Gone

Into The Conference Room

Jackson POV 

I woke up to the sounds of baby gibberish coming through the small white monitor that sat on the table next to my head. Ember sounded like she was playing; I could hear things hitting the bars of her crib and it also sounded like things were hitting the floor or maybe she was just bouncing around. That kid was a ball of non-stop energy. 

At first, I couldn't believe that I had a daughter. Just looking at her I knew that she was mine, she had the same hair color that I did and it even stuck up everywhere just like mine, her blue eyes were lighter than mine but they were still blue, and the she had the same facial structure as Sadie. There was no denying that I helped make that child, but it was still hard to believe. 

I mentally laughed at myself as I remembered counting back the months in my head, just trying to make everything add up. Once I had a firm grasp on the idea, I still ended up acting crazy about it. The second I had actually realized that I was a dad, that was all I could think about and even though I was sure the whole pack already knew, I wanted to tell them again. Meeting my daughter had to have been the proudest moment of my life. 

A loud squeal of excitement from the baby monitor made Sadie squirm. I immediately reached up and turned the little box down, trying to allow Sadie some sleep. I turned back and held still while I watched her face. As soon as I knew that she hadn't woken up, I slowly laid back down beside her.  

My mate was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. Even now, with her hair unruly and thrown all over her pillow, she was perfect. She looked exactly the same, but totally different from what I remembered. I knew the moment I saw her, before I even knew about Ember, that she had matured. She didn't have the same light in her eyes that reminded me of a child. She still had a spark to her, but it was no longer childlike, she was a mother. I didn't realize that was the change when I had first saw her, but now it's hard to miss. She grew up emotionally. 

Even her body looked different. She was slimmer than she had been when I left. I worried slightly that she wasn't taking care of herself, but Andy set me straight on that. According to him, our pack had been attacked quite a few times and Sadie was always running around fixing people. With that and running after our child, I figured she wasn't trying to lose weight, it had just happened. It didn't really matter to me though, she was still beautiful and she would always be. The only thing about her that I couldn't stand was her lack of scent.  

I had heard so many stories about a mates scent. How it would fill your whole body until it was the only thing your brain could register. I didn't get that with her and it was definitely missed. Her lack of scent was a constant reminder that she was part hunter, and that the hunters wanted her. I would never be able to forget that fact, because every time I took a deep breath I would always smell everything but her.  

I stared at her face and listened to her breathing, my memory of her had been nothing compared to actually being with her. Her high cheek bones, plump lips and long eyelashes could only be captured in person, my mind wasn't strong enough to conjure up her features to their full extent. I knew right then that no matter what I would never leave her again.  

"How long are you going to stare at me," Sadie whispered without opening her eyes, her lips lifted into a soft smile. 

My lips curled up in response to her voice, "You faked me out," I laughed. 

Sadie finally opened her deep brown eyes, "You're too easy." 

I leaned in and sat a kiss against her lips, which she immediately responded to. The soft sensation of her lips against mine was something else I had tried to recreate in my mind that I apparently didn't get right either. It really is amazing how quickly your body could forget something when you don't get it all the time. Even though my body didn't do a good job remembering, my mind kept telling me that everything with her and about her was perfect, and it was right.