Gone

Home Sweet Home

Sadie POV 

It took until almost one in the morning to take care of and clear all the fighters. By the time I had cleaned up and kicked my mom, Elly, and Steve out, it was already after two. I thankfully didn't need an inside guard anymore since Jackson was back, but my yard still had a few wolves patrolling. I felt awful about that, they had just finished a huge fight and they still had to protect me. I would have told them to leave, but I'm not stupid. If they were to leave, my house would be left unprotected and I could possibly get stolen. If I got taken, all the fighting would be for nothing and that would be worse than a few wolves running night patrol.  

I slowly went around the house and shut off all the lights and then climbed up the stairs with absolutely no energy. Not only was I physically exhausted, but I was mentally fried also. The information that Ethan had dumped on me weighed heavily on my mind all night. All I could think about was Andy being in love with me and how I could change his mind. I didn't want him to try to take me away from Jackson or try to hurt Jackson to get me away.  

Instead of turning right and heading into my room, I took a left and went into the bathroom. I knew Jackson was in my room, most likely asleep, and I didn't want to go in there looking like I had played in the mud all day. When in reality that's pretty close to what I did, except throw in some sweat and blood. I turned towards the mirror and my eyes went wide. I had blood and dirt on my scrubs everywhere, except for where my apron had been. I actually couldn't tell if it was blood or a blood and dirt mix, I had worked with so much of both that they were practically the same thing to me now.  

Then there was my hair; it was half in and half out of an extremely messy bun with pieces sticking up everywhere, I even had some that had gotten stuck to the back of my neck. Lastly there was my extremely pale face with its sunken in cheeks and dull eyes, causing me to look like a meth addict. I shook my head at my reflection and grimaced, instantly becoming thankful that Jackson wasn't awake to see me. 

I turned away from the mirror and pulled the now useless rubber tie from my hair, allowing the rat's nest to fall to my shoulders. I started up the shower and then left to check on Ember, and make sure that Jackson was really back and I wasn't insane. I had lived without him for so long that part of me just couldn't believe that he was back. 

I went to Ember's room first only to find it completely empty. I turned quickly, mentally trying to calm myself down. There was no way someone had taken her from a house full of wolves, but after the run in with my awesome brother, I was always nervous. I was in my room and calmed down within seconds. Jackson's large body covered my full sized bed, his limbs spread out everywhere. Ember laid tucked under his arm with her thumb in her mouth. They were too adorable for words and I hated to disturb it, but that was my bed. It took me weeks to break Ember of sleeping with me, and I wasn't about to let her regress just because daddy was home. 

I walked to the bed and leaned over Jackson carefully, I hooked my arm around Ember's small body and lifted her out of the bed. I had slowly and quietly turned my body away from Jackson, but didn't even make it a step before a large hand clamped down on my arm and the room filled with the sound of a menacing growl.  

"It's just me Jackson," I said quickly. I didn't try to turn towards him or move forward. I made no move period.  

Jackson's hand left my arm quicker than it came, "Shit Sadie, I'm so sorry." 

I let out the breath that I had been holding and turned around, Jackson was sitting on the edge of the bed with his head in his hands. He had probably only been asleep for a few hours, I should have just crashed on the couch and left the two alone. "It's ok," I smiled, "You were protecting your daughter."