“Would you like one, too, Olivia?”
“I certainly wouldn’t turn that down. I’m sorry to say our time’s up though. We have some more exploring to do.”
“Oh. Guess I’m leaving,” Macie said sadly.
“We’ll see you at school, Mace,” Oscar said. “It’s going to be fine. You’ll see.”
I was surprised to hear that she had opened up to them about her apprehensions of a new school. It was only natural and I wasn’t surprised to hear it, just surprised she’d talk to them about it.
Mary handed me a baggie of warm chocolate chip cookies. “Take some for the road. Afterall, she worked hard to help make them.”
“Thanks, Mrs. Westin.”
“Around here it’s simply Mary, sweetheart.”
Macie looked up to me for permission and I nodded, not wanting to disrespect the former Pack Mother.
“Or you could just call her grandma like the rest of us,” Zander told her.
“Thanks for letting her assist.”
“She is welcome back in my kitchen anytime.”
Macie hugged her around the waist. “See you later, I hope. Bye Oscar. Bye Zander.”
I said my goodbyes as we made our exit. Kyle jumped into the Jeep with us, leaving me to squeeze into the backseat with Macie. It was roomier than I expected.
We drove only a short distance away before turning onto another street.
“Maddie and my brother Liam live down that road,” Kyle pointed out as we drove. “And Shelby and Ben live over there. Kelsey and I live at the end of this road,” he added pointing to the left. “And just up here on the right is the one I was telling you about. Turn here.”
A small rancher came into view as soon as we turned. It was a pale yellow trimmed in bright white with a blue front door.
“Look Mom. It’s your favorite colors.”
She was right. I had always loved yellow and blue together. They were my happy colors. I doubted even Baine knew that. It felt like a simple sign that everything was going to be okay.
Baine
Chapter 25
Olivia and Macie both loved the house and within a few days we were fully moved in. Fortunately, the place was already furnished too. We delayed Macie starting school for a week as we all settled in and learned to be a family. It was a lot harder than I’d expected.
I’d been on my own for a long time. I liked my space. I liked my quiet. I loved Olivia and Macie, but living with them was proving harder than I expected. The only time I ever seemed to have time to myself was the twenty-minute commute from the house to the Lodge.
I had never considered myself a loner. I didn’t think I particularly liked being alone. I was wrong. Coming home after a long day at work or training and having dinner ready and then family time, and then by the time we put Macie to bed then it was alone time with Olivia. Even though that was by far my favorite part of the day, it was exhausting.
Four days of this routine and I was about to go mad.
After work, instead of heading straight home, I swung by the tattoo shop.
“Didn’t expect to see you anytime soon,” Cole teased as he was walking out his last customer of the day.
I sat down on the couch and covered my face with my hands as I groaned.
“Mated life not everything you thought it was?”
“Being a mate. Being a father. All of it. I don’t know if I’m cut out for this stuff, Cole. I love them, but it’s exhausting. Macie starts school in a few days and then we’ll be adding on parent teacher conferences and events of all sorts. I didn’t even care about that shit when I was in school. And nothing in my life is good enough for them. Do you know I had to call in late this morning so I could take Olivia down the mountain to buy a freaking mini-van.”
His jaw dropped. “Tell me you didn’t trade the Jeep for that?”
“No way. I still need a vehicle to get to work and back. Oh, she argued it though. A safer alternative would be a better option should I need to pick Macie up. I held my ground. I just couldn’t concede to drive a damn mini-van even if it does have the safest crash test rating on the market.”
“Wow, she’s going to whip you into shape fast.”
“I don’t want to be whipped. I tolerate the flowers and throw pillows littering the house. I don’t even complain about her ridiculous amount of beauty products in the bathroom. I’m trying, but I just need a break.”
“Did you call and let her know you weren’t coming straight home?”
“No. She’ll think I’m working late.”
His face scrunched up and I could tell there was something he wanted to say but wouldn’t.
“What?” I asked.
“Just trust me on this and go home, Baine. Straight home.”
“Nah, I think I’m going to grab a beer first. Apparently, she doesn’t like having that in the house with Macie.”
He gasped. “She took your beer?”
“Yup. What am I going to do? I’ve dreamed of a life with this girl for as long as I can remember. But…”
“But the reality doesn’t live up to the dream.”
“Yes.”.
He sighed. “Has your bond already begun to strengthen?”
“Of course it has. She owned my heart before my bear even surfaced.”
“Then trust me on this. Go home. Seal your bond already and find the good things in life. You have a bad habit of seeking out the negatives.”
“I do not.”
“Yeah, you do.”
I growled in frustration. “Yeah, you’re probably right.”
“Talk to your mate, man. And trust me on this, get your ass home right now.”
I nodded and got up to leave. Outside I stopped and looked over at the Crate. Just one beer, I thought. A picture of Olivia flashed into my mind. I knew she would be disappointed in me if I did that and I was so tired of being a disappointment to her.
I climbed into my Jeep and drove home.
The house was dark when I got there and it set my bear on edge. I ran up to the house sweeping the room for anything out of the ordinary before moving to the next room. My hand went to my hip ready to draw my gun at any second. The living room lights were off, but there was a flickering of light coming from the dining room.
I sighed and tried to relax. “Did the power go out or something?” I called out.
“Something like that,” Olivia responded.
I walked into the dining room and froze. Dinner was on the table and candles were flickering, but the thing I homed in on the most was the fact that my mate was gloriously naked. I looked around.
“She’s having a sleepover with Shelby and the triplets tonight.”
Worry set in. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”
“No, but I think it’s a necessary one.”
“What’s going on, Olivia?”
“Sit down, Baine. We need to talk.”
My heart dropped into my stomach and I started to panic. “You’re leaving me, aren’t you?”
She wouldn’t meet my eyes.
I took a deep breath. My body was shaking and my bear was roaring in my head. Everyone I loved left or pushed me away eventually. I wasn’t enough. Killian had known it from the start. They had been right to push me away from her.