Chapter 21

**ADAM**

As I get ready to leave the pack to join my family, my gaze falls on Aria, Riley and a group of children outside. The weather is really nice today so I think they decided to take the little ones outside. Aria is sitting in the grass with a little girl with black braided hair. Aria shows her a book and they smile at each other, another little girl joins them and she puts them both on her lap. I wanted to avoid seeing her for exactly this reason, I was afraid she would be adorable with the kids and everything would be fine. Honestly, I would have preferred this day to go badly. I know that’s a horrible thing to say but it’s the truth. Because right now, if everything goes well, maybe it will make her want to have them someday and that’s something I will probably never be able to give her.

I look away from Aria and look up towards Austin’s office and as I suspected, he is looking at her with a smile on his face. He is most certainly thinking to himself that he is taking the lead in the competition.

Before I get into any more bad moods, I decide to leave.

I join the others in a café, Leila is the first to spot me, then Sash and finally mom.

I am reassured that they all three took the trouble to dress in order to blend in. Leila is wearing jeans and a blue strapless top, she has left her long blonde hair loose. Sasha is in black jeans and a black t-shirt, considering the heat it’s a bit much. And finally, mom is wearing a long green dress that suits her very well.

“Oh oh what happened?” Sasha asks me.

“Hello to all of you. How are you?”

“Cut the crap. What’s wrong?” Sasha asks me again as I kiss my mother on the cheek.

“Nothing. Everything is fine.”

“It’s written all over your face that you’re not fine so tell us what’s going on. He’s not going to let go of you otherwise and he’s insufferable.” Leila adds.

I sit between Mom and Leila and sigh before telling them about the early morning.

“So you’re afraid she’s going to want to have kids because you don’t know if you can have kids.” Sasha summarizes.

“You realize that just because she’s having a great day with kids doesn’t mean she’s necessarily going to want to have kids of her own.” Leila tells me and she has a good point.

“Yeah but the thing is, she has a choice so maybe she’ll choose safety.” Sasha takes a sip of coffee before continuing. “Even if she’s not sure she wants kids, Austin can give her some in the not so distant future. Plus, she’ll still be able to see her family and have a somewhat more normal life. Whereas with you it’s the unknown. Will you be able to have children? We don’t know. If you mark her, will she become a werewolf, a hybrid or will she remain human? We don’t know. Imagine if she stays human... she’ll become old, wrinkled and ugly while you’ll remain a handsome guy like you are now.”

“Stop Sasha. We get it.” Mom interrupts her. She sighs before putting her hand on mine. “Love is the unknown and I think if the moon goddess gave you a mate there’s a reason. You can be happy together. Whatever the circumstances.”

“Ah you are still the voice of wisdom. So can we change the subject now?” Leila said, still as she always was.

**AUSTIN**

I had a really hard time concentrating today, between the laughter of the kids coming through my window and Aria’s. They all seem to be having a great time and I can’t wait to hear what she thought of the day and take the temperature for what’s next. I sensed this morning that children were a sensitive topic for Adam. I guess it’s due to the fact that Adam thinks he can’t have any. I did my research on my own and my guess is that he might have some. Vampires can’t have children because they are dead. It may be hard to hear but it’s true. Their heart doesn’t beat anymore, they don’t have blood in their veins. But Adam and his brothers are half werewolf, they bleed and their hearts beat. They are eternal but not immortal, they can be killed. After much hesitation, I decided not to tell anyone about my assumptions. Firstly because I am not sure of anything and also because I don’t want to get in the way of myself.

I take a look outside and see that the girls are alone and decide to join them.

**ARIA**

“So, verdict?” Riley asks me.

All the kids are gone and we are finally alone in the silence.

“That was cool. Honestly I was freaking out but it went super well.”

“It did go well, I expected worse. Little Clara stuck with you all day.”

“Yeah, she’s adorable. She was very shy at first but by the end of the day I think she was really herself.”

“Yeah poor thing that must have done her good.”

I don’t have time to ask her what she means by that as Austin joins us.

“So girls? Did it go well? Do you still have your ten fingers?” He asks us as he looks at my hand.

“Were you really serious about that?” I ask him surprised.

As he shrugs, Riley pats his arm. “Of course we have our ten fingers. it went great super well. Clara Russell has been hanging on to Aria all day.

“That’s what I caught a glimpse of at one point. It feels good to see her smile.”

“What’s going on with Clara?” I ask.

“She lost her parents during the attack...by Rachel.” Austin answers me. “Her mom just had time to get her to safety.”

“Oh my God. And who does she live with now?”

“She lives with the Peterson family. They’ve taken her in while we figure out something else. She doesn’t have any family and a lot of people lost loved ones in the attack so an adoption isn’t in the cards.”

I feel so sad for this little girl, she reminds me of me and she is younger than I was when I lost my mother and at least I had a father and a brother.