Carly

The pack house was practically silent as we entered it and I was confused as to where all of the members were. Taylor and Eric led us into the living room and my eyes slightly widened in surprise at the familiar room.

I took in the scents surrounding me and held Aiden closer, painful memories resurfacing.

"Let me see my grand baby." A feminine voice called out as I felt a hand rest on my shoulder.

I spun in surprise and turned to see Cindy, Masons mom, standing in front of me with her arms outstretched.

A smile tugged at the corners of my lips as I handed Aiden off to his grandmother and I watched fondly as he hugged her tightly.

"It's good to finally see you Carly." Paul spoke to me as he joined our small group.

I felt a surge of guilt flood my body as I looked into Paul's eyes and saw his remorse. I pursed my lips and glanced away from him.

"You as well Paul." I answered, pushing the tears from my eyes. It was as if Paul felt my ever present guilt as he took me into his strong arms. I slowly hugged him back as he patted my back.

"I know that you are feeling guilty for what happened but you shouldn't be. Though our son wasn't a very good person I loved him very much but with that in mind even I know that the rampage he was on was never going to end. You did the right thing." Paul's voice was filled with emotion but it never wavered.

"Thank you." I whispered. I quickly cleared my throat and pulled back, joining Xavier at his side.

"This is my mate, Xavier Jones." I once again introduced my mate. Paul and Cindy were both very polite and respectful towards Xavier and surprisingly enough it wasn't awkward.

"Well it is time to go." Cindy announced as she glanced at her watch. I sighed quietly, wrapped my hand in Xaviers and followed them out the door.

Cindy and Paul walked slightly ahead of us, whispering quietly, while Taylor and Eric walked slightly behind us. I knew that we were heading towards the holy ground of the territory, where all of the deceased members are buried.

My nerves started to peak as we neared the area and I couldnt help but to think that this wasnt going to go as smoothly as I would like.

Xavier pulled me closer to his side and I slightly relaxed as the calming tingles took over. Aiden began to squirm in Cindys arms and after a few moments she had no choice but to pass him to me.

I held Aiden to me tightly, taking in his scent and letting it calm my nerves. The moment we stepped through the trees and into the clearing I felt three hundred pairs of eyes land on me and my family.

I gulped quietly and took a deep breath in through my nose, releasing it out my mouth. My eyes danced around the extremely large clearing, taking in the hundreds of headstones, marking graves.

The crowd parted for us as we walked and we were provided a clear path right to the spot, where Mason laid in a casket. My breath hitched as soon as my eyes landed on his pale, still form.

I had always found Mason attractive, no matter what he did to me, and right now was no exception. His brown hair was neatly brushed back, his skin pale. They had managed to cover up his fatal wounds with an expensive looking suit.

"Daddy." A small voice whispered, close to my ear. My breath got caught in my throat as I heard Aiden call out to his father and tears immediately filled my eyes.

I turned away from the casket and walked a few feet away. Aiden had buried his face in my neck and was holding me tightly. I tried to gently pull him from me but when he refused to release his hold I had to gently pry his fingers.

I shifted Aiden around so I could see his face and squeezed my eyes shut when I saw his teary eyes. I took a deep breath before opening them.

"I love you baby." I whispered to Aiden softly, for only him to hear, hoping that hearing how much I love him could somehow make up for the loss I have caused him to suffer.

Aiden didnt answer, instead be once.again pushed his head into my neck. I sighed and soothingly rubbed his back as I walked back to my worried mate.

Xavier pulled me to his side the moment we were in reach and I molded to him. Zach, the former beta and the acting alpha, stepped forward and cleared his throat.

"Alpha Mason Grey was an outstanding person and alpha." Zach began and though I knew that the first part was all a lie but he was spot on with the alpha part.

"He was taken from us to soon but we will always remember him." Zach concluded. The members clapped quietly before, in complete sync, they all began to strip out of their clothes.

Xavier and I stood in silence as the pack shifted to the wolf forms and began to let out long howls, to show respect for their fallen leader.

I felt slightly out of place, seeing as Xavier, Aiden and I weren't part of the pack we werent welcomed to join in the ceremony.

After all of the wolves were shifted back Masons casket was closed and slowly lowered into the ground. Masons mother was crying silently and this caused tears to prick at the corners of my eyes as well.

A hand brushed my shoulder, causing me to jump, and when I turned my head I saw Zach standing in front of me.

"Its time for you to speak, if your ready that is." Zach told me, gesturing towards the small stage at the front of the crowd.

I took a deep breath and nodded my head. Kissing Aiden on the cheek I handed him, very unwillingly I might add, off to Xavier.

Zach led me to the stage and the moment my foot touched it the crowd went silent. I walked to the middle of the small stage and looked out over the crowd of familiar faces.

Aiden and Xavier were standing near the front of the stage and the sight of them gave me the courage I needed to speak.

"Hello. Some of you might know me, some might not, thats besides the matter really. Mason was my true mate, I his, but in the end we didn't work out as the moon goddess had planned." I began, the words flowing out.

There was a small stir in the crowd and I pursed my lips as I waited for it to pass.

"I found a man who I fell in love with in another pack and took him as my mate. This pushed Mason to the point of madness and he ended up kidnapping our son and later attacking my pack." The silence was nearly unbearable but I kept going, staring into the distance to avoid eye contact.

"Mason had lost his grip on his self control and had attacked me. In the end I was forced to defend myself, killing him. By pack laws that then made me the alpha of this pack. My son Aiden is the natural heir to this pack so I have decided that until my son turns eighteen beta Zach will act as alpha."

I finished off strong and scanned my eyes around the crowd, daring them to object to what I had decided. The clapping started slow but after a few seconds it grew stronger.

I nodded once more at the crowd before stepping off the stage, right into my mates arms. Aiden quickly clung to my neck, laughing quietly I pulled him to me, kissing his head.

"You ready to go home?" Xavier asked me as he wrapped his arm around my waist. I nodded quickly, wanting nothing more then to be home.

..

I gently lowered Aiden down onto his bed, a small smile on my face as I took in his lovely features. I gently kissed his soft cheek before straightening out.

"I love you baby." I told him quietly, watching as his eyes began to flutter.

"I love you too mommy." Aidens small voice surprised me. Tears immediately filled my eyes at the sound of my sons voice and I quickly leaned down to smother his little face with kisses.

"Oh I love you so much." I whispered as I listened to Aidens breathing even out. I stood and watched him sleep for a few more moments before I turned and silently left the room.

Xavier was already waiting for me in bed when I entered our room and the sight of him brought a smirk to my face. Xaviers dark eyebrows rose in surprise when he saw the devilish smirk and he watched me quickly strip out of my clothes.

I ran and jumped onto the large bed, giggling as I crawled to Xavier. I placed my lips onto his and slapped his hands away when he tried to take hold of me.

I laughed when I saw the pout on Xaviers handsome face and quickly pecked his mouth. I easily rested into Xaviers arms, resting my head on his chest and listened to his even heartbeat.

"Aiden spoke to me again." I told Xavier as I began to trace patterns onto his smooth chest. He shivered beneath my touch, causing me to giggle quietly.

"Thats great love, its a step in the right direction." Xavier spoke, sounding happy. I sighed peacefully, nodding along to his words.

We lay in silence for a few moments, simply enjoying the embrace. Though I was partially at peace with myself I still felt guilt for what I had done to Mason and I had concluded that a part of me always would.

Xavier, probably peaking into my thoughts, tilted my chin up a few seconds later and stared into my eyes.
"Your right, a part of you will always fill guilty, but there was no other way Carly, he would have killed us both and you know it. Im aware that I'm not Aidens father but I'm willing to try my hardest to be one for him." Xaviers words filled my eyes with tears and I quickly reached up to kiss him.

Our lips moved in sync for a few beautiful moments before I pulled back and rested my forehead against his, staring into his icy blue eyes. My heart pulsed with love and in that moment I knew that the only things I would ever need in my life were my son and my mate.

I wasn't sure what the future would hold but what I was sure of was that as long as I had my two boys I could handle it. I would take it head on and not shy from it because I was done being the runaway mate.

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Hey guys (:

Sadly, this is the last chapter of The Runaway Mate. This story has been so fun for me and it really was a joy to write. I hope that you all enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it and I can't thank you all enough for all of the votes/comments and reads.

The epilogue will be up in a few days and the sequel, The Alphas Return, should be up by then as well. I hope that you guys will give it a read because I think that it is going to be a fun story (:

Anyways thank you again and I hope you enjoyed.

- Katelynn (: