Beauty and the Beast

Chapter 39

I was finally feeling better after a week, so Kieran extended our vacation another week since we had spent majority of it in the bungalow since every time Kieran looked at me I couldn't go without having him in some way. On our final day of our vacation, Kieran decided it would be a good idea for us to go hiking as a family and I was so excited to see some of the wildlife and townspeople of the village. Willow absolutely loved butterflies and they were plentiful on the island and the people were incredibly friendly and it was lovely to see such a beautiful culture.

The only part Kieran wasn't excited for was that my heat wasn't only enticing to him, but human males and even some women were drawn to me and despite the rings on my fingers, they would still try to flirt or hit on me quite often. I found it absolutely amusing because I could hear how fast their hearts were beating and smell the anxiety coming off of them, and when Kieran introduced himself as my husband, it immediately turned to jealousy and anger. It became a game almost and Kieran grew quite good at guessing who would approach.

I was currently in the middle of a bath with Willow who decided her breakfast of scrambled eggs and fresh fruit belonged in her hair.

I smiled as she sat in my lap in the tub, playing with the rubber shark she had picked out from the gift shop down the road when we got groceries for breakfast a few days ago.

I looked down at my already growing belly. It was slightly bigger than with Willow, and I knew at this rate we were gonna have ourselves a big one. Kieran and I decided to surprise everyone when we got back, so for now it was our little secret.

I looked up when Kieran came rushing in, his eyes frantic as he motioned for me to get out of the tub.

I stood up quickly, hugging Willow to me as I hurried to our bed, dressing her quickly and handing her to Kieran so I could dress myself.

"What's wrong?!" I yelled as Kieran shouted into the phone before slamming it shut.

"Your father is injured, Bran was found dead, and his sister Clara got out." He rushed as he began packing our bags quickly, not even bothering to fold the clothes as he shoved them into our suitcases.

"What the hell do you mean she got out?! And what happened to my dad?!" I yelled.

"I don't even fucking know! I don't understand." Kieran growled, his fist plowing into the wall as his frustration came to life.

I picked the phone up from the bed at the first ring.

"Elise?! What's happening? " I said into the phone.

"It's your father. I-I don't think...You should get here as soon as you can, honey. You need to say goodbye." She answered through the phone.

I froze at her words, letting the phone drop in disbelief.

Kieran watched me in confusion, bending over to pick up the phone as his mother's voice echoed from it as she yelled my name.

I could feel my heart sinking into my chest as I absorbed Elise's words.

This couldn't be real. It was all that was going through my mind. I didn't know how or what to feel, but I could feel a wave of nausea coming over me the longer I stood there and it wasn't long until I was keeled over the toilet as the contents of my stomach came up.

I was brought back to reality as Kieran's face appeared in my line of sight as he helped me up off the wood floor of the bathroom and I must not have looked too well because Kieran's eyes looked afraid for me.

Apparently I wasn't moving quickly enough for Kieran's liking because he strapped Willow to his back and scooped me up too, the world around us becoming a blur of yellows, greens, and blues as we moved rapidly.

The next time I blinked we were on the plane, Kieran's voice boomed my name as he tried to grasp my attention in attempt reel me back in from my thoughts.

"He's dying." I said quietly.

Kieran looked at me, his face holding sympathy and he went to speak but I rose my hand to silence him from across the small plane where he sat a few seats away from me where he sat with a sleeping Willow next to him.

"He's going to die because of me. All of this, everything is because of me. My mom is going to have her heart broken again because of me. I should have killed her when I had the chance." I said as I stared at the empty seat in front of me.

"Charlotte, this is not your fault." Kieran growled.

"But isn't it? I went into heat. We would've been home already. I didn't kill her when I should have the first time. And when you left me, I was selfish and refused it. I wanted you, so I didn't leave. No one would've known I was a shifter. No one would've known about you either." I answered.

"And you know what else? I wouldn't have my brother here. Alina would probably still be depressed. My mother would still be crying herself to bed every night. Your parents wouldn't be together. And Willow wouldn't be here at all and we wouldn't have another on the way...and call me selfish, but I wouldn't trade that for the world. " Kieran said.

I sighed as I nodded, tears coming down my face.

He was right, this was happening now and I couldn't change it.

But I would try my best to make it right.

I stilled as the phone to the plane rang where it lay a few feet away on the table by the wall.

Kieran stood up and made his way to the table, lifting the phone up and placing it to his ear slowly as whoever was on the opposite line began to speak.

Kieran's shoulders slumped as he breathed out, his fist balling and he hung up the phone.

Kieran didn't have to speak for me to know my father was gone. I clamped a hand over my mouth as a cry broke free from me and Kieran scooped me into his arms and sat with me, reclining the seat so I could lay against his chest as I cried because I had once again lost my father.