina comes into my mind as I stare at them. I decide to do a tribute to her, so I buy all the white roses I see.

When I get home, I listen out for Axe and hear him cursing as he changes Cash's diaper. I put the junk food in the pantry, put the bag of diapers and pads in my room and then I carry the final bag to Alina's room. I quietly open the door, step in, then close the door behind me. I don't know how Axe would react to me being in here again but I want to do something for her. I litter the roses all over the room, some on the bed, a few in vases on the shelves, anywhere I can place them. These white roses are a symbol of Alina's new beginning.

“Elora.” The door opens. I take a deep breath knowing I've been caught again, then turn and see Axe standing there with an unreadable look. “What are you doing in here?” He sighs. He's not angry I'm in here.

“I wanted to do something nice for her.”

“Come on, Cash needs you,” he says quietly, and gestures for me to walk out.

I notice him look around the room before he follows me out. I walk into our room and see Cash awake in the cot. I pick him up and cradle him to my chest then sit on the bed against the headboard. I lift my shirt and breastfeed him. My nipples are going to be so sore by the time I stop breastfeeding.

“Did you really see her?” Axe's voice holds the innocence of a child.

“I did.”

“She's not in pain anymore, right?”