Chapter 30: Mistakes
***Zanet**

My eyes flutter open to find Natalia nestled up by my side, her head resting on my shoulder and her nose buried in my neck.She drapes her left arm over my chest while tucking her left leg over my thigh.

To my right, I feel Kota curled up under my arm, snoring lightly in his sleep as he clutches his little wolf tightly to his chest.

For a moment, I remain perfectly still, afraid the mirage would fade away if I moved.

The sparks tingling across my body from Talia’s touch, however, make me realize I’m not dreaming at all, both my mate and our pup nestled safely in my arms.

This must be what heaven feels like… I tell myself as my heart beats uncontrollably in my chest.

It feels so natural to hold them in my arms, as if they were always meant to be with me.

Kota suddenly stirs, sitting up on his knees and glancing around the room in confusion.

Messy hairs stick out from his head and his pajamas are all rumpled and crooked.

He wipes his tired eyes and looks up at me with a grin.

“I’m hungry,” he yawns, stretching out his little arms.

He lays his head on my stomach and gives me puppy eyes.

“Can we make waffles, Zane?”

I smile at him, afraid to move and disturb Talia in her sleep.

It to me and then roll her to her side to free myself from her grasp.

My heart beats frantically as she stirs before she settles into her new spot comfortably, sighing contently in her sleep.

I help Kota brush his teeth and wash his face before we head into the kitchen where I spend a couple of minutes watching videos on my phone on how to make waffles.

Kota is practically dancing on his toes with excitement as I gather ingredients for his breakfast.

“Can I help you?” he asks eagerly, picking up a whisk with a cheeky grin.

“Auntie Gwen lets me help her.Can I please help you?”

His puppy eyes make it incredibly difficult to say no and I put a chair against the counter for him to stand on before placing the mixing bowl in front of him.

I hand measuring cups filled with ingredients to Kota, the little boy happily pouring them into the bowl and repeating the measurements out loud to me.

Placing my hand over his, I guide his little hand through the motion of whisking the ingredients together until we have a nice batter.

I pull out the waffle iron, staring at the infernal contraption until I finally figure out how to turn it on.

“Can I pour?” Kota asks as we both look at the iron.

I give him a measuring cup with some batter and steady him up over the counter while he pours.

“Oopsies…” he gasps as some of the batter spills over the counter.

“I’m sorry, Zane.” a beating and a week with no visits from Mom.

The little boy hides his batter covered fingers behind his back, unsure what my reaction will be to his mistake.I never want him to be afraid of me…

“I-It’s o-kay,” I smile, closing the iron and sitting Kota on the chair.I cup his cheeks, not wanting him to feel like he is in trouble for making a mistake.

“A-a-accidents happen. We j-just ha-have to c-clean it up, o-okay?”

I hand him a towel and help him wipe the counter, high-fiving him when the mess is all gone.

As I flip the waffle iron over to cook the other side, Kota taps me on my shoulder.

“Zane,” he says timidly, looking up at me with his large blue and brown eyes.

“Are you my daddy?”

My entire body stiffens but Grayson is more than willing to respond.Say yes, he grumbles.He belongs to us just as much as Talia.He’s ours.

The question, however, can only be answered by Talia.

“I- l-like you and your m-mommy very m-much,” I reply with a nervous smile.

“B-but I don’t know what I-I am to you yet.”

“I know what you are,” He giggles.

“You’re a wolf.”

He bursts out into a howl.

“Can I be a wolf like you?” I don’t want him to be a wolf like me…

A wolf who struggles to speak, a wolf who makes too many mistakes, a wolf who will inevitably always fail.

forehead.

y-you will be a wolf e-even great-er

me another howl and settles back into his chair, resting his

he hisses, watching the steam rise from

I look up to see Talia walking towards us, her arms

my heart nearly skipping a beat at

We made

to greet his mother.She raises an eyebrow at me in curiosity as she lifts

hurriedly

butter and syrup on the waffle, I place it on a plate in front of Kota who smiles proudly at it and shoves

poking his finger into a pool of syrup

bite, my heart sinking when she swallows with great difficulty and smacks her lips to remove the taste from her tongue buckle from the pressure of

gags, taking the plate and throwing

She asks me, the soft smile still

powder in a jar sitting on the counter and she sticks

bursts into laughter, the sound making my

“Taste it,”

choke on my own cough when I realize the jar

contagious enough to make Kota and I join her.I throw out the salty batter while Talia locates the real jar of sugar for

measuring out the proper amount of sugar and handing

the exchange, sparks

she pulls her hand away to tuck some hair behind

coughs to

help me with the milk and

his mother who sets him on the chair for him

whisk the

shake as I sift the flour and baking powder together, suddenly feeling very

in my head,

and I shove him away

of salt, I accidentally knock over my bowl of dry ingredients,

at Talia and Kota, afraid to move

Zane,” Kota gasps,

up time!”

his chair and scurries into the closet to

handle, wrapping both arms around it as he pushes the broom in

flour all over the

“It’s okay Kota,”

the broom

“I’ll sweep.”

behind my back and remain in the corner, not wanting to make

Zane,” Kota says, tugging

“Accidents happen.”

smile on my face and look over at my mate, nearly jumping when I realize she’s right in front of

up, another cloud of flour filling the air.I

tips of her toes and kisses me on the nose,

over mine, tugging me over the counter.I

touch and my racing heart finally calms

me, Talia pulls her hand away and

you some more flour,” she whispers,

trust you’ll find the

making finally bears fruit, Kota smiling giddily as Talia serves him up

the table and

getting along much better,”she signs,yet?” she chuckles,

back,

asks, raising an eyebrow at me

teasing me relentlessly with her kissing signs and

seem to pick up on the meaning, but of course, curious Kota wants to

doing?” he asks, micking her

speaking with her hands,” Talia replies, holding up her hands

spells out his name

Kota asks, attempting to replicate her signs

KOTA,” Talia replies, grabbing his hands and folding

A. See? KOTA,”

best to sign but very quickly forgets how to fold his

say?” he asks his

know,” Talia shrugs,

mean?” She asks, pinching her fingers and bringing her hands together

shoving a large chunk

best efforts to embarrass me and Agnes goes off to the Main pack house to take

the clinic, leaving the three

day so Talia suggests we go outside for some fun with

walk down to the pack drugstore where Talia purchases a kiddie pool and some sunscreen for

of multicolored balloons attached

balloons before,” she laughs, her smile widening

that.” She grabs five packs of the balloons and pays at the register, Kota jumping excitedly

***Natalia***

in a pair of shorts and flip flops, Kota very excited for a chance to play with water.I don’t have a bathing suit so I opt for a pair of shorts, a

where I find Zane hard basketball shorts and a plain white t-shirt.I can make out a few scars on his legs but pretend I don’t notice them, knowing he is very likely ashamed of his

when he looks at me and he becomes visibly flustered, nearly

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