Fox looked down at the ring he still wore and refused to take off until Alistaire asked for it back. Alistaire had put the ring on his finger while he was in a coma on New Years Eve. He looked around his bedroom, wondering if he was doing the right thing. Fox had made up his mind— he was going to move to Valleywood. Since he would be starting law school soon, it only made sense he moved closer to the university even though he’d be attending classes online. He hadn’t told the family he was moving yet. He wanted to wait until he’d found a place to live first.
He was about to say something to Nafri when there was a loud banging on his room door. Fox reached over, hoping that it would be Alistaire coming back to talk with him but was disappointed when he saw Corbin standing in front of him, looking quite anxious.
“What’s up?”
“We’re on our way to the hospital. Moressa is about to have the baby.”
“Why are you standing here talking to me? You guys should be gone already.” Fox pushed him out of the way and ran to the foyer to see the rest of the family gathering their coats. Zev was holding Moressa in his arms, whispering in her ear.
“Oh, Crevan. Isn’t it great? I’m going to be a grandmother, again,” Aria said, pulling him into a hug.
“Yeah, Mom. It’s great.”
“Well, go get Genesis. I have your coats right here. We’re all going to the hospital,” Barret said, walking over to them.
“I can’t. I just put Genesis down for the night. You know she’s not been sleeping well.”
He looked down at the ground for a second, hiding his pain. The day wasn’t about him and how he felt—it belonged to Moressa. Moving away from his parents, he walked over to Zev and Moressa, placing a gentle hand on her stomach.
“Hey, beautiful lady.” He smiled at Moressa.
“I don’t feel so beautiful right now. It hurts.” She sniffled, and Fox reached over and wiped the tears from her eyes.
“I know it hurts.” Although Fox didn’t remember what happened when he’d given birth, he understood her pain. “And this is your opportunity to let your guys know just how much. Torture them as much as you want. I promise you they won’t complain.”
Moressa smiled. “You’re right.”
He leaned up and kissed her on the forehead. “I can’t wait to meet my nephew.”
“Make sure you come and see me.”
“Of course, I will.” He looked at Zev, who was smiling at him and Moressa. “Congrats, big Wolf.”
“Thank you, little Fox.”
“Come on,” Aria said. “We have to go.”
With that, they all walked out of the house, leaving Fox to his thoughts and loneliness. Nafri walked over and wrapped his arms around his shoulder, pulling him into a one arm hug.
“You really care for them, don’t you?”
“I do. People like them are why I appreciate humans.”
“You’re too soft-hearted,” Nafri scoffed.
“And you’re too cynical and a coward.” Fox shrugged Nafri’s arm off him. “The day you fall in love, you’ll understand why gods like us go above and beyond for the ones we love.”
Fox walked out of the foyer and into his bedroom, closing the door—hoping Nafri wouldn’t follow.
Chapter Nineteen
Alistaire stared at the ring on his finger, wanting to take it off, but for some reason, he couldn’t.
It had been a couple of weeks since he’d walked out of Fox’s hospital room. During their separation, he’d had time to think. He was still a bit confused about the whole gods thing. All his life, he’d known the gods and goddesses were real. He’d kept the teachings close to his heart, but he hadn’t assumed they were infallible and just as flawed as human beings.
Alistaire denied Fox’s words of him being a god, because deep down, he’d always known there was something special about him. Alistaire had felt a familiar connection but ignored it. Leaning back on the sofa in his room, Alistaire closed his eyes, trying not to think about Fox.
He missed him so damn much he could feel his heart breaking each day.
