Page 8 of What Haunts the Heart
I could've sworn I heard Kinsley mutter, "A fallen angel, maybe," but I couldn't be sure. The look Claire shot me told me I was right, though. I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing.
She perked up. "I don't mind watching them, if you guys wanna catch up?"
Kinsley swung around, his brow furrowing. "No, no. You don't have to do that. You're our guest, not our babysitter."
"Really, though. I don't mind. I love kids."
"Uncie Oaky!" shrilled Khloe once more. Now that she was clean, I unhooked her messy tray and swept her into my arms. She giggled and hugged me around the neck, then patted my face with her chubby hand. "Hi.”
"Hi." I smiled. "Are you excited for Halloween?"
"Candy!"
"How about this? Claire can hang out with Fallon…” I planted a noisy kiss on Khloe's cheek. "And I’ll take this little munchkin.” My brother still seemed hesitant. I sobered, pinning him with a look. "Seriously, Kins. You look like you could use a break and I've missed my little brats."
Fallon stuck out his tongue at me, so I did it right back. Brat.
Kinsley scratched the back of his neck, glancing between us. “If you’re sure? I could really use a little alone time.”
“We’re sure,” Claire and I said in unison.
“Thanks, guys. Oh, and by the way?” Kinsley paused. “Welcome to the family, Claire.”
She blushed, but when she smiled, she looked happier than I’d seen her in months. My chest constricted, but I forced the worrisome thoughts out of my head. Right now, I just wanted to spend time with my niece and nephew.
Plastering on a big smile, I said, “Now, how about we play some board games?”
* * *
That evening,Chester and Kinsley cooked a huge meal for the family. They went all out, roasting an herbed chicken and sautéed root vegetables, which might've been healthy if not for the fact that they were drowned in glorious butter, but screw it. You only lived once, right? It was absolutely delicious. Even Khloe, who was normally a picky eater, was chowing down.
I glanced up from my meal to look around the table. Chester's cheeks were flushed from racing around the kitchen, but he was grinning and cutting up with his sister-in-law, Lani, who’d been invited to stay for dinner after bringing baby Angel home.
Angel was tucked in close to Chester's chest in one of those wearable baby hammocks, and Khloe sat in her highchair, happily gnawing away at a chunk of potato. Kinsley had the patience of a saint as he reminded Fallon, for the third time tonight, not to talk with his mouth full, and of course, Fallon was chattering poor Claire's ear off—with his mouth full.
Just as I'd expected, they'd welcomed Claire into the fold with open arms and open hearts. When she smiled, she looked so happy that my chest physically hurt. I couldn't explain how much I wanted this for her. For Claire to be loved unconditionally, to be free to be herself, not just who her parents expected her to be. Not just an Omega who didn't have a choice in her own life. Seeing her now made me wish for more than I thought was possible.
Not to mention the way she kept stealing glances at Lani, before immediately blushing and busying herself with her meal...
I swallowed the food that had quickly turned to sawdust in my mouth, then took a drink before standing. The comforting chaos of my family dimmed a little as all four adults looked up at me.
"Are you okay, Oak?" Claire asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Don't worry." I chin-nodded towards the front door. "I think I'm going to go for a run, though. Stretch my legs. My wolf is feeling kind of cramped up after the drive and all. I'll be back later."
"Be safe," Chester said, but the knowing twinkle in his eye told me that I wasn't fooling anyone.
Because of course I wasn't.
I took the out, though, and was naked before I ever set foot on the front porch. My bare feet hit the cool wooden slats for just a moment before my wolf rose up, a tidal wave of rusty black fur and muscular legs. The shift poured through me and I bolted into the woodlands that surrounded the farmstead. I didn't need to think about where I was going.
In my heart, I was already there.
Eden.
