Chapter 72: Chapter 72

Elena POV Seeing Axton break down, I realize what a mistake I made by keeping them from him. Fear and anger control get in the way of rational thought. I had my reasons for keeping them and my fear is warranted, but seeing him now, I can see his and that is losing them, too.

Sitting on the bed beside him, I wait for him to stop crying. I didn’t know what to make of this side of him having never seen it before. Lexa nervously paces inside my head. She is wary of what happens next.

Axton’s temperament always shifts abruptly; it is hard to know what to expect from him. And if past behavior is anything to go off. I know he will try to take them, which I won’t allow, but hopefully, we can come to some sort of agreement because I may see the error of my ways, but I know Axton doesn’t see the error in his.

My anger at what has happened in the past I can’t seem to get over; not yet at least. I have come too far to lose everything. I now have too many people relying on me to just blindly give into a bond. So for now we’ll see.

Kyan starts crying, and Axton manages to pull himself together long enough to pass him to me. His face turns toward my chest, mouth open, hunting for my breast. “You can feed him. I don’t care about you breastfeeding in front of me, I’m not a prude,” Axton says, wiping his face on the back of his sleeve.

Bane starts crying a second later, and Axton tries to hush him. Mind-linking Michelle, I ask her to make a bottle using some of my frozen breast milk.

“Yep, will bring it up,” she tells me and I cut the link while undoing my top so I can feed Kyan. I’m very aware of Axton watching me with avid fascination.

“Can you feed both?” he asks when Bane doesn’t stop crying, also hungry.

“I can but-” the door opens and Michelle wanders in with a bottle in hand before she quickly passes it to me. “Thanks,” I tell her. She eyes Axton warily before looking at me.

“Is Lupha staying?” she asks and I try not to snicker at her words while Axton stares at her with a puzzled expression on his face, clearly wondering what she is talking about.

“I’ll let you know,” I tell her. She nods and quickly leaves, shutting the door behind her.

“I thought you might want to feed him?” Axton nods, tucking Bane in his arms.

“Whose Lupha?” he asks.

“Pet wolf, we found,” I tell him, trying to keep the smile out of my voice. Now was not the time for this discussion. Luckily, Axton doesn’t seem to catch on and I shake the bottle, testing the temperature on my wrist and checking it won’t burn him before passing it to Axton.

He takes it, getting comfortable as he presses the bottle teet against Bane’s lips. He opens his mouth like a starving Parana as he latches onto it hungrily.

“Everything okay?” my mother mind links worriedly.

“Yes, I’m fine. I can handle Axton,” I tell her, “What do you want me to do with his Beta?” she asks.

“Keep him away from Sondra. Don’t need any casualties for now,” I tell her and she cuts the link.

“Well, now I know where you are. You won’t run again, will you?” Axton asks, pulling me from my thoughts as I watch him feed our son.

“No, we are settled here,” I tell him and he nods his head slowly.

“How did you find me, or did you let Kaif track me down?” I ask him.

“Marco, he said there was another pack out here. I came to speak to the Alpha about purchasing the land out here, not realizing you were the Alpha.” he sighs. He scrubs a hand down his face.

“And I take it your pack isn’t willing to sell?”

“Nope!” he growls and I side-eye him. “What do you want the land for, anyway?”

“Doesn’t matter now anyway, but Elena, you can’t stay out here. It isn’t safe.” Axton tells me.

“We are fine, Axton.”

“No, you don’t understand, the city has had numerous vampire attacks, it-”

“I’m well aware, mom told me. We have been doing border patrols.”

“Like the ones I saw when I arrived? If so, that isn’t much protection, and why aren’t your warriors doing that? Instead, you have Omegas doing patrols?” I chew the inside of my lip.

“Elena!”

“We don’t have warriors, we don’t have any- There are no men here, Axton. Besides the children, there are only women here.”

“Excuse me?” Axton blinks, staring at the crib, his eyes darkening.

“You have my sons out here completely unprotected?!” He snaps and I roll my eyes.

“We have had no issues besides a few rogue men, which we took care of. We are careful,” Axton shakes his head in disagreement.

“No, my sons aren’t staying out here unprotected and neither are you!” I grit my teeth. Why does everyone underestimate just because we are women?

“As I said, we take precautions, we-” Axton growls, his aura slipping out.

“No, you’re coming back with me!” he orders, standing up and I feel his command wash over me. Pain slivers up my limbs, making my body tense, and I shove my own aura out. He gasps, taking a step back from me as I fight his command off.

“You would fight off my command? I’m your mate, their father. They are not staying out here in the open, Elena. I won’ t allow it!”

“You don’t have to allow it because you are not my Alpha. I may be your mate, but I can easily take care of that!” I snarl at him.

Axton glares at me. “You do, and you won’t like the consequences of that decision.” I roll my eyes. I’m over his threats.

Getting up, I set Kyan in his crib now that he has fallen asleep. Turning, I see Axton is still feeding Bane, whose eyes are growing heavier by the second. Axton looks down at him, readjusting his arms.

“You are putting them in danger.” he snarls.

“No, we have been on our own for months, even at the rogue commune. We are used to being on our own, and we know how to take care of ourselves, Axton!”

“No, I’m not leaving them out here. It’s unsafe.”

“We have had no attacks from vamps. Your city is unsafe. Here we are fine, besides, we have the safe rooms under the house.”

“I don’t like this, Elena.”

“You don’t have to. This is my pack! Not yours!” I yell at him, losing my temper. Bane whines and squirms in his arms, and Axton glares at me, soothing him. I grit my teeth and try to take him, but Axton pulls away.