Carlisle

I am broken.

The day before yesterday, I suffered the most horrifying thing any parent could go through; my child was kidnapped right before my eyes. I was powerless against a gun - actually several - pointed at my head. It was either I let the being I love most in the world go or I'd be shot to death right next to him.

I had no other alternative than to see my little boy go away with the strange men.

I unraveled in never ending tears of pain, unlike nothing I had ever felt before in my life. It was awful to the point that I could barely breathe. All I could think about was my son being taken away from me like I knew he would. I know Richard. He is a sore loser, he would try again and he did as I expected him to.

What I didn't know at the time was that my mate had a fail safe plan in case such a kidnapping happened. He had two warriors tail Richard's mate and when the time was right, threaten to kill her. It must have been scary to Ezekiel - Richard's Beta - to receive that call from Stephano. He told him either my son would have to be returned to me or she would die at the hands of his men.

A couple of hours later, my son was back with me safe and sound in a move so extraordinary it needed to be seen to be believed. How did Stephano even think of that? What mastermind the Beta of Regency Falls must be to place sleeper agents in Oklahoma, just biding their time until such an event took place.

I could not be any more thankful for his devious mind. I know once Charlie was within Richard's grasp I would never see my son again. This isn't some custody battle gone wrong, this is a megalomaniac who doesn't care about my son, he only cares about the succession of his pack and that can only transpire through Charlie, his biological child and the only one he will ever have, according to most people.

Not to be grim, but it's been a decade. If he were to have any children of his own then he would have already done so by now. His mate even lost two rounds of IVF pregnancies. Poor thing. I do not wish her any ill will, but this is not my doing. I am merely a mortal.

Richard is being punished by the Goddess for raping me and getting away with it.

I tremble in apprehension and anger at the thought of such a man raising my baby. What kind of entitlement does one person have to feel superior to others? I know he is an Alpha, but Alphas are leaders, not kings. The goal here is to head the pack, not rule.

Anyway, now it's just a matter of waiting for yet another retaliation from him.

Like I just said, he is a sore loser. Now he will come for us with everything he has. I can only hope that my mate and Alpha Phillip will be ready for him when he does. Because he will be ruthless. He will stop at nothing until he has my son in his control. I know that much is true.

Yesterday before my son went to school in the morning - he didn't have to go but he wanted to see 'his mate' Clarissa, so I wouldn't want to keep him home if he didn't want to stay - he said:

'You're my hero, daddy Stephano.'

Now I am not going to lie, that broke me. Not because I am opposed to it, quite the contrary. All I ever wanted was a partner to raise my son with me. I had the support of my parents and I am thankful for them, but I just wished I had a man in my corner. That's all.

I didn't need him to be rich like Stephano - though I am not complaining either - but I needed him to be good to my son and me. I wanted someone who felt like a father even though he isn't biologically linked to Charlie. I know that is what my son deserved.

I do not mean to sound like I can not do this alone, by all means. I do not want to make it seem like I need anybody to survive or to raise my son, but I appreciate the help. It does take a village, people.

Now I am pregnant again - remember my heat induced bond completion with Stephano? - I will be needing a partner more than ever. I have everything that I could have ever wanted in my mate. He is a glorious man who goes above and beyond to make me happy, way before I was pregnant with his pup.

He is the kind of man I could only dream of. He is worth the long waiting to be mated.

Sometimes, it is all about things happening when you need them not when you want them. I know, right? It's such a cliche, but it's true. Stephano could not have arrived at a better time in my life and had he come earlier, that could not have worked as perfectly as it did now. I needed a protector and I received the protection of the most powerful pack in the South.

Even if I was mated to an Alpha, I wouldn't feel as safe and protected as I do in his arms.

When I thought about leaving Regency Falls, he told me that I would be safe here with him. Most men would exaggerate for effect, but not him. Stephano has had my back all this time and I couldn't possibly ask for a better mate for me and my boy.

So yeah, hearing my son saying that broke me and I had to keep myself from tearing up inside the car on my way to dropping Charlie at the school. Only after he was inside that I wept in joy. Not to toot my own horn, but I deserve a good man. And I really hit the jackpot with my mate.

It's Saturday, the second week of December.

Charlie asked me to take him and Clarissa to the mall for a... date?

Whatever. Stephano was more than happy to oblige him, considering he doesn't work on weekends anyway. He even told me I could stay behind and rest if I wanted, but I am not working anymore so I don't need to rest during the day.

I am pregnant, not an invalid. Though I have been struck by a bad case of morning sickness, I have taken medicine for that. I went to the doctor and everything is fine with the pregnancy so far - that was before I had a gun to my head, but I still think I am fine. I am strong.

First, we drove to the Morgenstein's house where Clarissa lives with her parents, Iris and Leonard. Iris was working today - Delta (position) is a warrior and therefore works on a schedule that doesn't take into consideration weekends or holidays - but her mate Leo welcomed us. He offered us refreshments but we wanted to get to the mall sooner rather than later.

Clarissa and Charlie were comfortably sitting in the back seat while my mate drove and I was riding shotgun. We are going to spend a lovely afternoon with the kids. After the week I just had, we deserved it. Especially Charlie.

For someone who was taken by strangers with guns - never pointed at him, of course - he is not doing poorly. He is a tough kid, but I have been in touch with a therapist since the last time he was almost kidnapped.

"Thanks for getting my mate back to me, Beta." Clarissa thanked Stephano from the back seat as he drove.

"You're welcome, Clary. I promised him I would keep him safe and I am a man of my word. Nobody is taking him away from his father while I live. They should be fearing us and our fearsome pack." He boasted to the impressionable girl, taken aback by my speech.

"Is my mom in any danger?" She asked him with a concerned expression on her face.

"No, Clary. Not at all. Your mother is safe in our pack and she will do everything in her power to protect you, your father, and the baby in her belly." He assured her, confidently.

"I can see her apprehension at times. She is afraid of a war between our pack and Charlie's father's pack." She spoke, way more intelligent than I expected for an eleven year old.

"I am sure she is worried, but she is great at her job. Don't worry, Clary, if war comes she will not be fighting it. She will be kept safe. Pregnant people will be protected first and foremost." He explained to her in a soothing voice. He spoke to her like an adult because coddling her is not the answer here. She has legitimate concerns for her mother's health.

"Don't worry, Clarissa. My mate is the best Beta I have ever seen and he will orchestrate a way for us to fight back without risking your mother and her baby, okay? She is a priority for him." I chimed in, turning back to address her eye to eye. I understand her worry.

"Yeah, daddy Stephano is a hero. That bad man has nothing on him." Charlie reassured her, taking her hand and squeezing it softly.

Oh, Goddess. Could he be any sweeter?

At the mall, we walked with the children to the play center and left them to amuse themselves with electronic games. Children of every age and their families were there at this hour - early in the afternoon - but we kept a close eye.

I greeted my former coworkers, the security guards, as I saw them on my way there. At the play center, Stephano bought a round of sodas for us to enjoy this Winter day. While the kids played, we talked to each other.

"I do hope you're prepared for war because he is coming for us with blood in his eyes." I whispered to his ear in a grim tone. He was taken aback by my comment, but I could not escape the fear in my bones.

"I am as ready as I can be for a war with a pack of that size." He responded with his usual sincerity. I could see in his eyes the anticipation for what was about to come. I would recommend taking the war to them but that is less advisable given the distance between Texas and Oklahoma. And I am not talking about border towns.

"Yeah, that's what I thought as well. I guess there is nothing to do except wait for them to come to us." I muttered, fearfully. This is going to be a fight to the death, but I hope my mate is not the one who dies at the end. *sigh*

Later that day, we went to the food court to feed the kids who were tired from playing all afternoon. I bought us burgers, fries, and shakes for an evening snack. Stephano helped me carry the trays with food while Charles and Clarissa talked to each other at one of the tables.

It was a family affair today as we asked them about what games they played and if they enjoyed themselves today. Both of them resounded an enthusiastic 'YES'. I am glad to see my son being a kid again as he deserved.

11 year old boys should not live in fear of someone coming to take them away and it is aggravating to me that this is our reality. I can only pray that this never comes to pass again. I cannot do this without my son. I need him by my side. I've earned it after eleven years of raising him.

After we finished eating, Stephano bought Charlie a new iPhone - the one he had was a burner phone with no internet access. Most kids his age have a cell phone so now that everybody knows he is here, it does not make sense to block him for everything.

My son gasped in shock at the exorbitant device and thanked 'daddy Stephano' for the gift. I can tell I have to be careful or my mate will spoil our children. He is that kind of a dad. *swoons*

Then we got into the car and he drove Clarissa back to her home where Iris welcomed her with open arms.

"Thank you for taking her today." Iris spoke to me with a pleasant grin.

"It was my pleasure. She is such a sweet girl." I replied, feeling appreciative of the chance to have this afternoon with her and my son together. I could argue about the whole mate dilemma but it is pointless. They are 11 for Goddess' sake.

"Bye, mate." Clarissa said goodbye to Charlie from her front porch.

"Bye, mate. See you at school." He waved her goodbye and we walked back to the car.

"This will never get old for me." I commented to my mate who was now driving home.

"Me neither." He agreed, then smiled awkwardly at me. Charlie was sitting comfortably in the back. I am glad we had this day. We need to live our lives as normally as we can because after they come, it will never be the same again. That's for sure.

https://youtu.be/znlFu_lemsU

A|N: Did you miss me?

I got so excited writing my other book that this one got put on the back burner.

But I promised a start to finish and I will give you a conclusion.

We are not done until blood is splattered all across Regency Falls.

OFF: Sometimes I have trouble naming my chapters but this was fairly easy. This song is a good wild card to have. They do have a great family, don't they?

What happens next is gonna shock you all.

Love,

Léo.