Chapter 19: Welcome Home
1442 Words
Meghan
I scrubbed a hand through my hair. Christmas was two weeks away, and I hadn’t heard anything from Dylan since that call almost three months ago. I hadn’t told anyone, but my kids. I didn’t want to get everyone excited, but I needed to know if my kids especially Atlas would be okay with their Dad coming home. Currently we were in the dining room in Nahonia for dinner.
We had finished dinner already, but we were sitting around talking about life. Hannah suddenly fell off her chair and Atlas caught her. We had come to recognize these moments as her having visions. We waited patiently for it to finish and when Hannah sat up she had tears in her eyes.
“What did you see sweetheart?” Claire asked.
“My Dad.” Hannah sniffed.
“Is he okay?” Anna asked.
Hannah nodded. “He’s coming home. They all are.”
“What?” Claire jumped up. “When?”
“You know it doesn’t work like that Claire.” I reminded her softly.
“Yes, and they all look healthy and happy.” Hannah nodded.
Over the last year Hannah has had visions of her parents. She didn’t always tell us what they were doing, but she had told us that Justin had relapsed, which Anna bawled, and Tanner got pissed to find out that Justin had had a drug problem. Hannah told us that Dylan was drinking non-stop, and that Niky was safe in New York, but she never told us what she was up to. Hannah was to young to know these things, but no amount of magic could stop the visions.
“Do you think-?” Ethan trailed off.
“What are we going to do?” Amber finished. “They up and left without a second thought.”
“Which is something we are going to have to live with for the rest of our lives.” A voice said from the doorway. We all whipped around to see Justin, Dylan, and Niky standing there. “We will spend the rest our lives begging for forgiveness, and your trust.”
“Oh my god.” Anna cried and ran forward to hug her sons. Hannah ran to her parents.
“I’m so sorry.” Niky cried softly. “I’m so so sorry.”
“I know Mommy.” Hannah cried.
Dylan locked eyes with me, and then looked down. Not before I saw the pain in his eyes. “Dylan look at me.” I snapped.
When he locked eyes with me, I felt my breath catch in my throat. So much pain and grief swirled in his emerald irises. Anna suddenly smacked him upside the head. “How could you reject your mate?” I heard murmurs of agreement.
“Meg I-“ Dylan swallowed. “I’m so sorry.”
“Sorry doesn’t fix our bond Dylan.” I told him.
“I’ll take back the rejection.” He gulped.
“That won’t fix it either young man.” Tanner boomed. “And you Justin.” Justin froze from hugging all three of his kids. “I am very disappointed in you.”
“We know about the drugs Justin.” Claire clarified.
Justin sighed, and Niky looked at him in question. “Drugs?”
“You didn’t tell her.” Dylan growled.
“Oh yeah, how do I tell my wife that I went on a bender for six months.” Justin snapped.
“What?” Niky yelled. “You have some explaining to do later when we are alone.”
“Yes ma’am.” Justin hung his head.
“What the hell were you up to?” Amber asked Niky.
“I was a bodyguard for a mafia princess.” Niky shrugged. “Look we f****d up. We know that, but-“
“It doesn’t matter.” Claire said firmly. “You are home now, that’s what matters.” Everyone gawked at Claire. “Oh, leave them alone. They went through hell. I’m sure all of us would have made the same choice they did.”
I looked at Dylan. He stood alone. Neither I nor the kids had moved to greet him. I stood and silently walked over to him. When he finally looked at me, I cupped his face and gently kissed him. “It’s going to take a bit, and a lot of couples counseling, but welcome home Dylan.”
He smiled sadly at me. “I, Dylan Ohmsford take back my rejection of you Meghan Ohmsford, and accept you as my mate.” It was a relief to feel the bond snap back into place, and I couldn’t resist kissing him. A tug on my shirt made me pull back. Our kids surrounded us with Atlas in the lead. One by one they hugged their Dad, and then I realized everyone was hugging. Our family was complete again.
Later that night I lay in bed staring at the ceiling. Dylan was on the couch. I knew he had to be uncomfortable. “Dylan?”
“Hmm?”
“Come to bed.”
“Meg.” He sighed.
“Don’t fight me on this please.” I whimpered.
I heard the couch move and then Dylan was sliding under the covers with me. I sighed when I realized he was staying as far over as possible. I grabbed him and dragged him closer. Then I laid my head on his chest and curled into him. “Meg.”
“Just hold me Dylan.” I started crying. “It’s been almost a year.”
I felt him nod and then he pulled me even closer. “You know I love you.” He whispered. “I regret ever rejecting you, but I was in so much pain, and I didn’t know how to deal. It’s not an excuse though and I promise to do whatever it takes to earn your love again.”
“You never lost it Dylan.” I told him. “But it will take awhile for me to trust you again.”
“I know.” He kissed the top of my head.
When I woke up the next morning, Dylan was not there. I panicked, but then I smelled him on the sheets. I changed into my workout clothes, and then I followed his scent down to the training room. Niky, Justin, Dylan, Jaden, and JP were already there.
“Good morning Meghan.” JP grinned at me.
“Good morning.” I yawned.
“You three have missed a lot.” JP told them. “We need to get you back into tip top shape.” He looked at Dylan. “Especially you.”
“Niky is probably fine.” Justin smirked.
“Regardless. We will go back to our old training schedule.” JP smirked. “Let’s see if you remember. Get to work.”
That’s how I spent my morning. Training. At the end JP called us to attention. “Meg has not received her weapon yet. She wanted to wait for you.”
Jaden pulled out a large chest and put it on the ground. “This is a celestial chest. When you put your hand in it will give you the weapon best designed for you.”
I nodded and stepped forward. I opened the lid and put my hand in. My hands closed around something cold, and long. When I pulled it out I was holding a silver whip. I gasped at the glowing weapon.
“That’s a good weapon.” JP whistled. “I assume you three still have yours.”
“Of course.” Niky nodded. “I even got to use them on a few demons.”
“Good.” JP smirked. “Tomorrow we start a whole new training regime. Now I will see you all later.” With that he vanished.
Jaden smiled and said goodbye before he to vanished. “So, what now?” Dylan asked.
“Breakfast.” I laughed.
“And then we see if we can get our lives back.” Justin crossed his arms. “Then we train like hell, and never ever run away again. I am tired of letting Bastian run our lives.”
“Amen.” Niky nodded.
“Sounds like a plan.” Dylan smiled at me.
With that we all went upstairs to shower and get ready for days. Dylan was going to shower in one of the guest rooms, but I dragged him into the shower with me, Sam was tired of being away from her mate, and honestly I agree.
- Writer
