No one moved for a moment before they all started crying and stood up to hug me. I stood quickly, hugging them to me like I had wanted to every time I’d seen them. I realized I was still taller than all of them as I opened my eyes and saw Della smiling from the doorway. I smiled at her.
“We have missed you so much, son.” My mother cried.
Holden turned and looked at Della, moving to her and hugging her tightly to him. She whispered something to him in response to whatever he said. Della pulled back and patted his cheek with a big smile. I knew it was irrational, but I didn’t like it. Storm looked at me and gave me a knowing look.
“Don’t worry, Haden, Holden and I were agreeing that you were always perfect for me. You were always the right brother.” Her smile widened. I stepped forward and kissed her before we all sat down at the table. Della’s eyes immediately glanced over everything my mother brought and added more food to her plate.
“You told them about your bond with Holden?” I asked.
She nodded. “Yes, we were all rooting for you to come back as my mate.”
I squeezed her hand, and she looked at me.
“I always knew it was you," Della said, confidently.
Relief flitted through me. From that first meeting in Akecia, I knew it was her too. I thought I had lost my damn mind that day in Akecia because she said we weren’t mates.I wish I didn't wipe her memories of that day so I could ask is she saw the dead bond between us.
My parents began talking about random events I had missed out on. I realized they were careful not to bring up Remiah. The last time I saw them was with her. Part of me still wondered where Remiah would be now. Would she have been married to Mikel and had all those damn kids she always talked about? LikeHolden, Remiah was special to me. Both of them were nothing like my other siblings. I actually loved these ones like family.
My other siblings and I did not interact much in Hell. We lived in one giant castle, each with our own area. We didn’t eat together, or talk, or do anything in each other's company. The only time we got together was to talk about escaping Hell. It wasn’t a family. It was a bunch of angry roommates. This is what a family was. This is what I wanted to create with Della.
My gaze went to her as she laughed at my father’s terrible joke. They were talking about something that I wasn’t here for, and I loved her more knowing that she took care of them when I died. I do not know how I ever became lucky enough to get her as a mate. But I would give the stars anything to make sure I was never taken from her again.
Della looked at me and smiled brightly. She reached her hand to mine and held it tightly.
“I love you,” I whispered.
“I love you more.”
After we finished eating, we went outside and sat by the pond. It was extremely warm today, and the slight breeze was perfect. I stood back and watched Della and my family laughing and joking. This was everything I never knew I needed or wanted. Della glanced at me and nodded for me to come over to her. I sat next to her on the blanket she brought out.
“So, you will be around for good now?” Holden asked me.
Everyone stopped talking and looked at me.
“Yes.” I smiled. “You aren’t getting rid of me again.”
Holden looked at Della and smiled with sincere happiness. I still think it would have been easy for her to fall in love with him. Holden was always so kind. He was definitely not as rough around the edges as I was. He would have treated her well.
A tinge of guilt hit me when I realized that maybe Della would have been better without me. What if Holden had beenthe better choice for her? Della was staring at me, and she must have known what I was thinking because she grabbed my hand tightly.
“You were the only right choice. Only you could love me the way I needed to be loved.”
I nodded as she scooted closer and hugged me.
Chapter 13
Haden
As I shut the front door of our home after my family left, all I could think about was Storm’s mood today. My family stayed all day, cooking, eating, and going outside to plan more projects for the property. That was when I noticed Storm becoming distant. Any time I asked her for an opinion on something, she would give me a fake smile and agree to it. I didn’t want to address it until after my parents left.
When I returned to the kitchen, I hugged her against me as we swayed slightly. Della buried her face into my chest and held on tightly.
“Whatever you seem worried about, you can tell me. You can tell me anything,” I finally said.
Della’s eyes widened as she stared at me. Did she think she was hiding her emotions well? Her mind seemed distant, like she was thinking about something terrible.
“Sometimes I wonder if I should have never gone to Kizar in your last life.” Her voice was just above a whisper. “You could have a completely different life if I didn’t mess with fate.”
