Ares

Days blended into weeks and weeks blended into Months, and eventually, we settled into a normal routine. 

Like a real family. 

Until, one day where everything went up in flames. 

"Ares! We're home!" Madi yelled from the front door. 

My wolf immediately perked up, glad that our Mate and little pup were safely back within our range. 

I met them at the front door and smiled when baby Mars reached out his chubby little hands for me. 

I plucked him out of his mother's grasp and kissed his chunky cheek "How's my little man doing? Protecting your Mom for me like we discussed?" 

He just giggled and played with my face, smushing our faces together like it was play-doh. 

"Oh, so you're the reason why he scares off people when they come near us" Madi raised an eyebrow as she carried the small bag of groceries to the kitchen. 

I beamed and tickled his tummy, making him giggle even louder "So he's using what I taught him?" 

"You're impossible" Madi laughed. 

"Why?" I grinned at her "Because I'm making sure our boy protects his Mama?"

Her laughter died down and she gave me a look I couldn't decipher.

"What?" I cocked my head to the side and raised an eyebrow "Do I have baby spit on my face?" 

She just stared at me. 

"Madi?" I lost my grin "Is everything okay?" 

She dropped her gaze "It's nothing" 

"Hey," I leaned forward and grasped her chin "It's not nothing. Tell me what's bothering you?" 

"It's just..." she sniffled, refusing to meet my gaze "You said 'Our' boy and for so long, I felt so guilty that I wouldn't have been able to provide Markos with a father figure he needed..." 

She trailed off, blushing a deep red color. 

My smile softened as Markos reached out for his Mama, trying to comfort her in her time of need. 

"They're nothing to feel guilty about" I kissed her forehead "I know we didn't create him together but that doesn't mean I love him any less" 

She sniffled, grasping my shirt "Sometimes...Sometimes I wish that..." 

She trailed off. 

"You wish for what?" I said softly, interlocking our fingers together and kissing her forehead "You can say it" 

"Sometimes, when I see you with my son, I wished that you were his father" she said quietly "If I had only stayed here than maybe..." 

"Shh..." I smiled as our little guy put his face in my neck and dozed off "Everything happens for a reason. And, if it's not obvious, this little dude is a good of enough reason for me" 

She chuckled softly, tears still in her eyes "How are you so perfect?" 

"Nobody's perfect" I grinned "I'm just a weirdo" 

She laughed. 

I turned off the stove "You know what we need?" 

"What?" 

"A date night" 

She gave me a look "I just bought groceries" 

"We can use those for tomorrow" I grabbed her hand and twirled her around the kitchen, keeping in mind the sleeping baby on my shoulder "Besides, I think it's time I took you on a proper date" 

She blushed "We don't have anyone to babysit" 

I winced "There is one person" 

She looked at me curiously "Who?" 

"The one person I've been avoiding calls from" I winced "My sister" 

"You still haven't told her yet?" 

"It hasn't come up!!" I defended. 

Madi raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms "Hasn't come up or have you been avoiding it completely?" 

I deflated "The second one?" 

"Ares!" 

"What!" I said "My sister is nosy and if I would have told her, than she would have told Rhys who gossips more than old women at bingo night! Then, by the time I would have got off the phone, the whole world would have known our business and been snooping around us" 

I would have continued on my rant if there wasn't a knock at the door. 

Madi and I gave each other quizzical looks. 

"You expecting a package?" I asked her. 

She shook her head and took a step forward.

I held her back. 

"I got it"

"Are you sure?" 

I nodded and gently pushed her to her room "Start getting ready, after I deal with whoever's at the door, I'll call my sister and explain everything to her" 

She gave me an unsure look but relented with a sigh. 

"Do you at least want me to put Mars down for a nap?" 

"Naw, I got him" I patted his back softly and he just yawned "He's comfy and I might just use him as an excuse to get rid of whoever is waiting on our door" 

I walked to our door and peaked out through the peep whole in our door. 

What I saw made my Wolf pace anxiously. 

Standing on the front porch was a bearded dark haired man. His clothes were disheveled and wrinkled and his hair went past his shoulders. He was fidgeting and constantly looking back and forth between my door and something behind him. 

"Can I help you?" I growled loudly from my side of the door, startling the man. 

"Uh...yeah" the man stuttered "I...My car just broke down and I was...uh wondering if I could come in and...uh...use your phone" 

My wolf snarled, our hackles rising. 

Something just wasn't right. 

I could feel it in my bones. 

"Sorry man, I just can't let you in with my family" I said harshly "But, here's what I can do. I'll call the Sheriff for you. His brother happens to be the local mechanic and would be more than happy to help you out"

"No need for that!" The man said quickly, too quickly "If I could just use your phone, I could call my girlfriend to pick me up" 

"Not gonna happen buddy" I picked up my phone and dialed the sheriff, speaking loudly so that the man could hear me "Hey Dan, I have someone trespassing on my land saying that his car broke down. Is there anyway you could call your brother to come and pick him up?" 

"Hey, where'd you say your car broke down again?" I asked.

When he didn't answer, I peeked through the peephole again and was partial surprised when I saw he wasn't there anymore. 

"Dan, can you send a unit to patrol the area? Some lying creep just wanted me to let him in and I just wanted to make sure he doesn't try to fool anyone else" 

The sheriff agreed and hung up shortly after. 

"Babe!" I yelled from the living room "Change of plans! We going to be inviting my sister over here tonight" 

~~~~

HEY WOLFIES

CAN ANYONE GUESS WHY ARES AND MADI CALL MARKOS MARS? 

1ST PERSON TO GUESS CORRECTLY GETS A LITTLE CHAPTER DEDICATION TO THEM!