Aaliyah POV
I feel my nerves wrecking my mind every moment after Aaron left. He's had to repeatedly send me messages throughout the day to tell me everything was going fine.
But how am I supposed to stay calm when my mate, the man I love with everything I am, is actively going out of his way to attack the hunters. I'm just supposed let him go without worrying at all. I don't know how to do that.
We just crossed the border, I hear Aaron's thought echo into my mind.
Looking over to the clock on the kitchen wall, I see they are making great time since picking up Phoenix.
And everyone safe so far? I ask, knowing the answer but still needing him to say the words anyway.
Yes, my love, his strength washes over our bond, I'll call again in two hours.
Okay, I concede from begging him to stay with me longer. He needs to keep his head clear and I'm a distraction.
Stop, angel. You are never a distraction. You are my strength. I love you, my angel.
I love you too, my whisper echoes before we both drop the connection.
"Based on that silly grin on your face, my son has said something romantic," Zea's voice makes me jump, having completely forgot she and her husband have been with me since the second Aaron left.
The blush runs up my cheeks, "He called me his strength."
Zea sighs a small awe and James moves in behind her to wrap his arms around his mate, "I knew I raised him right."
James laughs at Zea's words and kisses her cheek before looking back up to me. Over the last few weeks, Aaron's parents have been here whenever Aaron calls on them. I feel almost as relaxed and safe with them as I do with Aaron.
James was shocked at first when I started really talking to him, but now we all seemed at ease. I still jump when someone moves to fast or if a guard I don't recognize comes into the house, but I feel safe here with them. It's a feeling I treasure.
"Strength he will need," James says, "Thank you for giving him strength, Aaliyah. You will help him become an amazing Alpha."
"I know he will be, but what if I'm holding him back?"
"Oh Aaliyah," Zea stands up from her stool and takes my hands in hers, "You aren't holding Aaron back. Since meeting you, I have watched my son turn into the man I always knew he was going to be. You did that. Your strength and love have made him who he is now, and I can't wait to see you both grow even more."
"You call me strong, but I can't even let him go a few hours without asking him to check in with me. He should be focused on protecting himself from the hunters, and I'm too selfish to let him focus."
James chuckles slightly at that, "You think you checking in a few times is bad? On my first mission after meeting Zea, she made me keep the line open the entire time and wouldn't stop talking while I was trying to infiltrate the rogue pack."
"Hey!" Zea turns and slaps the back of her hand against his chest, "I wasn't that bad."
"Baby, you wanted a play-by-play every second," he laughs and Zea sticks her lip out a little in a pout.
"So I'm not being ridiculous to worry about him too much?" I wonder.
"No. You worry because you love," she smiles, "And happy you both have that kind of love."
Before she knows what I'm doing, I cross the few steps between us and throw my arms around her in a hug. She wraps her arms around my back and I feel the familiar love of a mother.
"Thank you," I whisper.
"Always."
Releasing her from my tight hold, I hear the beeping of the oven timer go off. James moves around the island and goes to the food.
"Alright, no more sappy. Let's eat," Zea laughs, going to pull out two plates from the cabinet. I raise my eyebrows at her for that, "James isn't eating with us right now. He has to go do the patrol check in but he'll join us when he gets back."
"You girls be safe," James orders, kissing Zea so deeply that I have to look away.
Is that what Aaron and I will look like when we get older? Will we still be so in love?
I hope so.
James heads out, and Zea and I take our plates to the table. I push around the food as my thoughts run with how Aaron is doing.
"I feel bad that you have to stay with me," my words seem to be out of the blue, but the feeling just bubbled up in me.
"Aaliyah, staying with you isn't a hardship," she reasons.
"But you shouldn't have to. I know I scared Aaron when I tried to hurt myself, but I won't do it again," I promise her. When I was in that bathroom, Aaron stopped me from doing it, and I know now that I won't do it again. I won't do that to Aaron. I can't leave him.
Zea reaches over to rest her hand on mine, "I know you won't. I'm so happy you and my son found each other."
"Me too," I smile, "He's the best person I have ever met."
"As the woman who raised him, I take that as the highest compliment," she chuckles.
"And you should," I squeeze her hand back, "You remind me of my mom."
"Yeah? What was she like?"
"Strong headed and stubborn. Even after we lost my dad, she never showed her pain to me. She kept us together when we left Ireland and when we ran from different shifter groups and packs. I had a bit of a rebellious streak after the third move, but she kept her head and always had a plan. She kept us safe."
"What do you mean safe?"
"Hunters wiped out all the foxes in Europe. My mom and I barely made it out. We thought we were safe when we got to America, but then a hunter spotted me as my fox when I was sixteen. We jumped around wolf packs after that, trying to make sure the hunters didn't find us, but they did.." I drop off, forcing the memories away from my mind.
"Where is your mother now?"
"She's gone," I rub the lettering on the skin of my arm, "I came home from school to hunters attacking my mom. I got knocked out and when I woke up, I was in a cell. I haven't seen my mom since."
She nods in head in thought, "You said she always had a plan. What was the plan if you ever got separated?"
"We would head to a bear clan we know in northern Michigan, but Aaron contacted them for me and they haven't seen her. I don't think she made it out of the lab," my voice hitches on the end of my statement. I don't want to believe my mother is gone, but after so long without knowing, I am ready to accept it. I hold comfort in knowing she's most likely with my father.
"Then we will find out. Either way, I'm here for you, Aaliyah," her soft words a balm to my hurt heart.
"Thank you, Zea. I hope we do, and I hope I'll be half the Luna you are."
"You'll be even better. I know it," she smiles, picking up her fork. We both dig into the lasagna meal. I moan lowly at the wonderful flavor.
"I know you promised to teach me how to be a Luna, but can you teach me how to cook too? This is great."
We both have our plates completely cleared when I hear the front door open, "I'm back!" James calls out before heading straight to the stove to get food.
"Do you ever regret giving up being an alpha?" I ask Zea.
She leans back in her seat as her husband joins us at the table. He gives us a curious look as we both wait on her answer.
"I wouldn't say I regret it. Sometimes I look back and wonder what if. What if I would have fought against the council? What if I never left the pack? I think about how my life could have been and I know I made the right choice back then. I have my mate and my family in a pack I love. I can't think of a better life."
James leans over and kisses her cheek, "I love you."
I feel a slight ping in my chest as I watch their love shine. I feel my breathing start to pick up faster as the ping starts to spread. My fingers feel numb as pain radiates through my bones.
"Zea," I gasp, my lungs having trouble filling with air.
"Aaliyah!" panic over takes her features.
A woozy feeling clouds my vision and I fall forward in my seat. James catches my arms before I go face first into my empty plate.
"Oh god! Put her on the ground," Zea orders.
The cold wood meets my back when I'm set down. My breathing is labored and I can't fight the feeling of terror washing over me. I lift my hand to my chest on instinct.
"Aaliyah, don't move, angel. Just stay still," Zea tries to tell me, but her voice sounds like muffled calls in water.
Peeling my fingers up to my eyes, I see the sticky red substance against my skin.
Blood.
Mate, Aiya whines.
"Aaron."