Reckless Regrets
Chapter 27

Kade

About an hour into our meeting, Matt got a link letting him know that we had a visitor at the northern border.

“It should be Nathan; he should be arriving about now,” I told him.

Once Xander gave the go-ahead to let him cross, the dads left to return home, and the rest of us went to meet the escort bringing Nathan to the house. When I saw him, I felt like s**t for not planning the trip better. He looked like he’d shifted and run here, and even though that wasn’t that big of a deal for a wolf, it did take a lot of energy.

“Hey kid, do you need a drink or something?” I asked when I saw him.

“No, sir, I’ll be fine. I haven’t let my wolf out in a while, and I’m enjoying the sore muscles and fatigue, to be honest,” he replied with a smile.

I introduced him to the guys, and he seemed uncomfortable, but when it came to Xander’s turn, he immediately dropped his head and took a step back. The way Thorne had his omegas terrified of the ranked wolves was disgraceful and pissed me off.

“Thank you for the asylum, Alpha Black. I appreciate you doing this for my son and me,” he said while still looking down.

“First of all, hold your head up and look me in the eye when you’re speaking to me. You may be an omega, but you’re still a man, and that matters more than you may realize,” Xander stated.

Nate raised his head, and though he was still clearly nervous, he made eye contact and held it.

“Much better. And you are welcome. I’m not sure what’s going on at Canyon Woods, but from what I have heard, I don’t like it, and no respectable Alpha would leave a wolf to suffer just because they want to be with their mate. You’re safe here, but it won’t be a free ride. You’ll have to become acclimated to our way of life and move on our schedule. Is that clear?”

“Yes, Alpha. I can take care of the yard work if you need me to, or anything really. Your grounds are much larger than what I’m used to, but I will do my best.”

“We have a team that does all that. I want you training with my warriors, 5:00 AM Monday through Saturday. You don’t miss any sessions and don’t cause any trouble. Can you handle that?”

Nathan looked over to me and began to fidget. He was a bundle of nerves, but if he would ever become the man and father Cameron deserved, he would need to learn how to survive in less than comfortable situations.

To be honest, though, this situation was far more stressful than average. Nate ran hundreds of miles from home and was being questioned by leaders of the most well-known pack in this part of the country. So, if he could manage this, he could handle anything. And as if he heard my thoughts, he straightened his shoulders and nodded.

“I haven’t had much training, Alpha, but I will make sure to be there for each session and anything else you’ll require.”

“Have you ever fought a bear?” Tyson stepped forward menacingly and asked.

All of Nate’s confidence instantly evaporated, and his face went sheet white. Tyson held his stance for a few seconds before he, along with the rest of us, burst out laughing.

“I’m just screwing with you, kid; it’s been a tense day, and we needed a laugh.”

Poor Nate took a breath and nodded, relieved that he wouldn’t have to face off against anyone, especially not a bear, on his first day.

“Kade, take him to the house he will be staying at then come back for Marisol and Cameron. Nate, you understand that while you are here, you are just Cameron’s caretaker and not his father. No one can know the true nature of your relationship until this is all over. No one besides the five of us here. Is that understood?” Xander asked.

“Yes, Alpha. I understand.”

“Good. Then you can go get settled in, and I’ll see you tomorrow morning at training.”

“You train with the rest of the pack, Alpha?”

“I do. I’d like to believe that I could stay in top physical shape and lead my pack without it, but that would be a lie. I need to train like everyone, and everyone trains like me. We go hard, and we give our all; no excuses.”

Xander and the guys went back in the house while Nate and I began the short walk to the cottage that had been set up.

“How are you feeling? I’m sure all of this is a lot to deal with,” I asked.

“I’m stressed the hell out. I’m worried that Alpha Thorne will come for me, and because he’s my Alpha, I won’t be able to refuse him. I still have to replace a place for the DNA test that I trust, and I have to take care of a very active kid by myself in a place I know nothing about for the next month. I won’t lie to you; I’m selfish. I always have been, but now I can’t be. I have to look after my son, and I don’t know how I’m going to do it.”

“Admitting to that fault is an excellent way to start working on it. I used to be like you, I lived life just to please myself, and it was good for a while. But eventually, you grow up and see what life really has to offer. You were blessed with a good mate when she’s not stalking people and an amazing kid. Focus on that.”

“I want to mark her. I’ve wanted to mark her for years, and the fact that we’ve been blocked at every single turn is bullshit.”

I stopped walking and thought about it.

“Why don’t you?”

“I can’t! I’m not a fan of the idea of Alpha Thorne ripping my head off because I ‘befouled’ his daughter.”

“I won’t tell you what to do with your life or your mate, but you’re safe here. And when all of this is over, Thorne’s bullshit rules won’t be able to hold you back. If you want to mark her, and she wants it as well, do it. I wish my mate could have marked me before all this crap started up.”

We arrived at the house, and the look on Nate’s face when he saw it made me smile.

It wasn’t anything fancy; two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a small kitchen and living room, and plenty of space in the front and back yard for Cameron to run around and play.

This was one of the villages “starter homes,” and as families grew and other houses became available, they could move up to acquire more space.

“Are you sure this is the place? I’d be fine with a room in the omega quarters, really.”

“I’m sure. And besides, we don’t have omega quarters; everyone lives here in the village together. You need to get used to not being treated like s**t all the time, Nate. There’s no point in a pack being as well off as this one is if it’s members don’t feel some of the benefits.”

“But I’m not a member of this pack.”

“Maybe you should be.”

We walked around the inside of the house for a few minutes, and once he was comfortable, I left to get Marisol and Cameron. The day was getting away from us, and we would need to head back soon. Plus, Marisol and I needed to be sure that we had our kidnapping story straight for when we got back. Thorne was going to blow a f*****g gasket, and I, for one, couldn’t wait to see it.

***

Marisol

It took some time, but Alaia and Taylor seemed to thaw a bit, and we were able to have a more normal conversation where I wasn’t afraid one or both of them would shift and kill me. But when their vampire hunter Aires showed up, everything changed. She was under no obligation to make me feel welcome, and she made sure that I knew it.

Whomever it was that she was loyal to, it was a fierce loyalty, and it was not with me. She sat on the couch across from me and never once took her eyes off my face. And when I saw her elongated and pointy canines, I almost s**t myself. I wasn’t expecting her to be a vampire, just a vampire hunter. I’d never met a vampire, and this one hated me with a passion.

Where was Kade?!

A moment before it felt like Aires would pounce and drain the life from my body, he finally walked in, and I’d never been happier to see him.

“Hey darling, why are you looking so tense? It’s not good for that gorgeous face; it will give you wrinkles,” he walked to Aires and stated.

“Don’t you try to sweet talk me, Wolfie, because it will not work! Where is my Morgan? And why is this puta here instead?! Until you fix this, don’t say a word to me; if you do, I will drain you as slowly and painfully as I possibly can.”

She stormed out of the room, cursing the entire time, and I let out a deep breath I’d been holding in while trying to go unnoticed by her.

“We have a love-hate relationship at the moment. I love Aires, but she hates me; we’ll get past it,” Kade looked at me and smiled.

“Hey ladies,” he then addressed Taylor and Alaia. Alaia stood up to walk out, but he moved in front of her blocking her path.

“Don’t do me like this, Bean. I can’t handle it if all my girls hate me. I love you. Please?”

She crossed her arms over her chest and turned her head away from him.

“I’m trying, Alaia; you have to believe me. I’m trying everything. Here! Look and see for yourself. I swear that I’m going to fix this, but if you don’t believe that my intentions are pure, look and see for yourself,” he repeated.

He crouched down, bringing his head eye level with hers and waited. What was he doing?

“No. I’m not doing this,” she said and gently nudged his head away from her.

“Are you sure? I just want to be able to be in the same room with you, with all of my girls, and not feel like you’re plotting my death.”

“I trust you, and I love you too. We’re just hurting; we miss you and Morgan, and it sucks. We’re also not plotting your death,” she added with a smile.

“You sure about that? Aires didn’t seem to have gotten the memo.”

“I’m sure. You know how passionate Aires is. But did you notice that she still called you ‘Wolfie’? I’m sure if she wanted you dead, she could have come up with something much more colorful to call you.”

“That’s true. She couldn’t hate me if she tried; we’re soul mates,” he joked.

Alaia stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him in a big hug. He didn’t seem like the type of man who needed physical contact like this, but the way he dropped his shoulders and wrapped his arms around her tiny body, it was clear that he was craving this connection.

“I love you, Kade. Hurry up and come back home, okay?”

“I promise, Bean.”

He kissed the top of her head then let her go to walk over and k**s Taylor’s cheek. I watched her try to act like she didn’t want him to touch her, but it wasn’t a very good act. The small smile that tugged at her lips gave her away.

“That’s more like it! s**t! I’ve never had so many women pissed off with me at the same time; I’m a lady’s man, or used to be; this was so foreign.”

“Maybe you’re not as charming as you think you are,” Taylor said.

“Now I know you’re lying; you’re trying to hurt my feelings, but it won’t work,” he smiled.

The room’s mood was much lighter, and seeing that his job was done, he turned to me.

“It’s almost time for us to get back on the road. Did you want to grab Cam?”

Since I knew he wasn’t coming back with us, I understood what was going on. One of the ladies must have sent a link upstairs because I heard a stampede of feet then the shrill battle yell Cameron always blessed us with when he ran down the stairs. Alaia and Taylor cringed when they heard it, making me giggle.

“Sorry about that. Cameron’s just really excitable, and everything is a monster truck rally or superhero battle scene in his eyes,” I stated.

“We’ve got four sons between the two of us, so we get it,” Alaia replied.

“Hey, dad! Where have you been all day? This house is the coolest, they gave me cookies and chocolate milk, and Xayden and Alex have the best toys. Can I go play with them some more?”

“Hey, bud. I’m happy you’ve had a good time, but you’ll have to hold off on the playing for now. But since you three get along so well, I’ll make sure you get to hang out more often. How is that?” Kade replied.

“It’s not great, but it’s not bad either. So, it’s okay.”

I stood up and walked over to where the two of them were standing then turned back to the ladies.

“Thank you for your hospitality today; I know it was hard on you, and I appreciate it.”

“You’re welcome. And I promise that next time will be much better. We can have drinks and snacks and have a girl’s day,” Taylor said with a smile.

“I can get behind that,” Alaia agreed.

“Sounds good. Bye,” I said before I took Cameron’s hand and followed Kade out the door. As we walked down the drive, we took a left down a small path, and towards the pack’s village we’d passed on the way in.

“Is this where they will be staying?” I asked.

“Yeah. Nate’s already here, and all of their things are at the house. I can give you a little time together if you want before we hit the road.”

“I’d like that. Thank you.”

He nodded then led me to a small gray cottage with blue trim. It was adorable and clean; I wondered how long it would take Cameron to destroy it.

“I’ll come back in an hour; see you later,” he said then walked away.

Walking in the house felt strange; it was oddly comfortable. I’d never been here before but holding my son’s hand, walking in to replace my mate in the kitchen cooking, it felt like home. It was then that I realized what I’d been missing this entire time.

It didn’t matter where I was or what I had; as long as I was with Nate, I was exactly where I needed to be. This man was my mate, he was my home, and he was my heart. Who cared what my father said; we would be together. I would make sure of it.