Page 60 of Alpha Awakening

“Not at all. I don’t think people will expect much from you for a while after the girls are born. At least, that’s how it was with my mother. She took care of us the first year and didn’t focus on much else.”

He could feel how relieved she was about that. It must have weighed heavy on her just like everything else that would happen. As soon as he set his empty plate aside, she laid her head in his lap and closed her eyes.

“We still have to buy more clothes for the girls, but maybe we can do that after we move. I feel like we already have a lot to take. While you’re there can you see how much of our furniture we have to take? I don’t wanna take anything unnecessary.”

“Of course.”

“You think we have to drive twice?”

“Maybe we can drive down with two trucks. I will see how we can organize it all when I’m there.”

“Can you send me pictures of the house? If they already have one for us, that is?”

“I will.” He massaged her scalp with one hand while the other lovingly laid on her bump. “Mother will probably come and see you a lot while I’m gone, and Olivia has said that she’ll check on you more often too.”

“I thought as much,” she giggled. “I hope Mayra isn’t upset with us anymore. She didn’t seem to like us leaving very much.”

“I think it’s the timing she objects to most. She wants you and the twins to be safe and sound. You’ve been through so much that she was probably hoping you could rest up and take it easy.”

“I know.”

“As soon as she sees you’re all settled in, she’ll ease up.”

They spent the morning cuddled up together, being as close as they could. Here and there Niev yelped when she felt the girls move, which warmed his soul.

Closer to the evening, she helped him pack a few things for his trip and prepared a few snacks. It would take them longer to travel on four paws than drive, especially because they had to stay undetected. They would run from sundown to sunrise and rest during the day, but Blake was looking forward to it. He’d always enjoyed his long journeys, though he’d never traveled this long with anyone. He’d always been alone, trying to escape everyone and everything.

They had dinner with the whole family, which had a little bit of heaviness to it. Seth would step up as alpha while their father was gone, and Bear would step in for Bill. It would be a test for them both.

After he and his father had stepped out of the glass doors, they set their bags on the floor. Since they would be safe on their territory, they would leave before sundown and start their journey early. Niev quickly pulled Blake into a hug and kissed him deeply. He leaned into her touch, trying to soak up as much as he could, already missing her. He only pulled away once she did, leaving their hearts heavy.

He kissed her forehead before stepping back and shifting, her muscles tensing as his bones broke. It was a quick shift, but he hated that she could feel the pain of it. Standing on his four paws, he stretched his muscles before turning back to her.

“I love you. Be safe, okay? Don’t run too fast so Tanner can keep up with you,” Niev giggled mischievously.

His father had shifted too, his wolf letting out a loud grunt as he heard her words.

‘We’ll be safe. Promise me to ask for help and not isolate yourself while I’m gone.’

“I promise.”

‘I love you too.’

She turned to Tanner and gently smiled. “Be safe. Take care of each other.”

His father bowed his large head,then turned to Mayra, gently nudging her.

Niev grabbed Blake’s fur, pulled him down, and kissed his forehead. “Now go before I start crying and refuse to let you go.”

Blake nudged her bump then picked up his bag with his muzzle. With his father to his side, he walked into the woods. Before fully disappearing behind the trees, he turned and had one last look at Niev. She watched him, the bond flooding with heaviness. His mother and Lyliann were by her side hugging her. Holding her bump with one hand, she blew him a kiss with the other.

‘I’ll be back before you even know it,’ he promised before turning away.

‘I’ll be right here waiting for you.’

Feeling Alone

Niev watched as Blake disappeared into the woods and listened to the bond as it slowly faded. Mayra and Lyliann stayed next to her, neither of them pushing her to go back inside. She only moved once she could no longer feel Blake through the bond.

---