Chapter 4: Figure It Out Together
1121 Words
-Octavia-
I woke up to a screaming little alpha. Damn, that kid had lungs, but when I opened my eyes, Valerio was already up, walking around with him. The little boy kept crying, though, but was slowly soothed by Valerio.
“I’m guessing a nightmare,” he said, noticing me awake and sitting up.
“Or he’s hungry,” I suggested.
“Ah, f*ck,” Valerio muttered, making me smile a little.
“I guess we need to get him something to eat,” I said.
Valerio nodded, and I pushed the blanket away before getting dressed and braiding my hair. Then we all went downstairs to the kitchen to get something to eat for all of us. However, the little alpha wasn’t very cooperative. He thought it was funnier to throw his food around than to eat it.
“Children are impossible!” I exclaimed as I picked up the spoon Ethan thought was amusing to throw on the ground.
Valerio just laughed, and I shook my head as I walked over to wash the spoon clean.
“I think we’re handling it well.”
“Face it, I’m not good with kids,” I admitted as I walked back to them.
They sat at the small table, with Ethan beside Valerio in his high chair, clearly not sad anymore but having the time of his life. Valerio had a cup of coffee in front of him and only wore a pair of sweats. He looked rather tired, but I bet I looked the same.
“I don’t really think that’s why Chris chose you,” he said.
“No, I was just the one closest by,” I replied, crossing my arms.
Valerio shook his head. “Actually…”
I looked at Valerio, confused. “Actually, what?”
“Chris told me a few weeks ago that he and Kate had agreed on a guardian.”
“And?” I prompted.
“They chose you.”
I stared at Valerio in shock, slowly shaking my head.
“Legally, you are his guardian,” he confirmed.
“But why?! I can barely take care of myself!”
Valerio smiled a little. “I guess Chris thought you could teach his son something others couldn’t.”
“But why not Garrett?!” I protested. “Lily and he actually want kids.”
“I don’t think Chris expected to leave so soon,” Valerio explained.
I sighed and looked down at the table. “And even if you are his guardian, it doesn’t mean you have to raise him alone.”
“What? You want to adopt him?” I teased.
Valerio shrugged.
“You do?”
“Maybe we weren’t meant to make a kid. I think you and I know better than anyone that blood doesn’t matter,” he reasoned.
“I am not good with kids,” I reiterated.
He chuckled.
“Good thing we aren’t alone then,” he said. “This whole house will be there for him, but you will make the legal decisions for him.”
“Great!” I replied sarcastically.
“Come on, O, he needs you.”
“And that’s what I hate,” I said, looking at Ethan, who had no idea what a difficult situation he was in. “I’m not good.”
“Octavia, don’t say that,” Valerio interjected.
I glanced at my mate, who appeared saddened by my words. “I’m a mess.”
“Aren’t we all?” he offered.
I sighed and shook my head. “Not like me…”
“Octavia, we will figure it out. We don’t have to decide what to do right now,” Valerio reassured me. “Right now, we will just make sure Ethan is taken care of.”
I slowly nodded.
“Until Kate comes back,” I added.
But as Valerio and I exchanged glances, we both knew that she wasn’t coming back.
“Yeah…” he murmured, gazing down at the coffee mug in front of him. “Until she comes back.”
“I messed up,” I whispered.
“No, you were trying to do the same as me. End it all.”
“And look where that has gotten us,” I lamented. “Hope is still gone. Chris is dead. Kate is… gone too.”
“We will figure it out.”
“And if we don’t?!” I exclaimed.
“Don’t think like that.”
“I can’t stop it!” I confessed. “I keep thinking about what would have happened if I hadn’t gone out that night.”
“Then who says Chris wouldn’t have died fighting alongside me?” Valerio posed. “We can’t fixate on the past. We need to look ahead.”
I sighed, acknowledging his wisdom. “I just find that really hard to do…”
“I know, little one,” he said, leaning closer and taking my hand that was resting on the table. “But we stand together.”
“Always,” I affirmed.
Just then, the door to the kitchen opened, and Lily emerged. She was always an early riser, and a smile graced her lips as she entered. However, her expression shifted as she noticed all three of us together.
“Have you k*dnapped him?” Lily quipped, walking over to us.
I chuckled, and so did Valerio. Lily approached Ethan, smiling and talking to him. She handled him much better than I did.
“No,” I responded.
“Then why is he with you?” Lily inquired. “Are you helping out Kate?”
I shook my head, and Lily must have sensed the tense atmosphere.
“What’s going on?” she asked.
Taking a deep breath, I felt unsure of how to break the news, but I knew I had to be straightforward. There was no point in hiding it.
I needed to be honest. “Kate is gone.”
“Gone where?”
I shook my head.
“No, she’s gone,” I clarified.
Lily stared at me in shock, then turned to Valerio, who nodded slightly.
“Why?!” Lily settled down beside me, her expression now filled with fear.
“She wanted to find a way to bring Chris back.”
“That’s impossible!” Lily exclaimed.
“We know…”
“So, she just left Ethan?” she pressed.
“She asked me to look after him,” I informed her.
Lily still appeared frightened, and I could understand why. I truly was a poor candidate, but I was his guardian now, and that couldn’t be changed. Valerio was right. We would just have to find a way to figure it out.
- Writer
