Escape is Only Temporary [boyxboy]

Chapter XXIV

~Wednesday 6th July 2016~

"Mama?" Shepherd looked up from the herbs he had been cutting, searching the forest around him for a moment before he caught sight of Snowden sitting on a tree stump nearby. The squirrel nestled in his lap wasn't shocking, Snowden attracted animals easily, even more so than his brother. It was another perk of living in the forest, Snowden ran into more animals than ever before. He was going to be an amazing warlock when he was older, Shepherd just knew it.

"Yes, baby?" Shepherd sat back on his haunches, adding the cuttings of herbs he had taken to the rest of the plants he had in the basket beside him. He was collecting for the garden he planned to create. For now, it was just a few plant pots around Reece's house, however, he was running out of window space. Reece had promised to build him a greenhouse but, with the injuries from the fight taking longer than usual to heal, the idea had been put on the back burner.

"When's daddy gonna be better?" Shepherd had assumed that when Reece woke, Snowden's clinginess would die down again. Unfortunately, that hadn't been the case. It was almost as though he had regressed in the way he refused to leave one of his parents' sides for longer than a few minutes. To begin with, Shepherd hadn't minded. However, now that Reece was getting better, and Shepherd wanted some time alone with him, it was becoming a problem. Even at night, they couldn't escape their youngest. Snowden crept into their room every night, cocooning himself in the residual blankets that Shepherd hadn't used to nest and curling around his parents' legs. Neither had the heart to move him, he was still a pup, and he was obviously more than worried for Reece's recovery. He'd been through so much, Shepherd didn't want to add to his trauma.

"He's almost better now, just a few more bruises to heal up then he'll be right as rain," and Shepherd wasn't lying either. The mottled patchwork of bruising over Reece's abused flesh had faded from angry purples and blues to healthier-looking greens and yellows. He wasn't asking for so much pain medication either, nor did he complain of the soreness in his back anymore. Finally, things were getting back to normal, and Shepherd couldn't wait.

"Will he have to get hurt like that again?" Suddenly, it all clicked in Shepherd's mind. Snowden wasn't just being clingy because he was worried about his father, he was afraid that he was going to be hurt again. He was savouring every moment with Reece because he was frightened that the fights were going to be a regular occurrence. Shepherd couldn't assure his son that Reece would never be hurt like that again, he didn't want to lie to Snowden, it wouldn't be fair on the boy. If only he hadn't had to watch...

"Daddy was fighting to protect us, baby," Shepherd turned to face Snowden properly, seeing the pain half-concealed by the boy's handing head, "that's something that wolves do. Sometimes, other alphas can feel threatened and they want to take another alphas' things," when Snowden was older, he would understand. It was difficult for the boy to be so young and have to catch up on teachings that he should have been told from birth. Another twinge of guilt adding to what already weighed on Shepherd's shoulders.

"I don't want daddy to die like Porter," Snowden's voice sent agony throbbing through Shepherd's chest. He had never heard his son sound so afraid, so sorrowful. Shepherd hadn't thought of the side effects on his sons from the deaths around them. Of course, he had spoken to them after Porter's death since they had bared witness to the murder, however, neither had exhibited any signs of serious trauma. Apparently, they had developed their poker faces early.

"He won't die," Kai chimed in, joining Shepherd with Beau at his side. He placed his own basket down beside Shepherd's, a triumphant little smile on his lips at how it was brimming with plants. They had crossed the river together, likely for reasons other than collecting the specific plants that Shepherd needed, but he didn't mind. So long as they weren't screwing in front of Snowden, Shepherd didn't really care. He had seen Kai in just about every compromising position possible over the years, nothing could shock him anymore.