Redemption (The Extinct Race Series Book 4) (16 page)

Chapter 30

Fire 10 Years Later

Donny and Alex had taken their time really falling in love and for the first few years they traveled a lot with Tia and John. They had been gone for two years before they came home. Donny had talked Alex into coming home as soon as she learned she was pregnant. Now any leaving home is only for family vacations as both of them feel that the mountain is where they want to raise their four children.

Shane was their first born he is now a seven year old Fire Dragon. Tyler came shortly after and is now six and Alex was thrilled when she realized he was a Fury. Not long after Tyler they had a little girl who they named Allison and she is five years old. Allison is an Onyx and has her mother’s jet black almost purple hair. They waited a few years and then had another little Fire boy names Tristan who is now five.

Now that all her kids are in school Alex is taking online courses to become a counselor. She wants to open up a clinic and shelter for battered women and kids. Cara, Donny’s mom, and her mate Brice are also taking courses to become counselors. Brice has already found a perfect location in the bigger city and had Hugh’s replacement working on making the top levels apartments and the lower levels offices. Donny spends his time spoiling the kids and teaching fire safety lessons to the little Fire kids. Who are all really little fire bugs.

So Alex is alone in the suite during school hours and then she piles the kids and her mate into the car and they drive to check on the office building. Cara and Brice always follow as this is also their baby. Cara and Brice also spend a lot of time with their grand babies. Because they are a second chance couple and Cara had Donny they won’t be having any children. Cara is a little heartbroken about it so she spends a lot of time spoiling Donny’s babies. Brice loves the arrangement. The kids come over they spoil them and then send them home.

Alex also has two brothers and two sisters now. Alex laughs about it because they are the same ages as her kids. Her mom and she seemed to get pregnant at the same times.

Laura and Max had decided to try for kids when Alex had taken off and was gone for two years. Laura had just learned she was pregnant when her oldest daughter showed up back home and told her she was pregnant too. They had had a good laugh especially when Alexi had told them they were only weeks apart. Laura loved it though. She had missed so much of Alexandria’s life that she was glad she got to start over. The pregnancy also brought the two so much closer.

Laura and Max had four children now. Martin was seven and he is a Blood Dragon. Barkley is six and they were dumbfounded that he was a Pearl. They took a break for a few years and enjoyed their time with the boys. When they were blessed with not one but two Fire little girls they threw a party. Saige is now two and Talya is just one years old.

Laura spends her days as a stay at home mom. After not being able to raise Alex she wants nothing more than to spend every day she can with her children. Max opened a tattoo shop in town and his reputation has only grown. He has hired a few humans and now Max is by appointment only, which Laura loves because when she needs him he is there.

In the house next door Carmine and Ava have had three children much to Cara’s delight as she has more kids to spoil. Hadley was their first child he is six and a Fury. Adam came along two years later and is now four. He is their little Fire bug, who like his cousin Donny, likes to set things ablaze. Paige is their newest addition and just five months old. She is an Onyx.

Ava stays home with the kids also while Carmine works as a fire fighter in town. Needless to say injuries of his fellow fire fighters have gone down since Carmine started working there. Today he is home on rotation and playing with Adam outside while Ava cleans up after lunch. Paige is down for her nap and since Adam has out grown them Ava no longer gets her afternoon refuel. However today she is going to take a hot bath since Carmine is home to watch Adam for her.

“Sneaking a hot bath I see?” Carmine stated in the quiet room which made Ava jump.

“Don’t do that!” she whispered loudly at him through her teeth. Paige was asleep on their bed in the middle of a mound of pillows.

“May I join you?” Carmine asked as he pulled Ava into his arms.

“Where is Adam? He can’t be left alone!”

“Relax Adara was just taking Braden and Ridley for a walk and she asked if Adam could join them. She knows I am not home often enough and also knows its Paige’s nap time. So can I?” Carmine smiled down at Ava as her face lit up with the possibilities.

Adara and Monroe had moved in next to Ava and Carmine as soon as the houses were available. Shortly after it was safe they left the mountain to scour the earth for possible survivors. They were gone off and on for the last six years and hadn’t found any evidence of more survivors. When they found out they were pregnant they decided to give up the search and start living their lives. They now had two children Braden who was four and a Fire and Ridley who was two and her daddies little princess.

Monroe always wanted a little girl and he was excited that she was an Earth Dragon. They both had heard about the journal and the second chances. They even witnessed it happen once they came home. Still it hadn’t clicked that it was true to them until Ridley was born. At Sunday dinner after she was born Josiah and Brielle’s son Brighton had walked right over and refused to leave Ridley’s side.

When Braden’s soul mate was born he went right out the house and two doors down. Max had opened the door and Braden walked right past him and into the nursery. When Max came to get Adara she didn’t even know Braden had left the house. When she walked into the nursery she started to cry at what she saw. Braden was only two years old at the time and he was sitting between mounds of pillows. Laura was to the side carefully watching as Braden held her new born daughter. Even at two years old he was so gentle with her.

Adara is taking night classes with Rosa to become a teacher and Monroe is the mountain handy man. Anytime something small is broken they call him and he rushes out to fix it. Since they were gone for so long afterwards they Adara and Monroe both felt a little rift. Soon however, they realized it was them that were the ones holding back from building relationships.

It took a good year before both she and Monroe were able to really let their guards down. They had befriended Max and Laura first, mainly that was Braden’s doing. Then Adara got bold and started approaching Ava. They had become very good friends in a short time. Now they swapped recipes and helped out with the kids every once in a while. Adara always tried to do it when Carmine was on rotation. Since three days a week he lived in town at the fire station.

Like today she saw him outside with Adam while she was cleaning up lunch and when she looked at the clock she knew that Paige would be asleep. So she had quickly gotten the kids shoes on and took them for a walk. Snagging Adam up was really just a bonus for her as him and Braden were the same age and got along so well. She took the kids to the smallest park that had been built. There were several of them now and they were all built for ages. The one she headed to now is designed for toddlers. She let them play for about an hour and then headed back.

As she approached the houses she tried to make sure she wasn’t too early. But when she got to the front she noticed the front door was open and Ava stood there holding a very awake Paige.

“Was he good for you?” Ava asked as Adam ran up the steps to him mom.

“He was an angel as always. Better question is was she good for you? Get enough adult time?” Adara laughed as she teased Ava.

“She did. She was a very good girl and only just woke up. However she was hogging the bed so we had to make due.” Ava laughed at her own brazenness.

“Well the next time he is off remember to put her down in the crib for her nap. Now how would you to feel about a BBQ tonight? I was also going to ask Max and Laura if they wanted to come. It’s not that often we all get to see your man too so you know share him for a bit.” Adara asks

“Actually that sounds great. I hadn’t made a plan for dinner yet so count us in. What do you want me to make?”

“Make that great macaroni salad and whatever meat you want. I am gonna make a potato salad and macaroni and cheese then just hot dogs. I know Max will want his steak and Laura loves her bean dip. Anything else you think of just bring it. Six sound good to you?” Adara asked as she was timing it all in her head at the same time.

“Sounds great, see you then.” Ava says as Adara smiles and wave as she starts to walk to her back door.

Chapter 31

Earth 10 Years Later

“Honey we have to head down to the air strip Chloe is going to be landing any second.” Quinn stated as he put on his jacket. “Airic and Zach are already heading down. Come on babe I don’t want to miss my little girl.”

“Well then help me with you other two little girls Harper is still in her bouncer and I am having a hell of a time getting Olivia up from her nap. Not to mention Drake will be walking in the door any moment.” Morgan looked up at her mate and just gave him the glare.

“Ok I’ll get Olivia and you get Harper. The diaper bag is right here and hopefully we meet Drake on our way out. I know little man is excited that Chloe is moving home. I am glad too. The school is a great school and she has done well there but she needs to be around kids that are like her. Her being a Pearl has started to show too much.” Quinn stated as Morgan made her way down the hall stopping as he spoke about the school.

“That is the school my parents wanted to send me. I thought that we were doing the right thing sending her there. She was our first and I was pregnant with Drake when we made the decision together. I didn’t think her Dragon would shine out so much I guess. I am glad she is coming home too. Lesson learned and it is going to be nice seeing her every day.” Morgan began to tear up and when Quinn turned to her she quickly turned to get Harper ready.

As Olivia jumped in the bouncer knowing she was about to get picked up Morgan reflected back to that day. Chloe had been born right after Airic. Morgan hadn’t even known that she had become pregnant the first time her and Quinn were together. Quinn also hadn’t sensed it. When Chloe turned four she and Quinn had talked about the all girls’ school that her parents often talked about. Morgan wanted her first daughter to go there and was pretty adamant about it. So a year later Chloe was enrolled and a week after she left Morgan learned she was pregnant again.

Morgan gave birth to an Earth Dragon. Drake is now five and Quinn was adamant he went to school here with all the other kids. Chloe only saw her parents and siblings not to mention her soul mate when she came home for summer break and holidays. Quinn was fine with it at first. That first year was a busy one with Morgan being pregnant and them opening the furniture shop they had talked about opening. It was now a thriving shop with lots of orders. They were making a good income with the shop.

But that first time Chloe had come home Morgan realized the mistake. Chloe was ridiculed for being smarter and faster than the other girls. In a way it made her more humble but the girl was only five and taking now four years later it was enough. Chloe had called crying and demanded she move home. Morgan was a stubborn one and did not want to admit that she was wrong in sending her daughter there so she encouraged Chloe to hold on and do her best. After that phone call however she wanted her baby home as much as Chloe wanted to come home.

“Ready?” Quinn asked holding Olivia on his hip. Morgan nodded and they headed down to the air strip. The jet was already there however and Chloe was walking toward them with Airic and Zach. Zach carried her bags while Airic walked next to her. Chloe had a huge bouquet of lilies and in her other hand was another huge bouquet of balloons. Airic also carried a small box in his hands.

Quinn set Olivia down and ran to Chloe scooping his first born in his arms. Olivia ran to them as well. Olivia was three years old and was their only Onyx. She was also Justine’s sons Ian soul mate. Drake’s soul mate was Charles and Etana’s two year old daughter Amira. Six months ago she had given birth to her little Fire Dragon Harper. Who at such a small age already showed her little temper. Harper was mated to Liam, Justin’s other son, that match was a good one. Liam was calm and Harper was already a little spit fire.

“Hey baby girl I am so glad you are home!” Quinn gushed as he twirled Chloe around.

“Daddy I am so glad too. Look! Airic brought me balloons and flowers, aren’t they pretty?” Chloe smiled down at Airic while she asked her Dad.

“They are and I am so glad he was here to welcome you home. I am sorry we are late Olivia was still asleep and didn’t want to wake up. Also Drake should be home any moment from school.” Quinn told her as he set her down and looked at Zach. “Thank you for being here for her. I’ll take those from you.”

“I got them plus you need to go catch Olivia. Looks like she spotted the kids coming home from school and Ian.” Zach pointed to the group of kids walking together towards the main house.

“Oh boy, Chloe you ready? Drake is there with her so we can take our time and see they just noticed us. Mom also had planned to make your favorite for dinner and she needs to get started.” Quinn asked as he looked to the crowd of kids and noticed Ian holding Olivia’s hand as he waited with Drake for them to walk over.

“I am. Mom you ready?” Chloe asked as she looked at her mom and noticed that she hadn’t said a word and was holding on to Harper very tightly with tears in her eyes.

“I am so sorry I sent you there! I was only trying to give you the best education I didn’t know other kids could be so mean. I am so glad you are home!” Morgan burst into tears as she handed Harper to Quinn and pulled Chloe into a hug.

“Mom chill, I am home now. It wasn’t as bad as you are thinking. But I just want to be here. This is home.” Chloe said into her mother’s ear.

“You have your own room still just so you know. I moved Harper and Olivia together and it will stay that way unless we have another daughter. Then sorry but you will have to share.” Morgan laughed

“Fine by me.” Chloe stated as she handed the balloons and flowers to her mother and scooped Harper up into her arms. She hadn’t seen her for a few months and missed her baby sister. Harper laughed and held on tight to Chloe.

They made their way to Olivia and Drake. Ian was still there not willing to leave Olivia until Quinn was there to take her. Even then he still walked with them to the house and only left her side when he had to go to one elevator and they went in the other. Chloe still had Harper in her arms, Drake and Olivia both were talking nonstop to her and Airic just stared at her while she stared at him. Once they were in their suite Zach put her bags next to the door and she put Harper on the ground.

Harper crawled away and Airic handed her the small box in his arms. Inside was a beautiful locket on a silver chain. Inside the locket was a picture of her and Airic from the last time she was home. Chloe hugged him and then waved goodbye as they left. She then turned and listened to Drake and Olivia who had not stopped their talking.

Colin and Shawn had been walking home when they noticed their big brother Quinn and their niece come home for good. They were happy she was going to be going to school with them. All of the kids knew she hated that other school but stayed because her mom wanted her to go there. They both made it home and called out to their mom

“Mom we are home!”

“Oh good how was school?” Clover asked as she hands both boys a snack and ushers them to the table where her two daughters sat eating their snacks.

“It was good. Rosa did this awesome presentation of the moon. Oh we saw Quinn on our way. Chloe is home for good this time. She emailed me last night and told me not to say anything but she had enough of those nasty girls and is not going back.” Shawn told his mom.

“Good for her. I know Morgan has wanted her home for a while now but I think she was waiting for Chloe to say it.” Clover laughed thinking how stubborn her daughter in law and granddaughter were. “We will give them space tonight but after school tomorrow we will go see them. I miss my grandbaby.”

“Is it odd mom?” Colin asked

“What do you mean son?”

“What he means is that our niece is older than us.” Shawn stated

Clover had to laugh at that. Rosa was a very good teacher and her children seemed to be smarter than their own good sometimes. They talked like adults most of the time, in fact all the kids did. They all acted like kids but their speech and attitudes were so mature. Clover gave the maturity to the fact all the kids grew up with their soul mates now. The boys especially were very mature and protective, even as toddlers.

“Well you all know the story right? You boys especially know what your father and I were kept in a cell for a very long time. We didn’t get to raise Quinn and when fate deemed it safe to have babies once more all of us became pregnant. It felt like we were all pregnant at the same time. Shawn you were born only months after Chloe. We were also surprised you were an Earth Dragon like us. Then Colin came two years later and we were overjoyed when he was a Blood Dragon.”

“What was it like in the cages? How long were you there?” Colin asked

“Well son we were thankful we were alive but it was horrible. Knowing Quinn was out there and alone. Could you imagine living how he did?” Hunter asked as he walked into the room.

“No I can’t. I am sorry you guys had to do that. I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t have you guys.” Shawn admitted

“It is all over now and we have been given huge gifts since. We have you both and Quinn again. We also have been blessed with two lovely daughters Camryn and Bailey.” Clover responded as she took the plated from the table and started to wash them. Hunter took the kids into the living room while she prepared dinner. She thought about her life now as she stirred the sauce in the pot.

Hunter now worked with the human farmer that lived right next to the mountain. He knew about them and always had. The human’s father had worked with Kaiden’s father and the human had told the son on his death bed. His name was Sean and turned out that Sean had witnessed everything that night a year ago. He hadn’t said a thing to anyone and when Hunter approached him to explain his crop damage Sean had smiled and told Hunter he was glad they all lived. Hunter and Sean became very good friends and worked together on Sean’s land.

Clover stayed home with the kids. Shawn was her eight year old Earth Dragon. Colin was six and a Blood Dragon. Camryn was now two and she was an Earth Dragon as well. Then she had given birth to Bailey who was now four and an Onyx. Camryn’s soul mate Baker lived next door. He was Aubry and Adam’s son. Shawn’s mate Lilah lived down at the beach with her parent’s Marie and Julio. Bailey was the soul mate of Charles and Etana’s oldest son Saul. Saul was a lot like Gabriel and already a great little fighter and Clover was very happy with that mating. Bailey was very fragile and gentle.

Out of all her children Bailey was the quietest. She was a watcher though she watched what everyone was doing. However she was a sensitive child so you had to word everything just right with her.

“Mommy may I help you?” Bailey asked standing near the counter.

“You may darling girl. Would you like to butter the bread?”

“Yes please. Mommy those bad men that put you in cages are gone right? I don’t want them to come take you again.” Bailey looked up to her with tears into her eyes.

“How about we go talk to Claudia tomorrow? We can get Saul too and she can tell you what she did when she saw them.” Clover asks

“Yes please I would like to see Saul.”

Next door Aubry and Adam were making dinner for their three children. Baker was their five year old little Earth man. Willa was their three year old Fury daughter and Jada was their one year old Fire daughter. Aubry has a flower shop in town that she is partners with Cassie. Adam has gone into business with Paulo and they do landscaping. Aubry’s shop allows her to take the kids with her during the day. As Cassie has three little ones also they made the back into a nursery. Several of the half-bloods run deliveries for them and one helps with the kids.

“I have lots of orders tomorrow and need to leave early. Do you think you can get Baker off to school before you leave?” Aubry asks as she turns the chicken in the pan.

“I can manage that. Paulo mentioned the same so I know he needs to get his off to school too. Ok salad is made would you like me to start Jada’s food or are you going to let her eat what we do now?” Adam teased because he knew Aubry was very picky about what the babies ate. Even though what they were cooking was very healthy.

“Well she is done cutting teeth and hasn’t been fussy for a few days so I think she can eat the pasta. But not any salad she might choke on the lettuce.” Aubry said not paying attention to the smirk on Adam’s face.

“Good. You hear that baby girl? You get to have chicken fettuccine like daddy.” Adam coos to Jada who is in the high chair across the counter. Willa is next to her munching on a bread stick as she waits patiently. Baker is sitting at the table doing his homework.

“You need any help little man?” Adam asks

“Nope Mister Michael was nice today and only have to match these up then add this page. Can I go play with Camryn after dinner?” Baker asks as he keeps his eyes on his paper.

“At the swing set but only until if Miss Clover agrees ok.” Adam had built a swing set in the back of their house as soon as the Baker took to Camryn. It was all vines and trees that grew in the ground. Adam was very glad that Baker’s soul mate lived next door and he was able to see her almost every day. Willa’s soul mate also lived on their other side his name was Malcolm and he was Josiah and Brielle’s son. Those two were a riot to watch together. Willa was only three but she was feisty. Malcolm just followed close behind making sure she never got hurt. Tristan was Jada’s soul mate and he lived in the main house as he was Donny and Alex’s son. But Sunday nights for now were all about the pair. Tristan had to have Jada next to him when he ate so they had to make sure they got a seat next to Donny and Alex.