The Runaway Breeder

Chapter 19

“For Goddess’ sake, give me the car seat Tate!” I growl out in frustration, throwing my hands in the air. We have just pulled into our driveway after Julia and I were released from the hospital about an hour ago and Tate decided to leave any form of lifting to him. The pack hospital sent us home with many bags full of newborn equipment from bottles and formulas to a blanket that my nurse – Abigail – had bought as a gift to us, her Alpha and Luna. I knew the car seat would be alright for me to carry as it practically weighs nothing with my werewolf strength, but my protective mate refused to let me carry it into our home.

“Its fine, Laina. I have everything handled.” Tate assures through clenched teeth as he strains to carry everything in his left hand while the car seat is held in his right. I roll my eyes as I hover around the car seat with Julia inside, oblivious to her parent’s arguments as she sleeps happily.

“Clearly you don’t with how you are gritting your teeth.” I retort with, rolling my eyes and placing my hands on my hip. He pauses to glare at me slightly for a moment, and I glare back, neither of us refusing to back down.

“Don’t sass me, Laina. Get the door for me instead.” He growls out, motioning with his head towards our front door. I scurry around him as quickly as I could and rush to turn the door knob to our house before holding it open for Tate to somehow manage to squeeze into the frame with a smug grin. Stupid male ego.

“I told you I could do it.” My mate gloats with smugness tinting his voice. I once again roll my eyes at his childish behaviour while I close the door and Tate places the bags down gently before settling the car seat on the floor. I walk into his open arms for a hug and take a deep breath. It feels good to be home again. Pulling away from me and placing a chaste kiss on my lips, Tate turns to unstrap Julia from the car seat, a smile on his face as he holds the sleeping newborn gently in his arms.

“Come on, princess, let’s get you to bed.” He coos, turning to give me a quick peck on the cheek before making his way towards the stairs. Confused by his words, I follow Tate up the stairs wondering where his destination is.

“Tate, we haven’t created a nursery yet.” I call out furrowing my brows. How could we put Julia to bed when we have yet to finish the preparation for our pup? Tate just looks at me with eyes that suggest he is hiding something from me as he winks playfully, not bothering to answer my concerns as we continue towards the second floor and past my office coming to a stop in front of a closed door situated directly across from our own room. I know this room well, considering this is where we had placed all the furniture and nursery items inside intending to use this room for our twins – for Julia now that we only have her left.

“Care to open the door for us?” Tate asks cheerily, a grin spreading across his face. I roll my eyes and step forwards to turn the handle and push the wooden door. My eyes widen when I take in the scene before me, confused at how a bare white room could change so drastically in the last two days. The walls are decorated with many soft colours designed to be a fairy tale forest scene in the light of the setting sun. The furniture chosen during my shopping trip with Eeva is built and set up around the room with only one bassinet set up and ready to be used. The diaper changing station holds a basket with each needed item ready and in reach. My favourite item, the rocking chair, is placed beside yet another bay window where I can rock Julia asleep and sip an herbal tea. I can’t help but look on in awe. This is my dream nursery.

“I told you that you left the design for this room to me, Laina would love it Tate.” A familiar voice says bemusedly. I turn to face the direction the voice came from only to see my cousin Chris leaning against the wall behind me, a grinning Tate standing off to the side as he looks on happily. Without a second thought, I rush into the arms of Chris, burying my face into his chest as his arms wrap around me.

“Hey, Lainy. I missed you.” Chris whispers, his shoulders shaking and voice cracking. I nod in reply as sobs wrack my body. It’s been over four - almost five - months since I had last seen Chris. I could remember the tears on his face as the car drove away when being designated a Breeder. Now I could finally be reunited with my best friend, the person I confide in. I am finally reunited with my cousin. Slowly, my tears come to an end, and I am left gasping for breath, finding myself on the ground with my cousin holding me.

“Better?” Chris asks, wiping tears from my cheek. I only manage a nod while my emotions stabilize, unable to voice anything right now. I had missed Chris so much, our brief phone calls and texts being the only small communication we had since I met Tate, neither of us wanting to alert Sam to my situation. I held in so much that I wanted to say, so much has happened since I ran away that I wanted Chris to know but couldn’t tell him. Now I can.

“I am so proud of you, Laina. You stayed strong and managed to free yourself.” Chris whispers, kissing my forehead and giving me one last hug. I crawl out of his lap to allow Chris to stand before taking his outstretched hand and letting my cousin help me to my feet.

“How are you here?” I question once I feel confident to speak without crying again.

“Tate called me. News had spread in the old pack that you had run into this territory beforehand. When he called, I was terrified, but I felt so relieved when he told me that you are his mate. After that, Jack and I packed up the house and everything in it and moved here. I knew you would be safe by your mate’s side and I could finally find you. When we arrived at the house, Jack and I met Eeva. She told us about what happened, and the three of us decided to clean the house and prepare the nursery with how you had designed it in your sketchbook.” He explains, a smile on his face as Chris turns to look into the nursery. I follow his gaze to catch Tate rocking our pup in his arms, giving Chris and I some space with our reunion.

“Thank you for this.” I smile, turning to thank my cousin. I needed this surprise seeing a room designed the way I had sketched out years ago. Chris nods with a soft smile, motioning me to go to my mate, who settles a sleeping Julia into her bassinet with a tender smile on his face as he gazes down at the pup before him. My legs carry me until my arms wrap around Tate from behind, allowing the love I feel for this man to seep into our bond. Hopefully soon we can link each other.

“Thank you for allowing my cousin here.” I whisper, burying my face into his back and taking in his scent.

“You’re welcome beautiful. I figured having your family here would help.” He says, pulling me to his side. For a moment, we take in the silence of the house while gazing at Julia. It felt right having her home asleep in her bed safe and sound.

“I hope I am not interrupting anything, but dinner is ready.” Jack’s familiar voice has me turning in time to catch Jack wrap his arms around Chris and give my cousin a loving kiss. It feels like the old days when I would be deep into my design homework for the two to interrupt me and force me to take a rest and eat.

“That’s good because I am starving.” I laugh out loud, pulling Tate along with me to where Chris and Jack stand. Its nice knowing I would be able to taste Jack’s cooking again, that we can be a family in Bloodsvain. The four of us leave Julia to sleep and make our way down the stairs towards the kitchen where sounds of a ruckus can be heard, making me grimace for a moment.

“Sit down. Your Aunt and Uncle are coming down to eat now.” I hear the distinct tone of Eeva’s voice when rounding the corner of the hall and walking into a lively scene of Eeva and a man trying to corral the pups Jonathan, Andy, and Vinny into the breakfast nook. I chuckle at the two chasing the three boys around while threatening to take away their games and toys.

“Laina, hi!” Eeva stops her pursuit of her pups to rush over and pull me into a hug. Her hands pat my shoulders gently with a grin plastered on her face.

“Oh, thank the Goddess that you’re alright.” She rushes to say with relief, her eyes scanning me from head to toe before stealing me from Tate and settling me into a chair at the breakfast nook.