Chapter 38: Chapter 40

Chapter 40

Lukas stood next to Sasha as she showed him how to prepare the beef and vegetables for nachos. Lily was still asleep upstairs and Sommer had refused to leave her side after her check in at 5 AM. He had been forced to share a bed with both of them as there was no way in Hell he was about to leave Lily’s side while she was having nightmares. Only Gideon’s fire had soothed her terror. He refused to leave her side until Kalani had finally gotten him to get up by putting Lily deeper into sleep, so she couldn’t dream. He had showered and now he was trying to learn how to prepare her favorite meal for her. Nachos. He growled and let his finger shift into a talon, before he sliced through everything in a hurry. Sasha rolled her eyes as an onion hit her in the face.

“That’s one way to do it,” she said, frowning at the mess he had created. “Were you raised in a fucking barn, brother?”

He shrugged, fully agitated. “Of sorts. Do you want me to cook it, too?”

Smake curled out of his nostrils and Sasha threw herself in front of the food. “NO!”

Lukas sighed, giving up on pretending he was ok to sink onto a chair and buried his face in his hands.

“What am I going to do, Aja? I don’t know anything about raising babies.”

“Neither did Alden or I, but Roselynn and Junior are still alive.” She shrugged. “You just gotta remember to feed them and water them and love them.” She paused with a smile on her face. “You also can’t be squeamish. Their shit literally stinks and sometimes it’s green or orange.”

He gawked at her. “Orange?”

She nodded. “Do you remember Roselynn’s carrot period?”

*Yeah?”

“Turned her poop orange. Also, they will eat everything So, if you are missing something, trust me you’ll get it back. Also, before you ask, the answer is no. You can not stick them in a cage to keep them confined. It’s frowned upon.”

He watched her saute the vegetables and meat in a skillet.

“What if I have resentment for the baby? I don’t know if

Aiden entered the room with Junior on his hip and Roselynn holding his hand.

“Dunkle!,” Rose cried as she rushed over to Lukas.

He picked her up, threw her into the air a

little

and

put

her on his lap.

“Hey, Princess, how are you?”

“I’m hungry. What is Mama cooking?”

“I’m making Aunt Lily some nachos. Would you like some?”

She nodded vigorously. “Can we eat with Aunt Lily? She is sad.”

Sasha turned around to look at her. “What do you mean she’s sad?”

She looked up at Lukas and touched his face. “Aunt Lily thinks you

He studied her face. “Did you talk to Aunt Lily?”

are mad at her.”

“No. I had a dream,” she announced proudly. “Emily cried all night.” She tilted her head. “Is she like Auntie Lani, Mama?”

“What do you mean, sweetie?”

“Well, Emily never cries and last night when Auntie Lily got here, she cried all night. She was loud and Aunt Lani is tired.”

1/3

Chapter 40

The adults exchanged looks. Kalani was more in tune with people’s emotions and if the infant in question was too, they would have to tread carefully.

“I don’t know, sweetheart, but we will figure it out. So, can you tell us about your dream?”

“Well, Auntie Lily was in bed and she woke up. Dunkle Lukas was there and she started crying. She told him to get out and that she was sorry. She just kept saying, ‘I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

Sasha put a plate in front of her booster chair and Lukas got her situated. She began to stuff her face as Sasha finished the plate for Lily.

“Did you know Aunt Lily is pregnant?” All the adults looked at her in shock and she nodded. “She names her Luciana for Dunkle Lukas.”

“Luciana?

“Yes. Lukas and Lilianna mixed.”

“Are you sure? The baby’s grandfather’s name is Lucian.”

Rose thought for a minute, before she shook her head. “No. She told Sommer, “I want something I will never have. This is it. We will never have a baby.” She glared at him. “Do you not want a baby with Auntie Lily? That’s mean.

Lukas looked helplessly up at Sasha who shrugged and turned around to hide her smile. He looked up at Alden who, just like his wife, offered no help.

“Happy wife, happy life, bro,” he said.

Lukas rolled his eyes. “I do want to have a baby with Aunt Lily, I want all the babies with her.”

“So, why does she think you hate her?”

“Because a very bad man hurt her and she thinks I will blame her for being hurt.”

She stuck another forkful of nachos into her mouth. “That’s just stupid. You have to help her feel better. Give her a hug. That fixes everything

Sasha handed him the plate for Lily and he stood up. He kissed Rose’s forehead.

“When did you grow up so fast?,” he asked fondly.

She giggled. “I’m almost four, Dunkle.”

He booped her nose. “I swear, it was just yesterday that I was feeding you a bottle. Shall I give Auntie Lily a hug for you, too?”

She nodded, beaming. “YESSSSS! YOUR HUGS ARE THE BEST!”

He laughed as he walked out of the room. He slowly made his way back to Lily’s room, slowing as doubt started seeping into his mind. He hoped Rose was wrong. He hoped that Lily would understand that it wasn’t her he was furious with. He hesitated outside of her door. He took a deep breath and pushed the door open. Sommer lay on the bed with Lily’s head on her chest. She had her arm around Lily’s shoulders and was rubbing her back in small circles. Lily’s quiet sniffles tore at his heart and he wanted to kill Guriel all over again. He moved across the room and touched her back lightly after setting the plate on the bedside table. Sparks moved through his body and she stiffened. She scooted closer to Sommer.

“Lily, how are

She trembled. “Get out, Lukas.”

He pulled his hand back. “Lily, listen-”

She buried her face deeper into Sommer’s side. “Please, just go away,” she repeated.

He got up, but didn’t step away. “Lily, 1-”

“GET OUT,” she screamed.

Sommer gave him an apologetic look. “Maybe you should leave. Give her some time.”

Chapter 40

He sighed and walked to the door as Lily’s sobs grew louder.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

Lukas froze at the door and turned back to her. He quickly moved back to the bed and knelt on the floor behind her. He put his hand on her back.

“Lily, listen-”

“Get out. Please,” she begged, her emotions pouring out.

Anger, guilt, fear, sadness. They all threatened to choke him. He needed to make sure she knew that she was still his everything. He wasn’t sure if she would believe him. Hell, if he was her, he wouldn’t believe himself either, but he had to try.

“After I say what I have to say. Lily, 1 love you. I never stopped looking for you, I never gave up on you. I never will. Nothing that happened is your fault and if I could eat him again, I would. You are not just my mate, baby. You are my sun, my moon, my stars. You are the happiness I feel and the air that I breathe. You are Gideon’s fire and the very reason for everything he does, everything I do. There is nothing in this world that would make me not want to be with you.” He took her hand. “Nothing. Hear me again, my future queen, my future wife, my future period. Lilianna Lincoln, I love you.”

She raised her tear stained face to his. “I’m not a virgin. She pulled away from him. “Now, get out, just leave me. It’s what you’re going to do anyway.”

He stood up and ran his finger down her spine. “I already knew that you weren’t. So, listen again, Lily. I love you. That doesn’t change just because you’re not a virgin by a stupid technicality. You could sleep with a million people and I would still want to be with you. I would still love you. When you are ready or if you need anything, you know how to find me. I will be back immediately.”

He paused at the door to look back at Sommer. “Do you remember my offer?” She nodded. “It’s changed. To whatever you want.”

“My answer hasn’t.” He nodded in understanding as he stepped through the door. “WAIT!” He stopped. “Can you get my mother from my pack, if they haven’t killed her already for helping me escape?”

“Done”

Chapter Comments

chika brooke:

Bless that woman for helping them escape.l just hope she’s still alive……..My not yet mate