Chapter 24: Chapter 24

AYLA

I open my eyes to see that it was the early morning.

I turn and see my baby boy is still asleep.

I rub my face and yawn. I didn't know what happened last night. I groan and roll over. I let loose that's what I did. And so did he. Now I am more confused than before.

I haven't seen Solomon having such an outburst in a long time. Seeing him do that...seeing him fight, I almost want him to win the battle between us. But I knew better than to hope.

I sit in my tent and crawl out. My eyes widen however when I see Soul asleep in a hunched over figure outside my tent.

I stand next to him and poke his arm, "Solomon?" He didn't wake.

I poke his face and whisper, "Solomon!"

His eyes snap and open and he attempts to get up but he groans and rolls over while holding his back, "Shit! My back."

I nodded my head with no surprise, "Yup...sleep on the hard ground of the forest floor will do that to ya."

He groans as he gets up, "I'm bringing my mattress out here next time."

"What were you even doing here in the first place?"

He rubs his back and says in his husky morning voice, "I heard something during the night. I got worried so I decided to sleep in front of your tent."

I was taken back slightly, "You didn't have to do that."

He looks up at me and smirks, "Of course I do. It's my job to protect you."

I didn't know how to respond to him. I tucked my hair behind my ear and cough into my hand and turn around to make a fire.

***

I sit on a rock as I watch Milo and a couple of the other kids playing in the river. A shadow appears beside me. I look up and see it's Zapora. She smiles down at me as she places herself on the rock as my company, "Hey."

I smiled back, "Hey."

She leans back and releases a tired sigh, "Growing a baby is one tiring job for this body."

I giggle and shake my head, "Right, because having your mate worry about you twenty-four seven as well as asking you what you want or what you need is SUCH a stressful thing."

Zay laughs, "It is though! I ask him to buy me chocolate and he brings me the wrong brand or the wrong flavor of the right brand every time...it's so hard being me right now." She jokes.

I throw my head back and laugh. I turn to Zay and see her staring at me softly.

I tilted my head and ask, "What? Do I have a bug on my face? Because if I do and you haven't told me...I will flick it on your face."

Zay smiles and shakes her head, "No...it's just really nice seeing you smile and laugh again."

I grin and look down before looking back at the kids, "Yeah well...there hasn't really been much reason for me to laugh. But you're right...it feels nice to smile and relax a little bit."

Zay nods her head with her mouth still pulled wide into a smile, "Good...I wanna see more of it. And I'm glad for my sake because just seeing your face is making me depressed."

I laugh bursts out of my mouth, "I forgot how much of a bitch you were."

Zay shrugs her shoulders, "I may have grown up...but I won't ever give up my inner bitch...I use it as back up when I need it. Every girl has a bitch inside her...whether small...or large...there is still a bitch there."

I mod my head and raise my hand to the sky, "Amen."

This felt good. Even though it was a shallow conversation...it still felt good to just talk casually with a good friend. I was tired of dealing with my crap. Sometimes it's nice to just...talk.

"So when are you due?"

Zay shrugs and lays down on her back, "I don't know...when it's due."

I shake my head, "You don't know when your own pup is gonna be born?"

Zay smiles with her eyes closed, "I already had two pups before...I know what I'm getting myself into."

I lean back and looked at Milo playing in the water laughing and smiling...it made me start to smile from how much love had for him.

"You ever thought about having more pups?"

I shrug, "Not really. I never thought I would be free from Kendrick. So I never even considered that I would ever be able to have more pups."

I looked down at Zay and see her eyes. They were sad...but she fought it and smiled at me, "Well...now that you're out, you're free to make whatever decision you like. You could have more pups if you wanted to."

"Yeah I could...but how would I be able to do that?"

Zay frowned, "Ummm wow...I've never given anyone the talk before. Well when a female and male love each other very much...they go to bed and their bodies-"

I push her shoulder playfully, "Stop it! I know that! I mean...There's no one around to have another pup with."

Zay rolled her eyes at me, "You know exactly who you should have babies with...I'm not gonna name him...but you know."

I shake my head and look back at the river.

"It's Solomon."

I rolled my eyes and groaned, "I thought you weren't gonna say it."

Zay smiles, "I thought you might have forgotten who your mate was, is all."

"It's impossible to forget when he's around me twenty four seven."

Zay laughs, "Give the wolf a break...he hasn't seen his mate for five years and he finally finds her and also his SON which he never knew he had."

I roll my eyes, "Well maybe it didn't have to be five years if he wasn't such an asshole." I mumbled to myself.

Zay sighs and sits back up she turns to me looks me straight in the eyes, "I know that you're angry at Solomon...and you have EVERY RIGHT to be. But You have to know that he is not the same man he was back then. I'm not saying this because I'm his sister or even because I'm your friend. I'm saying this as a person who's seen it. I'm not saying that you have be his mate again, or you have to stop being angry at him...I'm just saying you should just cut him some slack. All he wants is for you to know that he's changed...let him show you."

She lays back down and rests. I know she said that from a loving place...and not an angry one. I know she cares about me and that's why she said what she did.

I just left what she said at the back of my mind to rethink about it later on. I felt a cold breeze starting to make its way through...making my skin rise into goosebumps. I stand up from the rock and call out for my son "Milo!" He raises his head at the sound of my voice. I wave my hand, gesturing for him to come, "It's time get out of the water now, Baba."

Milo frowns but listens.

We went back to the camp and I made sure Milo was sitting in front the fire, warming up after getting changed.

I was sitting beside him, laying out clothes to dry when Mia was walking by.

"Hey, Mia!"

She turned and to me and smiled, "Hey Ayla. Did you need something?"

"I was wondering if you could watch Milo for a little bit. I need to go to town to get more vitamins for him."

"Sure, Noah, Keith and I were just going to go pick some herbs, Milo is most welcome to join."

"Thank you."

"I can take you to town if you want?"

I turn around and saw Solomon standing there.

My first reaction was to reject his offer...but then Zay words popped into my head. I internally groaned. I didn't want to go with him. But I knew I couldn't be mean to him forever.

I sigh and reluctantly nodded, "That'd be nice."

Solomon nods and turns around, but not before I saw a small smile. I sighed and turned back to finish off laying the clothes out, but I saw Mia AND Zapora standing their with bright smiles.

I smirked and rolled my eyes. They're so annoying...in a good kind of way.

Milo was playing with some sticks when I said, "Hey Baba, Mama is going out to town to get some vitamins okay?"

He smiled and nods his head. I lean and point to my cheek, "You forgetting something mister?"

Milo laughs and kisses my cheek. I smiled and kissed him on his forehead. I get up and grab my coat as I see Solomon waiting in the car for me. I go and sit in the passenger's seat and we were on our way.

We were driving in silence for a moment . I didn't want to talk. The last time we had a conversation I broke down. I know he wants to talk about it. But I'm tired of talking about me, talking about how I'm messed up because of all the crap I've been through. I mean, I know I haven't had the best life! No point in crying about it every day. I just want to leave it and move to a better life.

"So...about last night-" Solomon said slowly,

"I don't want to talk about that."

I was looking out the window when I heard Solomon chuckling, "I wasn't talking about you breaking down crying...I was talking about how I heard a sound last night."

I felt my cheeks warm up...very quickly, I cleared my throat and looked out the window, "Oh."

Even though I wasn't looking, I knew Solomon was amused. I rolled my eyes and without looking I said, "If I remember correctly you were the one on the verge of tears."

"Oh really? Well at least I was on the verge...you just went out and burst into tears...snot mixed with tears is not an attractive look for you, little wolf."

I turned to him and gasped, "You asshole! No one can ever look attractive when they cry! And besides, I did NOT have snot running down my nose while I cried."

"My shirt says otherwise. The poor thing...I won't ever get your snot and tear stain out of it."

I shook my head and turned back to the window, "You're such a dick." Yet I found myself slightly...only slightly, smiling.

"At least I'm an honest dick."

I rolled my eyes, "What was it about last night then?"

All joking was put aside when I saw his face turn serious, "I just want you to be extra careful. we're at war with Kendrick. I don't want to give him any chance of getting to you."

I gulped and nodded my head.

"He wants you, Ayla. I just want you to be cautious. Always be alert no matter what."

"He wants me," I repeated. I almost forgot there was a war. A war because of me.

His eyes flicker back and forth from me to the road, "Hey...everything will be okay. I'm not going to let anything happen to you, okay? You or Milo. You two are going to be safe."

I didn't say anything. I stayed silent as we went into town. once we finally arrived, I walked to the pharmacy to look at the vitamins.

As I was picking between two different types of Vitamin cases, Solomon comes up behind and reads them, "Why do you need Vitamins?"

"It's not for me, it's for Milo."

Solomon frowns in concerns, "Why? Is he sick?"

"No, but because he's only ever been in the attic, he won't have as strong of an immune system as most kids. I need to give him vitamins to provide a health boost." I said while concentrating on deciding what vitamins I should get him.

I turned around to look at the next rack of choices when Solomon was still standing there, with a concerned expression.

I snap my fingers in front of his face. He blinks a couple of times as his eyes focus on me, "You okay?" I asked cautiously.

"No, will Milo be okay? Will he develop health problems when he gets older? Should we try to prevent it now? Maybe we should get him checked up, or-"

I grab his shoulders, "Solo! Calm down!"

He stopped his rant and released a long-held breath.

"Milo will be fine. He doesn't have a disease or anything. He just needs a little bit of a boost. He's going to be okay."

"How are you so confident that he'll be okay?"

I smirked and rolled my eyes, "Because I'm his mother, I know when my child is okay or not."

I walked away to look at more vitamins but Solomon followed close by.

"But he could develop some health issues? Was he okay when he was born?"

I shrugged my shoulders, "He seemed okay to me. And he hasn't shown any signs of birth defects so..."

"What did the doctor say?" He asks.

I pick up a glass bottle and started to run my eyes through all the small prints, "There were no doctors."

Solomon's brows pulled together. His mind was running through the scenario and still looked confused, "Were there midwives? Nurses? Anyone...oh I don't know...qualified?"

I shook my head, "Nope," I said popping the P.

"Then who was there to help?"

"No one," I said while continuing to look at the rack, "I gave birth in the attic alone. Kendrick thought of it as mercy as if it was his way, he would've forced an abortion." I said casually. I guess I was so used to the fact that I did that, that I didn't make it much of a big deal. I experienced...and so I moved on.

Solomon stopped following me. I looked over my shoulder. He stood there pale. His eyes blank, and yet they held so much pain, "You were alone." he whispered to himself.

I felt bad for him. I guess it would be hard to know the mother of your child was totally utterly alone during such a significant time where it was supposed to be full of support by your loved ones...especially your mate.

I slowly walked to him. He looked at me with a shaky breath, "I'm sorry you had to go through that, Ayla. I should have been there for you."

I shook my head and waved my hand, dismissing the whole thing, "Forget about it. I mean, yeah it sucked at the time, but it's in the past now I've learned to move on."

I could see the weight on Solomon's shoulders had increased. He rubbed his face and released a big sigh, "I'm going to make sure that you won't suffer ever again."

I kept myself silent. I knew that I won't be around for him to do that. But I wanted him to believe it to make himself feel a little better. I may not like him that much, but I don't like seeing him in this much pain either.

"Come on, I found the vitamins I was looking for."

He silently followed me to the counter. I laid my item in front of pharmacist man. He smiles at me polity and takes the item to scan.

I was fumbling around with my wallet when the man spoke, "Kendrick is getting very impatient."

I still and look up. The man was standing there with a blank expression, "Alpha Kendrick has put a pretty price on your pretty little head." He reaches out his to caress my cheek when another hand shoots out and grabs the man's wrist before he could.

Solomon stood there fuming, "You're crazy if you think she'd be here alone."

Solomon grabs my arms and yanks me behind him.

The man chuckles, "Kendrick won't stop till he has her. He will do everything to have what is rightfully his."

Soul growls and punches him straight in the face...instantly knocking him out.

He turns around and faces me, anger was evident on his face, "I hate these idiots. All they do is talk!"

I had a hand on my chest to calm my heart. Solomon turns around and grabs a hold of my shoulders. He slightly lowers his face to mine and raises his brows, "Are you okay?"

I nodded my head, "Yeah, I'm okay," I say breathlessly.

Solomon grabs the vitamins on the counter, "I feel like this means that this is free."

I laughed and shook my head. We go outside but Solomon immediately stops, making me walk into his back. I wait for him to move, but he doesn't. I touch his arm in concern, "Solomon?"

I looked over and his jaw was clenched. His eyes were intense scanning the area. He took a step back and shut the door. He turns to me and puts his arm around me, "We're going through the back door."

"What? Why?"

I could see in his eyes that he was formulating a plan. He jumps over the counter and turns to try and help me over. I raise my brow at him, "I can do that myself."

He rolls his eyes and says impatiently, "Then do it! We don't have that much time!" I jump over the counter and made 'hmm' noise, pointing out that I did ALL by myself.

Soul pushes me towards the back, "Whats going on Solomon! Is someone chasing us?"

He tries to open the back door, but it was locked. He snarls in frustration. He pushes me to the side as he takes a couple of steps back. He rushes towards the door and kicks the door right off the hinges.

He grabs me and tucks me tight against his body as we make our way outside. The car was across the road. "Solomon!" I hiss at him, "Tell me what's going on!"

"Not right now, Ayla!" He snaps. This shuts me right up. He's been so nice and caring towards me, seeing him like this was different. He was in full bodyguard slash mate mode.