Adara struggled to sleep, she felt dizzy and nauseated. She got up and wandered through the house. The bed seemed strange, big and empty. She went down to the kitchen and got some water. She concentrated on her own spirit, healing herself. After a few minutes she felt a bit stronger and slightly better.She sat in the living room all through the night, staring out of the window. She tried Malachi’s phone a few times, but it went to voicemail. She wished Karani was still alive. She needed her so much. Karani would know exactly what to say. She missed her so much that it hurt.“Adara.” Adara’s head snapped up because the voice that had spoken to her belonged to Karani.“Am I dreaming?”“I’m right here with you.”“I’ve missed you so much, Karani.” Tears were flowing freely over Adara’s cheeks as Karani gripped her hand tightly.“What are you doing, Adara? This isn’t your home.”“I don’t have a home anymore. You were wrong, Karani, Kiran doesn’t love me.” The words were choked sobs and Ad
Christian was four years old and the only child of the late Phillip and Mary Jeffreys. He was a bright little boy and adapted to living with us quite easily after the first two weeks of bed wetting and temper tantrums.I had new found respect for my parents after dealing with Christian’s tantrums. He’d scream, throw things at my head, cry and hit the wall with his small fists. The first time it happened I was shocked and then I grabbed him, holding him tight against me.“I’m here, Christian, I’m not going anywhere. Scream and cry as much as you need to.” I’d take his pain, his guilt at surviving and the confusion of his loss as he slumped against me and cried himself to sleep.I assumed the role of caregiver and took over the responsibilities of taking him to daycare and putting him to bed. It was also the first time in my life that I had to pack a school bag. It took my mind off things as I was kept busy with his schedule and mine.His room used to be the spare guest room. It had a d
I sat down opposite Malachi. “Bridget from his daycare called me. She says he’s doing well in spite of everything else going on and that he was in a fight yesterday.”“Why did he fight?” Malachi asked casually without looking up.“Benjamin called him an orphan and Christian punched him in the face.” I laughed and Malachi looked at me sternly.“Violence is never the answer. Did you talk to him?” Malachi’s tone caught me off guard for a few seconds.“Yes, I did, I told him job well done.” Malachi laughed at the proud look on my face. “I also told his teacher that Benjamin got what he deserved, and she should speak to his parents instead of scolding Christian for defending his honor.”I had started training Christian like Malachi still trained me, although we were just doing punches and kicking a boxing bag. He was a tough little man, eager to learn and he would scrunch up his nose in concentration as he practiced.“Maybe you should ease up a bit on the training with him. You might creat
She looked up at me and I couldn’t believe my eyes. She looked like a ghost, thin and pale, she reminded me of that girl at my front door so long ago. I was shocked to see her look like this. Claire had been right, Adara wouldn’t have survived Declan for long.Her eyes were red rimmed from crying as she looked up at me. “Kiran, what are you doing here?”“I’m taking you home.” Adara looked down and I felt her pain and her guilt. I pulled her towards me and she felt so small in my arms as I enveloped her in my hug. I could have stood there all night just holding her.“Oh Kiran, I’ve made a huge mess of everything.” She broke down and cried again.“Then we’ll fix it together.” She shook her head as I rubbed my hand over her back, trying to soothe her.“You left me. You just left me.” She cried into my shoulder and the pain struck me square in my chest again.“I know but I want to show you everything.” I sat down with her next to me; I put my hands on either side of her head and I shared
I stepped out from the trees so that Declan could see me. “Declan!” He spun towards the sound of my voice.“You healed faster than I thought you would. Should have known, the Alpha blood runs deep in your veins,” Declan said as he saw me. He held Adara’s arm tightly and she was looking at me pleading with her eyes.Peter and Ian had circled to the other side and Declan caught their movement, he looked over to his side and I lunged for him in that instant. I bent his arm upward and he pulled the trigger once. I bent his wrist so that he had no choice but to loosen his grip on the gun. It fell to the ground and John picked it up. The priest’s face was pale and he looked bewildered.“Please come with me, Father.” Jackie pulled the priest to one side. He had shifted back and gotten dressed. Jackie led the priest out of the forest to safety and took him home.Declan twisted his hand out of my grip. He was stronger than I thought he’d be. He had lost his grip on Adara and Malachi had grabbe
After we had made up for lost time, we lay in bed together. She looked at me curiously and then she asked me that question.“Did you…?”“Did I what?” I played dumb. I knew she was wondering what I had done under the covers these past five months given my previous reputation.“No, don’t tell me. I’m angry enough at myself for ever leaving you.” She curled up next to me and I turned on my side and held her to me tightly.“Let’s leave the past exactly where it should be. I’m here and you’re here and that’s all that matters now.”“Thank you for saving me, again.” We fell asleep together, as it should be, holding each other tightly.Even though I felt fine, Adara insisted that I stayed in bed that following day. It lasted ten minutes before I got up, sneaked out of the window and ran down Main Street as I went for a jog.“Morning.” A man greeted me on the street and I smiled back at him.All along the way up Main Street people were greeting me and one man stopped me and shook my hand. I ha
Christian came into the living room rubbing his eyes and fell onto my lap. “My eyes are still asleep,” he mumbled and curled into a ball. My arms went around him instinctively and he smiled sleepily.“Time for you to get dressed and have breakfast, little man.” Christian didn’t budge but I felt his hands fist my t-shirt.After a little while I picked him up and we went upstairs. I helped him get dressed and sat with him in the bathroom while he talked non-stop and brushed his teeth at the same time. I could only smile at him.We all sat down in the dining room and everybody had breakfast while I had more coffee. Christian had seated himself on my right and was wolfing down sausages like there was no tomorrow.“When are we going home?” he asked and I looked at Malachi.“A few more days,” Malachi answered and Christian was happy with his answer.“I think you and Christian should go sight-seeing today,” Adara said and I looked at her. “I’m helping Claire today with some people in town.”
The lights dimmed as I switched the ignition of the car off and I looked at the desolate parking lot. I caught Adara’s scent as I looked around and started forward to the entrance of the maze, not seeing her. I smiled as I realized that she was already inside the maze. I could hear her running footsteps on the cobbled path and I started after her as she laughed.I caught sight of her as she made her way out of the maze and ran over the open field and into the forest. I picked up my pace and almost bumped into her as she waited for me near the footpath. She took my hand in hers and started walking.“What’s going on?”She led me off the footpath and deeper into the forest. My last encounter in the forest hadn’t been as pleasant as I hoped this one would be. I hadn’t seen her the whole day and I missed her.Adara gave me a smile and then looked down. “I thought we could use some alone time because I really need to talk to you.”I smiled at her because I wanted some alone time with her as