Irregular (mlm)

Chapter 26

Hello! I am so sorry for the very long delay, I had some crazy shit happening! Most recently was the death of a dearly loved cat my family had for nearly 17 years, soooo yea it's been hectic. Anyway please enjoy this new (and short, sorry) chapter of our boys!

Kai was holding onto Owen's had tightly, his heart beating so hard in his chest he could hear it in his ears. Sunrise had come too fast. They'd gone back to the station and explained what they planned to do. Paxton was less than keen on the whole idea, but he agreed they didn't have much of a choice.

So, they'd loaded up a small group of officers into the only armored van in the town and followed directions to the coordinates his father had listed for about an hour into the woods. The road was rocky and narrow, leading up a mountain with steep cliffs and very little room for error.

Owen was quiet, as he had been all morning, wearing nothing but a black t-shirt and sweatpants, exactly what Kai was wearing, curtesy of the stations locker room. He'd donned a pair of black combat boots from his locker, taken out his earrings, and hidden a thin pocket knife under his waistband—though Kai was sure his father would find it and take it. Kai stayed barefoot, preferring to be able to feel the ground under his feet should he need to run.

They hadn't spoken much that morning. A few words as they watched the sun rise and when they spoke to Paxton, but not more than that. Kai supposed there was very little to say, anyway. They were heading straight into the wolf den and they didn't have a plan of escape.

Kai rubbed his neck, at the tan line where his collar had been. He took it off, in both human and wolf form, and placed it safely in Owen's locker, not wanting it to be damaged in the coming events. It meant too much to him for his father to take away. Even if it wasn't with him, there was some comfort knowing it wouldn't be destroyed back at the station.

Owen squeezed his hand. Kai glanced at him. He was staring at the ground, his face hard and eyes cold. Kai wondered if this was how he looked when doing his police duties. If Kai didn't know him, wasn't his mate, he would've found the look intimidating.

There was a bump in the road and the van jolted, making everyone hold onto the handles of their seats tighter. There were guns strapped to everyone but them, and Paxton himself was armed to the teeth. Kai knew fighting in wolf form was only effective close range, and they wouldn't be anywhere near the danger. But guns could reach where they couldn't.

Kai move his arm to be around his mate, craving the closeness. He knew they were nearing their destination and he probably wouldn't be able to hold him once they were taken. Owen leaned into his touch, shoulders relaxing ever so slightly.

"We're never going to get home again, are we?"

Kai swallowed. "No. I don't think we will."

Everyone in the van averted their eyes, pretending not to listen to the conversation between mates. Kai silently thank them for it. They'd never be able to have a calm moment again.

Kai raised his other hand and rested it on Owen's jaw, placing a kiss atop his head. "Thank you for showing me what life is like outside of my father's grasp."

He heard Owen take a shaky breath. "I just wish it could've been longer."

Kai's heart could've broken into a thousand pieces. He sounded so sullen. Kai lifted his chin and kissed him, feeling a tear fall down his own cheek. Owen wiped it away without a word, resting their foreheads together.

"We're here." The drivers voice broke the hanging silence in the car and Kai felt his canines bite into his lip.

Paxton slid the door to the van open and looked back at the officers. "Heads on a swivel. Only shoot if I give the all clear." He turned his head to Kai and Owen. "We'll give you to a few seconds."

All of the officers filed out of the van and Kai kissed Owen again, this time longer and deeper. Owen was shaking, and Kai felt like vomiting.

There was a knock on the side of the van and Kai knew they were out of time. Owen squeezed his hand and undid their seatbelts.

Kai got out first, his feet hitting the cold, solid floor of the woods. He helped Owen jump down from the van, then turned.

A few dozen yards ahead of them, his father was standing in front of a helicopter with a small group of his wolves behind him. He smiled when he saw Kai. "My son! Nice of you to finally come home."

Kai gritted his teeth. "Fuck you."

"Oh, that's not very nice to say in the presence of a child, now is it?" His father chided, gesturing behind him.

The wolves moved aside to show the little girl from the photo, dirty and scared, standing with shackles around her wrists and ankles. Kai felt rage rise up in his chest. What kind of person shackles a child?

Kai bit down the retort that threatened to break out of his mouth. "Hand her over."

"Ah, ah. Let's not get ahead of ourselves." His father stepped in front of the girl and smiled at him again. "First you need to come to me. And don't leave behind that little mate of yours."

Kai glanced at Owen, who nodded once. Paxton stepped aside to let them pass. Well, this was really happening.

Kai kept his body half way covering Owen's, just to be safe, and started walking towards his father.