Betrayed By My Mate (Book 1 of the Complicated Mates series) Currently Editing

Chapter 8

(only slightly edited...sorry)

Tristan

I broke so many traffic violations in my rush to get back to my girls, but I could care less right now. All I kept thinking is, “I hope they didn’t leave me.”

I love those girls more than anything in this world, but it isn’t enough to go up against the bond mates have. That’s what scares me. No matter the fact that Samantha ended her bond, Devin still has his and it might affect how my Sammy feels for him. She’ll never be free until it’s broken completely, so it’s still possible that she’ll leave me.

I’ve loved her since we were teens and I thought I could never have her, then Devin messed up and I grabbed my chance with both hands. I wasn’t planning on letting them go, even if I had to follow them back to his pack, I would.

Finally, after hours of driving, I made it to our home and some of my fear left as I noticed her blue Honda Accord was still parked in our driveway, and a few lights were on in the house. Not planning on being satisfied until I saw and held her, I jumped out of my truck, not bothering to lock the door and made my way inside.  They weren’t in the dining room, kitchen, or family room. It was only 10 at night, Ariana was probably asleep, but Samantha usually stayed up late reading. I rushed up the stairs to the first room at the top, Ariana’s. Her pink room was lit by a night light, allowing a soft glow to fill the room. I tip toed to her crib, then panicked when I saw she wasn’t in there.

Please don’t tell me Devin convinced Samantha to leave me. 

My heart was pounding double time and sweat was forming on my brow as I saw the guest room opposite the nursery was also empty. I turned to look at the room next to the nursery that Samantha and I shared. The door was slightly ajar. Taking slow, but deliberate steps, I made my way to the door and quietly pushed it open, allowing myself a much needed release of breath as I stared at the sight before me.

On the bed in the middle of our room, were my wife and daughter. Ariana lay in the middle of the bed, with two pillows on either side of her, while Samantha lay at the foot of the bed looking as if she was watching our daughter sleep before falling asleep herself. To see the two of them safe and sound in our home was the biggest relief. My heart rate returned to normal, and I wiped the sweat from my brow before walking to where Samantha lay, and sitting at her feet. My movement caused her to jolt awake and check on the baby. When she saw Ariana was still asleep, she turned to me, and the biggest smile, so full of love and trust spread across her face. “Hi.” she whispered.

“Hi.” I replied, before losing the control I had on my urge to hold her, bringing her to my chest, and resting my chin on her head while wrapping my arms around her. This is what I needed, to feel her in my arms and know that she was safe, and still with me. We stayed this way for awhile until she pulled back to look me in the eye. She must have seen traces of the worry I felt because she looked at me confused.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, everything’s good now.”

“Why, wasn’t it before?” she asked, then noticed how I tried to avoid her scrutiny. “What is it Tristan?”