Trace and Me Only!

Kade nodded and walked to his mate, putting his arm around her protectively and walking out with her and Chris to their room.

"Do you always get in fights like that?" she asked worriedly taking hold of Chris's hand. He looked scared shitless.

"Dante has a short fuse," he explained with a sigh. "And since I originally had no interest in taking a mate, he likes to blame me. Suddenly I have a mate and her nephew to care for and protect. He's been trying to have a son for over a hundred years, and it's very hard for our kind to reproduce, just because of the conditions."

"What kind of conditions are those?" she asked quietly.

He noticed Chris and shook his head. It wasn't something to talk about in front of him. "You okay," he asked the boy gently, stopping and kneeling down in front of him.

He just shook his head no and held on tightly to his Aunt, "I want my mommy..."
Beth sighed softly, "She's still sleeping hun, she's catching up on all the sleep she missed the past few days." she said quietly, knowing after they got back from the apartment, she'd have to break the news to him.

"I'm sorry you had to see Dante so angry. I won't let him get that way in front of you again, I promise," Kade told him softly, trying to calm him down. The drumming of his little heart was loud in Kade's ears.

Chris nodded quietly held his Aunt's hand tightly.

Kade didn't want to ask Chris if he was scared of him, and end up scaring him further. He patted his head gently. "It'll be alright," he told him softly. He stood back up and took his mate's hand, walking into their room.

Bethany went to the bathroom to take of the suit she borrowed and put the sundress back on, running her hands gently through her hair. Chris stood there not really knowing what to do, he knew better than to sit on something with a wet shorts on.

Kade handed Chris one of his shirts. "It'll be big on you, but I can dry your shorts if you wear it for a short bit," he told him.

"Thank you." he said quietly and held it, scurrying in after Bethany came out of the bathroom.

"So when do you want to head out?" she asked kissing his cheek.

Kade shrugged. "Whenever you're ready. Out of curiosity," he murmured. "Does he have any kind of father-figure," he asked quietly, looking at his mate.

"No, his dad never really planned on being there, but he died running a stop sign when he was drunk." She said quietly. "Those were a rough couple months. That was before he was born though."

"I'm sorry," he kissed her softly. "But you know I'm here for you, and I'm here for him. For anything at all."

She smiled and wrapped her arms around him, "Thank you."

"Anything for you," he kissed her forehead.

Chris came out in the shirt, dragging his shorts behind him.

"Let me go stick those in the dryer for you," Kade offered the boy. In truth, he was fond of Chris. He was starting to feel more paternal towards him.

Bethany was a little surprised by this, especially since it's only been a couple days.

Once Chris' pants were dry, he handed them back to the boy. "There you go, kiddo."

Chris nodded in thanks and put them on, "So when are we leaving?" Bethany asked

"Whenever you're ready," he told her.

"I guess I'm ready then..." she said and looked down at Chris, "He should probably stay here though...I don't need him out there...if....you know....."

"Who will watch him," Kade asked her. Dante couldn't stand the kid, Jess was out of commission, Lucan didn't want humans there to begin with, and Lilli and Rio were always busy with each other. "Maybe Gideon?" he thought aloud.