The Runaway Breeder

Chapter 37

Shivering slightly, my body slowly comes to consciousness and my eyes scan the room to see the sunshine falling in through the open window curtains. This morning the bed feels colder than usual, and my hands search for the warmth Tate always brings. Worried, I turn around to face Tate's side of the bed only to notice him gone and—judging by how cold his side of the bed is—he's been gone a while. Frowning, I slowly sit up, my body sore once again from spending the night with my mate and wonder where he might have went. Wrapping the blanket around my naked body, I search for any clue that my mate might have left indicating his whereabouts when I spy the note folded neatly on his pillow.

With a soft smile, I pick up the note and carefully unfold the paper to see Tate’s neat handwriting on display. The note tells me that Tate decided to go to the pack house to take care of some business and catch Rex for a check-up. Chris and Jack took Julia for the day, wanting to give me some time to rest and sleep in. Warmth fills my heart with the wonderful family I have and my smile widends. I kiss the note, placing it on the nightstand stationed on my side of the bed before getting up for a quick shower and dressing in a warm baggy knit sweater, fleece-lined leggings and a grey scarf before heading downstairs. Entering the kitchen, I make a quick, light breakfast and take the time to scroll through my phone. I know I had projects due soon for my courses in college but those can wait. I wanted to do something fun for myself first as this is the first day to myself without the worry of Luna duties, raising a pup or having a loving yet overly protective mate hovering around me.

Taking a look at the calendar, I see that Tate has changed it from September to October, and an idea comes to me. Grinning like a Cheshire cat, I finish my breakfast and make my way to the garage. Texting Tate, I ask where he hides the decorations for Halloween. A quick reply comes, and I giggle first at the picture of him bored out of his mind during a phone call, and then with the information that the decorations are where I am heading.

Pressing the button on the side by the garage door, I watch the wind blow leaves across the yard. Deciding on my first chore, I get to work grabbing the rake from the wall and slowly raking the leaves into the middle of the yard on the house's left side. It took a lot longer than I thought it would, but eventually, all the leaves are piled high. Part of me wants to enclose the area around the pile of leaves, so I lean the rake against the sturdy oak tree and make my way into the large garage. After rummaging around, I find some large fences about a meter tall that can easily be hammered into the ground. I make a couple of trips going back and forth until all the temporary fences are laid out in a large enough area. Quickly I fence in the leaves only stoping to take a break once the fencing is done to make a sign with some old wooden boards, paint and nails that read ‘Leaf Jumping Pile’ that I have a feelign Eeeva’s pups will love. I never knew how much of a handyman Tate was until now, and it makes me smile knowing that I had tools readily available for decorating and building.

Hammering the sign at the entrance of the fencing, I take a moment to admire my handiwork. I noted that the garden would need some work done. Obviously, the plants have been neglected since first arriving here, so I put myself up to the challenge. Not many people in Pine Paw liked gardening, but I find the rhythmic action to be soothing and relaxing. Searching through the garage, I find a few yard waste bags and some gardening gloves and set to work in the garden. I trim the bushes and prep the shrubbery for the winter that is fast approaching. My phone is blaring music from Spotify as I work outside, enjoying the easy exercise gardening brings. It feels nice moving my body again after having a baby and being cooped up healing or waiting for Tate to wake up from his coma. With a smile, I lean back to rest when my ringtone cuts my music short. Only a few people have my number. Rushing to pick my phone up, I throw my gardening gloves onto the ground and by pass looking at the caller I.D. to just swipe the answer icon.

"Laina here." I greet, heading onto the rocking chair that Tate and I had bought just after being released from my hospital trip.

"Hey, baby, how is your day going?" I smile at Tate's voice, closing my eyes and relaxing as the chair rocks.

"It’s going well. I'm decorating the house for Halloween." I answer. My finger slowly moves to play with my engagement ring while Tate chuckles at my enthusiasm.

"There are more decorations in the basement and some in the shed behind the garage once you finish using the ones I keep year-round in the garage. If you need anything else, we can go shopping.” I grin at the idea of shopping. I have a feeling that there will be more than enough decorations here at the house, but we could probably have the scariest house on the block if I find things I like.

"That sounds like fun. We can get some costumes too." I agree, giggling. I love Halloween and the idea of dressing up in costume just being carefree for the day. Part of me preferres going to haunted houses instead of trick or treating like most children would do growing up. It just feels more fun seeing what humans consider scary when to them werwolves are scary in and of themselves.

"And what would my baby girl want to be?" I blush at his words and think of Julia, him, and myself, an idea forming.

"Why don’t we dress up as a King and Queen and Julia as a princess?" I suggest, hearing another chuckle.

"Okay, but we are not getting cheap Wal-Mart costumes. I have an idea of what we are going to get." He states. We talk for a few more minutes about dinner plans, how the pack business is going and if I need to head to the pack house to help – the answer being no . Unfortunately, his break comes to an end and with a promise to see each other soon, we hang up.

Placing my phone on the porch steps after resuming my music, I face two large yard waste bags filled to the brim after all that weeding and trimming. If I remembered correctly, tomorrow is garbage day, so doing the gardening today lined up perfectly. Hauling the two bags to the curb, I double-check the front yard before deciding that now will be a good time to start decorating and make my way inside the house bringing out each and every decoration box, starting from the basement and working towards the ones left in the garage.

It took another hour before I had each box in the garage, a total of ten lined up in a row. Rummaging through each box's contents and organizing the decorations, I find myself with many ideas and categories I can do to make the house the best one on the block. I notice that three boxes contain graveyard materials, and an idea comes to mind. A cemetery-themed haunted house will be perfect for children coming to the house for trick or treating.

Moving the headstones, from the box, I notice that they are made from styrofoam covered in concrete as I move them into place. Curiouse to see what is written on them, I take take the time to read each headstone when I notice they have a theme. Each headstone contains the name of a book character, some I recognize and others I did not and chuckle. I wonder who made these and if they are fan of classic literature. With the headstones in place, I return to the garage and find more temporary fences to create a path, zigzagging from the cemetery entrance of the cemetary to the exit that stops just before the front porch. At the end of this path, I set up an automatic coffin that opens with motion sensors to a zombie jumping out. The final touches are solar power lights that light the cemetery path in a red and orange glow. Taking a step back, I take a picture of the house and send it to Tate. I love how it came out and knew that Halloween this year will be the best one yet. Satisfied with my productive day, I make my way up the driveway, intending to go inside to start dinner.

Suddenly the street turns eerily quiet, and unease fills me.

[Intruders made it pass the border and are at my house!] I link the pack as soon as I smell the scent of wolves, getting ready to run into the house. Unfortunately I am too slow as I feel strong arms wrap around my midsection and another pair presses a cloth with some form of drug to my face, covering my mouth and nose. I try my best to hold my breath in order to not breathe in the drug that threatens to take me into unconsciousness. My hands claw at the ones binding me, trying my best to fight for freedom. I get a few curses of pain in response from the two men holding me captive. I need help and fast.

[We are on our way Luna!] Mateo links back with urgency in his voice. I want to respond, but my mind is focused on not breathing.

[Can you fight them?] Tate asks, his voice shaking.

[No, Tate help-] I start mind-linking my mate but everything soon turns black as I take a deep breath of air, my burning oxygen-deprived lungs unable to hold in my breath any longer. My body goes slack against the attackers, my arms falling to my side and tears forming in my eyes. I take one last look at the place I call home, my vission blurry and I send a prayer that my pack is able to reach me before I am taken away.

"Good girl." The attacker that holds me whispers in an all too familiar voice, caressing my hair and supporting my limp frame. The last thing I felt is his lips on my temple as my consciousness slips away, a burning pain searing into me from where his skin touches mine being the last thing I feel.