I twist us, pulling my legs onto the mattress so Hannah presses against my chest. Tucking her head against my neck, I let a purr rumble to life in my chest. “I’ve got you, Wildfire.” It breaks my heart to feel her quietly falling apart. Foster’s worry bleeds through our bond, making it worse, because I know he wants to be here, too. But we’d agreed on my drive back from the cabin that splitting our time between our Beta mates was for the best, especially with what the FCDA uncovered in that grave.
After a while, she settles, melting against me as exhaustion steals the strength from her body. “Everything is so messed up.” She finally speaks, her voice barely a whisper against my skin. “I thought when they finally caught Colin and my mother that this chaos would be over. I never expected they would bring my world crashing down with them.”
Rubbing my cheek against her forehead, I scent mark her. Navigating what she’s going through is difficult. There isn’t much I can do to help her, aside from standing by her side as she faces everything to come. Perhaps that reminder is what she needs most. All her life, she’s been alone. First, raising her little sister, and then trapped in a loveless marriage to a man she hates. She’s used to fighting without support.
But that isn’t her life anymore.She has us.
“You aren’t alone, Wildfire.” I tilt her head and rub my thumb across my bond. She shivers, feeling the effect contact has on the sensitive skin. “You’ll never face this world alone again.”
More tears well in her beautiful brown eyes, but she doesn’t let them fall. Instead, she kisses me. It’s soft and sweet, and so full of love that it takes my breath away.
Kaitlin pops over Hannah’s shoulder, clinging to her mother’s back like a little monkey. “Can we goes to see Papa Manny and Papa Foster?”
Hannah laughs, reaching back to tickle her sides. “What do you think, Alpha? Is Papa Manny up for visitors?”
Grinning, I grab Kaitlin’s ankle and drag her up the bed, pinning her between Hannah and me so that we can tickle her until she’s out of breath from laughter. “I think he would love that idea. Go pick out something to wear, Princess, while I take a quick shower and Mommy gets your brother ready.”
Hannah stops me on my way out the door, pressing her lips to my cheek. “Thank you.”
“You never need to thank me, Wildfire.”
She smiles, cheeks turning pink. “Go before she starts pounding on the door, asking if you’re ready yet. I’ll grab Foster a change of clothes. Manny, too.”
An hour later, we step off the elevator onto the floor Manny is staying on. I pause outside his room and drop into a crouch. Hannah told Kaitlin he was hurt, but she hasn’t explained what happened. No child needs to bear that guilt. But she needs to be prepared to see his injuries. “Hey, Princess, remember how Mommy told you Papa Manny got hurt?” She nods. “He has lots of injuries and bruises, so don’t be scared when you see him. He’s doing a lot better now. We have to be careful not to jump on him.”
“Okay, Papa. I’ll be careful.”
Taking her hand in mine, I swing the door open, holding it for Hannah to go in ahead of us. I hear her sharp intake of breath and move my hand to the small of her back, offering her my support once more.
“There they are!” Manny croaks. He’s sitting up in bed, awake and alert, but he still looks terrible. I glance down to see Kaitlin’s lip wobbling, and urge her to his side. Our girl burstsinto tears as she clambers onto the bed and wraps her arms around his neck. He pats her back, quietly reassuring her he’s okay.
While he’s holding her, he locks eyes with Hannah. Her face crumples when he motions her closer, and she looks down at the floor. Guilt trickles from her bond. That won’t do. We won’t let her blame herself. She didn’t ask her ex to do this. Putting more pressure on her back, I force her to move to Manny’s side. Foster steals the car seat, making sure she has no barrier to hide behind.
“Mi Corazón, please look at me.” Manny takes her hand in his and raises it to his mouth to kiss her knuckles. She peeks up, watery eyes so full of shame it guts me. “This isn’t your fault.”
“If I had-”
“No,” he cuts her off. “There is nothing you could have done that wouldn’t have put you or the kids at risk. Or one of them.” He points to me and Foster. “I’ll recover, and that pendejo is in jail. That is all that matters.”
He stares up at her for several long moments, imploring her to believe him. To trust that he doesn’t blame her. Eventually, she wilts, leaning down to press her forehead to his. “Okay. I can’t promise I’ll be successful, but I’ll try not to blame myself.”
Sitting around the hospital room, we don’t talk about what’s happened, nor do we discuss the things still to come. We enjoy each other’s company, soaking in the feeling of pack and the love we share.
Around lunchtime, we startle when the door bounces open. The woman who walks in is a few inches shorter than Hannah, with wavy salt and pepper hair cut just above her shoulders. Two older men follow her, playfully rolling their eyes when she stops at the end of the bed, placing one hand on her hip and scowling at Manny. “Next time you will rely on your familia, won’t you, Mijo?”
We’re all frozen as we realize they are his parents, whom we have not met. Manny groans, tossing his head back against the pillow. “Mamá, what are you doing here?”
His mother smiles and adjusts her bright blue cardigan. “Taking care of my son.”
“Who’s that?” Kaitlin asks, tapping Manny’s hand. She’s hiding behind Foster’s chair, nervous to face our unexpected visitors.
“Come here, Princesa.” She climbs onto the bed, tucking herself against his side. He hugs her tight. “These are my parents. Your grandparents, if you’ll have them.”
“Are they nice? I don’t wants no more mean ones.”
“The nicest,” he promises. “This is my mamá, Marisol. When you meet the rest of my family, you’ll have more aunts, uncles, and cousins than you can count.”
Kaitlin side-eyes him, obviously doubting that he’s being truthful. Then again, she’s four and can only count to sixteen, so that might not seem like a big number. She looks at Manny’s mother and says, “Hello. I’m Kaity.”
