Chapter 4
2281 Words
Chapter 4
“Oh…” Sarah groaned, a long, shaky breath escaping her lips as Arden placed her hands over Sarah’s abdomen.
A soothing, ambient warmth began to radiate from Arden’s palms, sinking deep beneath Sarah's skin and targeting the tight, stubborn soreness that had plagued her for weeks.
“How does that feel?” Arden asked softly, keeping her voice low so she wouldn't disturb the sleeping baby.
“Heavenly…” Sarah sighed, her eyes drifting shut as the constant, dull ache finally began to melt away.
“Not too much pressure?”
“Not at all. It’s absolutely perfect,” Sarah replied, her muscles relaxing completely into the cushions of the chair.
Arden offered a remorseful smile, slightly intensifying the steady hum of heat pulsing from her fingertips. She leaned in, applying a gentle, rhythmic pressure to the tightest areas of tissue. “I’m really sorry I didn’t think to offer this sooner,” she murmured.
“It’s okay. Honestly, I haven’t been entirely truthful with anyone about how much pain and discomfort I’ve been in,” Sarah admitted, her voice dropping to a vulnerable whisper as she opened her eyes. “I just… I don’t want Carter to worry any more than he already is. He’s already carrying so much guilt over what happened.”
“I heard the short version of what happened,” Arden said softly, her eyes full of genuine empathy. “I won’t ask for any more details because it’s not my place, but I really am so sorry you had to go through that.”
“Thanks, Arden,” Sarah murmured, leaning her head back as the soothing warmth continued to ease her muscles. “I’m just glad you finally found your way here, too. It’s nice to finally sit down and talk to you properly, even if I was comatose for the first part of your arrival.”
Arden let out a soft, understanding chuckle. “Thank you. Honestly, it’s just nice to belong somewhere. Even though the Fairy Kingdom was technically my home, it never really felt like it. But here, in this pack... with Westley, and how incredibly welcoming everyone has been to me, and Malakor, too, it feels more like home than I could have ever imagined.”
“I felt the same way when I first got here,” Sarah agreed softly. “Especially after Carter and I made our relationship official. The sense of relief is incredible.”
Arden tilted her head, navigating the intricate web of pack relations. “So, let me get this straight. You’re fully human—that much I understand. But Allie, the Luna... she’s your actual, biological cousin?”
“Yep,” Sarah said, a sheepish smile touching her lips as she looked back on her arrival. “She was turned by Dorian, and she’s never looked back. When we first met, though... let's just say it wasn’t the best first impression. We had a pretty rocky start.”
“Well, family is family. They can surprise you,” Arden smiled warmly, adjusting the gentle heat radiating from her palms.
“Only if you give them a real reason to,” Sarah countered, her expression growing a bit more serious. “Just like our extended family did to her... and eventually to me.”
Arden nodded, her gaze softening with deep understanding. “I get that completely. Blood ties are supposed to mean something, but sometimes the most toxic people you will ever encounter in life come from your own family.”
Sarah nodded, and a comfortable silence fell between them as Arden focused the remaining energy of the session on Sarah's abdomen. The quiet was eventually broken by little Carlie stirring and letting out a soft, telltale fuss, signaling the urgent need for a diaper change.
Thanking Arden, Sarah carefully pulled her shirt back down, lifted her daughter from the chair, and carried her over to the changing table. Arden stood back, watching from a short distance as Sarah deftly handled the task. Despite her physical pain and her lingering insecurities about being human, watching her tend to Carlie made it obvious that motherhood came entirely naturally to her.
“How are you feeling now?” Arden asked, leaning against the nearby counter.
“Great. Seriously, whatever that heat therapy was, it was magic,” Sarah said over her shoulder, securing the tabs on a fresh diaper. “I’m definitely going to need to come over and have you do that a couple of times a week. And I’ll be more than happy to pay you for your time, too.”
Arden waved her hands dismissively. “No, no, please don’t worry about that, it’s not—”
“Yes, Arden, it is,” Sarah interrupted firmly, turning around with Carlie cradled in her arms. “I’m not going to take advantage of you or your abilities. What you just did for me was incredible, and I want to compensate you for your services properly.”
Arden sighed, recognizing the stubborn glint in Sarah's eyes and knowing when she was fighting a losing battle. “Okay, okay, if you insist,” she conceded, raising her hands in mock surrender.
“I absolutely do. In fact, I also insist that you look into using those talents with some of the other pack members,” Sarah suggested, a thoughtful expression crossing her face.
Arden tilted her head, completely thrown off. “What?”
“Have you ever considered becoming the pack’s honorary massage therapist?”
“A massage therapist?” Arden repeated the word, sounding foreign in her mouth.
“Yeah, think about it,” Sarah explained, walking back over. “You’re obviously gifted at this, and within the safety of the pack, you can use your powers openly without ever having to worry about someone coming after you or judging you.”
Arden blinked, her mind racing as she processed the suggestion. The idea took her completely by surprise, but as she mulled it over, she realized Sarah made an excellent point. While she wasn't yet entirely sure whether she wanted to dedicate all her energy to healing others, the prospect of turning it into a legitimate business was incredibly appealing. It would give her a sense of purpose, a way to build her own independence, and a means to earn her own keep while Warlord was away at the office during the week.
“Just think about it,” Sarah said nonchalantly, gently rocking Carlie against her shoulder. “Maybe offer it to Candy and Margot first and see how they like it. If anything, you and Margot could even become business partners. With her magic as a witch and yours as a phoenix, I’m sure you two could come up with a specialized wellness model that generates a really high income.”
Arden stared at her, genuinely impressed. “You know—and please don’t take this the wrong way—but you’re a lot smarter than you make yourself out to be,” she stated with the utmost honesty.
“You’re not the first person to tell me that, and you certainly won’t be the last,” Sarah replied with a small, knowing shrug. She finished snapping her daughter into a fresh onesie, then tossed the dirty diaper into the bin. “I was actually a business major in college before I got married and dropped out. I might be human, but I still have an eye for a good business model.”
“Yeah, I definitely see that now. Thanks for the inspiration, Sarah. I’ll have to give it some serious thought,” Arden stated.
“Take all the time you need. It was only a suggestion,” Sarah smiled. She carefully laid Carlie back into her crib, switching on the automatic patting mechanism. Fresh, clean, and warm, the baby slipped into dreamland in an instant. Sarah stood over the crib for a moment, smiling down at her little one, until her moment of peace was interrupted by a loud, sudden grumble from her own stomach.
“Hungry?” Arden teased, raising an eyebrow.
“I guess so,” Sarah giggled, pressing a hand over her middle.
“I can cook us something,” Arden offered warmly.
“My house is pretty empty right now—Carter is heading to the store after work today,” Sarah explained. “But we can always head over to the packhouse and see if Mrs. Johnson or the kitchen Omegas can whip us up something.”
“Sure, sounds like a lunch date to me,” Arden smiled, nodding in agreement.
Sarah grabbed the baby monitor from the dresser, checking the screen one last time before quietly closing the nursery door behind them. As they stepped out into the hallway, Arden looked at the device in Sarah's hand with a flicker of concern. “Are you sure it's okay to leave her here alone while we go to the packhouse?”
“Yeah, it’s completely fine,” Sarah reassured her. “Carter messed around with the wiring and managed to boost the frequency radius. Even if we’re across the territory, if she so much as whimpers, I’ll hear it.”
“Must be nice having a tech whiz so close to home,” Arden said, a trace of playful envy in her smile.
“The guys all have their strong suits,” Sarah noted as they walked out the front door. “Carter is a genius with electronics, Warlord is brilliant with numbers, Fury is amazing at seeing the bigger picture and bringing ideas to life, and Poseidon—even though he can be a total goofball—is just incredibly steady. He's always there when you need him. Honestly, I think we all lucked out in our own ways, landing the men we landed.”
Arden paused on the porch steps, tilting her head. “Why do you put it that way?”
“Put it what way?” Sarah asked, turning around to lock the front door.
“'Landing the men we landed.' Why can’t it be the other way around? Like they're the lucky ones?”
Sarah finished turning the key and let out a soft, rueful sigh, leaning back against the doorframe. “Because, if we’re being completely honest with ourselves... other than Candy, the rest of us haven’t exactly been easy on our men. Margot rejected Fury outright and put him through absolute hell when they first started dating, not to mention all the drama with her ex-fiancé. You pulled a massive disappearing act. And me? Well, I put Carter through the wringer with my own baggage and insecurities. But at the end of the day, they took it all in stride because they love us. Most regular guys wouldn’t have bothered sticking around through the chaos we brought with us.”
Arden quieted, the weight of Sarah's words sinking in as she thought about her own tumultuous journey with Warlord. She let out a soft sigh of her own. “Well... when you put it that way, I guess I really can’t argue with that.”
“Believe me, the guys lucked out with us in their own way, too. I’m not saying one side is entirely luckier than the other,” Sarah added with a casual shrug as they started walking. “But if we had to put it on a scale, I’d still say the guys are winning by a healthy margin.”
“Yeah, when you look at the big picture, I guess you’re right,” Arden agreed, nodding as they approached the large double doors of the packhouse.
The packhouse was warm and quiet. Fortunately, Sin was already down in the kitchen, mapping out the dinner menu for later that evening. When she looked up and spotted Arden and Sarah walking in, her face split into a brilliant, welcoming grin.
“Hey there, ladies!” Sin called out, wiping her hands on a dish towel.
“Hi, Sin!” they greeted in unison.
Sin’s eyes immediately swept down to Sarah’s arms. “Where’s the baby?”
“Sleeping,” Sarah answered, lifting the baby monitor to show the screen, where little Carlie was still peacefully asleep.
“Aww…” Sin cooed, leaning over to peek at the display before looking back up with pleading eyes. “Can I go see her?
“Of course you can. Here’s the house key,” Sarah said, fishing it out of her pocket and handing it over. “Just… please, I beg you, don’t wake her up.”
“I’m literally just going to stand there and watch her breathe,” Sin promised, holding the key like a prize. “My niece is just way too precious to only look at on a tiny-ass digital screen.”
“Niece?” Sarah teased, lifting a playful, skeptical eyebrow.
“Uh, yeah, absolutely,” Sin explained proudly, crossing her arms. “Allie is your cousin, right? And Allie is my soul-sister. Therefore, that makes me your soul-cousin, which naturally makes Carlie my soul-niece. Ergo, my niece. It’s basic math, Sarah.”
Sarah and Arden burst out laughing at the sheer absurdity of Sin’s logic. But underneath the humor, a wave of genuine warmth and love washed over Sarah. In this pack, blood didn't dictate who showed up for you.
“Well, if you’re going to use foolproof logic like that, then by all means, go watch your niece sleep,” Sarah smiled, waving her off. Sin gave a triumphant nod, flashed them a bright smile, and hurried out the kitchen door with the key safely in hand.
- Writer
