My Hunted Mate
Fifty Six

Corinna

It's nearly a week later before Kai, Dahlia and I make it to Helena'shouse to visit Atticus. As soon as Kai parks the car, he jumps out,making his way around to my door, to help me out of the car, one ofthe many things that was starting to get difficult to do by myself nowthat my bump was that much bigger.

Dahlia lingers back as she answers her phone, that began to ring as sheexited the back of the car. She wanders a few feet away, talking back towhoever is on the other end of the device.

Kai and I make it up to the front door, but before we get a chance toknock, it swings open. Atticus doesn't get a chance to greet us, thesecond he flings open the door, the noise of Dyna screaming andcrying inside the house meets our ears and he runs back inside to her,without a word.

Glancing over at Kai, I raise my eyebrows while stepping into the house,gripping his hand in mine and leading the way into the living room. Weleave the door open behind us, so Dahlia can come in when her phonecall is finished.

Unable to help it, I bite down on my lip when I see the mess the room isin. All around the floor toys belonging to Dyna are flung about, alongwith clothes, seemingly both clean and dirty. The coffee table hasmultiple beakers half-filled with juice sitting on it, along with a few dirtybaby bowls and plates.

In the corner of the room, Atticus is taking a packet of wipes away fromDyna and shoving the unused ones she had just thrown on the floorback into the pack, causing her to scream, her eyes begin to glow withfire as she throws her tantrum.

Kai takes a step forward, standing in front of me as if to shield me fromdanger, at first I nearly roll my eyes but then I remember back to wentthe small child burned my flesh with her hands.

" Mine! " Dyna screeches, point at the wipes in her father's hands.

" No. These are not for playing Dyna. * He tells her sternly, crouchingdown to her height.

Kai and I watch stunned, as Atticus’ eyes begin to glow to match hisdaughters, when the small child sees this, she falls quiet for a momentthen a few seconds later her eyes go back to normal and she stumblesover to her father, directly into his arms with a little giggle.

By now Atticus’ eyes have also return to their natural state, his lipsstretch into a grin at the sight of his giggling daughter, he picks her upwith ease, tossing her in the air and catching her, making her erupt intohysterical laughter.

Settling Dyna on his hip, Atticus" eyes finally fall on Kai and I. * Thankyou for coming back, I apologise for the mess, I'm still... adjusting. * Henoticeably cringes at this statement, with pain in his eyes

" Don't worry about it. " Kai tells him, sending a weak smile in hisdirection.

The three of us stand around in awkward silence until we hearfootsteps, followed by Dahlia's bouncing off the walls, getting closer tous as she wanders through the house.

" Sorry about that guys! That was Lila, she wanted to know we were allsa- " Dahlia informs us, she enters the living room looking down at thephone in her hand with a small smile, but it falls and she cuts herselfoff, freezing completely when her eyes land on Atticus.

" Dahlia? " Atticus breaths, a look of shock has washed over his face,the same look that has taken over Dahlia's.

" Atti? " She gasps, squinting her eyes for a second and shaking herhead, as though she is hallucinating.

All of a sudden, both of their faces light up and they both let outcheerful laughs, full of disbelief. Dahlia quickly crosses the room,wrapping an arm around Atticus regardless of the toddler he still holds.Kai and I both exchange looks of confusion. " You two know oneanother? " He questions, when their hug ends.

" We met in Paris, back in the fifties! " Dahlia laughs, her gaze lingeringon Atticus, a clear fondness is gleaming in her blue eyes.

" The fifties? As in the nineteen fifties? * I interrupt.

" Yes! Oh Cori, the fashion in Paris then was beautiful! Elegant! * Dahliagushes.

* And you were anything but! * Atticus laughs, earning a smack on thearm.

" Please! I am and always have been a perfect lady. " Dahlia argues,giving us very formal curtsey.

" Of course, of course. A perfect lady who could drink any man underthe table, hustle any man into bankruptcy and not to mention otherthings. " Atticus bellows, sending her a sly wink at the end.

" Yes, please refrain from mentioning the other things, that is my sisterafter all. " Kai cringes.

" So you two... You.. " I hint, not wanting to say the words if I'm wrong."We may have, yes. " Dahlia smirks, with a knowing look.

" Well then. " I mumble.

" This is your little girl? " Dahlia changes the subject, smiling down atDyna, who has been watching her intently since the moment sheentered the room.

Atticus and Dahlia continue to catch up while the four of us clean thelarge mess throughout the room, it didn’t take long for Dyna to warmup to Dahlia, which set everyone at ease, knowing that ourarrangement would work out well.

When the sun starts to set, we say our goodbyes and start our journeyhome. In the car on the way, I can't help but ask the question that hasbeen playing on my curious mind. " If Dahlia and Atticus met in thefifties, how come you didn't recognise him? " I say, turning my body inKai's direction.

" At that point I had responsibilities, I had found the house, the clanhad grown so much it was too awkward to move everyone and Icouldn't abandon them to continue to travel to places I'd been plentyof times before. " He shrugs.

" Phoenix and I thought the idea of settling anywhere was too boring,why sit still? We've so much time, we may aswell enjoy it. When weknew Mal wasn't going to be alone, we took off exploring, actually wentour separate ways for a decade or two. " Dahlia chimes in from the backseat.

" If you were all still travelling together in the twenties, when did youstart the clan? " I question.

He momentarily takes his eyes off the road to glance at me. " How doyou know we were still travelling together in the twenties? *

My cheeks instantly flush. " I may have looked through some pictureswhen I was looking for your ring. " I point towards his chest where thering is surely hanging beneath his shirt.

" Cheeky. " Kai purses his lips. " By the twenties, I had turned manypeople, not all of whom wanted to follow me around. Some did but nottoo many, I was still able to keep tabs on them, it was when thevampires that stuck with me started turning people and they wanted tostick with us too, that it became too awkward to keep travelling, thatwas probably around the mid to late thirties. "

As the drive continues, Kai and Dahlia tell me some of their manystories from their many years of life, and although I replace myselflaughing along and engrossed in the stories they tell, even though myageing is slowed by both my wolf and witch side by at least thirty years,I can't help but think about how short my life will be in comparison.