Twice Tempted: Between Two Alphas (Mia and Cameron) novel Chapter 67

Chapter Sixty-Seven

MIA

“Cameron, are you okay?”

He’s standing at the entrance of the twin’s bedroom. His expression is wistful.

“We have reason to believe the samples that were taken from the lab are compromised.”

“Oh no!”

I look at my kids.

I can’t imagine anything worse than something happening to one of them. There’s no pain greater than watching a child suffer.

“I’m so sorry.” Merilee is my niece and my mate’s daughter. If she was a stranger’s child my heart would still hurt. Every child deserves a life free of strife and suffering. “What can I do?”

He shrugs.

Then he pushes into the room and comes to stand beside me. He tucks the blanket around Aaron.

“Can you…see anything?” he asks.

Being told you have a gift and being able to use it are two separate things.

“No.”

His lips press thin.

“It’s one of the reasons I need to go, Cam.”

He doesn’t say anything. After a while, he gives the slightest nod.

His hand takes mine and I rest my head against his arm.

We stand there, silently looking at the children we created.

I don’t know what tomorrow will bring.

I lead him out of the room and into his suite.

His brows draw together. He’s uncertain. After New Orleans and the aftermath, he’s wary around me.

“We don’t have to,” he says.

I chuckle.

He smiles crookedly. “I didn’t say I don’t want to.”

“Kiss me.”

He sweeps me up, his arms holding me in an embrace that is as sweet as it is strong. His lips are gentle. Insistent, but he holds back, letting me set the pace.

The last days have taught me how precious life is. How each moment should be cherished because there is no telling how long it will last.

Maybe I will be like my mother and someday see my own demise. Is such vision a blessing or a curse?

I throw my arms around Cam’s neck.

I don’t want to think. I need to feel.

To feel loved.

To feel alive.

As the time approaches for me to leave, Cam draws me close. His lips brush my head, my eyes, my cheeks.

“Why does this feel like goodbye?” he asks me.

I’m not leaving my kids. “I’ll be back.”

Aaron and Jacelyn haven’t asked when I’ll be back and I really need to leave before they do. They’re distracted–thankfully–with all the attention, but now that I’m about to take off, I know it’s going to get real for them.

I kneel to hug and kiss them.

Aaron squeezes my neck tight. “Be careful, mommy.”

Jacelyn’s trying not to cry. Her little body is shaking with how hard she’s holding back her tears.

Cam sweeps her up and kisses her cheek. “Hey pumpkin, momma’s coming back.”

Jacelyn cries and buries her face in his shoulder.

Aaron’s lower lip trembles but he doesn’t let himself cry. My father stands behind him, his hands on my son’s shoulders. I know he’s proud of Aaron, but I just want my kids to be kids. They don’t need to bottle up their emotions around me.

“Hey guys! I’m coming back. And I’ll bring extra presents when I do.”

Jacelyn shakes her head. “That’s not true, mommy.”

“Sure it is. It’ll be a special surprise for you and your brother. And you’ll get double the presents if you behave nicely.”

“You’re lying, Mommy.” Jacelyn shakes her head vehemently.

“Sweetie, I will–”

“You won’t come back,” she tells me. And my blood runs cold because she says it with absolute certainty.