Evaporate

chapter seventeen.

Grayson's POV

My heart's beating too fast, my skin is itchy beyond belief, my brain is clouded. Everything seems so surreal. But not a good surreal, a terrible surreal. This is a nightmare.

No one is safe. They're in the country and they're sweeping entire cities for the Silver Lake pack. My pack. We're being hunted.

I rush to help families test their security and making sure everyone knew the fastest routes to the safe house. Of course, I'm worried for everyone, but the real worry on my mind is about my mate, my son and my unborn daughter. I can't handle the thought of them being unsafe.

The wind shifts as I leave the territory and head back to my mom's house, where I had Thalia and Theo sleeping again. Being too tired to run, I speed walked the full 3 miles home within 28 minutes.

The stress from the pack problems have me so overwhelmed that in the three weeks since I found out I was having a daughter, I accidentally distanced myself from my mate and son.

By the time I got to Thalia and Theo, it was already 7 pm and I just wanted to head back to the apartment and spend time with my family. We'd be coming back tomorrow anyway for Easter Sunday.

"Hey babe." Thalia smiles. "We were about to order pizza."

I smile and hug her, taking in her scent to calm myself.

"That sounds amazing. We're going home after that." I kiss her forehead and smile softly.

"Okay baby, sounds great. I need a shower." She whispers and giggles, obviously in a good mood. I smile as Theo runs in.

"Dad! Missed you!" He screams and launches himself at me, making me laugh as I catch him and hug him close.

"I missed you too bug." I mutter into his hair, holding him close. Having them with me made me feel so much better about everything.

"I'm going to order the pizza with Valerie." Thalia smiles, realizing that Theo and I are having a moment. I nod as I take Theo to the living room and smile softly.

"How much do you love mumma?" I ask softly. Theo immediately grins.

"This much!" He confidently says, swinging his little arms outward and stretching them as far as he possibly can. I laugh softly, he's so precious and pure.

"That's good. You must always protect mumma and your sister." I lowly speak, so Thalia can't hear  us. He nods, his eyes wide with an endless curiosity that only children carry.

"Okay dad."

"Promise me that you'll always protect your sister, yes?" I smile at him and he nods.

"Like superhero!" He grins. I laugh and nod.

"That's my little bug." He blushes and giggles.

"I don't have six legs, dad!"

Soon after the pizza gets there, Ethan gets home and we all enjoy pizza. Ethan and I are more quiet, thinking about the pack dangers, while Valerie and Thalia are talking about nursery designs for Ethan's twins.

I mind link Ethan.

"Does Val know about the pack issues?"

"No, I don't want to worry her or anything. I made mom and dad promise not to tell her. Does Thalia?"

I laugh out loud and Thalia looks at me funny.

"Sorry, I just remembered something." She nods and continues her conversation with Valerie.

"Really E? She's human. Of course she doesn't. And it's better that way."

"I'm just saying, you should tell her about us. Theo's almost at the age of turning."

I sigh, knowing he's right.

"I know, I'll do it soon."

By the time we get home, it's 9:03 pm and Theo is already falling asleep in my arms.

"I'm going to shower after tucking Theo in." I tell Thalia. She nods and her auras indicate something else, but I just go and tuck in the sleeping child.

After kissing his forehead and making sure he's sleeping, I head back to our room and Thalia's sitting on the bed.

"Can we talk?" She smiles softly. I nod and sit by her. She hugs me and sighs happily.

"I know work with your dad has been stressful, but I miss you." She mutters. I turn to face her and pull her onto my lap, kissing her softly.

"I know I've been kind of distant baby, but there's been so much going on, and there isn't a second that you, Theo or our daughter isn't on my mind." I bite my lip. "I promise I'll make those feelings of distance stop, yeah?"

She nods and bites her lip. "For now, close the distance between our lips." She whispers with a giggle and my heart leaps. I press my lips against her soft ones and my heart nearly explodes with how much I love her.

The kiss escalates and the room, and everything inside of it, melts away. It's just me and her, on the bed.

Her hands tangle into my hair as I slowly lay her down, on her back, and I let myself be overcome by her.

Everything about her is so perfect, especially now, in this intimate moment.

Her skin calls to me, and I am obedient to her. My teeth graze against the skin on her neck as my thumb caresses her cheek ever so softly. Her hair is beginning to dampen from the way my love is making her feel.

Our hands take familiar routes on each other's bodies as our souls intertwine, just how they should be, together as one.

I stop momentarily and kiss her softly before asking her to look at me. She does so, a bright blush on her cheeks

"I love you." I smile softly. Her already colored cheeks are now as red as can be, and she nods softly.

"And I love you." She bites her lip, sending the strangest, yet most wonderful, feeling throughout my body.

Those four words are enough for me, and I know everything will be okay. More than okay, with her by my side.