Falling

Chapter 14: Going Through The Motions

THREE MONTHS LATER

ASH POV 

I stare out the window as I watch the boys play on the swing set. I grin as they fly up in the air and Abel leaps off the swing. He lands nimbly on his feet then dances around in a circle. I laugh and he turns to the window when he hears me. He pumps his fist in the air then turns back to his brothers. They've all grown these last two months. I wish I could share how much Abel has opened up. How much Ainle has connected with us. I blink and fight not to think of them. It's just us now. I lost them and it was my own fault. I rub my stomach as I look back to the boys. I'd forgotten how fast Were children grow. Caine and Abel look like their about ten or eleven now with long gangly legs. But Ainle looks like he's about thirteen. I honestly can't say how normal that is. I haven't got anyone to ask about it. I don't think they're supposed to grow that quickly but I try not to worry about it.

I stand, grimacing as my head starts to pound. Riki has been slamming hard into the block I'd set up in my mind ever since I left Con and Liam. Shit, a tear slides down my cheek but I quickly brush it away. I know better than to even think their names.

My shoulders slump as I walk out the door into the yard absently rubbing my belly. All three boys stop swinging and come over to me. Caine frowns and grabs my hand. I look down at him and smile softly.

"Momma? Did you think about Da and Daddy again?" I sigh and nod as Abel and Ainle walk to my other side and hug me. I laugh softly.

"Let's go into town and get some ice cream." Abel and Ainle cheer but Caine just looks at me with a sad look in his eyes.

CONLAN POV

"GET UP!" I jerk and sit up looking around as I rub at my eyes. I look over and see Liam, in wolf form, glaring at me, from his cage. I must have fallen asleep here again. I look up to see Coner staring down at me. Before I can say anything he punches me in the jaw. I stiffen and rub a hand over my beard. I've been down here or in the library since Liam went feral. Especially since he wasn't acting feral anymore. He was acting like a wolf. I watch Liam stand up out of the corner of my eye. He was growling at Conlan as he crouched low in the floor, his ears flat. I look back to Coner, who's shaking with rage.

"My daughter is crying herself to sleep every night and what are you two doing? Nothing!" I frown and glance over at Liam. His ears are perked up and it's almost as if he's listening to what Conlan's saying.

"CONLAN!" I stand and glare at Coner. It's only been a week or so. Ash'll come back. We need her. She knows that.

"What Coner? I told you Ash is probably getting the boys away for awhile. She'll be back in a few days. It hasn't been that long." Coner's fists ball up as he growls at me. I raise a brow. Coner never gets upset like this. When he speaks, he speaks slowly enuciating each word as if I'm a child.

"Ash has been gone for three months." I stare at him as I rub at the ache in my chest. It hasn't been that long. Has it? "No one has heard from her or seen her. We can't find her. Smell her or anything else." He pauses and jerks his head to Liam as Liam growls at him. He opens the cage as I yell for him to stop but he ignores me.

"And you. I know your in there. I can feel it Liam. So I'll give you something to get you back. Conlan is the reason your mate is out there alone and unprotected." He steps away from the cage, leaving the door open. I hear a snarl as Liam leaps out and comes straight for me.

ASH POV

I have perfected the art of going into town. I shift to a plain looking girl with gaunt features while the boys dress in hoodies, keeping their heads down. Not that it matters because they have grown so much no one would recognize them. Caine has also honed a new ability that allows him to hide our scent so we're in the green. I smile as they order their icecream and we sit down to eat it. I'm picking at my banana split when the door dings and I look up and freeze. All three of the boys stiffen at the look on my face. They glance over as two men walk over to the counter. One of them leans over and shows something to the cashier.