The whole way over to the daycare, I smiled at the pack mates that walked by getting surprised looks.
By the time I got to the gate of the day care I was full on smiling. If a person could get me to shake off my bad mood so quickly it's Sam. The weather seemed to agree with me. Today was a rare sunny and warm day for a December month.
I enjoyed the walk thinking about Sam. I couldn't wait to hug that little bundle of joy. I bet that at this very moment he probably had his head stuck in a book. And I had a few ideas of where he currently took refuge with the book.
Just a few feet past the small cute three feet white wooden painted gate stood Oliver. He was one of the guards I assigned to Keller. That would mean my mate was here.
My stomach clenched nervously. I didn't know what would happen. The last time I saw him I fricking yelled at him. I resisted the urge to turn around and come back later when he wasn't here but then I remembered Sam. I guess I can't avoid him forever.
I stoped walking drawing Oliver's attention to me. He bowed greeting me to which I nodded. I walked up to him.
"How many of you are around?" I asked.
"Including Keller three, alpha." He responded respectfully. I nodded in response walking down the small gravel rocked path. It lead to the brick building that was the daycare and besides it was the playground. It consisted a group of swings, sliding play sets, climbing play sets, and a few other smaller individual play sets scattered around the bigger sets. The playground had a theme color of blue and yellow.
The kids that ranged from 3 to 10 ran around playing and chasing one another. My eyes were instantly entranced by the sight of my mate running chasing the kids as they squeal and laughed trying to get away from him. I smiled I heard the beautiful ring of his laughter sound through the playground joining the others. It was all too much for my heart.
The wide and careless smile he had made him blend in with the other children. He looked so young and free. I wanted to capture this moment forever. The sound of his laughter. The sight of his presence.
I was to absorb to notice as Keller walked up to me calling out my name.
"Yes?" I asked.
"Umm..I just wanted to inform you that no sightings of suspicious events have occurred. My men are surrounding the grounds on watch." He informed me.
"Thank you, Keller." I nodded at him dragging my gaze away from my mate to Keller.
"Of course, alpha." I dismissed him when I felt a small hand tug on my leg.
I looked down to see Kayla, a 5-year old daughter of one of my warrior. She had two pigtails and a small yellow floral dress.
"Alpha!" She exclaimed excitedly. I got down on my knee leveling down to her.
"Kayla! Those are pretty pigtails." I said making her giggle smiling at me shyly. She was adorable.
She grabbed my hand with both of her small chubby one and pulled me over to the group of kids. She squaled excitedly as she pulled me to the group.
The other kid's heads piped up and turned my direction reminding me of prairie dogs noticing my presence. They froze for a second before squealing and running towards me.
I saw above them that Zeiden had spotted me to and he stood frozen in place staring my direction in surprise.
The kids all began to jump up and down repeatedly yelling, "alpha." Some not able to pronounce it correctly. The little ones around me began to pull on my legs making me almost lose my balance.
I laughed as they surrounded me. I was surrounded by about 20 bubbly little kids. "Hi." I said as I kneed down on the ground to reach their level. They all said hello back.
"How are you all?" I asked out loud to them all. They all gave their own small response except for the smallest ones that just stared up at me.
I could see Zeiden standing a few feet away staring at me. I turned back to the group noticing how I was right and Sam wasn't here. "Where is Sam?" I asked them. I could hear them talking over each other saying he was inside.
I smiled at them telling them to run along I would be back. They all began to run back to the swings and play sets but Kayla stayed still gripping my hand. I looked down to her as she began to tug my hand. I tilted my head wondering where she was talking me. She turned to walk towards my mate.
She stopped in front of him extending her arms to him. He picked her up throwing her in the air making her let out a squeal then laughing. I could feel the corner of my lips twitch wanting to form a smile despite me trying to hide it.
I don't know what was stronger? The twinge if jealousy in my chest to be the one in his arms or the awe at the way he effortlessly connected to kids.
Once he stopped throwing her up in the air, he turned to look at me curiously. Kayla squirmed in his arms until he let her go. She then walked over to me and asked me, "Alpha is he really your mate?" She asked innocently.
The question had me blinking at her in surprise. I didn't expect that. How would she know that. I looked up at Zeiden only to find him staring at his toes flushed in embarrassment. I smiled widely see how he was the one to tell her I was his mate. Thomas did tell me he explained a few things to him.
I dragged my gaze back to Kayla who looked up at me eye curiously waiting for my response. I didn't fail to notice how Zeiden also seemed to want to hear he answer to that question.
"Yes." I answer truthfully looking back at Zeiden wanting to see his reaction. He snapped his eyes to me wide in surprise jaw slightly gaping. I focused my gaze on him my head cocked as I waited for his response. I desperately wanted him to give me even the slightest hint to purse him.
He blinked then quickly glanced away biting his lip. I frowned disappointed turning back to Kayla. "See you later, Kayla." I waved at her before heading towards the day care building.
I felt defeated my own mate feared me. I didn't want to push too far to have him reject me because I knew that it would break me. I wouldn't be able to deal with that. So despite my instincts, I will wait. For him.
I only got a few feet when I felt a hand grip my arm. The warmth. The reaction was instant. I gasped feeling the electrical shocks run up my arm through my body. It awakened every nerve in my body. It made my blood vibrate, alive.
I heard the same reaction come from him as he pushed my arm away gazing at his hand in wonder. I clenched my jaw to keep myself from reaching to him which was a lot more impossible that I would have thought.
I craved his touch his warmth. It had been so long since I last touched him I could barely hold myself back. My wolf purred at the feeling of his touched whining for more. I could practically feel my eyes darken in desire and I made no attempt to hide it.
I snapped my head up to him seeing him turn to me in surprise. I loved how I could read every emotion that passed though his face speaking louder than words. It was art. Beautiful art.
He gulped, his cheeks flushing a soft blush. "Yes?" I asked him my voice more seductive than I expected.
"Wh-where a-are you go-going?" He stuttered in a low and husky voice that sent my hormones go erratic. Goddess how am I suppose to keep myself from jumping on him and scaring him away.
I smiled softly loving how I can affect him. It just shows how innocently pure he is while my thoughts can't help but be down in the gutter around him.
"Inside." I answered pointing to the building just a few feet from us. He looked up mouth formed in a o shape. His eyes moved back to mine quickly glancing away embarrassed. I couldn't help but giggle at the cute way his lips pouted.
I knew I was a goner by then. "Do you...," I started making him glance up at me with his left brow slightly lowered making me forget my train of thought for a second. I cleared my throat blinking my eyes looking away as I finished, "...want to come with me?"
The light around him seemed to emit an unnatural glow around him. I looked back at him his eyes seemed to suddenly turn a shade lighter under the sun. I could see his eyes almost entirely black except for the light specs of brown that were detected in the sunlight.
They looked like big puppy eyes under his thick long lashes. I seemed to drown in his black orbs that for the first time in my life didn't scare me. It didn't remind me of the darkness and instead of how perfectly it matched the color of his hair.
"Yes." I heard him breathe out sounding breathless all of a sudden, snapping me out of my observation. I glanced down blinking my eyes trying to regain control.
I nodded giving him one glance before turning around continuing towards the building. I could heard behind me as he followed behind me. I couldn't help but glance at him form the corner of my eye.
I walked ahead nodding to Sara, the lady in charge of the kids, as I passed the desk office that overlooked the kids outside.
I walked the halls with ease know the room in which Sam would most likely be in. Just a few halls away, I turned around to Zeiden. He stopped looking at me. I could feel my heart beat speed up as I nervously told him, "Umm...just in case you might misunderstand. Sam is my kid. I...umm...adopted him."
"What?" He asked confused at my statement. I could feel my face heating up. I just didn't want him to think that I had been with someone. I didn't want him to ever think that. But it was still embarrassing.
"Never mind. You will see." I turned walking away from him. I bit my lip trying to cool my face down just a few feet from the room.
I stood at the door of the mini library of this building to see Sam siting at his usual blue beanbag besides the window which we agreed would be his. There was a purple beanbag next to his which I claimed as mine years ago. The small shelfs of books on three walls, one wall had large window of the outside, a bunch of beanbags around the floor and a baby blue carpet over the floor.
I remembered the countless times we would sit side by side or me carrying him in my lap reading him to sleep. The flashes of memory of looking out the window during sunny, rainy, and snowy days.
The only pictures I have in my room would be of this little bundle of joy who currently sat disconnected from the world imaging another world of escape.
My mind flashed images of a tiny new born baby boy wrapped in a small thin blue blanket. The blanket didn't do much to protect the baby from the cold winds of the forest. He laid at the base of the tree wailing out for someone, anyone.
At that time the world had lost its purpose and light. The sun rose and set like any other day but seemed to have lost the sound of its animals which lived in the forest. It seemed to have lost the life it usually held. Even breathing seem to just be a chore in my check list I no longer wanted to do just because everyone else did.
I had lost my pack, my parents, my people. I didn't have anyone to protect or to protect me. I was lost.
I had been on the run for day without rest or food. I was pass the point of even feeling my limbs ache or my throat beg for water. Even my mind no longer sensed the pain from the deep cut on my side or the scratches on my sides from the branches.
All I focused on was taking one step in front of the other trying to out run my thoughts. My guilt. My pain.
But then I heard it the soft cry of life in this soundless forest. The sound of a life fighting to live. Without even knowing I began to run towards the cry leading me to that little bundle of life.
I smiled suddenly feeing the warmth of having him with me. It had be an eternity since I had last seen him or about 6 weeks give or take. I know I know that isn't anything close to eternity but this is the reason that my world didn't fall apart so give me a break.
I looked over his dinosaur shirt and blue jean and black and red shoes. He was adorable with his small baby face and his small hands that held the book. My baby.
"Are you seriously going to ignore me for a book, Sammy?" I asked him from the door as his head snapped up at the sound of my voice.
As soon as he set eyes on me, he let a grin take over his face. He dropped the book forgetting about it as he lunged towards me yelling, "Mommy!"
"Missed me buddy?" I asked picking him up giving him a deathly hug. I could feel him nod against me shoulder. "Me too." I whispered setting him down feeling my wolf come out to greet him. My wolf had gotten so attached to Sam, she even thought of him as her own child. It was expected when he was the reason we even survived.
"I missed y-'' he was interrupted by a cough which snapped my attention to the sound of his lungs having trouble taking in breathes. I frowned reaching up a hand to his cheek feeling his skin slightly warmer than normal.
"Sam have you taken medicine?" I asked him worried that he hadn't been treated.
He nodded clearing his voice as he explained, "I was at the nurse office just now but I wanted to read." I narrowed my eyes at him in disapproval.
"You should be resting. Come on let's go home I will put you to bed." I said already picking him up. He had a room in my house but it was unoccupied because he was visiting Hailey. She was daughter of my former gamma but moved packs when she found her mate. We had a good understanding and she adored Sam so I let her take care of him whenever I went out on business trips.
"But I want to read." Sam pouted. He was such a bookworm, but it is my fault for encouraging it. In good news, that is probably why he spoke like a 7 year old when he was just 3 but almost four.
He looked up at me from my arms giving me puppy dog eyes. I scowled playfully before giving an exaggerated sigh giving in. "Fine. I will read you a book as you fall asleep. Okay?" I asked firmly trying to compromise.
He grinned feeing as if he beat me. He always loved having me read to him but lately I had been too busy.
"Can you read me our book?" He asked pointing towards the corner of tallest shelf of one of the bookshelf's where we kept our book.
It was a story of a little prince who travelled the world meeting many people and having many adventures. I had one day bought it thinking of Sam. It was the first book I ever read to him. Ever since it became our book and we would leave it in a secret space only we knew about.
I looked down at him with a thoughtful face like if I was having a hard time deciding. He visibly looked worried playing with his hands nervously then I smiled nodding. "Of course whatever you want." I said kissing his cheek walking over to the bookshelf.
"Why didn't you come visit me? I was waiting." He asked looking at me with wide curious eyes.
"I was busy," I said holding him up to get the book looking back to Zeiden realizing he had been watching the whole reunion. I froze not sure how I felt with someone seeing me express so much emotion that I always tried to hide.
I gave him an uncertain smile as Sam settled back in my arms with the book pressed to his chest. Zeiden was still staring at me making me shuffle my feet nervously. I wasn't used to having his eyes on me. I could feel my skin tingle under his gaze.
He seemed to notice that he was staring and cleared his voice looking away. Sam looked at Zeiden curiously from my arms.
He leaned up to my ear and tried to whisper, "Mommy, he took me to the nurse." Keyword tried.
"Ohh really?" I asked Sam equally as loud in his ear. Sam nodded rapidly at me. "Did you thank him?" I asked Sam. He furrowed his eyebrows thinking then his mouth made an o shape realizing he didn't.
Sam squirmed in my arms telling me he wanted to be let down. I set him in the floor and he ran to Zeiden. He pulled on Zeiden's black pants and signaled for Zeiden to lean down. Zeiden stopped looking at me and turned to Sam. "Thank you for taking me to the nurse." He whispered into Zeiden's ear but I could easily hear.
"Your welcome." Zeiden responded smiling at Sam. I swear my heart melted at that moment. From both the sound of my mates voice and the absolute cuteness of seeing the two most important people in my life together.
Sam smiled up at Zeiden opening his arms at Zeiden asking to be picked up. I saw as Zeiden easily picked him up and threw him in the air making Sam let out a set of laughter. I wanted nothing more than to capture this moment.
"Again. Again. Again." Sam repeatedly said when Zeiden was about to set him down. Zeiden threw him in the air again. I could tell that Sam liked Zeiden because he was usually shy around others but seemed to have the time of his life right now.
"Sam we have to go." I said seeing how Zeiden was having difficulty straining his side reminding me he was still recovering.
I reached for Sam when Zeiden said, "I can carry him." I looked up at him surprised.
"Your coming home?" I asked him incredulous.
He shrugged mumbling, "unless you don't want me too?"
I grinned at Zeiden replying, "let's go." Long forgotten the plan to avoid him. But can you really blame me.
***
I thought this was cute. What about you guys? What did you think?