Watch The Dark
II: nine

Tana had never seen her wolf so happy. For once, she relinquished control and just allowed her wolf to run free with Declan. She had been cooped up for so long that Tana supposed she deserved it.

They ran and jumped and pranced through the territory, joyfully yipping at each other every now and then. As it went on, Tana found that she was quite comfortable not having control. It took the pressure off of her for a bit.

Declan's wolf was nothing like him, just as Tana's was nothing like her. The two of them played like pups in the most childish way possible. A few years ago, Tana would have never been caught dead with her wolf playing like that. But now she found that she didn't quite care.

Declan's wolf toppled over her, pinning her under his massive paws with his tongue lolling out playfully. Tana's wolf yipped and reached up, nuzzling her mate as he let her up.

You're beautiful, Declan's voice said in her head. She couldn't tell whether it was him or his wolf speaking, but her wolf didn't care. She was so overjoyed by the simple compliment that she let out a joyful yip and bumped Declan's nose with her own.

Suddenly, as it snapped out of a trance, Declan's once playful demeanour shifted into something unrecognizable. He was serious and tense, his nose up in the air as if he smelled something sinister.

We need to go. Now, he said through the mind link. Tana tilted her head and sniffed the air, but nothing stood out to her.

I don't smell anything. What's going on? She asked. Declan's tail lowered, his hackles rising slowly as his wolf looked around with a low growl bubbling in his throat.

Sincere's in trouble, was all he said before gathering his clothes in his mouth and pelting away, leaving Tana to struggle to catch up. How could she be in trouble? She was with Blake and...and Icarus.

A new form of panic formed in her chest as she mimicked Declan and took off after him. If they went for Sincere, they would go for Icarus. She had promised that nothing would happen to him, and if she didn't get there in time she would never forgive herself.

Despite how far they were from the pack-house, Tana and Declan got there faster than Tana could have expected. There were wolves swarming the doors, all of them members of the pack.

The two of them shifted quickly and tugged on their clothes before running to the door. The warriors and guard wolves parted instantly when Declan walked through, their head bowed with respect.

"Daddy!" She heard Sincere cry. The pup tore away from the woman who looked to be a medic and raced into Declan's arms, blood running down her neck and arm as she cried softly into his shoulder.

"She's okay. Icarus too. Once everyone leaves I'll explain," Blake spoke up, running a comforting hand over Icarus's head. The baby was in Jade's arms, looking completely unbothered as he played with a lock of her silver hair.

"Guards, return to your posts. Everyone else go back to what you were doing. Thank you," Declan bellowed. The wolves nodded and dipped their heads again before retreating. Even the medic left, which was okay seeing as Bea could help out anyway.

"It's a superficial wound. Wolves rushed in here and grabbed her by the arm to hold her down. They tried injecting her with something but Sincere kicked that sucker in the face," Blake said. Declan's eyebrows rose in surprise, before he grinned down at Sincere.

"You're so brave, Sin. That means you'll be an amazing alpha," he chided. That seemed to calm the pup, even prompting her to crack a small smile.

"Most of them got away but we have one of the assholes in lock up right now. He's not speaking, but I'm sure you can change that," said Jade, wincing when Icarus tugged at her hair a bit more forcefully.

"Watch out, Jade. He's been getting a bit violent lately," Tana piped in, earning a small smile from Jade and bringing Sincere's attention up to her.

"Yeah, that little shit clocked me in the face. I have a split lip now," Mika chimed in from the couch, where Tana hadn't even noticed her before. Sincere gave her a pointed look before looking back at Tana.

"Look, Icarus says stuff," Sincere said as Jade placed Icarus on the floor. The baby instantly went to Sincere, a wide grin on his face.

"He says a few words," said Tana, but Sincere shook her head.

"Say it, Icky," Sincere said. Tana tried not to cringe at the name while she observed the two. She was just happy that Sincere didn't hate him.

"Sincere!" He squealed. Tana's eyes widened as Sincere clapped excitedly.

"Yes! Icarus is my friend now. Asher is gonna come over and play too with Rosie. Uncle Lenny and Daddy talk all the time so I can play with Asher," Sincere explained, seeming not at all affected by the blood running down her arm. The wound had already scarred over, though.

"Slow down, Sin. Let's get you cleaned up first, okay? Then we will think about visiting Asher again," Declan interrupted as Tana reached down and lifted Icarus onto her hip.

“We’ll head back to the pack house now. Night, Deck,” Blake said, wrapping an arm around Jade’s shoulders. Declan dipped his head in thanks to Blake before the couple left the house.

“I’m going to sleep. There’s only so much of Icarus’s screaming that I can take before I throw the kid out of a window,” Mika huffed. Tana growled at her, but her friend just waved her off and she trudged up the stairs.

“Come on, Sincere. Let’s get you to bed,” Declan said.

“No! I want Tana to tuck me in,” she protested. Both Tana and Declan exchanged a surprised look before looking back at the pup.

“Wh- are you sure?” Tana asked. Sincere nodded and began walking towards the stairs, gesturing for Tana to follow her.

“O-ok. I’ll be back, I guess?” She said to Declan, heading after Sincere with Icarus still on her hip.

***

Right when Tana got upstairs, Sincere had already changed into her pyjamas and was clutching her stuffed tiger as she sat on her bed.

“Mika told me that you loved me very much,” Sincere said suddenly, prompting Tana to sit at the edge of her bed.

“She said that you had to leave because Daddy did something mean to you. But then she said that Daddy was apologizing. And you did something mean to me, but you apologized. And now daddy looks happy again. So that means that I have to be happy now too,” she told her.

“Sincere, you don’t have to forgive me. You’re right to be mad at me. I didn’t even say goodbye to you and then I show up with Icarus. That must be really hard for you,” Tana replied. Icarus had snuggled up against Sincere as the girl lay down against her pillows, giggling when Icarus snuggled against her.

“I like Icarus. He’s fun. I was sad when you left. Mama told me to stay with you and then you left me. I thought that you went to live with Mama and left me here,” she explained. Tana turned away, feeling the tears well in her eyes. Of course that’s what the pup had thought.

“But mama isn’t here anymore. And you came back,” Sincere said. “You’re daddy’s mate, so that means you can be my new mom. Then you’re my mom and Icarus’s mom,” she added. Tana turned back to her, a single tear slipping down her cheek.

“I think your mama would like that very much. And so would I,” Tana said quietly. Sincere gave her a tired smile.

“Can I call you mommy? That’s what Chloe calls her mom,” she said.

“You can call me whatever you want, Sin,” Tana whispered.

Sincere’s eyes fluttered closed slowly. When Tana looked down, she saw that Icarus was also fast asleep.

Tana carefully picked Icarus up, careful not to wake him, and crept towards the door when a tiny voice made her stop in her tracks.

“Goodnight, mommy.”