The Delta's Daughter Chapter 315

TAWNY

By the time morning rolled around, I still hadn't heard from anyone. Not about the murders, nor about Kellen and Tala and if their pup had been born.

Instead of wallowing in self-pity, because that really isn’t like me, and couldn’t understand why I was so dang emotional. Usually, I could shake shit off. Hold my head up and smile, because we never did mind about the little things. At least that’s the phrase Lamia would always say and her outlook on life, in general, had imprinted on me in more ways than I know. I decided to buck up and go find what I hope were still my friends.

I knew there was a valid reason that I hadn’t seen Mike or Kellen. Or I at least hoped their reasoning for reaching out to me was not because they didn’t value our friendship.

“Good morning!” I sang when Mason and my father appeared.

I brushed off Mason’s worrisome scowl and turned back around to flip the crepes I was making. I had already prepared bacon, sausage, and some eggs.

Chairs scuffled in the background, and my father and Mason took their seats at the small table quietly. I plated up the crapes and set them down in front of them then retrieved the other food bringing that to the table and taking a seat myself.

I loaded my plate and began to tuck in. It was only when I had crepe halfway to my mouth that I notice Mason and my father hadn't touched theirs. I glanced up at both of them and was met with two pairs of eyes staring at me with a curious intensity. “What?” I asked before shoving food in my mouth, my eyes darting between the two of them.

“You just seem… chipper this morning.” Mason tilts his head to examine me. My father followed suit, eyes grazing over me looking for something different.

I swallow my bite, washing it down with the glass of orange juice I set out for everyone. “You mean because I’m not all mopey and ‘woe is me’?” I shovel another bite into my mouth, tucking into the food that seems to be making me happier with each bite I take.

Mason's head bobs up and down slowly. “Well, yeah. When you put it that way.”

I shrug, brushing his unwarranted concern off.

“You okay, sweetheart?” My dad finally says.

“Yes Daddy, I was just feeling a little left out last night. And a little disappointed, I guess. But it’s all good. I’m good.” I reply while shoving a piece of sausage in my mouth. “Are you two going to eat or what?” I gesture between their plates with my fork. “I made this food with love, so don’t let it go cold.” I carry on eating.

Finally, after a few seconds of them both assessing they begin to eat. I roll my eyes at the unnecessary concern. “Look,” I say in between bites, “I’ve been overreacting to things, or underreacting. I’ve been gone for a year, and I can't expect to just waltz back in and think everything is the same. It's not. I don’t live here anymore.”

I’m disappointed when I look down to find my plate empty, “Are you going to eat that?” I don’t wait for Mason to reply and steal a slice of bacon from him. “Last night I realized¬-or at least came to terms-that I have my own destiny, my own future, ya know? I don’t know whether that includes Crimson or not. But I’m going back to Cambiador. I will take my rightful place as Queen, and I will kickass doing it.” I steal another piece of bacon as both my father and Mason stare at me with twin expressions.

“First though, I’m going to go see Kellen and hopefully meet Tala. Then, I will track down Mike and Rhett if he is still around. Then,” And I give Mason a pointed look and my father a sympathetic one. “Then I’m going back to Cambiador.”

To my surprise, a slow smile formed on both their faces. One of approval.

“That’s my girl,” My father claimed, shifting his chair and he began to dig into his food heartily.

“That the plan Princess?” He sounded stern but when I chanced a glance at mason his eyes held pride and his face had an expression of resolve.

“Yep,” I said popping the P.

*****

Mason pulls up outside the Pack hospital, my hand reaches for the handle when he grabs my elbow. “Do you want me to come in with you?”

“No,” I reply, “I got this. I will link you when I’m done.” I advance to push the door open when he stops me again.

“Tawny,” He says his grip tightening on my arm slightly, “I called Hunji when we arrived in New Moon. I should have told you sooner, but I was concerned for you.”

I could see that concern in his eyes by the way they lightened up and held mine. I couldn’t be mad at him for going behind my back. I had been acting out of character lately and his worry was out of friendship. Plus, Hunji was one of my closest friends. Even if he had pissed me off a little.

“That’s ok Mason, I understand. I was hoping to see him while we were here, but it seems I didn’t get to see any of my old friends.” He must have heard a note of melancholy in my voice at my admission because his brows drooped, and the corners of his mouth turned down.

“Hey, shit happens. It’s all good.” I pull my arm from his hand and swing the car door open stepping out into the brisk air. I lean down catching my reflection in the side mirror and notice the orange roots showing in my hair. How strange, I think, It was only a few days ago that I had it dyed. “I will be a while.”

I close the door and watch as Mason pulls the car back onto the road and disappears. I turn around and take a deep breath and enter the Pack hospital.

When I reach the maternity ward, the nurse on duty happens to be Tyron’s mate. “Tawny!” She beams “I’m so sorry we were all pulled away last night, it was crazy. What are you doing here?”

“Hey Marie,” I smile wide and brightly at her. “I came to visit Kellen and the new mom.” I was hoping she would allow me to go see him and luckily, I got my wish when Marie gave me the room number and pointed out the way.

A large werewolf stood outside the door, dark hair and dark eyes looked me up and down. “Can I help you?” He asks with a slight speech impediment.

“Tawny, I’m a friend of King Kellen’s,” I start when the man’s stoic face morphs into a wolfish grin.

“Tawny Johnson?” I nod yes to him, “He will be happy to see you.” He gestures for me to go in.

I knock on the door softly, opening it a jar, and peeking my head around the frame.

“Tawny!” Kellen’s voice booms, a Cheshire grin on his face until he realized he was shouting but quiets his voice speaking in a whisper. “Tawny, I had no idea you were in town. Last I heard you were visiting Lam’s and the trio?”

“Hey big guy,” I say returning his enthusiasm and getting swept up in a huge by his overly large frame. “I came straight here to see the little one. I’m sorry I didn’t call I wanted it to be a surprise.” He lets go of me and I move to where the tiny bundle is wrapped up in a bassinet. “I came for the ball and coronation. I was ready to head back to Cambiador but decided to take a detour and stop by here first.”

I look down at the little bundle wrapped in a blue blanket. A boy. “May I?” I ask looking at Kellen.

“Of course,” he says, and I waste no time cuddling the little guy into my arms and whispering sweet nothing to him. Engulfing that new baby scent. Goddess I couldn’t wait to be a mother.

I sit and stare at him while he sleeps in my arms and Kellen and I make small talk. It’s not long before Tala wakes up. When her eyes land on me holding her baby, I automatically shift to put him down, not knowing how a mother will react to her pup being held by a werecat she doesn’t know.

“You must be the elusive were-cat Princess I have heard so much about?” Her teal eyes shine with interest, and she waves her hand at me to keep hold of her cub.

“Tawny, nice to finally you meet. Congratulations, this little guy is so handsome.” I rock the baby in my arms feeling at home with him snuggled against me, like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

Tala smooths down her hair a little and sits up, Hopefully, he will be just as caring and handsome as his father,” She smiles at Kellen, and they exchange a look. One I am familiar with because that’s how Crimson looked at me.

I wondered if he would ever look at me like that again. I wondered if I would ever see him again. He said he would come back to Cambiador but would after I rejected him. Did he even feel the break in our bond? Did he know the awful words I spat out as he drove away? That he had broken my heart and in a moment of weakness and heartache I threw those cursed words out just because I let my sorrow and anger get the better of me.

We talk for a while and after some time I finally hand the little pup back to his mother. I always thought Kellen and Lamia were perfect for each other and I was just as shocked three years ago when they weren't fated mates as anyone else.

Except, now I have met Tala. She is the sweetest and most excitable person I have come across. Her beauty is radiant with bright red hair and eyes that hold the most exotic oceans this realm has seen. But more so, her soul is pure and just as beautiful as the exterior. She was the perfect mate for Kellen. I could see why the goddess chose to pair them.

Finally, I have to leave, so I say my goodbyes giving little Connor a few more kisses.

“Tawny,” Tala calls from the bed. “I really hope to see you again. I would love to visit the werecat Kingdom!”

I chuckle, “I would like that too. Very much Tala.”

Kellen walks me back down to the lobby and I link Mason as we get there.

My back stiffens when Kellen says from behind me, “I hear you have a mate?”

Did I still have a mate? I honestly didn’t know what the future held for me and Crimson. Enough people knew about my mate problems, and I wasn’t about to lay it all on Kellen and make him worry. I especially wasn’t going to add to his dilemmas. Plus, I didn’t need him worrying about me when he had his mate and a new pup to look after. They should be his priority. I wasn’t his problem.

I wiped any emotion off my face and turned cocking a hip and my head, “Not have. Had.” I replied hoping he didn’t see the war of emotions in my eyes and the fact I wanted to burst into tears at moment.

I changed the subject quickly, “I was hoping to see Hunji while I was in town.” My cheeks flared from restraining my tears.

“Oh yeah?” He gives me a curious look. “I honestly haven't seen him in a while. He was up in the Bear Kingdom, did Lam’s not tell you this?”

“She did but she also said he was heading down here for the coronation. I was just hoping to see him…” I didn’t know how much he knew, or if anyone had told him about Crimson or not. “I don’t know, I just needed to talk to him.” I sigh out loudly, “I miss him. I miss all of you. “I don’t know what I’m doing Kellen. And don’t know what I want. I just have this feeling that I need to see him.”

I told him the truth because since last night I had this strange feeling that I needed to talk with Hunji. The same way he came to see me in Cambiador. I felt as if some unknown force was urging me to seek him out and talk to him.

“Are you going to head up to the Bear Kingdom then?” He asks skeptically.

“No,” I scoff. “I’m going home to sort my mess of a life out,”

“We miss you, Tawny. You know you can talk to me anytime. Mike and I… we have your back.” His words warm my heart. I feel guilty that I had ever doubted their friendship, making me want to cry for a whole new reason. “No matter what.”

“When I figure out what the fuck I’m doing I will let you know,” I wink at him.

A car pap’s its horn behind me and I look over my shoulder to see Mason idling by the curb. “I gotta go, my ride is here,” I hook a thumb over my shoulder. “It was great to see you. Tell Mike I said Hi.”

“Don’t stay away too long Tawny. We miss you around here.” He gives me another hug. “You should go see Mike, he will be pissed if he missed you,” Kellen whispers in my ear. “He’s at the holding cells if you should decide to see him before you head out.”

I pull back from the hug and crane my neck to look up at him, and manage a meek “Ok.”

I hop in the car, waving bye to Kellen once more before he turns to head back into the hospital. No doubt to be by his mate’s and new pup's side. I was surprised he managed to pull himself away from them to walk me out. Alpha wolves are very territorial, especially over their mate and more so of their pups.

“Back to Cambiador?” Mason asks as I pull my seatbelt over and settle down.

I purse my lips and tap my fingers on my thigh before replying. “No, not yet I have one more person to see.” I give him directions to the holding cells.

Kellen was right. I can't leave here without seeing Mike. Besides, my gut instinct tells me I would regret not going. I don’t want to live with regrets, there have been too many of those already.

When we get to the Pack holding cells, a separate building from the prison cells and the dungeon they have beneath the modern buildings, this time I encourage Mason to come in with me.

The delicious smell of cinnamon and fresh bread hits my nose as we enter. The scent entices me and excites my feline. I look around in confusion as Crimson's signature scent hits me full force the deeper I walk down the hall.

“Do you smell that?” I ask Mason, my words barely a whisper as my nose lifts to the air, taking in the sweet smell of my mate. I follow my nose, hopeful and curious as to why I scent him.

“There are a bunch of different smells in here, Princess. Care to elaborate?”

I ignore him by waving him off, more interested in following my nose - or rather whatever the heck smells like my mate.

I stop dead in my tracks when a deep and agitated growl sounds out from one of the cells. For a moment or two, I’m grounded, frozen in place as I recognize that growl.

“Crimson!” I breathe out and suddenly my feet find their baring and swiftly move me quickly down the hall and around the corner.

Shouting, growling, and a loud ruckus echo off the walls. Sending a thrill through me and vibrating into my bones. My feline stirs and her excitement is overwhelming ‘mate’ she purrs and then there is no doubt in my mind that Crimson is here. And that was his growl.

But why is he here? In holding cells?

I turn the corner, to find a small pale-skinned, and white-haired woman standing outside the door to one of the cells. She bites her nails in worry and shifts from foot to foot. Her eyes lift to meet mine when she notices Mason and me.

Bright and violet, beautiful and innocent. There's no doubt in my mind who this woman is. “The witch,” I mumble quietly, loud enough for Mason to hear but not enough for human ears to pick up.