Deka [ 10 ] NEW DAWN

"The border has been cleared of wolfsbane," Tristan spoke as he came out of the mind-link with the afternoon patrol. He began typing on his laptop. 

I looked up from the paperwork I was filling out for my parents' bakery. "That's good. How are the new squads holding up?"

"They had a good night shift yesterday." He paused as he slowly finished typing. "Aren's tightened his security too."

Placing my pen down, I gave him my attention and he glanced at me before doing the same. "It's a relief we're all taking this seriously. Better safe than sorry, right?"

Tristan cracked a small smile. "Right." He placed his laptop to the side and extended his arm out to feel my hands in his. His grip was gentle and his smile softened. "Do you want to take a break?"

My gaze dropped to the papers I had already filled out before it rose to settle on his warm blues again. I slowly smiled and nodded. I stood up and he pushed his chair back so I could sit on his lap. 

His arm wrapped around my waist and I rested my head on his shoulder. Linking our fingers together again, I smiled slightly wider as his scent surrounded me. It was comforting and smelled like home. He was my home. 

"What would you name our son if we had one?"

"You mean when we have one? I'm willing to keep trying until we do." he teasingly replied as he caressed my hand with the pad of his thumb. He chuckled before answering seriously. "I don't know. I think it'd come to me when I see him for the first time as it did with Alina. Do you have any names in mind?"

I tilted my head to look up at him. "No."

His fingers gently tucked a few errant curls behind my ear and he smiled warmly. "It'll come to us, don't worry."

I stared at him for a few moments in silence before leaning up and kissing him softly. It was a brief kiss but I just wanted to feel his soft lips on mine. The tip of his nose brushed against mine and I laughed when he gave me an Eskimo kiss. He moved his head side to side for a few seconds as he chuckled lowly. 

Cupping his face, I brought his lips down to mine and kissed him again. When we both pulled back, his azure eyes were bright and happy. My eyes were such a dark brown that I knew he could see himself in them as he sighed contentedly. 

"I'm madly in love with you." He spoke quietly and even after four years together, those words still made my heart flutter. 

"Are you saying I drive you mad?" I joked, moving to straddle him as I linked my arms behind his neck.

His hands curved around my waist and he leaned forward to brush his lips against mine. "Every single day." He laughed when I gasped. "It's the good kind of crazy, αγάπη. The kind that makes loving you the best thing I've ever done."

I pressed my forehead gently to his as my heartbeat sped up of its own accord. "Good save—you have such a way with words, you know that?"

His fingers danced across the small of my back. "I know." His perfect lips lifted to form a gentle smile.

"I love you—with all my heart."

His smile widened slowly. "I know that too."

I leaned forward to hug him and we sat there for another five minutes in silence before we got back to our work. Since a few months ago, Tristan's had been studying to become an automotive engineer. He didn't have a smooth journey in the education system for obvious reasons but when the war had ended, Leonidas had helped him. 

In the six years before he had first met me, he worked hard to get himself up to speed with other people his age. He never pursued a university degree but after Alina was born, he realised he wanted to be something more and not just be comfortable with all the money he gained from his smart investments. 

It was the other reason why I was taking more of a lead on day-to-day pack matters, like training and combat—so he had time to study and spend more time with Alina. 

We were almost done with our work when Tristan's eyes glassed over and a deep frown pulled at his lips. He seemed alarmed and his clear eyes settled on me a few moments later. 

"Alina's not having a good day today." She had started preschool a few days ago and it was her second day at school. "She hasn't stopped crying for the past twenty minutes."

I barely let him finish his sentence before I stood up. "It's time to pick her up now anyway. Are you coming with?"

He shut down his laptop and nodded. "Of course."

We pulled our jackets on and within minutes, we were out of the door. The walk to the preschool was much shorter without Alina because Tristan and I were fast walkers. When the other children came out to their parents, we spotted Alina instantly. 

She was holding her teacher, Eelisi's hand and her dark lashes were heavy with tears as her lips trembled. As soon as she saw us, she ran over to us. We met her halfway and kneeled onto the snow so she could hug us both. 

"What's wrong, χαρα μου?" Tristan cupped the back of her head and we hugged her tightly before we pulled back. 

I wiped her tears as she hiccuped, not taking her eyes off Tristan. "I want to go home."

Standing up, I dusted myself off and Tristan lifted her into his arms. She dug her face into his neck and was silent even though her body jolted with every hiccup. Tristan's concerned gaze met mine and he frowned, rubbing her back gently as we began to walk. 

It didn't take long to get back home and before she could fall asleep, we sat down with her on the couch. She wouldn't let go of Tristan and I stroked her cheek gently. 

"What happened, sweetheart?"

Her bottom lip trembled and she began crying again. "I-Ivik said Gr-Grandma and Grandpa are d-dead. Gone forever." She could barely get her words out and Tristan wiped her tears away before they could fall. 

"You spoke to them this morning, Alina. They're not dead." I spoke softly. 

She glanced at me. "N-Not your mummy and daddy." She turned to Tristan. "Yiayiá and Pappoús."

My gaze met Tristan and we were shocked into silence until she whimpered. Tristan closed his eyes and pressed his lips to Alina's temple. I knew we had to finally tell her about Tristan's parents, well, the bare minimum. She had never asked so we didn't want to upset her by telling her. 

But she found out without us even telling her. 

"It's why Daddy was sad, right?" she hiccuped, rubbing her eye with a small fist. 

Tristan hugged her. "Yes, but it was a very long time ago, χαρα μου." He pulled back and cupped her face so he could look her in the eyes. "A very long time ago."

"W-why did they die?"

"Pappoús had an accident and Yiayiá died because she was sick and missed Pappoús so much." His explanation was all it could be because we couldn't tell her that Tristan's dad was attacked by rogues and his mother died because of unbearable grief. 

She was silent as she took it in. The frown on her face deepened. "Yiayiá missed Pappoús?"

Tristan nodded and took a deep breath to control his emotions. "My parents loved each other so much. They were mates just like me and Mummy."

"I want to see them…"

Tristan glanced at me and nodded as I stood up. "Do you want to see pictures?"

She nodded instantly. 

I walked over to the display cupboard and pulled out the Vasilakis photo album. I sat close to Tristan as I handed him it and watched as he pulled it open. He showed Alina their best picture, one he wasn't in, which I presumed would stop her from asking questions about when they died. 

Her cries stopped and she gasped quietly as her index finger rested on Theodoros' face, Tristan's father. "Daddy! That's you!"

Tristan smiled fondly as he looked at his father. "No, that's Pappoús. I just look like him."

Alina was silent as she stared at the picture for a long while, taking in her grandparents for the first time. She huffed as she lifted the photo album from Tristan's hands and pressed her lips to the picture. 

Tristan's eyes instantly watered and I slipped my hand into his as Alina caressed her Yiayiá's face. 

"My mamá's name was Alina. We named you after her." He kissed the back of her head and hugged her to him. I wiped the remnants of her tears off her face and watched as she looked up at him. 

"I love my name." She spoke softly, hiccuping again before she turned around and threw her arms around his neck. They hugged for a long moment and I was relieved that she finally stopped crying. "I'm sorry that your mummy and daddy died, Daddy."

He buried his face in her neck. "It's okay, Alina. They're together again."

The frown remained on her face but she was less hysterical after Tristan said that. He stood up with her and I wrapped my arms around them both for extra comfort. 

"Can I have some ice cream to make me happy again?" she mumbled into Tristan's shoulder and he chuckled before putting her down. 

"After we eat lunch." He placed her down and she took it upon herself to take off her jacket and shoes. As she did that, I caressed Tristan's cheek before hugging him. He wrapped his arms around me and I laid a soft kiss on his neck. 

It was a silent act of comfort. 

When Alina walked back to us, I took her hand in mine and led her towards the kitchen sink to wash her face. Her eyes were puffy and her eyelashes almost clumped together because of her tears. After washing her face, I sat her down on her chair before Tristan laid a hand on the small of my back. 

"I'll make lunch today. You can go sit down." He leaned in and kissed my cheek. 

I nodded and took a seat next to Alina, hugging her from the side to give her some of my warmth. She leaned into my hug and we silently watched as Tristan began cooking. He was a good cook and had only frequently started cooking four years ago when I got my act together and treated him as he deserved to be treated. 

His once personal chef was just a pack member, Ane, who would drop by and prepare a meal when he was too busy to do it himself. I had gotten to know her properly when I was pregnant with Alina and needed to have a more nutritional diet. 

He was cooking one of her specialities and I smiled as I looked on. 

"Mummy?" Alina caught my attention as she sat up straight. "Do I look like you because Daddy looks like Pappoús?"

I laughed at the weirdness of her question but answered nonetheless as Tristan grinned at her. "You could say that, yes."

"So, if I get a brother, he will look like Daddy?"

Tristan's grin brightened even further and he glanced at me as if to say everything was telling us to have another baby. I looked back at Alina and tilted my head before nodding. "Possibly. Do you want a baby brother?"

Alina paused and pursed her lips as she thought about it for a moment. "If he looks like Daddy, then yes. So we can be matching. I look like you, and he looks like Daddy!"

Tristan threw his head back with a laugh and came to hug Alina. His cheek was against hers as they both grinned at me. He spoke in my mind. 'I think we should try for another baby.'

He had sold me on the idea. I slowly smiled. 

'I think so too.'