Chapter 82 GUARD DUTY
SIANNA'S POV
Valen held the attention of everyone in the room. His uncle, Alpha Virgil, introduced him to his nine-month-old cousin, Valiant Hyde. They played together, cooing and gurgling at each other. Plus, I finally got to meet the rest of my in-laws.
Things felt normal, and being with Vance again was fulfilling. He comes home earlier these days, helping me take care of our son, and attending to my needs. His only needs seemed to be about being with his family and, of course, making love. This he has done every night since the two weeks that he returned home.
Finally, the Hunters Parade was here. He would be busier with the visiting Alphas and their entourage. Getting to know the other Alphas and Lunas was exhausting with a chubby baby in my arms. And when Vance took Valen from me as we had lunch, I was very relieved. I could not leave him with a babysitter because he was truly possessive of me. He cried unless he was with one of his grandmothers.
But then Vance got a message on his phone and had to leave. Valen overflowed with joy as he came into my arms again.
"Psst," Hailey pinched my arm, "I need to talk to you. Now."
We left the dining in the ballroom and went upstairs to one of the lounges. It was almost time for Valen's feeding, so I was mindful of his behavior. He would pout his mouth into a sucking motion and fidget for my breast to demand his meal.
As we entered the first lounge on the right, Hailey dropped the surprise. "Raj's mom is here." She was panicking as she held onto my hand. Her eyes sought comfort from mine.
"What? Where?" I sat on the white loveseat facing the white walnut desk.
"At the border with Duke and Blayne," She sat next to me, consumed with concern. "Raj has gone to talk to her."
"Hailey, do not panic. Raj lives here with us." I reassured her, positioning Valen properly in my arms.
"What if she wants him to go back?" She was almost moved to tears.
"He is committed to you," I reminded her, "Have some faith in your bond."
She raised her head to stare at the gypsum false ceiling. Palming her face with her eyes closed to process her thoughts.
"Hailey, Raj already spoke to his Mom about his life here with you." I tried grabbing her attention, "He is still her son and she might want to work on their relationship."
Seconds of silence passed before she looked at me, "She is nothing but trouble and I cannot go through misery again, especially since Raj and I have been doing so well."
With my right hand, I touched hers, "Let us leave it to the guys to relate more information to us. We will deal with it in the best way and I am here for you."
With a sigh, she nodded, taking out her phone and calling Raj. "Hey, babe. What's happening?"
"Alpha Juan is at the border with us. Mom wants to spend some time here, with me." He replied as though he was holding his breath for my reaction.
"Time? Like how much time is she asking for?" Her face scrunched as she bit on the nail on her left index finger.
"A few days," he said.
"Why?" She did not wish for his mother here.
"She is my mom, Hailey. Please understand." He uttered.
She scoffed, "And if she causes trouble?"
"Then I will personally take her back?" He insisted.
"Raj....." Hailey brushed her blonde hair behind her ear.
"Baby, I know." He cut her off, "I just want to know if she has changed. I do miss her and drastic circumstances can change a person's perception of life. I believe that she is genuinely sorry."
Hailey went silent in her opposition as she frowned.
"Duke and I are working out the details so that she does not stay at the pack house with us," he mentioned. "Baby, I know that your reservations remain and, rightly so, I understand your feelings."
"Okay," she dropped it, knowing that fighting him would be futile. His mother was here and sending her back would be too harsh as her son. She would probably resent her more if she adamantly refused her entrance.
Hailey disconnected the call. "Did you hear that?"
"Yes," My lips thinned as I saw the uneasiness that shaded her will.
"After being poisoned and knowing that she drugged her only son, I cannot let my guard down around anyone," Hailey explained her fears. "It is hard to trust someone so scheming."
"How about I meet her with you?" I suggested, giving my support.
She nodded.
Her phone rang, and she answered. "Duke, are you letting that woman stay here?"
"Yes, and Raj can hear you," he responded. "We can talk about that later but come to the
border."
Hailey scowled. The distaste of it was vividly painted on her face. "Fine." When the call ended, she gave me a placid expression. "They need me."
"Go, and show her that you and Raj stand strong together," I encouraged a united front.
Hailey hugged both Valen and me. She exited the lounge and I kissed my sleepy son. I cradled him in my arms and took out my breast for him to feed. He latched on to it and devoured his milk with his eyes closed. As soon as he falls asleep I will take him home and get my rest as well. My eyes were fixed on him.
He suckled and paused. The sleep was slowly engulfing him, but he was not quite done as yet because he would start moving his mouth to have some more milk before he paused again. Habitually, he would do this until sleep fully submerged him.
Light footsteps approached the room. The scent was familiar and of someone in my pack. I stared at the entrance until the person with blonde hair and amethyst eyes appeared.
"Luna," his tone was low as he came forward. He smiled when our eyes met and my curiosity popped out.
"What is it, Malik?" I whispered as Valen sunk deeper into his nap. He stirred at the sound of our voices but remained in his sleep.
Waking up a sleeping baby was never good. They cry and fuss, and then have to go through another long process to get them back to bed.
He reached into his back pocket and gave me a phone. "You left your phone on the dining table downstairs."
Collecting the device, I pondered about leaving my phone so carelessly. I could have sworn that I had it. "Thank you."
I kept the conversation short with concern towards my sleeping pup, thinking that he would leave, but he stayed watching my pup on my breast. Something about this felt really awkward so I returned my gaze to him. Our eyes met and he stared intently as though he was in a trance.
"Malik," I whisper yelled his name.
"Yes," his focus came back to me.
"Thank you for the phone," I repeated to hint that he could leave.
"Oh," he nodded, "would you like me to help you with Valen? I could escort you to the car."
Smiling, I said, "I'm sure that Vance will be here soon."
"Would you like some company? The crowd downstairs has gone to the mouth of the hunting grounds to spend time with their teams." He offered while looking at Valen, and was very
persistent on staying at my side.
The insistence on being around me felt very strange. "How is Sammy?" I asked to break the
discomfiture.
"Who?" He raised his brows questioningly before it seemed that what I had asked finally clicked in his brain. "Sammy," he repeated and his smile faded, "She is alright."
The tone he replied with was too dry compared to the same guy who was in love with his mate.
"Are you guys having trouble in your relationship?"
"No," he sat across from me. There was that stare again, but I did not understand the language
of his eyes.
Not convinced about that, I tried to sense his emotions and thoughts and found them genuinely good. "Malik, if there is something that you would like to say, could you go ahead."
The smile he gave was warm and friendly, but the tone of his eyes was dark and sending a message that I could not decipher.
"I'm happy that our young Alpha is okay. It must have been hard for you." His voice held a lot of emotion. "You do not have to worry anymore. I will protect you as your personal guard."
The comprehension dawned on me. So, Vance had assigned him to guard me. Was all of this necessary? "Alright."
I adjusted my blouse so that my breast went into my bra and covered it. I positioned Valen upright so that his head rested on my shoulder while I carried him.
"Malik, I left a grey diaper backpack in the conference room. Could you get it for me?" It made no sense that we both had to go there for the bag. Malik would be fast and meet me outdoors.
I took the elevator while he ran down the stairs, swiftly as expected. He met me in the lawn grass area, decorated with a variety of beautiful flowers. We walked on the concrete tiles that
laid the path to the parking lot.
"Vance," I mind-linked him. "Baby, I am going home. Malik is with me."
"Okay, I will join you soon." His incredible baritone came over the link, so sexy.
Malik walked beside me, on my right, carrying the diaper backpack. No words were exchanged
as he remained quiet. When we got to the Audi A4 Sedan, I needed extra help.
"Malik, the keyless fob for the car is in the small front pocket." I requested, unable to
multitask.
He unzipped the pocket and retrieve the key fob, pressed the alarm, and then unlocked the car. He opened the car door so that I could put Valen in the convertible car seat.
I faced Malik with those eyes again but this time he quickly held his glance shorter. "Luna, I will be behind you as you drive home unless you would like me to be in the car with you." Opening the driver's door, I replied, "I prefer to go home alone."
As I placed my foot inside the car to be seated, Sammy ran up to Malik and kissed him on the
cheek. At the same time, the piping notes of an eagle flew over our heads and my vision averted to the pearl-grey sky.
"Luna Sianna," She greeted me. Her ruby fusion hair was caught in a ponytail and her brown eyes sparkled at her mate.
On the other hand, Malik was aloof as if bothered by Sammy's presence. What is up with him?
When she hugged him, he coyly removed her hands from around his waist, while he gave her a half-hearted compliment.
While observing him, Vance came from the pack house and stood by my side. With my eyes on my mate, who kissed me hungrily, I forgot about the other two standing there.
"Eh-hem," Malik cleared his throat, giving me a stern expression.
"Sorry, you know how we get when we miss our mates," I challenged.
He did not look at Sammy or Vance, but his expression had softened. "I understand, Luna." He
bowed and took Sammy by the arm and hastily led her away.
"Let's go home where we can be alone," his lusting eyes were very suggestive, "Valen sleeps."
He winks at me and goes over to his Hummer jeep.
I could only chuckle, and we drove with Vance behind my car. Something was chipping at me. Today's interaction with Malik gave me an incredible creeped- out vibe. His eyes overlaid with a calling for my acknowledgment of something, and at one point, I was almost certain that he looked at me with desire. Of which, I cannot let my
overprotective mate be aware.
I sighed. I will have to deal with this one my way.