Run With Me

Chapter Thirty

Terri could feel her running foot slipping in the snow that had piled in front of the door. She had no idea what had happened after she had left last night to chase Colin through the storm. But she could see the remains of the party that had been there. The tents were sealed up and a larger number of vehicles remained than she had expected after the gathering had completed. Terri raised her hand to knock, then paused.

"You okay?" Kirk's voice was swallowed by the wind, but Terri could still hear him. She nodded and then reached for the handle of the door.

"Yeah," she mumbled, before twisted the door handle and pushing it open, "just not comfortable calling this my home anymore." She could feel Kirk puff with pride as she said that. And she meant it. She had been holding off on their mating for weeks and now that she had finally taken the leap, it was like her whole world had changed. And it had. She felt loved and accepted for the first time. And Terri honestly believed that Kirk loved and accepted her.

"Whatever happens," Kirk gripped the edges of Terri's coat to help her out of it, "You don't ever have to come back here. Home is wherever you want us to make it." All the promises he had spoken to her came to the front of her mind and she gave him a smile.

"Then when my degree is done, I guess I better get ready for more winters like this," she wrapped her arms around his middle, "I hear Canadian winters are really brutal." Kirk's wolf growled happily in response, returning her hug. Their moment was interrupted a few moments later when Colin came flying out of the kitchen, Kayla hot on his heels.

"Auntie!" Colin didn't even break stride as he launched himself at Terri. Aware that she was unsteady on her running leg while in the snow, Kirk stepped forward and caught Colin mid leap and held him out to hug Terri. She gave him a smile and wrapped her arms around his little body.

"Oh my sweet boy," She lowered the both of them until she was sitting on the floor, not caring of the puddles of melting snow and ice around them. Kirk had told the pack to stay outside, with only John, Michael, and Zoe accompanying him into the space, "I'm so glad you're okay." Kayla held back, looking at Kirk while Terri hugged her nephew.

"What happened after we left?" Kirk softly asked Kayla as the others removed their outer layers.

"Chaos," Kayla responded, "There was the drama unfolding between you and Darren. I had assumed that the child minders we had arranged were keeping an eye on Collin like they had been instructed," Kayla's face twisted angrily, "and then the next thing I know is we're all off in woods looking for you and Colin." Kayla had stopped at the edge of the door, watching her sister in law, looking conflicted, "you shouldn't have come back Terri." Kayla's words were filled with tears. Michael and Zoe paused in removing their coats, Terri standing up to her full height and setting Colin back down from their hug.

"No!" Collin exclaimed, "Daddy is wrong!" Colin started to cry in earnest, reaching for Terri again, wanting to be picked up.

"Why is your father wrong?" Kirk could smell more drama brewing and it didn't feel good.

"He banished Terri," Kayla's voice was barely above a whisper, "he banished her right after we got back with Collin and he realized that he had likely gone to wherever it is you would sneak off to to hide."