Page 41 of Rescuing Red

“I’ll let you have that conversation then. I’m sure she knows where you’ve gone and is anxiously awaiting your call. Tell her I’ll be coming to stay for a bit before you mention the mate thing or she won’t hear you through her shock.”

Liz’s throat worked as she blinked at her grandmother before standing. Turning, she looked down at him and squeezed the hand she still held, mouth opening but no words emerging. Smirking, he watched different emotions flick across her face before she dropped his hand and walked off to find someone to point her to where she could make a call.

Turning back to the woman sitting across from him, surprise flicked through him when he saw a small smile on her face as she looked him over.

“It’ll be fine. I just didn’t want to deal with the waterworks if we showed up unannounced.”

Blaide huffed, chuckling as Nana gave him a wink. Sighing, she looked away and smoothed her hands over her legs before pinning him with another stare.

“You’re one of the good ones. It’s hard to think Liz is all grown up and ready for a mate, but I can see she’s not just a possession to you. Too many alphas want an omega as a status symbol but care nothing for the woman herself. I’m glad to see she’s found you.”

Warmth bloomed in Blaide’s chest at her praise. He could tell she wasn’t one to give it lightly, and he was proud he’d earned her approval.

“Her mother will not like it,” she warned.

His grin turned rueful, and he shrugged before remembering his injury. He couldn’t stop the wince it caused, and Nana raised a brow at him.

“As stubborn as an alpha. Get yourself taken care of, and if you decide to come back to Jun’gale, I expect regular visits. Especially once the pups come.”

Rising, she walked away as Blaide sat stunned. The thought of little ones hadn’t crossed his mind before, but once she said it, he couldn’t help imagining his Red rounded with his baby. He had to dig his claws into his legs to keep from jumping up to hunt Liz down right then, the possibility that one already grew inside her bringing home the danger they’d been in.

And if she wasn’t already pregnant with his child, he’d be sure she was during her next heat. He’d keep her locked on his knot for an entire month if that’s what it took.

Grinning to himself, he laid on his side as the weariness chasing him finally caught up. They’d need to get tickets to get Nana and Liz back to where she came from, but it could wait until they’d caught a full night of sleep. For now, he was content to lie down and dream of a baby with three tails tugging on his the way its mother’s tails did. He’d settle the rest later.

Chapter 23

Liz

She wanted to scream at his stubbornness, the sight of her huge alpha’s bandaged and still oozing back curdling her stomach, but she trusted he knew what he was doing. If he only wanted a specific man to tend him, then she’d grit her teeth and try not to cry every time she saw his pierced flesh. Liz walked around the foot of the cot and studied Blaide’s face, stunned at how peaceful he looked as he slept.

Sensing her hovering over him, but still exhausted, he hooked a hand around the back of her thigh and urged her closer. She smirked as she pivoted and slid onto the edge of the bed, intending to sit, but her own fatigue reached up and stole the last of her energy. Trying not to jostle him too much, she leaned sideways and laid her head on his bicep before tucking her legs onto the cot. His purr loosened with contentment as he tugged her closer, and she curled into him eagerly. With his front plastered to her back, Liz dropped into sleep.

In the middle of a war-torn planet, on a cot barely big enough for a beta, Liz slept as peacefully as if he’d tucked her in anest inside a fortified bunker, hidden away from the universe, because Blaide held her.

They soaked up each other’s closeness, the bond between them dancing in joy.

Liz dreamed of the future, happier than she’d ever been.

It was after lunch the next day before they finally made it down to the transport station ticket booth. The line to get off planet had been horrendous, but the soldiers nearby kept everyone in check.

“Are you sure?”

Blaide claimed he had plenty of money, but she felt guilty for acting so rashly and not bringing more with her, therefore leaving him with the sole responsibility of buying tickets for himself and nana for the trip to her mother’s.

“Yes, my Red. Quit worrying about it. You’ll make it up to me later.”

The glint in his yellow eyes both heated her blood and let her know he was joking. Her nana chuckled when Blaide winked down at Liz, easing the worry gnawing at her chest but increasing her embarrassment.

He paid for their tickets, his movements stiffer than Liz liked, but the nurse had wrapped gauze around where the shrapnel stuck out of his back so it wouldn’t shift during their travel. It remained clean and white beneath his shirt, so Liz swallowed her misgivings and took his hand.

He led them onto the ship, letting Nana have the window seat so Liz could sit between them. It meant he had the aisle to spill into, which seemed like a necessity when Liz saw how his frame overflowed the seat.

She worried most during takeoff and landing, the lines on his face tightening while he held himself forward so his injuries didn’t brush the seatback, but Nana kept her distracted during the time in between. She spoke of the villagers and where they’dstay, how grateful they were for Blaide’s help, which ones she’d be able to call, and how she looked forward to meeting them all back in their home village once the war was over.

Liz blinked slowly as she realized she did not know where Blaide would take her after they visited her mother. A smile lit her face as she realized she truly didn’t care, so long as he was with her. With a shy yet mischievous smile, she met her alpha’s gaze before leaning her head against his arm.

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