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Mourning The Dead
Blake took a step back and looked down at his warrior mate. She was the bravest and strongest person he’d ever met, and he was proud to be hers. When she looked up at him, he could see how much she was struggling in that moment. So, he took her hand and led her downstairs and outside onto the porch. She needed some fresh air and some time to process what she’d just uncovered. Chayed had tried to kill her, and he’d deserved to die. Not only that, but he’d beaten his mate, the one he was supposed to protect and cherish. Blake’s blood was boiling and if Niev hadn’t killed him already, he would’ve gone to hunt that bastard down and make him pay.
He laid his arm around Niev’s shoulders and pulled her closer. He knew that she was struggling with the fact that she’d robbed someone of their mate. He also knew that no matter how much better off Olivia was without him, Niev hated herself for doing so. She was too kindhearted and too harsh with herself.
“Would you like to walk back to the truck? We can take our time. The rain seems to have taken a break,” he suggested.
“Yes, please.”
Seemingly relieved, she took his hand, entangling her fingers with his. When the house was no longer in sight, she broke the silence.
“Thank you for standing up for me with Julius.”
“As your mate I’ll always have your back. If that means putting a wolf in his place and reminding him that you deserve to be respected, I’ll do so with joy.”
“I don’t believe they are raised to respect their women.”
“I don’t believe they do. I was raised very traditionally, but women always deserve our respect. You might not be able to shift like we do but you carry our children, which is just as important as shifting. Is there anywhere else you would like to go? Or should we just go home?” he asked as they reached the truck.
“Home sounds good to me.”
He nodded and opened the door for her.
Sitting next to her, he took her hand in his, the small gesture making her smile.
“Have you talked to your father about finding a new home?”
“Yes, and mother overheard it and was thrilled. I think if he doesn’t find us anything she most definitely will.”
A sweet laugh escaped her.
“He said the cabins that I had in mind will need a little work, but that if you agree we can have one of them.”
“I’m sure if we make it ours, it’s going to be perfect.” She beamed from ear to ear and started rubbing her still hidden bump.
“I’ll take you soon so you can take a look at it. Mother has packed us a few groceries and some meals for us to eat for the next few days until you go out with them to grab groceries.”
She nodded and leaned her head against the window, watching the trees pass by. It was in these quiet moments where she let her exhaustion come out. Lost in her own thoughts, his warrior looked like she desperately needed a break. It wasn’t just fatigue. She was overwhelmed, though she would never want anyone but him to see that. She needed a break and that’s what he would give her for the rest of the day.
Arriving at home, he packed away the food his mother had given him while Niev changed into something more comfortable and cuddled up on the couch. She stared out the window, watching the rain that had picked up again. In the spare room, he searched through a few old boxes and after a few minutes he found what he was looking for. With a stack of board and card games in his hands, he returned to Niev.
“Would you like to play a few games with me?”
The smile that curled up on her lips told him that she liked the idea. “I would love that, but I think you’ll have to explain the rules to most of them to me.”
They played games until it was time to eat dinner. He loved every second of the afternoon and got to see her from a completely different side. For most of their relationship, she’d been anxious and worried. She’d never been fully relaxed. Everything that had surrounded them during their time together had put a lot of stress on them both, but today they’d finally been able to be themselves. They’d been able to get to know each other, laugh, and be free to do whatever they wanted without time restraints.
He walked up behind her as she was warming up their food, wrapping his arms around her waist and caressing her stomach.
“Can you always hear their heartbeats?” she asked curiously.
“Yes, I have to focus on it but yes.”
“I wish I could do that too. I loved hearing them through the doppler. I think if I were you, I would listen to them all day long.”
He grinned, lovingly kissing her neck. “I’m able to hear them now, but in a month or two,you’llbe able to feel them move.”
“I have a feeling they’ll be keeping me up all night long,” she laughed, leaning into his caress.
