Jaidan

Tatum's eyes were closed calmly as he let me tend to his eye. The blood had stopped long ago but I couldn't help but to keep going. The feeling that it was my fault for not knowing how to hunt and read a deer's movements was lacing my heart and I knew he could feel it.

It felt like when your heart constricts and drops, but your body is trying it's hardest to hold onto it and keep it from falling to the floor. I had a feeling Tatum was tapping into our mate bond and that was why he was letting me do this. I could bet my life on it if it was any other injury and I hadn't been around he would have shrugged it off.

''It's fine.'' He whispered through the link.

''It's not.''

''I'm fine.'' He licked my cheek, his eyes opening but there was something off.

His left eye looked different. The usual shining grey colour was duller, more flat toned and pale rather than laced with a thousand lights like the right eye.

''Let's go.'' He shook his head and nudged my side.

What was wrong?

He helped me stand when I faltered but I was more concerned for him than myself when he squinted his eyes and kept shaking his head throughout the trip back to the den.

When we made it back to the cave we were greeted by Alic's concerned face and an ever emotionless Alpha.

''Are you okay Princess?'' Alic brought two shirts and two pairs of pants forward.

I shifted and grabbed the clothes, quickly changing and watching Tatum as he did the same. Alpha Lance was watching him closely before turning away and gesturing for him to follow.

He went to leave but I grabbed his sleeve and he came to a stop watching me as I walked to the front of him. The concern was leaking to my face which he must have seen because he lifted his hand to my face and bent his head to kiss my forehead. The kiss was so tender and soft my worry eased if only a little.

''I'll be back soon.'' His head fell to my shoulder for a second and I could feel the air being pulled away from me as he took in my scent before he moved away to follow the Alpha.

''How about we go see your family?'' My body felt re-energised as I heard the words leave Alic's mouth.

''Really?''

''Yeah your aunt is a real firecracker.'' He scratched the back of his head and grinned as if he had been scolded like a child.

''Yep, that's my Aunt Petricia.'' I followed him with a skip in my step as he lead me towards the back of the den but I couldn't help but feel an itch of worry for Tatum.

We were a few rooms away from Tatum's room and I could already hear Aunt Petricia worriedly asking Uncle Rick where I could possibly be and why it was taking so long for me to get there.

''Hi.'' I waved at the door and I swear Aunt Petricia was a catapult in her past life because she shot herself at me so quickly I fell over and we rolled on the ground for hugging for the next few minutes as I saw Uncle Rick and Alic watching on snickering at me.

I shot Alic a glare and he burst out laughing while my uncle stared perplexed between the both of us. He had never seen me act like that other than with him on the odd occasion. I couldn't tell if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

''My baby.'' The lump of purple dress smothering me whined again. ''They're taking care of you aren't they? They're keeping you warm right? They haven't done anything indecent have they?'' She just about undressed me in her panic.

''No, Aunt Petricia.'' I rubbed her back while fixing my clothes in an attempt to look presentable again. ''They're taking good care of me, keeping me warm and no they haven't done anything indecent.''

I thanked the heavens that my hair successfully covered my ear and jaw where the nasty bruise from the buck was quickly fading thanks to Tatum's care.

''Then what's this?'' Her hand pressed onto my mate mark, the action making a very inappropriate noise fill the room.

Embarrassment couldn't even express how I felt. My hands flew to my burning hot face and I curled in on myself hearing Alic trying not to laugh, a snort or two breaking the silence from trying to contain it leaving him.

''Come on Petricia get off my nephew and let him sit down.'' She was pulled off of me by I'm guessing my uncle and Alic gave me a hand and a reassuring smile.

''It's new? But you've been here for-'' Aunt Petricia slapped Uncle Rick's chest stopping him mid-sentence.

''My baby shouldn't be mated so young!'' She tried to lurch herself at me again but was caught around the waist by her mate.

''We mated younger than Jaidan.''

''But he's our baby.'' I could see tears building into my aunt's eyes so I quickly left Alic side and hugged her with all the love I could put into one hug.

''They've been taking real good care of me.''

''The pups wouldn't allow any different care of their pack mother. They've already taken him in.'' Alic ruffled my hair and I could feel Aunt Petricia's arms loosening in appreciation.

''Well once the pups are won over that's that. Where's Tatum?'' Uncle Rick looked towards the door, Aunt Petricia noticing my head lowering.

''What's wrong baby boy?'' Her hands cupped my face showing me her worry lines.

''There was an accident.''

''What kind of accident? Did he hurt you!?'' Her hands went back to my face, her eyes traveling the length of my body but I felt like I didn't have any strength to push her away.

''No. Nothing like that. I hurt him.''

''Princess.'' A large hand fell on my head pushing it down before mussing up my hair in a way I had almost gotten used to. ''He's fine.''

''I find it hard to believe that my favourite nephew hurt an enforcer.''

I visibly cringed at the name and the room fell silent. I had almost forgotten that piece of information. The name would always bring an unpleasant shiver to my spine.

''We're leaving.'' Aunt Petricia's eye's widened at the information and her hand clamped down on my wrist so hard I knew there'd be a bruise in a couple of second but that didn't stop her from pulling me out of the room and towards the mouth of the cave.

Uncle Rick kept calling her and I over and overdrawing a crowd but her heel clicking steps didn't waver one bit until a large body stopped her just as she was about to take a step into the biting air outside.

''I'm going to have to ask you to let my mate go.''

We both looked up and saw Tatum staring down at my aunt, not in a superior way but more like as if he was talking to a friend and asking for something. He had made a wise choice.

''You can't take him!'' Two small bodies bulldozed and barged passed everyone and stood with their hands on their hips next to Tatum.

I could almost laugh at their small tense lips, their clenched fists on their hips and their tough guy attitudes. Savannah's brown hair was half hazardly thrown up into a ponytail and Jade's black hair was a mess of half wet half dry hair.

''You can't take Jai Jai!'' They yelled again, their little chests rising and falling quickly from the run here. ''He's our pack mumma and we love him so...so he has to stay here!''

''You heard the girls.'' Uncle Rick gently grabbed her free hand, Tatum doing the same to my hand, his large strong hand almost swallowing mine.

''But...but he's... and Jai... he can't!''

''It's okay Aunt Petricia.'' I smiled the most loving smile at her, my hand releasing hers as I place it on Tatum's bicep, our other hands firmly connected.

''My baby.'' Her small arms wrapped around Uncle Rick tightly and he smiled reassuringly at Tatum, the girls and I.

''You're staying right JaiJai?'' Savannah grabbed my pant leg and held on tight as if her small hands alone could stop me from leaving if anyone tried to drag me away.

''Of course. I still haven't learned how to braid.'' She squealed and hugged my leg, Jade jumping onto the other one a second before both girls started jumping up and down almost knocking me over if not for Tatum keeping me anchored to the spot.

''Tate!'' Everyone turned to look at Dustin's half naked body outside the den.

He was covered in dirt and leaves, his head sporting twigs and moss as his tanned skin now looked dirty and his clothes suited his overall look being ripped and covered in mud.

''It's back.''

''What's back?'' My eyes fell on Tatum but he was watching Dustin, giving me a perfect view of his eye that was injured this morning.

Unconsciously my hand reached for his face but when he flinched when my hand touched his face from shock, my hand recoiled and I could feel my heart falling again.

''I'll be back soon.'' His hand slipped away from mine but I couldn't follow him with two girls attached at my hips.

''When's soon?'' I called, his body stopping before jumping down onto a rock.

''Tonight.''

''Pinkie swear?''

His big frame turned around and walked back towards us, his mouth set in a comforting smile which reached his eyes. Big, buckled, black boots stopped centimeters from my bare feet as he reached out for my pinkie.

''I pinkie swear.'' A soft kiss fell on my forehead as I concentrated on our intertwined fingers, my heart at ease.

''Pinkie swear.''

A/N

You're all so great thank you so much. I told you all these wonderful comments motivate me x

So, what's back? Or should I say....who's back?