Page 144 of Seeking Hades' Ember

Chapter 68

Ember

"Hades, babe, you are squishing me." Hades' firm grip around my shoulders was cutting off the blood supply to my head. The large flash of white light that transported the warriors and us back to the Black Claw Pack made me squeamish. The warriors were cheering, howling, and screaming at the top of their lungs as they ran back to their mates and families.

We were transported in the middle of the forest clearing, right where I had shifted for the first time. Hades turned me quickly and engulfed me in an enormous hug. "You are never to leave my side again. Always be an arm's length away from me," he commanded into my ear. A shiver spread through my arms while we held each other.

"That's a little unreasonable," I joked; however, he didn't understand the joke.

"I mean it, never." His nose dove right into my neck, inhaling the dirt and filth, but he didn't seem to mind.

"Hades," I whined while sticking out my bottom lip. The lip, it will work. That or he'll do me in the forest. He took my lip and sucked it into his mouth while I squeaked.

"Fine, first thousand years you cannot leave my side, then we will talk," he muttered while leading me back to the center of the pack. Dad was limping and leaning on Dante. Dante's jaw was rigid as he held my father; his hair was on end and eyes darting between the forest and the center of the pack.

"What's wrong?" I mind-linked Dante. His eyes glanced back to mine only to grip further onto father's torso to hold him straight.

"Malachi is unaccounted for, so is the Helm. None of the warriors had seen him, and I fear he may have transported with us. I don't want to sound the alarm too soon because I can't be for sure. I don't need Hades blowing up the place looking for him.” He muttered under his breath.

"Hades wouldn't blow up anything." Dante glared at me. I shrunk back.

"Just keep it quiet. I'll speak to Ares and Vulcan about it." He mumbled.

"I can't keep secrets from my mate, Dante," I growled back at him.

"Oh no? What about the baby you are carrying?" I gasped internally while he gave me a smirk.

"Alpha blood, you are still early, but I smell your change. Better tell him sooner than later." Dante pulled Father closer to his body and sped up. Mom was calling for him; I could hear her frantic footsteps approaching.

"Congratulations, sis," Dante said again as Dad leapt from his arms. Mom came running with tears in her eyes. Gracefully landing in dad's arms, he spun her around like they had only been together months. A hot, searing kiss was pressed to each other as they openly made out in front of the pack.

"Ew," I heard Steven groan in the background, who was following behind Mom.

Hunter approached and gave me a bone gripping hug. "Welcome back. Stop making habits of disappearing, you hear? Mom can't take it anymore." I chuckled.

"Sure, I'll make sure of that." Hades pulled me back beside him until mom and dad had their moment.

"I thought I lost you, I felt it, I felt your pain," she gasped while she peppered more kisses on his cheek. Letting go, his arms fell around me and pulled me into a death grip. "Gods, you are all right. Bless Hades, bless the gods."

The rest of the gods gathered, minus Hermes and his mate. Scratching my head, I looked to Selene, and she made a circle with one hand and another finger going through it. Winking at me, I laughed hysterically until she put her hand down, and I looked like the fool of the group.

"It's over, for now," Ares spoke valiantly. Mariah huddled closer to him while he smiled down at her blood-stained face. "I'm sure in a few hundred years, some other god might pull a Demeter."

"Where is she now?" Mom asked.

"In hell, on the outskirts of Tartarus awaiting the punishment. Hades gritted his teeth. "She will suffer greatly." Dad nodded and pulled Mom closer. His lips traced the temple of her forehead while nuzzling closer.

"Dawn is approaching; I suggest we get the weaker gods to the hospital to heal and plan for a mating ceremony," Dad announced.

Mom beamed as her hands clapped together. "It will be perfect to celebrate a glorious victory with a binding!" One of the omegas approached Mom while she spouted off a list for Wolves to do.

I yawned heavily and leaned into Hades. The fighting, the worrying, the whole ordeal was enough, not to mention growing a pup inside me. My hands automatically went to my stomach to caress it. Realizing what I was doing, I dropped my hand and peeped at Hades. "Let's go clean up; I think I need a nap." Hades pulled me close, and before I could say goodnight to my family, we blinked right into an unknown room.

The walls were painted navy blue, while the furniture was a classic French white. Small fur rugs scattered the light-colored wood floor. It was a stark difference from the primitive mating cabin that mom had built for the pack. Everything here looked brand new with actual rooms instead of a studio like our previous stay.

Flowers decorated end tables, the couches pristine tans with decorative pillows and girly frills. If I had any say in decorating, I would have picked this exact room. Walking into the next room, it was a bedroom. California-sized king bed with a white comforter, more pillows, and even a sheer tulle canopy that encompassed the whole bed. It reminded me of the clouds in the Celestial Kingdom.

"Hades, this is beautiful, but where are we?" My eyes continued to dart around the room. Large windows and a walk-out porch with a hot tub in place. Mind wondering what kind of dirty things we could do in there, Hade's arms wrapped around my waist.

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