Chapter 8: A New Day

“Mel, come on wake up” Carter whispered shaking my shoulder gently.

“Mm, go away” I mumbled smacking his hand away.

“Wake up”

“No”

“Harley, come wake up mummy!” he called down the hall. No!

“I’m awake” I said quickly sitting up and looking around the room finding the door wide open. I could hear Harley’s footsteps echoing down the hall. Oh god no.

“Mummy wake – oh. Mummy you’re supposed to be asleep” he said crossing his arms over his chest and pouting. He is so cute when he is upset.

“Sorry baby” I held out my arms and he gladly jumped into them. Bringing him in for a bone crushing hug, I could smell cookies.

“What have you been up too?” It was only seven in the morning, what could he have possibly gotten up to in that time?

“Mia and I made cookies!”

I looked over at Carter who smirked slightly closing his eyes.

“What?” I asked him releasing Harley.

“They made two giant cookies the size of the oven and pretty much trashed the kitchen but it kept them quite for thirty minutes.”

“Oh fantastic”

“Yeah, now hurry up before Liam wakes up and finds the kitchen”

“Where are we going?”

“I thought a hike would be nice” he had to be kidding right? It was seven in the morning and he was going to make me climb a mountain all before breakfast. Was the sun even out yet?

I looked at him gobsmacked. “You can’t be serious”

“Actually I am and I promise you the view is worth it, now hurry up”

“Come on Mummy!” Harley said pulling my arm. No matter how hard you pull on my arm Harley it’s not going to come off.

I got up from the bed and walked in to the bathroom grateful for the alone time. I slipped on my blue jeans and red stripped shirt quickly tying my hair back in a ponytail and slipping on my dock martins. What else was I supposed to wear when hiking?

Opening the door I walked out seeing Carter on the bed with Harley climbing on his back like a monkey. I smiled at them before walking over to the door and leaning against the wall.

“Ready?”

“Yep, how’s the monkey” I gestured to Harley.

“High on cookie dough”

“Serves you right”

“Watch this” he said grabbing Harley and putting him in his lap. “Harley did you make the mess in the kitchen”

“No”

“Then who did?”

“I don’t know”

“See” Carter said turning back to me. See What?

“What’s your point?”

“I told you your compulsive lying was genetic”

“So is your anger management issues but you don’t hear me complaining” I rolled my eyes and walked over kneeling down in front of Harley grabbing his tiny hands in mine. “Honey, you know lying is bad.”

“I know”

“Then why did you lie?”

“I didn’t… I-I don’t know… Mia did it…. I don’t want to get in trouble” he said having a new answer every ten seconds, fourth time lucky.

“If you tell the truth then you won’t, ok”

He nodded smiling down at me. I kissed his forehead and ruffled up his hair before walking over to the door and opening it “Are we going or not?”

“Yes” Harley ran out of the room while Carter paused at the door.

“Nice work”

“Yeah, now if only you can reverse your genetic defect he might actually have a chance” I said walking out of the room and down the hallway following the sounds of Harley terrorising the place as I went.

We walked on a small dirt trail that looked well used, Harley ran up a head disappearing into the trees.

I walked along side Carter trying my hardest not to trip over the branches and twigs that fell off to the side. I stepped over a large log not judging the distance probably and fell almost landing flat on my face except that Carter caught my hand pulling me back up to my feet.

“Watch your step” Watching my steps isn’t the problem it’s watching what’s in front of me.

I nodded looking ahead of me and taking another step only this time I slipped in the mud and landed on my butt. Ouch!

“You have got to be joking”

“I thought I said watch your step”

“It wasn’t my step that was the problem” I said through clenched teeth.

“No it was your other step.” I rolled my eyes ignoring his lecture about looking where I was going.

He helped pull me to my feet yet again keeping an arm wrapped around my waist as we started to walk to stop me from falling over again. I looked over to him seeing his face concentrated on the scene before him.

“Can I ask a question?”

“Of course you can, although now that I think of it that sounded rhetorical”

“It was but thank you anyways” I said collecting my thoughts back to the question. “Why did you never tell me about this place, or Liam and Kate? It would have been nice to talk to someone or for Harley to have someone to play with and make cookies”

He went a little tense and bit his lip. “Liam and I weren’t on the best of terms a few years ago and I didn’t think to mention it beforehand”

“Why, what happened between you?”

“We turned eighteen together and well… we both wanted to be the Alpha and neither one was willing to back down. We almost killed each other a few times.”

“And you just packed up and left?”

“No Liam did, the mountains belonged to another family but their line ran out a couple of years ago and Liam took his opportunity, the twins stayed with me since they refused to listen to him.”

“Oh, ok. But still you should have told me.”

“I know I’m sorry”

I smiled and giggled a little.

“What?”

“You just said sorry again, I am beginning to think your expanding your vocabulary” I said smiling.

He rolled his eyes at me and smiled while we walked off up the trail. It was starting to get a little steep now and the sun was burning bright, burning my skin. Please tan!

I should have worn shorts, it was so hot here.

“My feet hurt!” We heard Harley complain as he stopped right in front of us.

“We’ve only got a little more to go”

“But my feet hurt” he complained again.

Carter quickly picked him up and threw him on his shoulders before he started to walk off again. Where’s my ride? My feet hurt too!

“Watch your head” he said as he ducked down carefully making sure Harley didn’t hit his head.

The trees slowly began to thin out and I could see a clearing, Carter pulled the branches back and allowed me to walk through. It opened up to a meadow with yellow flowers that moved ever so slightly in wind, on the other side was a cliff face that looked over the whole valley below showing the sun in the last stage of the sunrise. It was beautiful.

I walked over to the edge standing as far over as I could get without falling, the wind rustled my hair and was a cool contrast to the warm sun. The valley below was covered in a thin layer of clouds that sheltered it from the harsh and cruel sun, it was utterly breathtaking.

Carter came to stand next to me his hand falling around my waist as he pulled me back slightly away from the edge, I could hear Harley in the background complaining about something and pulling me back to the now. I turned around and smiled up at Carter letting him wrap an arm around me.

“So was I right? Is the view worth the hike?”

“Well you know I hate it when your right but I can’t argue on this one, it’s a beautiful sight.”

“Told you”

We walked over finding Harley trying to unpack the picnic blanket, more than likely just trying to get to the food but he was easily distracted when he spotted a grass hoper.

“Harley, be careful!” I yelled after him knowing full well that there was no point; I just hope he does go too far to the edge.

“Don’t worry he’ll be fine”

“How do you know? Do you have some family troll that will stop him from falling off of the cliff?” I questioned sarcastically as I walked over to help with the picnic blanket.

“Don’t trolls live under bridges and not the mountain sides?”

“Not the point”

“Well, no trolls, just lightning fast reflexes and the fact that you can hear where that kid is everywhere he walks, he’s so heavy on his feet”

“He’s two” What did you expect him to come out like a trained solider complete with perfect frighting techniques?

I grabbed one side of the blanket pulling it on the ground before I sat down and pulled out a sandwich. Carter walked over grabbing hold of a complaining Harley and placed him down on the blanket before giving him a sandwich.

It was nice, quiet, peaceful, relaxing and just perfect.

I laid down on the picnic blanket and absorbed some of the sun. it was like I hadn’t felt the sun on my face in years, the weather from back home is mainly clouds and rain storms so the new warm temperatures and sun was a welcomed feeling. I might even get a tan.

I could hear Harley’s small squeals of delight as he played with Carter. Maybe it was about time I gave him some slack, he has been trying really hard lately I haven’t exactly made things easy.

I heard Carter approach me and sat up on my elbows to get a better view. He was jogging towards me, his hair tousled in the wind and a wide smile on his face. He stopped in front of me making me crane my head to look at him; he sat down next to me and stared up at the sky. Taking a deep breath I laid down resting my head on his chest and let myself relax listening to the strong beat of his heart and his deep breaths.

“Can I ask a favour?” He said after a few minutes of silence.

I looked up at the clouds seeing one that resembled bunny, so fluffy.

“What?” I let my eyes flutter close.

“Can we start over?”

“Start over?” I said clarifying.

 “Yeah, do this right.”

I sighed and couldn’t help the smile that took hold of my face. Start over, was it really that easy?

“So like go out to the movies and the whole romantic evening type thing.” I couldn’t help the giggles that escaped my lips. I suppose that could be fun, but Carter didn’t strike me as the romantic type.

“What’s so funny?”

“Nothing, you were saying.”

“I just want a second chance Mel, can you give me that?” I could hear the seriousness in his voice and I knew I had to give him a serious answer.

Could I give him the answer he wanted? Could I give him a second chance? It meant forgiving him for everything, but mainly for that night all those years ago. Could I find in myself to forgive and forget? I already knew the answer and I think I have for a long time now. Yes I could.

I sat up leaning on my elbow and looked down at him. His blue eyes were so light in the sun as they bore into me looking for an answer as if it were written on my face. He looked so… vulnerable at that moment, more than I had ever seen him before.

I reached up and placed my hand on his jaw line, leaning in I placed my lips against his slowly kissing him. He leaned into the kiss, his hands coming up to my waist and bringing me closer to him, capturing me in his embrace. I gave in and let him take control as he moved me onto my side and onto my back, his tongue slide over my bottom lip and I gladly gave him entry.

His slow tantalizing kisses seemed to take all the breath out of my lungs leaving me breathless as his kisses full of passion began to make my heart flutter and the longing in the pit of my stomach was back.

I moved my hands, locking them behind his neck bringing him closer while my legs moved to either side of him almost on their own accord.

We broke apart out of breath but Carter just moved his lips from mine and down to my neck. I smiled giggling at the tickling sensation of his soft butterfly kisses, throwing my head back to give him better access I closed my eyes giving in as the wetness began to resurface between my legs.

“Mummy!” Harley’s voice came out of the trees like a siren.

My eyes sprung open and Carter was up on his feet in no time and already running off towards where we heard his cry. I scrambled to my feet and ran off into the woods. Jumping over wigs and logs ignoring the slashes and cuts I was getting from the various branches. I came to a stop and looked around in every direction. I had no idea where to go and I couldn’t hear a thing.

My heart was thumping a million miles an hour echoing in my ears. I finally decided on direction and ran off further into the woods.

Hearing muttered voices I crept closer until I saw Harley on the floor, tears gushing down his face and Carter crouched down next to him. I walked closer and immediately put my hand over my mouth. Harley had stepped in an animal trap and his leg was broken and bloody. I felt sick to my stomach, why the hell is there a trap here in the first place?!

I knelt down next to him and cradled him in my arms watching his tiny face turn pale.

“Mummy it hurts.” He cried.

“I know baby.” I tried to sooth him by rubbing small circles on his fore head.

“Do something.” I told Carter.

He put his hands on the trap and started to force it open. Harley grabbed onto me tightly as Carter pulled his leg free. He quickly examined it and I could easily see that it was broken but it was hard to see anything else with his blood stained pants covering the leg.

“I need to have a look how bad it is ok.” Carter said.

I nodded in understanding while Harley buried his head in my shirt. Carter pulled the edge of the pants up over Harley’s knee and I turned away, I couldn’t look at it.

“It’s ok.”

“OK?! It’s broken!” I screamed at him.

“It will be fine in a few hours, we just need to stop the bleeding.” He started taking off his top and then wrapped it around his leg stopping it from bleeding.

He picked him into his arms, holding him on his chest with one arm while his other reached out and grabbed hold of mine, interlacing our fingers. I looked up at him letting my face convey all the worry I am feeling.

“He’ll be ok. I promise, you watch in a couple of hours he will be running down the hall banging pots and pans.” he said smiling at me while his thumb brushed over my knuckles reassuring me.

I smiled at him, trusting every word he had said. He better be right.

Sorry it's been so long since my last update, schools been crazy since it is all coming to an end and I haven't had much time. Hopefully it wont be too long before my next one, thanx for bearing with me.