Reckless Regrets
Chapter 20

Kade

Life was throwing me curveball after curveball, and this one here wholly took me out of the game. Never would I ever have thought a pregnancy between Morgan and I could end in anything other than a happy, loving family. But she didn’t want that, only because she didn’t know.

I needed to figure out how to talk her out of this, delicately.

“Have you made an appointment yet?” I asked.

“No. I just made the decision this morning and felt that you deserved to know before I moved on it.”

“How far along do you think you are?”

“Maybe four weeks? It was probably that time in the closet when I was packing your bag for Oregon,” she replied with a small smile.

That smile; oh, how I missed it.

“You’re so beautiful, Sugar. You’re perfect.”

I felt the mood shift as she furiously shook her head.

“No. Don’t do that, you can’t do that anymore, you belong to her now. Please.”

“You’re right, and I’m sorry. It won’t happen again, okay?” I gently said. I didn’t want her to hang up the call, so I would say whatever she needed to feel secure.

“Okay.”

I needed to think and fast. I couldn’t tell Morgan what was going on, but I couldn’t let her go through with this. It would kill the both of us once everything was said and done and this whole Canyon Woods mess was behind us.

“Okay. Can I ask a favor? One last thing, then you won’t have to have anything else to do with me.”

She looked intrigued by my request and nodded her head.

“Don’t do it without me being there. Please, let me hold your hand one last time during the procedure. We made that baby together, so let me be there when you send it to the Goddess. After that, if it’s what you want, you never have to see me again. Would you do that for me?”

She wiped her cheeks, which had become red to match her adorable little nose and her big beautiful eyes.

“That’s a lot, Kade. This is already so emotional just talking about it. Having you there might be too much. I don’t know if I can do it.”

“I want to say goodbye to my child, Morgan. That baby is as much mine as it is yours, and even though all this mess is a result of my fuckups, making that baby wasn’t one of them. I did it out of love and compassion, and devotion. I have the right to be there. Please don’t deny me this.”

I said a silent prayer asking that she would agree. I needed this so much.

“Taylor will have to be there with us. And once it’s over, we part ways for good.”

Her breath hitched, and she diverted her eyes from the screen when she finished her sentence. The only thing I’d ever do “for good” was love her with every fiber of my being, but for now, I’d go along with it.

“If that’s what you want, then that’s what we will do. But you have to wait; two weeks.”

“Two weeks? But why? If you’re stalling to get me to change my mind, it won’t work. I’m not raising this child alone; it’s not fair to them or me.”

“I promise you I’m not, and I wish I could tell you why I need the two weeks, but I can’t. Do you trust me, Morgan?”

“You know I do, without a doubt. I just don’t understand.”

“You don’t have to, not this time. Just please give me the two weeks and make an appointment with Dr. Bennett. Again, I’m not trying anything, but I just know that she will take care of you. I can walk away knowing that you’re safe.”

“Two weeks and not a minute more. If you’re not there, you don’t have to worry about me ever contacting you ever again.”

“I’ll be there, on my honor.”

She wasn’t a wolf, but she knew that honor to us was everything. We stood firm on it and believed in it. Only death would keep me away.

“Okay. I trust you.”

At least there was that.

“Besides the obvious, how are you? Are you feeling okay?”

“Yes, I’m okay. I’m a bit moody; I don’t know if it’s the baby or the situation, but I’ve snapped more than a few times. Luckily my brother loves me and puts up with my s**t,” she replied with a chuckle.

At that moment, my heart and mouth seemed to have had a conversation with one another, completely cutting my logical brain out. This wasn’t a time for though; this was a time for feeling.

“A lot of people love you, Sugar. Including me.”

“Kade, please-”

“Wait! I know I’m not supposed to be doing this, but I have to. I love you, and only you. No one in this world will ever feel even a fraction of that love, except the child you are carrying inside you. Don’t forget what we had, don’t forget what we mean to each other. And I’m begging you, wait for me. This isn’t over yet. I’m not married, and I’m not b***d bound to this pack. Not yet. So, wait for me, just these two weeks. Trust that everything that can be done is underway, and I want nothing more than to come home to you. Don’t give up on us yet.”

My voice cracked, and I was one second from breaking down. I was pleading for my life and my family. I needed her to see that. She was silent for a long time, too long, but I could see that she was thinking. So, I tried one last time.

“This is forever, always, and forever. Please wait.”

“Stop calling, messaging, and trying to link me. Cut all contact; I don’t want to talk to you.”

Oh, my God. This must be what death felt like.

“I’ll wait, but I’ll wait alone. Just know, though, that appointment is still being scheduled. So hopefully whatever you’re planning can be accomplished by then, because once that’s over, so are we.”

“Absolutely! Thank you so much. I’ll fix this, I swear.”

“I trust you, but I’m not getting my hopes up; I can’t do that to myself. So, I’ll see you in two weeks, and we’ll see where we go from there.”

“Two weeks. Tell me you love me, please, Sugar. I just need to hear it to get me through.”

“I love you, Kaden Thomas; today, tomorrow, and always. This is forever.”

She fully smiled, and it was everything I needed to get myself in gear and finish the mission. Her heart was still mine, and our child was safe for now. That was all the motivation I needed.

“Take care of yourself, okay? I need to go now before I start serenading you with my terrible voice,” I joked.

“Please don’t,” she laughed.

“Be careful. Whatever it is you’re doing, make sure you don’t do anything stupid. You can’t keep your promise to come home to me if you’re dead.”

“I will. Oh, and make some cupcakes for reunion day. I plan to eat them off that body of yours.”

“Oh, for f***s sake! Of all the moments I choose to walk in the room, this is what I hear? Dinner is ready!” I heard Mitchell yell.

Morgan laughed again and nodded in the direction the voice came from. “I’ll make dozens,” she turned back to me and whispered. She then blew a k**s and waved before disconnecting the call.

Before I could put the phone back in my pocket and head back to my temporary home, I got another call.

Marisol. Maybe she had the info I needed.

“What’s up, Mari?” I asked when I answered.

“Kade? I need to ask a favor. I don’t know if we’re to that point yet, but it’s important.”

“Okay? What is it? If I can help, I’ll help.”

“Would you please ask Alpha Black if they would take Cameron and Nathan until this is all over? I need to get them away from here, a lot of s**t is about to come to light, and I don’t want them hurt.”

“What are you talking about? More than just the paternity test tampering?”

“That’s nothing compared to everything I know that my dad has done. And I’m tired of it. I want him stopped, but my guys have to be safe.”

What the f**k was going on in this pack?

“You need to tell Xander and me everything; you can’t leave out any of it. Then we’ll let him decide about the asylum.”

“I can do that. I promise.”

We finished our call, and I climbed in the truck and began the drive back to the packhouse. I had no idea what I was about to learn, so I did all I could and tried to prepare for the worst.

***

When I made it back, I was surprised to see Marisol waiting in the garage for me.

“He’s watching me like a hawk these days. It’s like he knows that I’m no longer keeping his dirty little secrets,” she stated.

“We’ll have to figure out a way to sneak in some alone time, then we-”

“You don’t need to sneak away. You will soon be husband and wife; the whole pack knows, so why hide it?” Thorne walked over and announced.

“Did you have a nice drive, Kaden?”

“I did. It’s some beautiful country around here, and it was reminiscent of home.”

“This is your home now, and I’m glad you can see the appeal. I’m also happy that I have you two together; I can give you the good news.”

“What news is that?” Marisol asked.

“You two are moving in together,” he proudly replied.

“Say what?”

Was he f*****g kidding?

“I’ve had a room prepared for the two of you to share. I didn’t think either of the current ones you were in was sufficient. Since you’re getting closer, I figured the timing was perfect. Besides, you can’t mark Marisol if you’re not sleeping together.”

“Whoa, who said anything about marking?” I asked.

“Common sense. What Alpha have you ever known who ruled without a marked Luna? You two have to be solid to lead this pack; marking is the only way to ensure that solidarity.”

“I’ve already marked my mate. I’ve agreed to leave her and come here, but I’m not disrespecting her further by marking Marisol. I won’t do it.”

Thorne was a lot like his daughter; he was used to getting his way. He was an Alpha, after all. But Thorne couldn’t force this. He had no control over me, and there was no way I was going to cave. Besides, it was Nathan’s right to mark her, definitely not mine.

“We’ll revisit the marking at a later date once you’ve become closer. Would you like to see your room now?”

I didn’t want to share a room with her, but this was an opportunity that I couldn’t pass up. Maybe we would finally be able to talk in peace.

“Lead the way, sir,” I replied.

Marisol looked nervous as we walked, so I took her hand and gave a gentle squeeze. I was proud of the fact that she was brave enough to face off against her father, and she trusted Xander and me to help. It meant that the reputation of our pack was strong. It was all Xander wanted when he took over, and I knew that whatever was up, we would see it through.

We arrived at the third floor and were directed to the room at the end of the hall.

“I don’t need to give you the tour, I’m sure you’ll be able to figure it all out,” Thorne said with a strange smile. He then spun around and left the way we came, leaving me and Marisol standing there looking more than a little confused.

“Well, let’s see what all the hype is about,” she said while opening the door.

When I stepped in, I couldn’t stop the laugh that burst out of me. There were b***d-red velvet, pitch-black floors and furniture, whips, chains, leather swings, and a massive cross with both wrist and ankle straps. I couldn’t believe this.

“A red room? Your father expects us to sleep in this f*****g place?”

“I don’t think he was thinking about the sleeping; at all.”