Wel come home

Wel come home


The landing wasn't much better than takeoff, with the Blackhawk swaying before it was firmly on the ground. Apprehension at seeing the pack and feeling the sting of their rejection fluttered through me. As the blades of the helicopter died down, Saint helped free me from the crossed seatbelt while I pulled the headphones off. Saint lowered his lips before I could stand, pressing them against mine softly while

cupping my cheek.

"Welcome home, Brat," he said, helping me up while he crouched over to exit. Before I could crawl onto my rear carefully to leave the helicopter, he had reached up and pulled me down, placing me onto my feet.

I watched the heat burning in his stare, but there was worry in his pretty blue eyes. My entire body tensed, turning to stare at the pack that waited for us outside the gates. There was no animosity, and their scents reeked of guilt and shame. My stomach flipped, and everything within me screamed to climb back into the Blackhawk and run from what I knew was coming.

Tears burned in my eyes, yet I wouldn't let them fall. I stood stiffly, staring through the faces of the pack until my attention dropped to the boy walking toward me. Chaos shuffled on his feet, slowly moving away from the others. It took everything I had not to run to him, but I couldn't. I couldn't move.

Chaos wrapped his arms around me, pulling back when his head landed against the small bump of my belly. His eyes widened, peering up at me as the babe within responded to him. My hands balled into tight fists, closing my eyes against the emotion that churned through me.

"You're going to have a baby, Braelyn!" he exclaimed excitedly, his hand lifting to touch my stomach.

"So I am, Chaos," I whispered through trembling lips.

They knew. Everyone knew what had been done to me. It was evi-dent by the show of respect that was being displayed. I wanted to run and hide, shame ripping me apart from the inside out.

I'd never wanted my pack to know what my father had done be-cause it left my demons exposed. It left me looking wounded and not strong enough to lead the pack. Uncurling my fingers, I ruffled Chaos's dark hair while he smiled up at me.

Chaos smiled at Saint, nodding his head before a serious look took control of his face. "You found her and kept your promise. This time, don't lose her. She's a whole person and shouldn't be that easy to lose. Plus, she has another person in her belly."

I laughed, even though it was more of a soft sob than laughter escaping my lips. Leaning down, I cupped Chao's cheeks, placing a soft kiss on the top of his head. His hand pulled away as the babe moved, kicking against where his palm had been.

"Is he trying to escape your belly?" Chaos asked, wonder filling his eyes.

Saint grunted, studying us together. "She. Chaos, you're getting a baby sister."

"But I don't want a sister. I want a brother," he stated, frowning be-fore he leaned closer to my belly, whispering. "I'll still love you, though. I won't let anything happen to you, little baby. I'll protect you always, and always forever, even if you're a girl."

Tears slipped free from my eyes, forcing me to swipe at them to hide my weakness. Saint leaned closer, smiling as he yanked Chaos up, carrying him as we started forward to where the pack waited. Once we reached them, they began lowering their heads in shame.

"What is happening?" Toralei asked, sliding in beside me. "I feel like we stepped into the Twilight Zone."

"We made a mistake," Saint admitted. "We're working to remedy that and earn Brae's respect back."

"I'm tired," I announced, struggling to get my hand out of his.

I didn't give the pack the forgiveness they wanted. Moving past them, I started into the lodge, only for Xavier to step into my path. Lift-ing my teary gaze, I watched him search my face. He didn't speak, but the way he looked at me made me worry.

"Are you well?" he asked, his voice thick with emotions. "I mean, are you okay?"

"I am okay," I answered, feeling strange with the intensity in which Xavier studied me. "Are you?" I returned cautiously.

He laughed, lifting his hand to press against his heart. My attention moved to his daughter, who studied me with a look that made my emotions churn. She tugged on his arm, and his soft, worry-filled gaze slide to hers.

"Braelyn is exhausted and needs to rest, father. You should let the poor girl get refreshed from her homecoming before you pounce, ask-ing your questions," Xari chided, smiling tightly at me. "Welcome home, Braelyn."

I didn't reply, uncertain why I felt so awkward about her wel-coming me back to my home. It surprised me that they were still here since the snow would make it near impossible to escape the mountain. At least, it had been, unless you could afford helicopters, and they apparently could.

Sidestepping past Xavier, we continued into the lodge with Saint's hand against the small of my back, still carrying Chaos. While Chaos was still small enough to carry, it should have been awkward, but it was endearing to see his tiny head on his father's shoulder, walking me to my bedroom. I started toward the hallway, but Saint grabbed my hand, nodding in the opposite direction.

"I moved us," he informed, causing the color to drain from my face.

I shook, physically shook as nausea swirled in my stomach. My head started to shake, and my palms began to sweat. I gagged, ripping my hand away from his to back up. He watched me, running his gaze over my paleness and reaction to his words.

"I can't," I whispered, fighting against the memories that played through my mind. "I can't go down there. I can't fucking go down there!" I screamed. I moved my arms over my belly, protecting my stomach as if I feared my father would appear and ruin my child.

"I know you can't go down there, Braelyn. I had one of the larger apartments redone and made it into a living suite for us. I remember you telling me how you hated it down there. How your father had murdered your mother in the main room, and that you felt sick being in them. I picked one of the rooms that had a view of the mountain you like. Inside the apartment is enough room for our family, Brae. Your room is empty, and I had everything moved so that you could join Chaos and me in our rooms."

I exhaled, fighting against nausea, but I was losing that fight. Toralei stepped between Saint and my body, grabbing a trash bin as my stomach released the water and meal I'd eaten for breakfast. I grabbed it, barfing until I dry heaved. The hallway full of people paused, wincing as I loudly emptied my stomach.

"Is she okay?" Chaos asked.

"Is she?" Saint demanded, trying to get past Toralei's frame, but she kept him away from me, allowing me to finish upheaving.

"Back off," she snarled. "She's had horrible morning sickness, which is a stupid name for something that happens all day long. If she so much as catches a whiff of something, she starts puking! It's hor-rible," she announced loudly. Turning back to look at me, Tora nar-rowed her eyes, pointedly glaring at me. "I feel like I am the only one who doesn't know something huge. You and I, we're going to talk when we get to your new room."

"I don't want to talk about it, Toralei," I whispered, fighting the tears while she watched me. "Please, not right now. I need water, food, and then a very warm bath in a tub large enough to sit."

I hadn't been able to even sit in the one inside our apartment. It was a small square tub that wouldn't allow you to do more than stand. It was one of the things I'd missed most about my bedroom, that and my plush bed that hadn't felt like lying on a slab of solid concrete.

"Fine, but I feel like I stepped into an episode of the Twilight Zone, and everyone here knows what's going on except me. I'm your person. I'm your beta and the one who has always had your back. I deserve to know whatever it is, Brae. I'm your gods damn beta!"

"I'll tell you, but get me some water first. And you might want something strong to drink. Saint, I don't want Chaos inside the room when I tell her. Whoever needs to hear it can be there because after I am finished telling my story, it will not ever be told again."

Sweat trickled down my back as I handed the trash bin to Tora, who looked terrified now that I'd offered to tell her what was going on. Saint placed Chaos on his feet, his crew gathering behind him as Xavier stepped into the mix. Eryx handed me a bottle of water, and Saint sidled in beside me, allowing me to follow him silently.

I mentally prepared for what was coming. I'd never spoken about it out loud to another person. There were some things that I wouldn't say out loud still. Images washed through my mind, but Saint grabbed my hand, squeezing it while his crew moved closer around me.

Toralei pushed her way back to my side, peering behind us with worry filling her green gaze. I hated that she would treat me like I was made of glass the moment she knew what I'd endured. The same way they all were now looking at me. As if I was something broken that needed to be handled gently when I wasn't. I'd fought hard to hide my pain and keep the world from ever knowing how really sick my father was.