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Chapter 8.
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*Corey*
I sat staring at the picture of Jayden and our kids that covered the home screen of my cell phone. We were about an hour from home. If I could act like nothing happened, it would all turn out fine. It was better for everyone. I let out a sigh as I put my phone down. It was going to be okay. Zeke shot me a questioning look but I just shook my head in response.
Carrie wasn’t a problem anymore. When I woke up, she was gone. Her bags and everything, gone. Everyone had tried to call her but only reached voicemail. One of the receptionists had said she checked out earlier in the morning, apparently she hadn’t worked there after all. Regardless of that and Sean pointing out that he told us something about her was off – specifically saying ‘I told you so’ about ten times to me, we left without her.
I wanted to be happy about it but thinking about how Jayden would feel and look at me if he ever found out made that impossible. Heck, it made breathing impossible. I couldn’t have him be disappointed in me, I couldn’t have him doubting us or stop trusting me. Leaving…
I sucked in my breath. Just an hour. I would be back home with my family, and it would be like nothing happened…
*Jayden*
“Jayden, calm down, you’re making my grandchildren nervous.” Joe laughed as I paced back and forth.
I may not have been his biological or adopted son, but Joe really did think of the twins as his grandchildren, and they called him Grandpa because he always referred to me as his son and they just spend that much time they spent with him. Right now, Joe was at Galaxy because he wanted to visit the twins, and we were all at Sean’s house because that was where the others would be arriving back.
“I can’t! They’re almost back! I can feel him getting closer!” The mate pull that linked us made it possible for me to know that without even calling him.
Joe chuckled rolling his eyes at me before he went back to playing with the kids.
“This is the shortest time it’s ever taken to find new pack grounds. I have to admit, it’s a very impressive job from Antonio.” Ian said.
I forced myself to calm down as Tamia gave me a sceptical look, not wanting her to become concerned. She smiled before turning back to playing dolls with Joe, Ashton and Eli. Ashton seemed to be happy to play, as did Joe. Eli was being forced to play because he didn’t want to upset his sister or be left out, he looked bored out of his mind and slightly annoyed but kept that hidden in his voice as he asked his sister’s doll for more sugar at their tea party.
I chuckled to myself but froze at the sound of tyres outside.
“Sean!” Izabella ran outside. I looked at Ashton to see him look from the open front door to my daughter and back before he shrugged and continued playing. The kid was seven and he was beyond smitten… I felt a little sorry for him… but I was sure Tamia could feel that he was her mate too, she just didn’t express it the way he did.
I bit my lip not wanting to make as much of a scene as Izabella, but also very excited about seeing Corey, even though I was desperately trying to hide it.
“Aren’t you going to –” Joe was saying when I got tackled into a hug. “Nevermind.” I chuckled as Corey held me tightly for a while. The twins were staring at us, not moving from their spots on the carpet.
“I missed you so much. I love you.” Corey whispered tightening his already tight grip on me. I furrowed my brows and slowly began to wiggle to pull away from him until I could see his face.
“Are you alright?” He sounded a little drained, looked that way too.
“Yeah, yeah. Just a… Just sick… a little.” He said nodding. I narrowed my eyes about to ask what he was hiding because he obviously wasn’t being completely honest with me about what was wrong with him.
“You would be after spending the night by yourself drinking in your hotel room,” Zeke commented from the door.
“Drinking?” Joe asked raising his eyebrows. Corey had never been his best around alcohol, we all knew that.
“A little.” Corey shook his head, “Not really.” He added giving me a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. I wanted to ask him about it but Tamia spoke.
“Drinking what?” She asked. I almost smiled at her innocence but was too concerned about her father.
“Juice.” Corey said quickly, “I… drank too much juice, so… my stomach hurts.” He said slowly. I laughed at his cover and he shot me a glare before he knelt down to hug the twins.
“Oh. Orange juice, Papa?” Corey gave Eli a nod as he smiled back at our boy. “You must have been really thirsty.”
“Uh – yeah, something like that,” Corey replied with a nervous laugh that made me even more concerned.
“Better not drink too much juice, Corey, you’ll drown in it,” Jason said.
“What?” That was pretty much everyone except Corey. I narrowed my eyes seeing Corey shoot Jason a glare that Jason just rolled his eyes to in response and then smiled at his best friend.
“Oh, nothing, I’m just tired. Long ride.” Jason said.
“I won’t. Never again… It was a mistake.” Corey said as he kissed Tamia’s forehead.
I was beginning to think their conversation wasn’t even close to being about orange juice or alcohol but did not have a chance to link to Corey to ask about it as Eli spoke again.
“I want some juice.” He said causing some laughter. The kids looked around confused.
“I’ll get that for you, Soldier.” Ian, our old Alpha, smiled walking into the kitchen.
Corey stood up and pulled me into a tight hug again and I smiled resting my head against him while hugging him back, but I felt like something was wrong and it was confirmed when I looked up at him and his face was tight and emotionless. He noticed me staring at him and gave me a smile. I opened my mouth to ask him what was wrong but Cole walked in.
“Hey, guys, back to work.” He said.
“What?” Sean and Corey asked in unison as they turned to him surprised.
“I… We just got back, Dad.” Sean said glancing at Ashton who was frowning at having his father leave right after arriving back.
“Yes, and we just got this.” Cole waved a page.
Ian entered the room and Cole, Sean, Corey and Ian went silent, linking to each other. No one complained like they usually would have because it was rude to link while there were other people in the room as we assumed it was a conversation the kids weren’t supposed to hear.
It seemed intense from the emotions on their faces and when Sean finally let out an angry sigh, I pulled myself away from Corey. He looked at me and I was almost certain I saw fear flash across his face as he asked why I was moving away from him.
“You have to go, Babe.” I chuckled, ‘Why are you so afraid?’ I linked to him seriously.
I could count the times I saw fear on Corey’s face, it was less than five, he was usually very good at hiding most of his emotion. The question seemed to trigger him as I could then basically feel fear that was clearly his course through my chest, something he definitely could not hide from me. It felt like intense worrying.
“I-I’m not, I’m not.” He lied, “I’ll be back as soon as possible. I love you.” He kissed my forehead. I but my lip before mumbling it back as I kissed him hoping to calm his fear a little despite not knowing why he was afraid, it seemed to work as he shut his eyes pecking me again once we broke apart.
“Don’t be yucky…” Eli mumbled making us laugh as his sister scowled at him to keep quiet and let us be.
A few minutes later, Alpha and Beta were gone again, along with their Deltas, and though the kids were upset, they moved to the gaming room to continue playing.
“What do you think that was about?” Izabella asked me.
“From the note, either a friendly letter or a threat,” I said knowing the kids wouldn’t hear because the TV was making so much noise. Izabella frowned.
“Hopefully it isn’t too serious… I hate being mated to an Alpha.” She muttered. I chuckled.
It irritated me that Corey was Beta too, but that wasn’t what I was focused on at the moment. What was making me increasingly confused and aggravated because I didn’t know the answer to it, was why Corey had looked afraid. It was beginning to worry me. I tried to brush it off; we would talk about it later. I could not brush it away though.
“I’m heading to the store. Is it okay if I leave them here for a bit?” I asked Izabella hoping to get some air on the way there.
“It’s okay if you leave them here forever. I want a daughter.” I chuckled at Izabella’s answer.
“Do you need anything?” I asked.
“We need sweets.” Izabella and I looked at Ashton who had just popped up beside me. The kid was incredibly fast for his age, but then so was Eli.
“Ha ha, no.” Izabella gave him a smile and I chuckled as he pouted adorably causing her to frown, they were quiet and I assumed they were linking, “Fine, sweets.” She looked at me finally giving in to whatever he’d said to her in their heads. I laughed completely understanding her.
I walked out of their house and up to my car still thinking about Corey while absentmindedly reaching for the keys in my pocket.
“Jay,” My head snapped in the direction of the voice I had heard and I felt my blood run cold as my eyes met their face.
“Jay, woah, you look like you saw a ghost.” The person’s voice was completely different, I recognised it.
“Ben?” I mumbled.
I blinked and looked back at him, it wasn’t him. I rubbed my eyes. What the hell was wrong with me? I tried to calm down as I frowned at myself for hallucinating like that. It’s not him, why was I still so shocked and scared?
“Jay, seriously,” Bentley’s hands patted my shoulders, “Are you alright?” he asked.
“Yes, of course. Why wouldn’t I be?” I gave a dry chuckle, “Just being stupid.” I mumbled in a sigh.
“What’s new?” I shot a glare at him and he laughed.
“I’m going to the store. Will you drive?” After what I had just seen, I was way too shaken to drive and wasn’t about to risk injuring myself or anyone else.
“Of course, but you’re explaining why to me.” He said.
Yeah, I probably should before I go insane in my mind and convince myself he’s still alive. But then again, I didn’t want Bentley thinking I was insane.
I sighed internally as I got into the passenger seat of my car. I’d just make something up.
*****
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