Just My Luck (boyxboy)

Ch78. Sam

Sam's POV

Smoke from the firepits of last night still lingered as I watched until the last man disappeared into the trees. Steven stood next to me, holding my hand. I couldn't tell if it was his hand or mine shaking.

I dreaded this moment when I woke up in Emmett's arms this morning—the fear of the unknown. But he needed to meet with everyone, and I promised Sylvia I would help her in the kitchen for their last meal before heading out. Walking into the kitchen to find Steven standing there with a mark on the back of his neck took me by surprise. I wish we could have celebrated their marking, but sadly we didn't have time for such a thing.

Looking over to the one person I could call a friend for so long, he smiled with a tear rolling down his cheek. "It's weird," he said, wiping the tear away. "I'm so scared, and yet... I can't help this feeling of calmness surrounding me. I know it's coming from Baxter, and just feeling how calm he is makes this easier." He placed a hand around his heart and gripped his sweater. "I hope he can feel how much I love him."

"I'm sure that's why he is feeling so calm right now," I told Steven with a small smile before turning around and letting go of his hand.

My hands were trembling as I looked down. The fear and shame I felt for being unable to control my wolf, took over. I should be by my mate's side was all that ran through my mind as I walked into the house. How could I be a good mate for him if I couldn't help him in times like these?

A whine that made Samual stir inside made me look down to find Lily on the floor with Lexi. My heart fell even more into my stomach as I bent down to pick her up. "Shh, no need to cry. They will be back soon."

I could feel her tears as she nuzzled into my neck. "Can we run too?" she snuffled.

"Not today. We can go for a run tomorrow, but today, we want everyone to stay inside the house. Why don't we go color or practice your letters?"

Feeling a slight nod against my skin, I carried her over to the table where other children had gathered, coloring, playing board games with the elders, and talking in small groups about anything and everything. I needed to get my mind off what was going on, not think about them going to battle, the sounds of war, and the fact that some of these kids may end up losing a parent or even both parents today.

An hour rolled by as I sat there, staring at the clock as if it would magically start moving faster. Lily was still coloring, working on her third picture. She would ask me the name of the colors she didn't know, but purple and green was her go-to when she didn't know what to choose next.

"Sam," I heard someone say behind me, making me turn around. It was a voice I knew from around the park house already, but I had never talked to her before. "Sylvia is asking for you in the garden room. I'll watch Lily for you until your return."

Looking back at Lily, her fingers stopped moving over the picture. "I have to go see what Luna Sylvia wants," I told her before she dropped the colored pencil.

"Can I come with you?" she asked as her large yellow eyes blinked at me. Her hands moved under the table where I could see them tighten in fists.

She didn't want to be alone without me. I could see it. Picking her up in a hug and breathing in her scent, how could I refuse her? "If that's what you want, it's fine with me."

"Um, I don't know if-," the woman started to say, but I didn't listen as we exited the kitchen. If my daughter didn't want to be alone at a time like this, I wouldn't make her.

However, as we started to get closer to the room, we could hear the sobbing of a woman, and I stopped to put Lily down. "Are you sure you want to go still? I don't know what's going on in there."