His Little Wolf novel Chapter 59

Bethany

“Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear Bella…happy birthday to you!”

“Hip hip!”

“Hooray!”

“Hip hip!”

“Hooray!”

I help her blow out her candles as Brooke holds her, she’s beaming and excited but I doubt she has a clue as to what is actually going on bless her! Calvin takes her 3-tier princess cake into the kitchen as Ashley comes over to swipe her from my arms before heading for the bouncy castle.

“Can you believe she’s 1 already? It feels like it’s been a lifetime since she was born, so much has happened this past year!” Brooke looks down with her loving smile as she rocks Levi in her arms, 2 new babies in under 2 weeks have been absolutely crazy, add in organizing Bella’s 1st birthday and you’d be right in guessing no one has slept much, least of all Ashley and Jack bless them willow isn’t a fan of sleeping but I’ve not once heard them complain.

“I know it’s unbelievable!” We take a seat at the table but I take Levi from Brooke before I sit down, I gently kiss his forehead and inhale deeply, the smell of a newborn is like nothing else.

“I know I am but I don’t mind you reminding me and Mary’s got Bella I heard ice cream mentioned!” Ashley sits next to me as he’s finishing speaking with a teeth wide smile and I can’t hold back my laugh.

“How you can be so bubbly running of so little sleep I’ll never know; Levi sleeps a lot more and I’m f****d!” Cal grunts out as he joins us at the table with a lost looking Jack following right behind him.

“How can I not be, I never thought I’d get to be a dad, I’m more than happy to run off little sleep until my princess is ready to sleep some more!” His excitement is infectious.

“What’s wrong Jack? You look like someone stole your popsicle!” Brooke laughs out, after realising neither Jack nor Ashley has willow, I quickly figure out that’s what’s up, they both have trouble letting her out of their sight even for one minute but I can understand it.

“Who stole her?” Ashley laughs out.

“Liam, apparently it’s uncle Liam time!” He grunts out like a 5-year-old and it got us all laughing.

“Aww, my poor baby come here!” Jack makes his way over to Ashley but instead of sitting next to him he lifts Ashley up and sits him in his lap, giving him a quick kiss. Soon enough his pout is gone and we’re all laughing and joking, someone catches my eye and I look up to find Liam walking towards us with willow in the crock of his arm, she looks so small in his arm and seeing how he is with all the babies does nothing to help ease my crush, will it ever end?

Both me and Brooke arranged this party together for Bella’s birthday and as I sit here looking around, I feel really proud of us, everything is princess themed, there’s a castle, a huge sandpit, a DJ with a bubble machine, a face painter, magician, 3 real-life princesses, a huge 3 tier cake and way too much food plus banners balloons and lots of cute little party hats.

All the children from the pack are here so it’s crazy loud but lots of fun and I’m glad she had this day, she may not understand or even remember but we will, we’ll remember the giggles and fun she had today. I just hope we made Josh and Harley proud!

By the time the party was over and everything cleaned up it was safe to say that everyone was more than ready for bed, well everyone except for me, my body is exhausted but my mind won’t shut off, I can’t stop thinking of Josh and Harley, of how they never got to see this day, of how Bella is trying her hardest to walk but they won’t see that either, or of how her babbling is slowly turning in to words, my mind is swirling and it’s driving me crazy!

A hot shower didn’t help relax me nether did my favourite tv series, I’m restless and need to walk this off, I’m currently only wearing a loose tee-shirt and panties so I throw on some long pajama pants, sneakers and hoody and head out for a walk.

It’s only 8.30 pm and it’s already dark but I enjoy walking in the dark especially when the sky is clear like tonight, bright stars shining down on me, I head for the tree line, to the memorial, maybe talking to my family will help settle my mind!

I sit down on the grass, leaning against the stone wall and before I know it, I have developed a severe case of word vomit! I can’t stop talking about anything and everything, my thoughts and feelings pouring out of me like the water pouring out of the waterfall beside me.

I hear rustling coming from the trees in front of me and I’m instantly on alert! I focus my eyes on where the noise is coming from and catch sight of the trees moving, I wouldn’t normally think anything of it but the night is calm and no other trees are moving, I stand up mentally getting ready to fight, I don’t know whos there but I don’t have my wolf yet neither do I know what I could be up against.

I step away from the memorial, if anything is going to happen, I don’t want it anywhere near my special place, the rustling gets louder and I focus my eyes and ears the best I can, even without my wolf I still have better hearing and sight than any human, the rustling starts up again and I hear noises, it sounds like someone saying hush but I can’t make it out clear enough to be sure.

I try and figure out my best move, I can face whoever is hiding or I can run, I am a fast runner but without knowing who is there I have no way of knowing how far I’d get or what will happen once my back is to turned.

“Who’s there?” I bellow out, keeping my voice strong and calm, I don’t get any response and I start to think that maybe I was imagining it when the trees start moving again and the whispering sound returns to my ears.

“This is your last chance to come out before I call for help, they won’t be so friendly!” I wait for a response, my heart is pounding in my ears, my pulse picking up pace, sweat dripping down my back, still, there’s nothing, I wait…and wait!

I get ready to link one of the warriors that I know is on duty when the trees slowly move and a figure steps out of the trees, a short figure, long hair down to their waist, it’s dark which hides their face, I can’t even see if it’s a man or a woman.

“Earlier I heard whispering coming from the trees before she stepped out!”

“No, you heard wrong, there’s no one else here, it’s just me!” The words fly out of her mouth so fast laced with panic that it’s clear to everyone that she’s lying!

Liam takes a step towards the trees but she tries to stop him by jumping up from the floor and straight in front of him, Calvin’s quick to react and pulls her back as Liam steps into the trees with Toby watching his back and returns just seconds later with a little girl in his arms.

She looks about 3 and is filthy dirty in torn rags as clothes, she calls out “Momma” The moment she sees Rose and everything falls into place! Liam hands the little girl over to her mom and she clings to her with everything she has.

“Why didn’t you tell us your daughter was hidden in there?”

“I’m sorry, I was scared, please don’t hurt her, you can do whatever you want to me but please not her!” What the f**k has she been through to think any of us would hurt her daughter?

“No one’s going to hurt either of you, now do either of you require medical treatment?”

“I don’t think so… I don’t know!” Her shoulders sag and she looks completely deflated.

I can see the torn look on all the men’s faces but I know what they will do. Calvin steps back up to her and checks her over for any hidden weapons, she may be naked but believe me she could still hide a weapon.

Once he’s satisfied Jack comes over and slowly takes the little girl from her, whispering soothing words to her to help keep her calm and Calvin picks Rose up and they head to the doc with Toby on their heal.

“Are you ok sweetheart?” My attention is dragged away from the girl by Liam’s soothing voice.

“I’m fine, how did you all know?”

“Bethany you are always safe, always protected, one of the guards saw you heading to the memorial so he linked me to let me know and he kept watch, he saw the girl heading your way before you did and linked me!” I should be pissed that I can’t get two minutes of peace around here but I’m not, I like feeling safe, I like feeling loved!

“Come on let’s go say goodnight to everyone before we head back to the packhouse, I’ve got grease and popcorn on standby!” He gives me his knee-weakening smile as he takes my hand and pulls me back over to the memorial.