Chapter 0175
**Luke’s POV **
It’s been two weeks since we found out the Elders are Spark–bonded and have the ability to open the portals to get us home. Tension here in the human realm is building and if we don’t do something soon this realm may be beyond repair. Multiple places of worship across all faiths have been targeted by vandals. People have emptied shops of food and other essential items in fear supplies will stop. They are scared and divided, unsure of who or what they should believe in. Some factions support Cornellis‘ word, then there are those that support us and await our intervention, and then there is a group that believes all Greys should be eliminated. I feel the net is closing in on us. We can’t leave the safety of this cottage without constantly watching over our shoulders. Josie’s small bump is growing rapidly, as expected, which just adds another element of concern to our situation. It’s not safe for our child to be born here. As things are he would been born into a life of solitude, unable to mingle in the human realm for fear of people discovering what he is. His mother is growing more despondent with each day that passes without all her bonds in her life, and I fear what kind of mental state she will be in by the time he arrives.
“Again,” Josie calls, startling me from my thoughts. I press restart on the song playing on her phone and she begins the dance she had been composing for the last week again. Her movements are slow, sad and dramatic, matching the harrowing song perfectly. Even without the bond, it would be easy to sense Josie’s mood by the music she listens to and dances to.
“She is going to wear herself out,” Deacon sighs as he comes outside to join me on the patio. I nod and he takes the seat beside me, watching our girl move gracefully. She has her headphones in so we can’t hear her music unless we really focus on it, she also can’t hear us and is too lost in her music and movements to notice Deacon is home.
“We can’t ΟΠ like this much longer. She is not doing well I think it’s time me and Axe attempt to port back,” I say through the mind link to Deacon.
“I have been thinking about that too, but I think it should be me. I have more experience, and if I make it back I may have more sway with the elders, I think I could convince them to make the sacrifice,” he responds.
“No, Josie needs you here. You have the means to support her and Little Bean better than any of us if the worst happens and they’re stuck here, but if I go and make it through with Axel then you can make it through with her,” I argue.
“I won’t do it, Luke, I won’t risk bringing her through until all the portals are fixed,” he shakes his head. “You are just as well equipped to care for them as I am, everything I have here is yours anyway. You will be financially secure and she needs the two of you here. Axel can stay with her whilst you gather supplies so she never has to be alone. Plus, once she gives birth and her heat starts up again, the two of you are more capable of sating her than I alone. This is the best option for her and the baby, and they are the most important,” he explains and I sigh in defeat. He is right, I know he is, but guilt eats at me. I didn’t come here to take his place and have him risk himself, but two bonds with her are better than one and he does have a better chance of success than me.
“When do you want to go?” I ask.
“Soon. The sooner we get her home the better. If I can get everything in order here today then I’ll leave tomorrow, I do have a couple of requests though,” he says.
“What is it?”
“Don’t tell her yet. I don’t want her angry with me today if it’s going to be my last with her. I’d also like to have her to myself tonight,”
12
Chapter 0175
“Consider it done, Axe will no doubt agree,” I nod. It’s the least I can do.
“Thank you, I will go and make the preparations,” he says
+25 BONUS
I expect him to port out immediately but he doesn’t. He sits and watches our girl dance with a longing look on his face. He’s spent so long watching her from afar, holding himself back from her that I think he sometimes forgets he can go over there and claim what is his whenever he feels like It. She certainly wouldn’t be mad if he did. Her
land on us as she turns and a small smile lights up her face.
eyes
“You’re back,” she says as she removes her headphones.
“I am,” he smiles back at her, “I still have some things to do but I wanted to come back to show you something,” he stands and walks to meet her as she approaches us.
“What is it?” she asks.
“Come inside and you’ll see,” he takes her hand a leads her towards the house.
She looks at me in question and I shrug, I have no idea what he has brought her. I pick her phone up and follow them inside, just as intrigued as she is. Axel walks into the kitchen from the hall, his hair still damp from the shower. Deacon picks up a small gift bag from the kitchen counter and hands it to Josie who opens it eagerly. She reaches into the bag and pulls out a small Grey blanket..
“It’s beautiful, thank you,” she beams, holding it up to take in the small black wolf that’s been embroidered into the corner, underneath the wolf are the words ‘Little Bean She brings the blanket to her face as if testing the softness against her cheek. “Daddy Deacon has brought you the softest little blanket, Bean,” she smiles down at her small bump, rubbing it gently. The scene in front of me should be a happy one but it feels tainted by what may happen tomorrow. I pray that this isn’t the only gift he will ever be able to give our child.
