Chapter 344: 1-2

“That is not all…” Marlon said coming closer, “Kieran is unable to shift back to his wolf form, I believe that is a greater-” I shook my head, “Wait what?” I couldn’t understand. “Under the Luna’s order Kieran had to shift to his human form. When that happened his wolf decided for him, that he should remain in his human form. If attacked, I am unsure Kieran would be able to shift and defend himself…” my eyes widened nodding dazed, I looked back at the house we were just booted from, my own legs feeling like jelly. I still had hope, that over time we would be able to form some sort of relationship with our child, Kieran was kidnapped and hurt, I understood that but the child we got back was not my little boy. It took time to adjust but I did so, with a heavy heart, I believed that one day I would be something to him once again. Not just a lost memory. “She was looking out for him,” I whispered, “And the Luna and Alpha do not need our permission to do so, I have been very lax in how I handled everyone on the island because I was not a true Alpha, this is different, and for the safety of everyone I wish others would realize that and not question their authority,” he shook his head sighing his arms falling to his side, “I even had to talk to my Justine about her behavior last night at the gathering. She sought out my approval – and as her father I respect that – but when called by the Luna to come forth there shouldn’t have been any hesitancy in her movements,” he shook his head. “I need to go,” he said as the gate opened, trudging up, leaving Tony and I alone, “if he can’t shift back to his wolf, all the more reason for us to have him at home,” Tony muttered as the gate closed once again. The minute the words left his mouth my stomach churned, and I spun to face him, I opened my mouth to speak, to shout but nothing came out, closing it, I took a step back shaking my head. “Carla, dear, what’s wrong?” ‘So before you can fix the attitudes of your children currently living with you, you want to bring Kieran in so they can continue to torment him while under your roof?’ I repeated the Luna’s words. “Kieran was taken and tortured and Connor still participated in teasing him Tony, why would he do something like that? He knew that Kieran would attack if bothered and touched but he still took part… and now… Even Tera said it. He doesn’t think it’s his fault, or that Taryn is to blame, to him Kieran is in the wrong solely,” I said answering my own question of how she knew how Connor felt. The Luna didn’t, but she did know that Kieran couldn’t shift back to his wolf to defend himself, that shield he had as a wolf, to protect him self from others was gone now. I hated to think about it, I hated to even have to worry that my child, that Connor wouldn’t use that piece of information to finally teach Kieran the lesson he thought he deserved, but the truth was after this morning… I wasn’t so sure. All my ire left, my body drooped onto Tony. His arms encircled my body, rubbing over my back, “They could’ve asked us,” He said still adamant but most of his fire was gone as well, “Carla? Tony?” I heard from behind spinning out of Tony’s arm to see Kieran in black shorts and a black sleeveless undershirt, but the items in his hand made my heart sink, fill and break all at once, a dirtied blanket. His baby blanket, muddied, ripped in a few places as far as I could tell, but he was bringing it with him down here. He had it up on that mountain, even though he couldn’t remember – “Why are you here?” he asked almost defensively. I smiled tight, and before Tony could answer I did, “we just came to make sure you settled in alright Kieran,” it hurt to say the words, my heart pounding, as he nodded slowly. “We came earlier but the Luna said you went to get your things from the mountain,” I eyed the dirtied blanket, “I could – if you’d like, wash it for you?” he shook his head, “I can do it now.” Again I smiled. I didn’t know how to do this, it seemed that we were always walking away in Kieran’s life… “Hey – oh hi Mrs. Ryan, Mr. Ryan,” I heard from behind us and flickered my eye to Oakley, her hair braided in one, a flowered sundress and walking boot on her leg. Tote bag on her side, my eyes went back to Kieran, jealous of the small smile that she was able to put there, and with so little effort. “Chelsea said you were here… thought I’d come see your new cave,” she said her eyes on Kieran, a natural hopeful smile on her face. And the bitterness I felt eased when I realized, remembered that in all our time here, we had never once taken on our own to see just where Kieran had made his home. “We’d love to see where you’re going to be staying Kieran also,” I murmured, and watched as the small smile that played on his lips dropped and that coldness in his eyes when he regarded Tony and I came forward. A stiff nod, he turned and the gate opening, Oakley followed, heading to the backyard, “Hey Little Boss,” Oakley said to the little girl on the porch swing, she jumped off, coming to stand right in front of Kieran, “Hi, I Ava,” her small hand pointing to her chest, Kieran just looked down at her, “She wants you to tell her your name,” he eyed Oakley, “I’m Kieran.” “Ava, lunch,” a woman came out, calling the little girl, she looked over her shoulder then back, waving before leaving, “Bye-bye Kieran,” she called. “She likes you,” Oakley said in a singsong type voice, and Kieran looked at her, his eyes going cold, and oddly instead of flinching back, Oakley laughed, “Don’t worry I think the only person she bosses around here is Casey,” she said after having a good laugh. “To your cave mountain king,” she said her eyes sparkling, “lets go,” Kieran answered. Tony and I hung back to watch him, amazed that he didn’t race up the stairs instead, went slowly, keeping less than five stairs between him and Oakley, his posture stiff only relaxing when she was on the top landing, to the right the door opened and out came Walter Rykos, two little children, replicas of him, “Kieran,” he greeted my son politely, nodding at Oakley in respect, then going on his way. Down the hallway, the white walls bare, every thirty or forty feet a door, we went to the last door on the hall, Kieran opened it, “this is where I’ll be staying,” he murmured, standing aside as Oakley entered. The cream walls, a full-sized bed and wooden table against the wall, “Cool,” she pointed to his bed, “Well now you have a bed and it’s facing a pretty cool view of the island,” she went to the large wall window turning her head each way. Deciding to remain silent, I looked about, as Kieran put his dirtied blanket on the table; a canvas painting of Oakley on top caught my attention. He has a picture of her? How don’t they know they are mates?My mate and I question each other simultaneously.