23. Justin

23Justin

“You are absolutely,positively sure you don’t want me to come?” Chris asked yet again, staring at me from the corner of the room.

I sighed. “I absolutely, positively appreciate that you offered,” I smiled at him when he raised an eyebrow as I threw his words back at him. “But, I think I have to do this alone.”

“I’m worried bout you, Justin. Hazel can be you know…” I did know, “You could be mauled to death or something. You know that, right? I thought you should have some sort of backup.”

Mauled. I snorted. Surely not. Hazel could be a lot but that was pushing it even for her. Right? “Thanks a lot of getting that in my head,” I told my friend.

Chris grinned, “My pleasure. But really all I’m saying is maybe you need some back up so if she pulls the pack in you’re not by yourself.”

The thought that I could get hurt somehow hadn’t even crossed my mind until now. But, I had to believe that Hazel wouldn’t attack me or have any member of her pack rough me up while the children watched. She couldn’t be that vindictive, right? She could have the children somewhere else. Gods I hoped not. But it was yet another thought that hadn’t once crossed my mind until now. I knew why I was suddenly hit with all these horrible thoughts. Although I knew I would welcome most of if could never see Theo and Sara again.

I would do anything to get them back. And yeah it was true that she could have her pack there, and they could make life difficult for me, but I had to get through to her. She was talking about Teagan’s children… my children, and I wasn’t going to just let them be taken away. Not without one hell of a fight.

I knew there was a possibility this was all futile. Or you could go over there right now that she’ll willingly hand the children over to you.Either way I had to try

“Look…if I get there and need backup, then I will send you a text.”

“If you’re not like disappeared on pack lands,” Chris argued. “Just you know be careful. Don’t go running in there guns ablazing. Packs can have weird laws they use in their favor.”

“Left all my guns at home, Tex,” I teased.

Chris smirked. “And you know that’s not quite what I was referring to.”

“I’ll be fine.” I walked past him and patted his shoulder. “Just stay by your phone in case I call for help. Or send an emergency text.”

Chris nodded, but it was clear he was freaking out, and rightfully so. As it stood, I was slowly starting to have my own freakout. I got in my car, took a deep calming breath, and made my way out of the parking lot.

The closer I got to her house, the more the knot in my stomach tightened. Maybe this wasn’t a good idea. Maybe it was silly to think that I could get through to her. Hazel had been nothing but horrible to me, and what were the odds that she was suddenly going listen to reason? Was I crazy?

That was a word that could clearly be used for me because not once did I consider turning back. I was ready for whatever Hazel threw at me as long as it ended up with Theo and Sara coming home with me.

That didn’t stop my hands from shaking when I pulled down her street. I slowed the car and sat there, relieved no one was behind me because I needed a moment to breathe and think. I slowly counted to thirty and started the car moving forward again.

As I drew closer to her house, I spotted his car in the driveway and pulled up against the curb. That couldn’t be Kairo’s car. The only thing was, though, it was his license plate. Somehow, I had memorized those digits. It was definitely him, but then an alarm sounded inside of me. What if he was hurt and the pack had gotten to him?

I would never forgive myself if that was the case. I jumped out of the car and hurried towards the house. I didn’t even wait to knock. I simply burst through the front door, figurative guns ablazing. Chris would be so proud.

“Kairo?” I yelled.

Kairo rounded the corner, Theo in his arms. “Hey, Justin,” he started.

Hey, Justin? Those words were so nonchalant, and Kairo had a sweet smile on his face.

“Justin? Come in here!” That was Hazel, and her tone seemed to ring through the whole house. She seemed jovial. Something I had never witnessed from her before. Where the fuck was I?

I walked up to Kairo and touched Theo’s head. It was cool to the touch, and I sighed with relief. “What’s going on?” I asked.

Kairo motioned with his head for me to follow him into the living room. I stared at Hazel, who had Sara on her lap. “Unca Jussin!” Sara jumped off her lap and ran to me. Hazel never once told her to come back to her, and she even had a smile on her face. Something else I had never witnessed from her before. Again, where the fuck was I? Was I dreaming all this shit up?

“Would someone please tell me what’s happening?” I looked at Sara as she rested her head against mine. It was Hazel who was the first to speak.

“Kairo and I have had a nice chat,” she began.

My jaw dropped. Was that for real? Was a ball about to be dropped? Was she just saying these things because she thought it would make her look good in the judge’s eyes?

“You have?” I asked.

She nodded. “And we’ve realized what a silly situation this has been. He told me that he’s your mate.”

I looked to Kairo, and he was grinning at me, all heart eyes and love written all over his face. Was that really all it took? I still wasn’t sure how this had suddenly gotten resolved. As it turned out, Hazel seemed different. Rather than scowling and fussing at me, she was actually trying to be honest and spoke from her heart. I was confused as hell. Was something awful about to go down?

I looked back over at Kairo. The look of contentment and ease on his face made me think maybe it was really happening, and I could trust what they were saying. Maybe Hazel didn’t see me as the one that could get the kids killed any longer, but may I too had to have faith that she was forthcoming and that somehow, someway, we were working everything out. Together.