Innocent Little Runt
Chapter 69

Xavier’s POV

“Can you sense them?” I look to Kaleshia and nod. Everyone’s been on high alert. It’s like we could sense a shift in the air at first. Now, the rogues, the experiments, aren’t too far. We can smell them now.

I doubled patrol, basically tripled from the original amount since I added more when Celeste got taken, and every now and then I would go out and check myself. The other’s are usually there. Jake would always check on the patrol, make sure they hadn’t missed anything and that no rogues had managed to get to them without us somehow knowing. Kaleshia had been trying to put up a magical border but our land is too large. She tried to push herself once and almost passed out. Zay wouldn’t let her go alone after that. To make her feel better I had her put one around the pack house and a few of the places children and those who aren’t fighting could stay. Josh will be staying in the pack house to guard Celeste.

Celeste knew a war was coming and she knew it was coming soon. She insisted on fighting but she also knew that she probably wouldn’t make it through the whole battle. She does want to help with any injured but after last time I’m not going to leave the pack house.

“Xavier?” My eyes snap to Celeste and I give her a smile.

“What are you doing out here? I thought you were helping Lesa with Wesley.” When she got closer to me I pulled her into my arms. I kissed her forehead. Hey short hair moved slightly with the harsh wind. It was supposed to rain tonight but that’s normal for this time of year.

“He’s taking a nap so I thought I’d visit you. You’ve been so stressed out and busy lately that I barely get to see you anymore,” she pouted but I could see the smirk she was fighting.

“Then let’s go somewhere,” I suggested. “Come on.” I took her hand and we went to the garage. We chose a car at random and started to drive into town. I turned on some random radio station and looked over to Celeste. Her shoulders were tense and she was yanking on her sleeves so much that I thought they were going to be ripped off. “Little one? Are you okay?”

“What?” Her gaze met mine and she nodded quickly. “I’m just worried? I heard you talking to Jake. You said that Kaleshia thinks it’ll be a few days until they are in the territory. Then you said you were going to send warriors half way so they wouldn’t get close to the pack house. And everyone is talking, some think they’ll figure out how to get to the pack house without you knowing, again. And what i-“

“Celeste!” I interrupted her. “You ramble too much. I don’t want you worrying. Just worry about your training and I will handle everything else.” I stopped the car. We had made it to where I wanted to go. I looked into her eyes, my hands on both sides of her face, one of her quivering hands on my arm as I tried to calm her down. “I can’t tell you that everything is going to be fine, because I can’t predict the future but I can tell you that in the end you will be safe. That I don’t have to see the future to know. So don’t worry. And I will try with my every breath to get everyone home safe. Including myself.”

“So you’re going with the warriors?” I sighed. I thought she would realize that.

“I’m the Alpha, I have too.”

“But-“

“Let’s not focus on that right now. Let’s just go inside.” I jabbed my head in the direction of the shop in front of us. I removed my hands after kissing her head and she stared at the sign of the shop.

“What does the sign say?”

*~*~*~*

“My name?” Celeste seemed to be confused at the tattoo on my chest.

She had been glaring at the few girls and even a guy or two who stared at me when I took my shirt off but now she was staring at the tattoo that was placed close to my heart on my chest. She reached out and gently ran her finger across the ink, sending sparks through my body.

“Yeah. I’ve been meaning to get it done and now seems to be a good time.” I put my shirt back on and saw Celeste slightly frown when she could no longer see the tattoo. I get up and pay one of the two people at the counter and leave the shop. Celeste and I get back into the car and I go back towards the pack house.

When we get to the dining room, my – our – family is there. Lesa sits with Wesley in her arms, Zay next to them, then Kaleshia, then Jake, then Josh, then Delian, and then Jared. All at the table, smiling and laughing as if half of them weren’t about to go off to fight those experiments soon.

“Hey you guys,” Celeste says slightly cheerful.

“Celeste,” Lesa said happily. “Come here.” Celeste went and sat by Lesa and I smiled.

“Xavier, where were you guys?” I sat next to Jared, just a seat away from Celeste.

“I went to get that tattoo I’ve been meaning to get.” He gave me a smile.

“Good. You’ll need to remember her when we leave tomorrow.” I shushed him and looked over to Celeste.

“She doesn’t know that we’re leaving tomorrow yet. I don’t want her to know. She doesn’t even want me to go.”

“Of course she doesn’t. Katherine doesn’t want me to go either. She is just now starting to get better and now she fears as if our family is going to be ripped apart again. Delian doesn’t even understand what is happening.” Delian looked over at us. I stuck my tongue out at her which she returned and then went back to looking at baby Wes in fascination. I smiled at Jared.

“Tell her that I’ll get you back to her alive.” Josh was now looking at me, a look I was able to make sense of in his eyes. “I’ll get Jake back to you too but I’m pretty sure he doesn’t even need my help with that.” Jake listened to me and turned to glare but a smirk was on his lips.

“Thank you Xavier,” Josh said and smiled sadly.

“Just take care of my mate for me.” He nodded. He was staying here to look over the pack. Normally Jared would as well but we needed those who are strongest physically in the pack.

After that we all avoided talking about the upcoming war. Dinner was nice. Jokes were told. Stories of our childhoods told. Some unwillingly thanks to Lesa. . .

“Xavier? I’m going to bed, do you-“

I got up and took her hand in mine before she could finish her sentence. I said goodnight to everyone and Celeste and I went to our room. Before I could change out of my clothes, Celeste put her hand on my arm. Her eyes were narrowed at me.

“You’re leaving tomorrow?” I froze. “When were you going to tell me? Were you ever going to tell me?” Her brown eyes started to water but she blinked back the tears. “Answer me.” I stayed silent, not being able to think of anything. I wasn’t going to tell her. I was going to wake up, leave the letter I’ve been writing for the past few days, k**s her forehead, and go. I was going to leave her to wake up alone. It was going to be easier than to say goodbye. “Answer me!”

“I wasn’t going to! Okay? I wasn’t going to.” She raised her hand and punched my chest. She did it again. And again. And again. “Celeste,” I sighed. “Stop.” I grabbed her wrists in both of my hands. “I’m sorry.” She looked at me, a few tears having escaped. “I’m sorry Celeste. Please, let’s just go to bed. Let me just hold you tonight.” She nodded and changed into different clothes. She sat on the bed and tugged on her sleeves. I placed a finger under her chin, tilting her head up. I leaned down and placed my lips on hers. She moved her arms up and entangled her hands in my hair, yanking on it a little. “You better stop that or I might not stop,” I growled playfully at her.

“Don’t stop,” she whispered. “Not tonight.” I smashed my lips to hers.