Page 50 of Alpha Awakening

Blake hugged her tighter. He still couldn’t believe how good it felt to be with his family again. All the years of loneliness and pain were over. “Well, we’ll see each other soon and maybe when the girls sleep or are in other hands we can chat a little more,” he joked.

“I would love that!”

Ann walked them to the car where Kareem was already waiting. With Niev between him and Kareem, they drove off, Ann waving with tears in her eyes. Blake had never realized how much Ann must miss her family. Unlike Blake, she’d always been close to them.

“Ann really enjoyed having you two here. She has missed her family a lot lately.”

“We’ll definitely take her up on her offer and steal her from you when the girls arrive,” Niev chuckled.

“How about I let you borrow her as long as you promise to return her to me?”

“I think we have a deal.”

Blake and Niev watched as Kareem made his way through the bumpy mountain roads. He parked the car at the bottom of the mountain and hugged Niev while Blake got out and walked around to the driver’s seat.

“Thank you for taking the time to visit us. I know this is a stressful time for you and we really appreciate your visit. Rest up when you get home and make sure Blake takes good care of you, okay?”

“I’ll make sure of it.” Niev laughed and hugged Kareem a little tighter before letting him climb out of the truck.

Kareem pulled Blake into a hug. “Take care of her. Let us know when it’s time to come and visit you.”

“Take care of Ann.”

“Always.”

An hour later, Niev was fast asleep next to him as he drove down the highway. Holding his hand, she had her other on her stomach caressing Aruna and Emlyn. He listened to their three heartbeats, his thoughts returning to the conversation he’d had with Alpha Raymond and Fallon.

He couldn’t help but picture himself in the office discussing business with the two of them. Though he didn’t like what Fallon had done, Blake was slowly overcoming his initial shock. The more he thought about it, the more Blake appreciated his decision. If Blake had joined the pack first and then learned of Aurelius’s existence, he would’ve felt betrayed–especially because they knew about their past with Solomon.

He thought more about the upcoming months, even beginning to plan their move, making a list of what needed to be taken care of. Though the decision wasn’t officially announced, he knew it would happen—he would become alpha.

He knew with all his heart that Niev would stand by his side, even with all her fears. He could sense that her hesitation wasn’t toward him being an alpha, but toward the timing. She was already overwhelmed with the pregnancy and being a parent that it was just too much for her. Just like she would be by his side, he would have her back. He hoped that after they settled in, she would feel more at ease.

A Promise To Behave

They arrived home early the next morning. This time he’d driven the whole way. Niev hadn’t offered to drive but it wasn’t anything against Blake–she was simply just too tired to do so. He could feel her restlessness as her thoughts raced around.

He parked the truck and swiftly walked around the hood to help her out. Dawn was barely approaching, and the village was still sleeping. Instead of letting her climb out herself, Blake pushed his arms underneath her and lifted her to his chest. She didn’t fight him and rested her head on his shoulder, gently humming as he closed the door and carried her into their home.

He tucked her into bed, a pillow between her knees and the cover hugging her tightly. Before laying down himself, he retrieved their bags from the truck. As soon as his head laid on the pillows and his arm wrapped over her, he fell asleep.

The sun burning through the windows woke him up. He turned to Niev, but her spot was empty. Stretching his still tired body, he stood up and found her standing in the doorframe to the nursery. She was rubbing her bump, tears running down her cheek, the bond heavy with grief and pain.

“I know it’s the right thing to do,” she whispered. “I know that leaving this behind is the best for our family. I just wish it could be different. I fell in love with this place, pictured all our first memories here, saw them sleeping in this room and taking their first steps on the porch. I saw them running up the hill to see their grandparents and saw them climbing your grandfather’s tree with their cousins.”

He could feel her need to talk so he stood behind her and listened.

“I thought I’d finally found a home, a family, and a place that I would live in forever. I thought I could finally settle and now that I feel wanted here, I’m being pulled away again, only to start over somewhere new–again.”

She leaned against him and let his touch soothe her. Wrapping his arms around her, he laid his hands over hers and caressed her bump.

“I just wish I had known. I wouldn’t have settled this much if I had. I know I promised that I would follow you wherever you go and I don’t regret making that promise, nor do I resent you for it. I just wish I had known–you know?”

“I understand. I wish I would’ve known too.”

“It would’ve made letting go so much easier.”

“It would have.” He didn’t know what else to say.