Irregular (mlm)

Chapter 37

Snow crunched under Kai's paws as he walked, coating his back and head in the early morning light. It was near the end of the season, he thought, given the slow snowfall and the warming air. Most of the snow he'd been through the past few days was barely cold enough to remain solid, and melted under the heat of his paws.

He was fairly certain he was going in the right direction, taking it slow so he could conserve energy in the cold. All he had to do was walk in the direction that made his heart pull stronger, an invisible string between him and his mate growing tighter the closer they became. He must've traveled very far while hunting his father, because it had taken him months to get close enough to even feel the bond.

Kai was sure he'd arrived back to town any day now. He debated whether he should return at all, the first few weeks after killing his father. What would Owen say to him? How would he react to the news that his father was dead? Would he be angry Kai had left him? His worries were enough to make him spend three days wandering the river near where he'd found his father, scared to return. He was still scared, of course, but his need to see Owen and his want to be in his presence was stronger than his fear.

Kai had spent so long under the fear of his father, of causing those around him pain, and he was sure he had now caused Owen pain by leaving. But he had done it for him. He'd done it all for him. God knows he wouldn't have found the courage to do what needed to be done if it hadn't been for Owen.

Owen was his strength, his heart. He was the reason his paws stayed warm in the snow, the reason he found the will to eat to keep his body sustained. Getting back to him was all that mattered.

Even if he was scared to death he would reject him for all he was.

Kai breathed deep and let the cool air bite his lungs, pushing out his thoughts. He could smell something, faint and familiar, ahead of him. He moved a little quicker through the trees.

Lumber, asphalt. Gasoline and...

Kai stopped and lifted his nose to the air, closing his eyes.  Wolves.

He could smell the wolves of the pack. There were so many of them, their scents traveled for miles.

Kai felt his heart quicken, his body tingle. He was close. So close.

He began to run.

*****

Owen watched Celeste as she gingerly rolled the top of a tiny snowman and placed it atop its body. She was careful, with her movements, and quieter than any child her age should've been. But she was learning to play, and that was improvement.

They'd been coming outside more and more, as the air grew a little warmer, as Owen felt the pull in his chest grow stronger. Kai must be returning. He had to be returning. Owen didn't know how much longer he could bear being apart.

Amy told him he was stunting his own healing with his heart ache. He'd learned to walk again, but he was slow and it was painful. He needed a knee brace to keep his bones where they should be, and a crutch that cupped his forearm and had a handle for his hand to be able to make it more than a few steps. More often than not, he chose to roll around in his wheelchair. He didn't feel he had the strength to walk.

Celeste never wandered, at least, so he didn't have to worry about her running off and not being able to chase after her. Amy or one of the hospital staff would come help him watch her, keeping a good distance so they could be mostly alone. Celeste liked him, and he was fond of the child. She gave him a reason to get out of bed in the morning, and he gave her a sense of safety. In time, he knew, he might even grow to love her the way a parent loves their child. It was hard for him to feel much more than fondness, now, though. Not when his heart was somewhere out there in the world, somewhere Owen couldn't find him.