Saving Tragedy Chapter 130

Rose's POV

By the time breakfast was done and the dishes were cleared away, the sun had climbed higher in to the sky — proving to be a luxurious day outside offering a peaceful buzz of normality. 

It felt... nice.

To have everyone back together, almost as though nothing had ever happened to begin with. 

For the first time in what had been long torturous hours, there were no more looming threats over our heads. No whispered pack gossip. No tension weighing heavy in the air.

Just us.

Our little family.

Back together as a whole unit. 

"Alright, you two." Ashton clapped his hands together, standing by the front door with Tommy's jacket in one hand and Zander's in the other. "Who's ready for the park?" He questions, bringing Daisy to life who was overly familiar with the word too.

Tommy practically bounced out of his skin, fist-pumping the air. "Me!" He stated, as Daisy barked excitedly - giving her own response.

Zander — who was just as crazily wild as Tommy and just as full of energy — raised his hand too, hopping around. "Me too! Me too!" 

I couldn't help but smile as I knelt down, fixing Zander's coat buttons while Hunt stood nearby, chatting quietly with Ashton about the plan for the day.

It always amazed me how gentle Hunt could be with his son — so patient and soft-spoken despite the brutal reputation he'd earned within the pack - especially on the day I had first met him!

But when it came to Zander or Lydia, he was nothing but a doting father and mate.

It was a side of him I'd only ever seen when it was just us — a side I knew Lydia adored about him too.

Speaking of Lydia...

"Alright, I think that's everyone bundled up," I announced, standing back to brush my hands together. "Where's your mom hiding, huh, Zander?"

The little boy giggled, his hair bouncing. "Still getting ready. Daddy says she takes too long so we should just ditch her."

"Does he now?" I grinned, shooting Hunt a teasing glance at being stuck in by his own son.

He just smirked, shrugging one broad shoulder. 

"She's been saying she'll be five more minutes for the past half hour," Ashton muttered under his breath, not quite quiet enough for me to miss it.

I swatted him playfully, but before I could fire back with a smart remark, Lydia finally appeared — bundled up in a thick knitted cardigan with her long hair in a loose braid over one shoulder.

"Sorry, sorry!" she huffed, wrestling with the zip on her coat. "You try getting ready with two boys clinging to your legs all morning."

"It's alright," I smiled warmly. "Better late than never."

Hunt's eyes softened the second they landed on her, stepping forward to help with her coat without saying a word. The small, grateful smile she gave him made my heart squeeze in my chest.

God, they really were perfect for each other.

By the time we finally left the house, the day had warmed up just enough to take the edge off the lingering winter chill. The park was only a short walk away — a small clearing tucked behind the treeline, with rusted swings, a slide, and a wide open field where the boys could burn off their endless energy.

Tommy and Zander immediately made a beeline for the swings with Daisy racing beside them yapping excitedly, as they both raced each other to see who could get there first — their laughter ringing out through the crisp afternoon air as they both stumbled and began to wrestle one another to hold each other back... 

I found myself standing back for a moment, just watching them — soaking in the sight of those two little boys playing without a single care in the world.

For so long, I'd lived in fear of what the future might hold for Tommy... for all of us.

But right now...

Right now, he was just a kid.

My perfect little boy.

And I'd hold onto that for as long as I possibly could.

"You're thinking too hard again."

Ashton's deep voice rumbled softly from beside me, breaking me out of my trance. I glanced up to find him watching me with those sharp, perceptive eyes — the same ones Tommy had inherited.

I smiled faintly, leaning into his side as his arm snaked around my waist.

"Just... taking it all in."

His grip on me tightened slightly, his lips brushing against the top of my head.

"I know you're scared for him," he murmured, voice low enough that only I could hear. "But I meant what I said earlier, Rose. I'll protect him from this life for as long as I can."

I swallowed hard, nodding into his chest.

"I know."

He didn't make promises lightly — not to me, not to anyone. If Ashton said he would protect Tommy... then he would.

"Alright, lovebirds!" Lydia's teasing voice called out from a few feet away, snapping us both back to reality. "Are you two gonna stand there making googly eyes at each other all day, or are we actually playing some football?"

I rolled my eyes, but a laugh bubbled up in my chest as Ashton smirked.

"You're on."

The afternoon passed in a blur of laughter, muddy knees, and breathless races across the field.

Hunt and Ashton naturally fell into their usual competitive rhythm — turning what was supposed to be a friendly kickabout into a full-blown Alpha showdown.

Tommy and Zander chased after the ball with wide grins, completely unaware that they'd just been roped into the age-old rivalry between their dads.

Lydia and I watched from the sidelines, sharing fond smiles and quiet conversations as we sipped from our travel mugs of coffee.

It was... perfect.

By the time the sun started dipping low on the horizon, all four boys were red-cheeked and exhausted — bundled back up in their coats as we made our way home.

We'd barely walked through the front door when Ashton's phone buzzed in his pocket.

He glanced down at the screen, then shot me a look.

"It's Sawyer."

My heart squeezed a little at the name.

He was still healing... still recovering from everything Jacob had done.

Ashton answered, putting the call on loudspeaker so we could all hear.

"Ashton, how's things?" Sawyer's voice crackled through the speaker — rough but steady.

"How are you holding up more like?" Ashton asked, his voice softer than usual.

There was a beat of silence before Sawyer chuckled weakly.

"Could be worse... but thanks to you and Hunt, I'm still here - still alive."

My eyes flicked to Hunt, who dipped his head slightly — always uncomfortable with any kind of praise.

"And Millie?" I asked, unable to stop myself.

"She's good," Sawyer replied. "Elsie's doing fine too... strong little thing."

A lump rose in my throat.

Thank the goddess they were all ok...

"Everything's... getting back to normal here," Sawyer continued quietly. "Feels strange after everything since it all happened so fast, but... we're all alright."

Normal.

It was such a small word — such a simple thing.

But I knew exactly what he meant by that. 

"Thank you," Sawyer added after a moment, voice thick with emotion. "For everything."

I glanced around the room — at Lydia curled up on the sofa, at Hunt sitting quietly beside her with Zander tucked against his side... at Tommy dozing off in Ashton's lap, completely oblivious to the weight of the world around him.

This...

This was everything we'd fought for.

Everything we'd nearly lost.

Ashton cleared his throat, shifting Tommy's small body a little closer against his chest.

"Anytime, brother."

The call ended not long after that, leaving behind a thick, heavy silence.

I looked around at my little makeshift family — at the people who had stood by our sides through every storm we'd weathered.

We'd all been through hell together...

But we'd made it out the other side.

Stronger.

Closer.

And for the first time in hours...

Happy again.

Maybe the world would always try to drag us back into the darkness.

Maybe there would always be wars to fight and blood to spill.

But right now — with the fading light spilling in through the windows and our children sleeping soundly in our arms...

We were home.

We were safe.

And if there was one thing I'd learned through it all...

It was that love — this love — was worth every battle.

Always.