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“Just enough time to sleep for a solid eight hours before we meet in the vamp wing of the basement to leave,” Breanne says, clapping her hands together once as if it’s been decided.
“Are you going to be able to sleep?” Pearl asks, concern lacing her words.
“I’ll tire her out,” Matt says with a wink, pulling his mate down on his lap.
Pearl rolls her eyes, and I chuckle because I have the same sort of ideas.
“You’ll get Rayne to come with us?” Pearl asks, and Breanne scoffs.
“As if she’d miss it.”
With the plan in place and the time set, Pearl ushers everyone out the back door where we find Zach and Amelia still playing in the sand with Aurora.
“Zach, Amelia, you guys ready for bed?” I call out before realizing that I have no idea where we’re all going to sleep. As beautiful as Pearl’s house is, there is only one spare room with a single bed.
“Want me to make a couple of quick adjustments?” Skarlyt asks Pearl.
“Temporary ones,” my mate answers. “We will build once things settle.”
Skarlyt skips back inside, leaving me wondering what kind of temporary adjustments she’s making.
Chapter Sixteen
Pearl
As Loukas walks down to the water to gather Zach and Amelia, I stand rooted to my spot by the back door, not sure what to do. I desperately want to find my place beside Loukas, a part of his little family. But watching them together warms my heart. Watching from a close distance will have to be enough for now. Seeing Loukas chasing after them as they run away from him, laughing, and having fun makes me long to be included. I can almost picture it, the two of us chasing Zach and Amelia down the beach, all four of us falling in a heap. But until they get more comfortable with me, that’s never going to happen. My thoughts stray momentarily… What if theyneverwarm up to me? A sense of dread creeps in my stomach.
“All done,” Skarlyt says, skipping back out of the house, thankfully interrupting my questioning.
“Thank you.” I turn away from the beach to face her.
“I created an adjoining room to your spare room with a barn door separating them that way if Zach and Amelia want privacy from one another they can, but I suspect they're going to want to be close.”
I nod. “Probably. Those kids have been through so much and I don’t even know half of it.”
She places a hand on my shoulder as I turn back to watch Loukas, and his children run and play.
“They’ll be okay. Give them time.”
Silently, I dip my chin in acknowledgement, feeling the walls that I’ve erected around myself beginning to crack. The traumatized woman that they pulled out of that facility begins poking through.
As the first tear falls, Skarlyt pulls me into her.
“You’ve been so strong for so long, it’s okay to let others in and to be happy. You deserve every bit of happiness that man gives you.”
“How did you…” I begin, the tears beginning to flow more freely now.
She pushes me back.
“You weren’t around for the hell I went through, but I promise you that it will be okay.”
I glance back at the beach, watching as Loukas walks back toward the house, holding both of his children's hands. I quickly wipe my face, trying to get rid of the evidence.
“It’s okay to be vulnerable with him. He’s your mate,” Skar says, and I look over at her.
“Thank you for everything,” I tell her, more tears slipping down my cheeks.
“I also soundproofed your room,” she says with a wink. “You're welcome.”
